Let's all Welcome a New Outdoor Blog

I want to introduce a new blog to the outdoors community. Ryan Hurd from "The Buffalo Digest" had contacted me with a couple of questions so I visited his blog and suggested a couple of things, not that I am an expert or anything like that.

The Buffalo Digest

A Celebration of the Harvest

Here is what Ryan had to say,

The Buffalo Digest is about celebrating the harvest, whether that harvest is grown or hunted. I live in Alabama and am an avid deer hunter, fly fisherman, and enjoy organic gardening. I like to focus my writing on the contemplative aspects of hunting, fishing, and growing. The Buffalo Digest is a blog dedicated to exploring relationships between people, land, and game. In the end, it is about exploring what it means to be a hunter, fisher, grower, and American. I hope to include some how-to's and recipes in the future, but those things are probably best left to others who know them much better than I do. I also have a few guest bloggers that are going to be posting on their experiences and also a guest photographer. I am really looking forward to getting to know everyone in the outdoor blogosphere, and mostly just excited about getting my thoughts down in one place because it is personally gratifying.

A little more about me: I am 23 years old, originally from Michigan, and I just graduated from college and work for a new Biodiesel company in Montgomery, Alabama. I hunt in Alabama, Mississippi, and Tennessee, and am very excited about duck season. I am also a songwriter, but that is neither here nor there.

So, if you all had some time maybe you could swing by and say hello.

Trivia Challenge - #2Q

Well Nate aka "Crack Shot Hunter" has asked a question for the next challenge. Does anyone have a clue?

Question - What is the largest (heaviest) whitetail ever taken on record?

Check back in a few days for the answer....................

One week left to place your Vote

I wanted to drop a reminder to you all about the Sportsman Channel's viewer-generated awards which only have 1 week left so please stop by and place your votes, I did.

Viewer-Generated Sportsman Choice Award Voting Begins Today!

10/12/2009

First 500 Voters to Receive Free Gift; All Voters Eligible for $1000 Prize Pack

New Berlin, Wis. October 12, 2009 — The way Sportsman Channel sees it, the ultimate judges of hunt, shoot and fish programming are the viewers who make those activities the foundations of their lifestyle. And beginning today, those viewers will begin the process of deciding which shows and hosts will take home top honors in the 2009 Sportsman Choice Awards. All shows and show hosts airing on the network in 2009 are eligible for voting by viewers at www.votesportsman.com. The categories are: Best Hunt Show, Best Shoot Show, Best Fish Show, Best Combination (hunting and fishing) Show and Best Show Host(s).

The first voting round runs through November 19, when the top five vote-getters in each category will qualify for a final round of viewer voting. The winners in all Sportsman Choice Award categories will be crowned in January during the Shooting, Hunting and Outdoor Trade (SHOT) Show in Las Vegas.

“There’s no better academy than our viewers, the American sportsmen, to choose the finest in award-winning hunt, shoot, fish programming,” said Todd D. Hansen, Sr. Vice President Sportsman Channel.

As an added bonus, the first 500 voters will receive a Sportsman Channel hat, and all voters will be entered to win a $1000 prize pack, which includes a $500 Cabela’s gift card and merchandise from Sportsman Channel and Cabela’s.

Last year’s highest vote-getters included the network’s first female show host winner: Haley Heath of “Family Traditions with Haley Heath” received Viewer Favorite Personality. Heath said she hopes to duplicate it again this year. “I was thrilled when they called my name for the award last year and it’s great knowing your fans are behind you 100 percent. I am feeling really good going into this year’s nominations,” said Heath.

About Sportsman Channel: Launched in 2003, Sportsman Channel is the only television and digital company fully devoted to the more than 82 million sportsmen in the United States, delivering the most educational and entertaining hunting, shooting and fishing programming. Acquired by InterMedia Outdoors Holdings in 2006, Sportsman Channel is now a part of the nation's largest multimedia company targeted exclusively to serving the information and entertainment needs of outdoors enthusiasts. For more information, visit www.thesportsmanchannel.com.

