© 2009 Albert A Rasch
Here is another story from yesteryear that many of you may not be familiar with. Enjoy!
"I reached into my pocket and pulled a chocolate brown, plastic cased, thumb thick shell and dropped it into the ten gauge's chamber..."
(A couple of notes from the author: The grove has been plowed down and is now part of a subdivision. Chester is still kicking up his heels and is occasionally ridden by the children. I stopped riding; I can’t sit on the saddle for very long anymore.)
I scrunched my stubbled cheek down on the wet wooden stock, trying to line up the sights behind the hog's shoulder. I was using my old Harrington and Richards top break 10 gauge slug gun. The beautifully colored walnut forearm was cool to the touch and the old fashioned ventilated recoil pad was tucked tight into the pocket of my shoulder. I could see patches of the sow's dark hide hidden behind the grape vines and scrub oaks that formed an almost impenetrable barrier between us. But there wasn't a clear shot, not yet. Hoping that an errant breeze wouldn't carry my scent to her, I stood as still as I could muster as there were seven sets of eyes I knew about and maybe a dozen more I didn't.
After a short eternity, the old sow moved forward, rooting for some delicacy, a fat grub perhaps, or a starchy tuber. It was the break I was looking for. The white bead floated just above and behind the elbow. I gently squeezed the trigger, and the powerful recoil took me by surprise. Taking a half step back, I lost sight of the sow, as the recoil shoved the gun against my shoulder and rolled the barrel skyward.
It had started about an hour earlier...
The fog that had enveloped the county at night in a damp and wet embrace, had been lifting and was patchy. I'd been riding for an hour or so, nice and easy, just enjoying the cool dampness, the ephemeral outlines of trees appearing and disappearing in the dawn's glow alongside the abandoned railroad tracks I rode along. Tossing his head occasionally, the gelding I was on had settled into an easy walk that ate up the ground with surprising speed. We had heard a lone coyote howling, but other than that it was peaceful and quiet.
He had been frisky this morning, kicking his heels up and otherwise being energetic; the cold spell brought down to us by the Arctic jet stream had awakened a bit of spunk in an otherwise placid creature. Used to the semi-tropical weather we enjoy most of the year, he was feeling his oats today. Saddling him up in the dim, foggy, dawn had been a bit of an adventure, it was early for him, and it took a few runs around the paddock to settle him down. Cantering back to the stables I tied him up to the hitching post and got the gear. I slipped the single shot H&R shotgun into the fleece lined scabbard, dropped three Federal 10 gauge slugs into my denim jacket's pocket and picked up the gun belt. Hammer resting on an empty chamber, I strapped my 45LC Vaquero to my leg. I always ride for a few minutes first before I load up and again after I've done so, just to make sure everything is strapped on right, the horse is OK, and I'm OK. No clicks, jingles, or rattles greeted me, just the creak of worn and well oiled leather. Adjusting my bandanna and pulling my hat down we took off.
We were moving along now, the clip-clop of his hooves beating a steady rhythm.
I was headed to were an old dirt road cut over the RR tracks and led into an abandoned orange grove. The tattered remains of an old Cracker style home sat on the edge of the grove, its back to a tangle of palmetto, oak and wild grape vines. It can't be seen from the entrance of the grove and every year the weeds grow a little taller and the remains of the house sink a little lower. I had seen hogs, big hogs, lots of hogs in this grove many times, and just as many times I hadn't. I was hoping that this would be one of the times that I would. The mist was pretty well gone by the time we got there and dawn was an hour gone. The first thing I noted was that there was quite a bit of fallen fruit on the ground this time of year. I was getting hopeful that I would run into a big sow for my Southern friends to cook up. I had found the hard way that old boars just don't taste that great, regardless of who's doing the cooking!
There's a big live oak that was likely there when Hernan DeSoto came by with his Conquistadors on his way to Eldorado and whose drooping, massive branches spread over a huge expanse of land in one corner of the grove. I was headed to that corner with Chester, intending to tie him off to one of the branches and scout the edge of the grove. But I thought I might glass the edges of the grove before I went in on the chance that there might be something there. My binoculars are set of Bushnell 7X49s that I acquired 20 some-odd years ago, when I was still dreaming of big game hunting while living in the urban cities of New Jersey. They might not be as bright as a pair Ziess lens but they are clear and relatively light.
