The Hunting Times

So we let Davey's doe hang in the barn for two days (after legally checking her in on-line).  Our hope was that we would have two or three more to process with her.  Vain hope. We skinned her out and butchered her.  And man did she have a layer of fat on her. Take a look.  This is off her back, next to the tenderloins.  I got the tape measure out because I could not believe how much was there - 1.5".  Holy cow was she healthy or what? The fat along the back was 1.5" thick! Davey said it was a good thing he shot her because she was going to die from heart disease, being this fat.  I say it means we are going to have a ROUGH winter and she had a great chance at survival. Regardless, she'll taste good now.

Earlier this year, me, Davey, and RePhil took a ten-year anniversary trip to North Dakota to hunt pheasants.  So Christmas eve, I put them in the smoker.  I brined them in salt, sugar, and water for 24 hours prior to smoking.  I wrapped them in bacon to keep them moist.  Smoked them for 3 hours at 250 degrees. Here's how they turned out: Smoked pheasants. Can't think of a better way to spend Christmas Eve!

What started out as a trip to the hardware store for a new spray hose nozzle turned into a $700 remodel of the kitchen.  As hunting season has now ended, I had time to perform the duties, so we went for it. Of course, nothing is an EXACT replacement.  I had to cut a larger hole for our new sink and replumb.  It took me 8.5 hours and 2 trips to the hardware store for more supplies. The end result is nice and most importantly, Mama is happy. Old sink is out.  Photo prior to cutting a larger hole. New sink installed and being used. Funny story.  I disconnected the garbage disposal and left it in the corner, so I did not have to rewire it.  I called son-in-law Alex in to help me reconnect it.  As I picked it up to hold, I tipped the drain toward me.  All the sludge that was still in there came running out and hit me directly on the top lip.  Garbage disposal water went up my nose and into my mouth.  I was spitting and sputter...

As a birthday gift, the kids bought tickets to see the Trans Siberian Orchestra at the Banker's Life Field House in Indy. The Colts were playing a home game, so we opted NOT to try and eat dinner in Indy.  We stopped at Bub's in Zionsville for some elk burgers.  Excellent choice. The field house was pretty packed.  TSO did a Christmas show for an hour.  Then they started rocking! It was a pretty neat show with lights, lazers, snow, fog, fire, and fireworks.  The sound however was not good.  It was turned up so loud to try and fill the hall that it was distorted.  It also hurt my ears.  Sandy's ears rang for 3 days too.  The kids said we're just too old to appreciate it.  Not true, says I.  The sound was distorted. Regardless, glad we went.  Thanks to the kids! Sitting in the field house, awaiting the concert.

I returned to get Dave at 3:45.  It's up to 37 F with more wind, but still from the SE.  Please note that at 37 degrees, the top inch of soil will thaw and stick to anything that touches it. We drove out to Marshall's N farm and switched positions.  This time I sat in the finger and Dave walked the bottoms. Dave saw 3 doe sneaking through the bottoms at about 5 pm and got up to chase them to me.  The three turned into 5 and the 5 to 7.  Dave came up the top and attempted to get the deer to run out the finger - where I would have a shot. No such luck.  They turned and ran SW, right past where we parked the truck - all seven of them. No shots were fired.  And so the season ends... Sun set on the last day of muzzle loading season, Sunday, 21 DEC 2014. Taken from the killing finger on Marshall's N farm. We still have until the first Sunday in January for those who wish to hunt with a bow and arrow.  I suspect that I will just leave it...

I picked up Dave at 6:45 again this morning and we headed for Marshall's S farm.  It was 25 F with a slight 5 mph wind from the SE.  We saw three doe driving out. Dave sat in the W finger and I parked and walked SE to the swamp.  About half way to the E property line, a six point buck came out of the woods behind me.  He wanted to go E, but I was blocking his path.  He was about 50 yards away.  Only problem was that it was still too early to shoot - only by a minute, but still too early.  What's the harm?  Well as calm as it was, sound carries forever, in fact, we could hear the church bells in Mulberry.  A muzzle loader blast before legal light would have drawn unwanted attention.  Besides, that's the law.  Thus, I did not fire.  He took off to the SE, snorting and wheezing. Sunrise on the last morning of muzzle loading season. It's 7:35 am and there is a buck running on my right as I took this picture. About the ti...

Alex and I picked up Dave at 6:45 am.  It was 25 F with very little wind.  We dropped Alex off at Vice's, but it still being dark, we sat in the truck for 30 minutes and shot the bull. Alex walked in on Vice to the creek.  Davey walked N to the killing finger and I went in the bottoms on Marshall. At about 8:30, Davey had one large doe come out from the E and walked into the bean field.  She'll eat beans no more because we're going to be eating her.  He dropped her at about 70 yards.  I would have sworn the shot came from the N and E of me, but that was due to the echos. Alex saw one doe heading S, but she never made it to me.  The only thing I saw was Dave's dead doe. As I walked N out of the bottoms, our neighbor to the W, let's just say his initials are JB (which may or may not be his real initials) came out and shot a pistol 10 times.  He was doing this to just be a ginormous AH.  We've had a couple of run-ins before and there is ...