CONTACT: Michelle Scheuermann, Director of Communications, Sportsman Channel 262.432.9100 ex 111; mscheuermann@thesportsmanchannel.com

Tuesday's Tip's & Technique's - #63

Gun Safety:

Today I want to touch on Gun Safety. With gun seasons opening up now or soon through out the United States I am sure a lot of hunter's & huntress's are planning or doing the same thing that I just did and that is sighting in your firearms.

Whether you do it at a licensed range or at you friends house you should follow some basic safety rules. Here is what the NRA says,

1. ALWAYS keep the gun pointed in a safe direction.
This is the primary rule of gun safety. A safe direction means that the gun is pointed so that even if it were to go off it would not cause injury or damage. The key to this rule is to control where the muzzle or front end of the barrel is pointed at all times. Common sense dictates the safest direction, depending on different circumstances.

2. ALWAYS keep your finger off the trigger until ready to shoot.
When holding a gun, rest your finger on the trigger guard or along the side of the gun. Until you are actually ready to fire, do not touch the trigger.

3. ALWAYS keep the gun unloaded until ready to use.
Whenever you pick up a gun, immediately engage the safety device if possible, and, if the gun has a magazine, remove it before opening the action and looking into the chamber(s) which should be clear of ammunition. If you do not know how to open the action or inspect the chamber(s), leave the gun alone and get help from someone who does.

When using or storing a gun, always follow these NRA rules:

• Know your target and what is beyond.
  Be absolutely sure you have identified your target beyond any doubt. Equally important, be aware of the area beyond your target. This means observing your prospective area of fire before you shoot. Never fire in a direction in which there are people or any other potential for mishap. Think first. Shoot second.
• Know how to use the gun safely.
  Before handling a gun, learn how it operates. Know its basic parts, how to safely open and close the action and remove any ammunition from the gun or magazine. Remember, a gun's mechanical safety device is never foolproof. Nothing can ever replace safe gun handling.
• Be sure the gun is safe to operate.
  Just like other tools, guns need regular maintenance to remain operable. Regular cleaning and proper storage are a part of the gun's general upkeep. If there is any question concerning a gun's ability to function, a knowledgeable gunsmith should look at it.
• Use only the correct ammunition for your gun.
  Only BBs, pellets, cartridges or shells designed for a particular gun can be fired safely in that gun. Most guns have the ammunition type stamped on the barrel. Ammunition can be identified by information printed on the box and sometimes stamped on the cartridge. Do not shoot the gun unless you know you have the proper ammunition.
• Wear eye and ear protection as appropriate.
  Guns are loud and the noise can cause hearing damage. They can also emit debris and hot gas that could cause eye injury. For these reasons, shooting glasses and hearing protectors should be worn by shooters and spectators.
• Never use alcohol or over-the-counter, prescription or other drugs before or while shooting.
  Alcohol, as well as any other substance likely to impair normal mental or physical bodily functions, must not be used before or while handling or shooting guns.
• Store guns so they are not accessible to unauthorized persons.
  Many factors must be considered when deciding where and how to store guns. A person's particular situation will be a major part of the consideration. Dozens of gun storage devices, as well as locking devices that attach directly to the gun, are available. However, mechanical locking devices, like the mechanical safeties built into guns, can fail and should not be used as a substitute for safe gun handling and the observance of all gun safety rules.
• Be aware that certain types of guns and many shooting activities require additional safety precautions.
• Cleaning
  Regular cleaning is important in order for your gun to operate correctly and safely. Taking proper care of it will also maintain its value and extend its life. Your gun should be cleaned every time that it is used.

  A gun brought out of prolonged storage should also be cleaned before shooting. Accumulated moisture and dirt, or solidified grease and oil, can prevent the gun from operating properly.

  Before cleaning your gun, make absolutely sure that it is unloaded. The gun's action should be open during the cleaning process. Also, be sure that no ammunition is present in the cleaning area.