After about ten minutes of careful scrutiny, I found nothing. The trees marched away in ragged rows, weeds having overtaken the rows between. The American Goldfinches were flitting from tree to tree, having come down to spend the winter with us, their chirps and trills sounding a merry welcome.. But beautiful as they were, there were no hogs. Cursing my luck, I went in, ambling towards the tree, going through my mind where we would go next. But Chester hadn't taken a dozen steps, when I heard them. Near the house, as good as I could tell, there was the unmistakable sound of contented pigs rooting around, their snorts and grunts soft yet clear.
An interesting thing, pigs might not see very well, but they have noses and ears that make up for it. If you're on horseback though, and the pigs have contact with cattle, they will not recognize you as a threat. Likewise if there are two of you hunting, and you stay close to each others, they'll ignore you. All those legs make them think you are a cow. But I didn't want to risk putting them off, so I reined away from the pigs, circling around the orange trees to the live oak. Luckily I didn't spook them.
Tying Chester off to the tree, I loosened his girth and pulled my H&R top break out of the scabbard. It was one of the first firearms I had bought when I turned eighteen. Navy Arms was just a big gun shop in Ridgefield, NJ at the time and I spent many a memorable afternoon just handling used rifles and shotguns, and the inevitable surplus third-world bolt actions that flooded the gun market in the late 70's. This one was on the used gun rack and it was love at first sight; the heavy barrel has a rich, deep bluing and wears a lovely walnut stock. It cost me $69.00 plus another seven bucks for a couple of boxes of buckshot.
Thumbing the action open, I reached into my pocket and pulled a chocolate brown, plastic cased, thumb thick shell and dropped it into the gaping hole that is a ten gauge chamber; 776 grains of lead kerplunked their way home. I gently closed the color case hardened action, wincing as it locked safe-like shut, afraid that the hogs might hear it. The other shell went between the fore and middle finger of my left hand ala' Peter Capstick. They might not be cape buffalo, but hogs can be dangerous and I wanted to be ready for a quick follow up shot if necessary. Of course I had my six-shooter on my hip, but for dramatic purposes... Well, I could imagine they were M'bogo.
The best way to sneak up on hogs is to move as quickly and quietly as possible while out of sight. Then when you are as close as you can get, get low, use cover, and move slowly. Their eyesight is poor, and if you are low, and an errant breeze doesn't carry your scent to them, you can almost get into their midst's.
Quickly I planned my stalk. I hoofed it back down a row of trees until I figured I was directly opposite the old house. Trying to peer through the lichen covered branches I slipped my way through the tree rows. Finally I could make out the outlines of the dilapidated house. Moving ever more cautiously, I crept forward until I was clear of the trees. The hogs had moved off just a bit from where I thought them to be. I could hear them, the muffled snuffs and grunts evidence that they were still busy rooting and eating. Ahead of me were 30 yards of wet, knee high weeds and then I could take cover behind the house's foundation. The air was still and the light still muted by the cloud cover and fog above.
The advantage of wet grass is that it is very quiet going through it. The disadvantage is that it is Nature's equivalent to a car wash. By the time I had crawled to the foundation I was sopping wet. Since I was pretty excited I didn't really care, more concerned with my stalk than the wet. I would regret it later.
Using the house as cover, I crawled my way to the corner of the water worn limestone foundation. Peering out from around the foundation's corner, I could just make out some movement behind the brush and brambles. Trying to count the number of hogs was almost impossible, the heavy cover concealed some and let them reappear, making it difficult, to say the least. But I could be sure of at least seven. I would have to get on my belly and crawl. Hooking my forefinger over the muzzle and behind the sight, and laying the slug-gun over my forearm and bicep, I got down on my belly and low crawled out from behind the foundation, using the tall grass as cover to reach my next objective, a wide bay laurel bush that was big enough to conceal me. Reaching it, I slowly raised myself up on my arms and peered around the bush. There, directly ahead of me, not 30 yards away was my quarry. From my vantage point I could see that it was a good sized sow without pigs. She had "Roast me!" written all over her. But between me and pork chops was an almost net-like web of vines and stunted trees. My only choice was to wait until she stepped into a clear spot so I could take her. I lowered myself down and tried to get my feet under me.
By the time I was able to get up on my feet I had decided to get my knees replaced with something a little less noisy. Say, a diesel powered lift! It was a wonder that any game animal in the county hadn't been run off by the unnatural pops and snaps that emanated from my joints. Peeking from behind the laurel I could see that they were still there, unconcerned and fortuitously unknowing. Focused on the sow as I was, I didn't notice a youngish pig come out from the screen of palmetto nearer to the house. When I finally did take heed, it was too late to do anything but stand stock still and hope that it didn't cross over my tracks. For once the fates were on my side and out of the corner of my eye I could see that the little pig turned and pranced back to wherever it came from.
That sow, meanwhile, was working herself off to the left of my position. The cover thinned out in that direction and I figured that would be my chance. All she needed to do was root forward five or six more feet and I would have her. I hefted the H&R up and pulled the trigger and as quietly as possible thumbed the hammer back, released the trigger and eased the hammer back down on the sear.
I still had the other shell in my left hand, double checking my grip on it, I slowly, ever so slowly, raised the ten bore up. My eyes were glued to the sow while simultaneously trying to keep an eye on the others. She began to move steadily towards the hole in the brush so I finished tucking the gun into my shoulder and lined up the sights. Many years ago, I had replaced the front blade sight with a large white bead, which incidentally, I tell everyone is a warthog tusk bead, but which actually is a fake ivory one. I find it easy to pick up in dim or bright light, and I think it looks cool with its African Bawana look! A few more steps and I could take her. The bead was nestled in the rear sight's notch; both eyes open, my focus on the one spot on her hide where I would send the bullet.
When she took that fateful step, I squeezed the trigger, the hammer dropped, the gun roared, and all hell broke loose. Barking and snorting, pigs went flying in every direction, up, down, sideways; two sped by me with their afterburners on full. Not one for admiring my shots, I pulled the barrel back down and thumbed the lever over. The svelte action broke and the powerful ejectors promptly shot the hot casing right by my ear. As I slammed the reserve slug down the slugger's maw I looked to where the sow had been. Closing the action, thumb on the hammer, I could see she wasn't where I expected her to be, but I was confident I had hit her.
When one and three-quarter ounces of lead and 3000 pounds of energy hit you, by all rights you should be down, skinned and quartered. It didn't happen that way. Still looking past the shrub I was using, I could see that she just wasn't there. Cracking the H&R open again, carefully this time, as I didn't relish the thought of a fully loaded shell slamming me in the forehead, I pulled the round out and leaned the gun on the shrub. Though I wasn't expecting any trouble, I unlimbered my Vaquero and checked that I had a loaded chamber on line, and thumbed this hammer back.
I quickly walked forwards to were the sow had been and eased my way through the snarled scrub and tangled vines as best I could. As soon as I got near enough to the spot where she had been standing to see well, I could tell that it would be a short trail. Following the trail with my eyes, I saw her not twenty feet away. Lowering the Ruger's hammer, I slipped the six-gun back into its holster.
The slug, traveling at about 1100 fps had taken her low in the chest, right behind the elbow, tracking forward and obliterated the heart, and then punched a fist sized hole out the other side. I went back to where she was standing, and tried to line up the angle of fire. After a little back and forth looking, I found the furrow where the slug had slammed into the ground after passing through the hog. But after a pretty diligent search I couldn't find it. I figure with all the retained momentum it sailed into the next county after skipping along the dirt.
The rest was pretty anti-climactic. After fetching my trusty steed, I stowed all the guns after wiping them down with a silicon impregnated rag I carry in a double ziplock bag. I field dressed the sow, putting the entrails out in the open so our aerial garbage disposal friends would find them easily and clean it up quickly. I had never tried to put anything, other than my kids, on the horses back so when I tried to heave the 150 lbs or so of sow over his rump he just wasn't going to cooperate. It took snubbing him up tight to a tree and a lot of gymnastics on my part to get that pig up on him, but I ultimately prevailed, and I only got stepped on once!
By midmorning, wet, cold and sniffling, I had it at my Mexican friends' home. After much back slapping, merriment and the medicinal use of Bacardi's 151 Anejo rum, of which everyone partook of in case I was contagious, I left them with the promise that I'd be back later that evening for the party!