Remember: These rules apply to any firearm whether it is a handgun, shotgun, rifle or even a muzzleloader so please read the rules, pay attention while shooting and have a safe good time.

Guns are sighted in and ready to go

Yesterday was a very fun afternoon and I have to give thanks to my friend Nate aka "crack shot hunter" who was kind enough again to allow me to shoot at his place and get my guns sighted in. I have to say it was a lot of fun, what a way to spend a Sunday afternoon.

While I was there and before we started shooting he showed me his current project, a WALK IN COOLER in his basement. It is still in construction but I have to say he has the makings for quite the butcher shop and once he is done with the cooler he'll be ready to rock & roll. I asked for pictures so I could share with you all so Nate if you are reading this DON"T FORGET!. :)

That right,

days
to go!
The guns are ready and I'm ready.

Trivia Challenge - 1A

Here is my answer to "What was the Greatest Whitetail Buck ever taken by a hunter" according to what I had discovered during my research.

THE TONY FULTON BUCK
The Greatest White-tail Deer
Ever Taken by a Hunter

On January 5, 1995, Tony Fulton of Winston County, Mississippi (approximately 80 miles north west of the capitol city of Jackson) was glad that he listened to his wife, Rhonda, when she talked him into going hunting. Since time was short, Tony went to a treehouse that he had built for his son that overlooked a small greenfield. Tony admits that he had not seen a deer on this small field but things were about to change in his life forever.

After sitting for a while, Tony saw a doe as she entered the field but she ran away almost immediately. Shortly thereafter a large buck appeared on the edge of the opening looking for the doe. He was very spooked; however he ran into the field and stopped only 50 yards from Tony. Tony fired one shot with his .30-06 but the buck quickly escaped to the nearby woods.

Tony was aware that this buck had a big rack but only when he found the buck by following the buck's trail by flashlight did he begin to realize just how big..! With an outside spread of 30" and with 48 measurable points, this was some special deer.

When Buckmaster's scored this buck, the wisdom behind the Buckmaster's Full Credit Scoring System came to the forefront. This system, which gives a buck credit for all of the antler grown, does not try to set a man made criteria on what a buck's antlers "should" look like. After a marathon session that lasted 6 1/2 hours, Buckmasters declared the Fulton Buck as the record hunter taken white-tail. The final Buckmaster's score is 321 7/8.

Location of Content:

Don't forget, if you have a trivia question that you would like me to find an answer to I would be happy to post it with your name and link to it.

Bowhunter from Sheboygan Falls scores big

Another reason why I love this time of year is when I can post about the success of other hunters. This time in no different, enjoy.

Michael Gregoire of Sheboygan Falls has been bowhunting for 14 years, but never had he encountered a buck like the one he pierced with an arrow from 20 yards on Thursday afternoon.

"I saw it once two weeks ago and it was 85 yards away, the closest it would come," he said Saturday. "I could tell it was big, but I didn't think we would get over 200 inches."

A tool-and-die foreman at Wisconsin Tool & Design in Plymouth, the 38-year-old harvested the whitetail deer on his brother's 160-acre farm on the west side of Sheboygan Falls.

The 12-point buck weighed 240 pounds and taped out at 217 5/8 inches, according to an unofficial gross score tallied on Friday. Gregoire said the inches are calculated by measuring the inside spread, the length of each tine, around the base of each horn and around the main beam. A 60-day drying period must first pass before an official score, typical or non-typical, is granted.

Read the complete story:

Savory Sunday's - #39

Venison Casserole:

From Elizabeth Guy

Ingredients

1 tbsp olive oil
25g/1oz butter
2 onions, diced
4 fresh garlic cloves
4 rashers smoked bacon
500g/1Ib 2oz mushrooms
2.5kg/5½lb haunch or shoulder of venison, diced
½ bottle red wine
400ml/14fl oz water
2 beef stock cubes, crumbled
3 tbsp redcurrant jelly
salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
50g/2oz cornflour
punnet redcurrants, to decorate
6 sprigs rosemary or thyme, to decorate
To serve
new potatoes
wilted spinach

Method

1. Preheat the oven to 150C/300F/Gas 2.

2. On the hob, heat the olive oil and butter in a large lidded casserole dish. Add the onions and cook until softened, but not browned.