But that, my friends, is another story!
Best Regards,
Albert
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Monday, April 6, 2009
Soldiers in Afghanistan Getting the Shaft!
.
Folks,
As you know I tend to stay away from politics as a rule. Unless it directly involves the Right to Keep and Bear Arms, or our sporting traditions, I tend to stay out of it.
Well in this particular case I want some help from everyone in getting the politicians to do something for our troops.
We live in a modern age. The kids that are risking their lives for you and I, are accustomed to have their communications available to them everywhere at any time. Imagine being an enlisted man in Afghanistan and having to pay $200.00 a month for a crappy satellite connection. To top it all off, the provider isn't an American company, but rather a foreign national, from countries that we can't be sure are really on our side!
The few of you who have served, know how important it is to be able to communicate with loved ones. With extensions, stop loss orders, and the myriad of hazards these boys have to navigate, shouldn't they have access to their e-mail, websites, blogs, and VOIP?
All I'm asking is that you copy the following note and forward it to your Congressmen and Senators.
It has come to my attention that the honorable and brave young men and women of our armed forces serving in Afghanistan are subject to predatory price gouging by the suppliers of internet access.
There can be no doubt that morale is much higher when you can log on to the Net and get your email. Life in theater is far more bearable when you can log on the internet and see your child on the screen. Everyone wants to talk about the stress of deployment, but here is a morale killer and I am asking you to look into it.
It is high time that these Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines are supplied with free access to the World Wide Web. It is inconceivable that we ask them to sacrifice themselves for our benefit, and then allow unscrupulous individuals to rob them of their pay.
Please investigate this travesty and do what ever is within your power to correct this injustice.
Respectfully Yours,
You guys know the drill. Go to the Sportsman's Survival Links to the right. Find your Congressman and Senator and send them the above note. It took me less than seven minutes to do them all.
Regards,
Albert A Rasch
Folks,
As you know I tend to stay away from politics as a rule. Unless it directly involves the Right to Keep and Bear Arms, or our sporting traditions, I tend to stay out of it.
Well in this particular case I want some help from everyone in getting the politicians to do something for our troops.
We live in a modern age. The kids that are risking their lives for you and I, are accustomed to have their communications available to them everywhere at any time. Imagine being an enlisted man in Afghanistan and having to pay $200.00 a month for a crappy satellite connection. To top it all off, the provider isn't an American company, but rather a foreign national, from countries that we can't be sure are really on our side!
The few of you who have served, know how important it is to be able to communicate with loved ones. With extensions, stop loss orders, and the myriad of hazards these boys have to navigate, shouldn't they have access to their e-mail, websites, blogs, and VOIP?
All I'm asking is that you copy the following note and forward it to your Congressmen and Senators.
It has come to my attention that the honorable and brave young men and women of our armed forces serving in Afghanistan are subject to predatory price gouging by the suppliers of internet access.
There can be no doubt that morale is much higher when you can log on to the Net and get your email. Life in theater is far more bearable when you can log on the internet and see your child on the screen. Everyone wants to talk about the stress of deployment, but here is a morale killer and I am asking you to look into it.
It is high time that these Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines are supplied with free access to the World Wide Web. It is inconceivable that we ask them to sacrifice themselves for our benefit, and then allow unscrupulous individuals to rob them of their pay.
Please investigate this travesty and do what ever is within your power to correct this injustice.
Respectfully Yours,
You guys know the drill. Go to the Sportsman's Survival Links to the right. Find your Congressman and Senator and send them the above note. It took me less than seven minutes to do them all.
Regards,
Albert A Rasch
Disassembling, Cleaning, and Reassembling your Ruger 10/22 Rotary Magazine
© 2009, 2010 Albert A Rasch and
The Rasch Outdoor Chronicles™
$g&m f9bd 45kd q!?5.
Among the skills you should have, being able to disassemble, clean, and reassemble your Ruger 10/22 magazine is important. The Ruger 10/22 rifle is a magnificent piece of engineering. A great firearm, and wonderful American made product. Easily personalized, it can be modified from a bull barreled tack driving machine to a "Tacti-Kool" weapon, at your whim or discretion.
The rotary magazine is another fantastic piece of engineering. But sometimes it fails to feed well. These malfunctions are primarily caused by a dirty magazine. 22 rimfire ammunition is notoriously dirty and causes all sorts of mischief in the works. Though it looks complicated, it really isn't difficult to disassemble, clean, and reassemble the the Ruger rotary magazine. We are going to do a step by step process to make sure you can disassemble and reassemble your 10/22 magazine.
Note from Albert: Mr. Gordon McKinney has graciously created a PDF of the following at his web site http://night-ray.blogspot.com/ The PDF is available at Cleaning your 10/22 Magazine.
Disassembly
The first thing to do is make sure the Ruger 10/22 magazine is unloaded.
Using a 9/64th allen wrench, loosen the screw at the front of the magazine. Don't remove it completely yet.
Push the cap nut out with the screw.
Keep a finger on it to keep it from falling free.
Remove the cap nut, and...
remove the screw.
Remove the magazine's end cap.
Remove the rotor and spring assembly.
Note the little tab on the end of the spring, and the long vane on the rotor.
Remove the feed lips.
Reassembly
You will notice that the feed lips have a large end and a...
a small end.
Replace the feed lips, the large end goes in first, and fits in the large hole.
Insert the rotor until it seats , spring end to the outside.
Once you have the rotor in, turn it clockwise until the long vane bumps up to the feed lips.
Replace end cover. The spring should extend out, and also take note of the spring end tab.
Take note of the small hole in the end cap nut.
The spring's tab must be inserted in that hole to allow the spring to be wound.
Align the spring tab with the hole and slip it on.
Like this.
Rotate the end cap nut eight notches (flats on the hex) clockwise, and press it in place. I found it easiest with my fingers holding the nut and the other hand rotating the magazine. Then I used my thumb to help press the nut in place.
Now, gently tighten the screw making sure it threads properly.
You do not need to wrench it down like a lug nut!
Your clean magazine, ready to be filled and used.
.
Load all ten rounds and check that the magazine operates properly, that all rounds cycle through without hesitation. Use the eraser end of the pencil to quickly strip the cartridges from the magazine. They should all eject easily, and the magazine should pop a new round up flawlessly. If necessary, tighten the end nut one flat at a time until reliable feeding commences. The Ruger 10/22 magazine requires no lubrication. Any oil will cause the magazine to gum up from debris. If you absolutely must because you are the type that has to lubricate things that move, then use powdered graphite.
Clean the Ruger 10/22
Assemble the Ruger 10/22
Regards,
Albert
The Rasch Outdoor Chronicles
The Range Reviews: Tactical
The Rasch Outdoor Chronicles™
$g&m f9bd 45kd q!?5.
Among the skills you should have, being able to disassemble, clean, and reassemble your Ruger 10/22 magazine is important. The Ruger 10/22 rifle is a magnificent piece of engineering. A great firearm, and wonderful American made product. Easily personalized, it can be modified from a bull barreled tack driving machine to a "Tacti-Kool" weapon, at your whim or discretion.
The rotary magazine is another fantastic piece of engineering. But sometimes it fails to feed well. These malfunctions are primarily caused by a dirty magazine. 22 rimfire ammunition is notoriously dirty and causes all sorts of mischief in the works. Though it looks complicated, it really isn't difficult to disassemble, clean, and reassemble the the Ruger rotary magazine. We are going to do a step by step process to make sure you can disassemble and reassemble your 10/22 magazine.
Note from Albert: Mr. Gordon McKinney has graciously created a PDF of the following at his web site http://night-ray.blogspot.com/ The PDF is available at Cleaning your 10/22 Magazine.
Disassembly
The first thing to do is make sure the Ruger 10/22 magazine is unloaded.
Using a 9/64th allen wrench, loosen the screw at the front of the magazine. Don't remove it completely yet.
Push the cap nut out with the screw.Keep a finger on it to keep it from falling free.
Remove the cap nut, and... 
remove the screw.
Remove the magazine's end cap.
Remove the rotor and spring assembly.
Note the little tab on the end of the spring, and the long vane on the rotor.
Remove the feed lips.Now the magazine is completely disassembled. Inspect all the parts for wear or damage, though unless it has been abused, it should be fine. Get some cleaning patches, some Hoppes #9, and a q-tip. Clean everything thoroughly.