3. Add the garlic, bacon and mushrooms and cook for a further minute.

4. In a frying pan, brown the venison a handful at a time and add to the casserole. When all the meat is browned, add the red wine, water, stock cubes, redcurrant jelly and salt and pepper.

5. Bring to the boil and stir well. Put the lid on the casserole and place in the middle of the oven - cook for 90 minutes.

6. Remove from the oven. Make a paste with the cornflour and two tablespoons of water. Add as much of the paste to the casserole as is needed to thicken the sauce - add a little at a time if you are not sure how much you will need.

7. Transfer the casserole to the hob, and, on a low heat, cook until the gravy has thickened - this will take about five minutes.

8. Serve with new potatoes and wilted spinach. Decorate each plate with a sprig of rosemary or thyme and a bunch of fresh redcurrants.

Still Huntin at the age of 100

All I can say is I hope I can still be doing that at his age.

GRAND RAPIDS — Wes Libbey can still remember the first buck he shot at. A big 12-pointer, he recalled.

By: Sam Cook, Duluth News Tribune

Wes Libbey holds a set of antlers and laughs as he relates a deer hunting story Thursday at his home in Grand Rapids. Libbey is 100 years old and has gone deer hunting for the past 84 years. (Bob King / rking@duluthnews.com)

GRAND RAPIDS — Wes Libbey can still remember the first buck he shot at. A big 12-pointer, he recalled.

“I pulled up the trusty .38-55,” Libbey said. “Thirty-five yards. Broadside.”

He missed the buck cleanly, and the Grand Rapids hunter still thinks about it 84 years later.

At 100, Libbey is still hunting deer. He plans to be out there Saturday morning when Minnesota’s firearms deer season opens in Northeastern Minnesota.

Read the complete story:

Handheld GPS Units - Tell me where to go!

I'm planning to scout an area of state land that I have never been on before. Right now all I have is a picture from a road map which I think is almost as good as a topographical map. This area is going to be a secondary place for me to hunt if my primary spot is getting hammered with what I call inconsiderate weekend warriors.

Now a couple of years ago I had purchased a GPS unit for a trip I was going to go on which I am sorry to say I never took.

The Garmin Etrex was about as basic a unit as I thought I could find. I didn't want something to difficult to use.

I never tried this in the woods before but, I did try it out on one of my walks around the lake I live on and it seemed to do what it was suppose to. This new area I want to scout should be a good test for it.




I just discovered this little beauty last night while I was thumbing through a subscription I have of "Whitetail Journal" it was in an add so I took the item and googled it and here is where I ended up.

The Bushnell Backtrack, is a GPS personal location finder.

Now this appears to be even easier to use with just the press of either two buttons. Here is what they have to say about.

With the world’s easiest-to-use GPS personal location finder...

Getting back at the end of the day is as easy as pushing a button and following an arrow. Utilizing GPS technology in its most basic format, BackTrack has only two buttons and stores up to three locations – just mark it and forget it until it’s time to return. At the end of the day, select your location and the BackTrack displays direction and distance to travel. Use it to find your car in a crowded parking lot, your treestand or the trailhead, even to rendezvous with your group. It’s extremely compact and stows conveniently in your pocket, pack or purse.

I did find that Cabela's does carry it and it is $64.99. I am really liking this small compact and apparently very easy to use GPS. I just might have to see if Santa can bring me one for x-mas. But, I still plan to use my Garmin when I head out to this new spot which I hope to be soon. I plan to take Heidi's digital camera with me so I can photograph my scouting excursion and share with you all after.