Reassembly
You will notice that the feed lips have a large end and a...
a small end.
Replace the feed lips, the large end goes in first, and fits in the large hole.
Insert the rotor until it seats , spring end to the outside.
Once you have the rotor in, turn it clockwise until the long vane bumps up to the feed lips.
Replace end cover. The spring should extend out, and also take note of the spring end tab. 
Take note of the small hole in the end cap nut.The spring's tab must be inserted in that hole to allow the spring to be wound.
Align the spring tab with the hole and slip it on. 
Like this.
Rotate the end cap nut eight notches (flats on the hex) clockwise, and press it in place. I found it easiest with my fingers holding the nut and the other hand rotating the magazine. Then I used my thumb to help press the nut in place.
Now, gently tighten the screw making sure it threads properly.You do not need to wrench it down like a lug nut!
Your clean magazine, ready to be filled and used. .
Load all ten rounds and check that the magazine operates properly, that all rounds cycle through without hesitation. Use the eraser end of the pencil to quickly strip the cartridges from the magazine. They should all eject easily, and the magazine should pop a new round up flawlessly. If necessary, tighten the end nut one flat at a time until reliable feeding commences. The Ruger 10/22 magazine requires no lubrication. Any oil will cause the magazine to gum up from debris. If you absolutely must because you are the type that has to lubricate things that move, then use powdered graphite.
Follow the rest of the maintenance series on the Ruger 10/22:
Disassemble the Ruger 10/22Clean the Ruger 10/22
Assemble the Ruger 10/22
Regards,
Albert
The Rasch Outdoor Chronicles
The Range Reviews: Tactical
Scott Croner Albert A Rasch Albert “Afghanus” Rasch Albert A Rasch Scott Croner Nebraska Hunting Scott Croner, Merriam's Turkey Hunting Albert A Rasch Scott Croner Albert A Rasch Albert “Afghanus” Rasch Albert A Rasch Scott Croner Nebraska Hunting Scott Croner Merriam's Turkey Hunting Albert A Rasch
Sunday, April 5, 2009
Sausage Making, Charcuterie
.
The Craft of Salting, Smoking, and Curing.
Sausages.
Nothing like a fresh, hot off the grill sausage, with scrambled eggs made with just pulled from under a hen eggs, and an ice cold glass of chocolate milk to start a day off right! Throw in some hash browns and a slice of that bread that Miss Jamie taught me to make, with some butter and jam, and it's a good excuse to lallygag over a rich and creamy half and half latte until lunch.
It is one of the fascinating thing about the internet, you can find anything on it! This gentleman, NTSC, does several things, but principally makes sausages, and makes it look pretty easy. His most recent post is for a chicken basil sun dried tomato sausage. If nothing else, just take a look and salivate over his preparations at The Art of the Pig.
This might be the impetus that some of us hog hunters need to make even better use of our quarry! As many of you are undoubtedly doing, making what we have stretch a bit more has become a useful activity. If you happen to have the equipment to turn your deer and hog into delicious cured meats, well you have just added to your repertoire of "survival skills."
Funny, how things that were once necessary for everyday survival are coming back into vogue.
Here are a couple of reference sources for the adventurous:
Regards,
Albert
The Craft of Salting, Smoking, and Curing.Sausages.
Nothing like a fresh, hot off the grill sausage, with scrambled eggs made with just pulled from under a hen eggs, and an ice cold glass of chocolate milk to start a day off right! Throw in some hash browns and a slice of that bread that Miss Jamie taught me to make, with some butter and jam, and it's a good excuse to lallygag over a rich and creamy half and half latte until lunch.
It is one of the fascinating thing about the internet, you can find anything on it! This gentleman, NTSC, does several things, but principally makes sausages, and makes it look pretty easy. His most recent post is for a chicken basil sun dried tomato sausage. If nothing else, just take a look and salivate over his preparations at The Art of the Pig.
This might be the impetus that some of us hog hunters need to make even better use of our quarry! As many of you are undoubtedly doing, making what we have stretch a bit more has become a useful activity. If you happen to have the equipment to turn your deer and hog into delicious cured meats, well you have just added to your repertoire of "survival skills."
Funny, how things that were once necessary for everyday survival are coming back into vogue.
Here are a couple of reference sources for the adventurous:
Regards,
Albert
Thursday, April 2, 2009
The Ethical Question, Hunting or Shooting?
© 20009, 2010 Albert A Rasch™ and
The Rasch Outdoor Chronicles
$g&m f9bd 45kd q!?5.
Last week we delved into the High Fence and Preserve Hunting question. Again I wanted to thank all of you for participating so enthusiastically and professionally. You do all sportsmen a great honor and service.
After carefully reading the post and comments, the impression is that the real question is about the ethics of shooting behind fences or enclosures. Is it ethical to shoot an animal in an enclosure and still call it hunting. Several comments were made questioning the ethics of doing so. But careful review of the conversation yielded no reasons for questioning the ethics of the activity. It is reasonable to suppose one man's ethics are another's moral morass.
At this point ethics and morals seem to be intertwined so tightly as to be indistinguishable. The easiest way to separate them is to define them. Morals are something that we all agree upon ie: killing for the sake of killing is wrong; broad general ideas. Whereas ethics are our method for assuring a moral outcome to any of our actions, or how we define our values. Those of you that are philosophy majors or philosophers please feel free to correct my definitions.
I propose that we dissect what transpires when we pull the trigger. At what point do we have to consciously make a decision as to whether the shot is righteous or not. Is there an ethical checklist that one must complete if and when he is to pull the trigger? Does it matter if you are feeding your family or killing for horns and antlers. What are the objective values that we need in order to make an ethical kill.
Much of it is subjective. Do you consciously decide if pulling the trigger will be ethical when it's a rat? Most will strive to humanely end the rodent' s life by shooting carefully and with purpose.
It becomes stickier when the competitive nature of the human race comes into play. You've paid $4500 for a three day guided Mule Deer hunt. You brought the wife along, and she's been fawning over the broad shouldered guide. You know that your comfort zone is inside of 125 yards. Your guide gets you to just inside of 270 yards on a broad racked 4X4. He puts down his laser range finder and tells you it is 270 yards. He says it's big and tells you to take the shot. He puts his 10X Stetson down for your rifle to rest on for God's sake.
What do you do?
That would be determined by your definition of right or wrong, your ethics.
Is it a 30/30 or 300 Winchester Magnum.
Your knowledge of the ballistics table.
Have you any experience at 300 yards
Can you whip the guide if you mess it up and he chortles about it up at the lodge.
In front of the other hunters... and your wife.
Well maybe that last one doesn't count, but I sure as hell would add it to my equation.
I don't care how big the deer is, if I had a Winchester 94 in thirty-thirty I wouldn't shoot. That's the extent of my decision making process on that particular scenario. I know what I'm capable of and I leave it at that. Whereas with my Weatherby 30/06 I might consider the shot determined by the particular scenario.
Now, if I am in an enclosed property, it would depend upon my perception of whether I earned that deer ; did I work for it. First thing, why am I there? In my particular case, it wouldn't be for a magnificent specimen of that species. No, I would either be shooting culls for meat, or hunting a representative example of the species.
If I was shooting for meat I wouldn't take the shot. I'm there for meat not a big deer. If I was there for antlers, I would take the shot assuming in this case that I had fulfilled my personal criteria for an acceptable hunting experience, and I was comfortable with the probability of that shot.
"A Trophy is a Trophy is a Trophy, and to each his own." Adds Mike Riddle of Native Hunt. "My Trophy might not make P&Y or B&C or S.C.I. books but, it will always remain "MY" Trophy each and every time I look upon it, and reflect on that particular hunt while reliving the most vivid of memories which are conjured up from that hunt."
My primary game species is the feral hog. Most of the time hogs are baited, but in my particular case, I ambush them on their way to the bait, that's what I prefer. I've also ridden in doorless vehicles, four wheelers, and on horseback in pursuit of them, and chased them with dogs. Many of these hunts are less than an hour long from start to finish, but they are hunting expeditions none the less. Personally I have never shot an animal from or even near a vehicle. But I have dismounted and stalked into position to take a killing shot.
Traditions also play an important factor in what we consider ethical. In the south, you chase deer with dogs. When I moved here I was aghast! Up north you shoot dogs that chase deer! But after consideration of the effect, the traditions, and the sport, I concluded that it was just another method of hunting. Interestingly enough I consider hunting hog, bear, or lions with hounds the height of hunting. Well, the height would be wild boar, hounds, horses and lances.
In some areas up north you can bait bear. That is an acceptable means of hunting for those areas. If the management goals of that area were negatively impacted by the practice then it is well within the scope of scientists in the management division to curtail the practice. It is not acceptable for others to deny the practice because they feel it is unethical.
The Hodgeman, otherwise known as Mike Rodgers, as always, does a great job of illustrating the discussion:
"When we step outside of our culture and examine hunting traditions of other cultures the ideas get more outside our realm of experience. When I first moved to Alaska and saw some of the hunting practices in Western AK I was appalled. Shooting swimming caribou from boats, baiting bears, setnets, killing whales- among other things. It took me a while to realize this was a trip to the "store" and the people involved didn't want the experience to be "sporting" because it was their method of survival. Is it ethical- certainly. Moral- I think so. Is it for me- no."
"What passes as ethical for a resident of the Y-K delta who's surviving from nature suddenly becomes unethical if I do it- because its not ethical in the culture I exist in."
"Common practices in my culture- catch and release fishing, shooting large bulls not fit for consumption, even fair chase are looked at as disrespectful of nature from a subsistence perspective."
Mike, thanks for helping refine the discussion.
Though I have absolutely no interest in ever harpooning a whale, I appreciate the skill and Inuit hunter's natural acumen when pursuing them. I also respect the scientists who determine what numbers may be taken, as long as it's science and not politics determining the numbers.
If we were to carefully analyze most situations that we commonly come into contention, we would find that in the end it is not you or I that can honestly say whether the action or activity is "hunting." Only the person in that moment, in that experience, can truly decide whether it is or isn't hunting.
My good friend Rick Kratzke (Whitetail Woods)has given some thought to how he defines his ethics.
"Ethics is a tricky word, but what I will tell you from my experience is this:
Now I know everyone has there own definition of what ethics means to them, but in the end if you hunt legally and harvest humanely, (the least amount of suffering to the animal), then you have done right."
An excellent synopsis of one person's ethical criteria for squeezing the trigger.
If you don't desire to participate in a particular form of hunting, or if you disapprove of a certain practice, then you are well within your rights to discuss it with others. But to discredit it or make claims that you cannot substantiate, that is wrong. We have enough opponents without making more of them within our own ranks.
I want to close with this, an observation from Holly Heyser, our own NorcalCazadora.
"If you let people argue about methods of killing (beyond the essential mandate of avoid cruelty/excessive suffering), they forget the simple fact that 96.8 percent of American adults eat things that used to have beating hearts. Wrap yourself in complicated ethical schemes and it becomes easier to marginalize some hunters; define hunting as one method in a larger system in which humans eat animals, and suddenly you can't separate us from the non-hunters - the only remaining divide is vegetarian v. meat eater, and we WAY outnumber the vegetarians."
Among the many things that we need:
Best Regards,
Albert A Rasch™
Member: Kandahar Tent Club
Member: Hunting Sportsmen of the United States HSUS (Let 'em sue me.)
The Hunt Continues...
Though he spends most of his time writing and keeping the world safe for democracy, Albert was actually a student of biology. Really. But after a stint as a lab tech performing repetitious and mind-numbing processes that a trained capuchin monkey could do better, he never returned to the field. Rather he became a bartender. As he once said, "Hell, I was feeding mice all sorts of concoctions. At the club I did the same thing; except I got paid a lot better, and the rats where bigger." He has followed the science of QDM for many years, and fancies himself an aficionado. If you have any questions, or just want to get more information, reach him via TheRaschOutdoorChronicles(at)MSN(dot)com.
The Rasch Outdoor Chronicles
$g&m f9bd 45kd q!?5.
Hello Everyone! Once again this is work in progress. We will continue to modify, add, and refine as the conversation continues. You will notice that I have added permanent links somewhere over there to the left.
Albert
Last week we delved into the High Fence and Preserve Hunting question. Again I wanted to thank all of you for participating so enthusiastically and professionally. You do all sportsmen a great honor and service.
After carefully reading the post and comments, the impression is that the real question is about the ethics of shooting behind fences or enclosures. Is it ethical to shoot an animal in an enclosure and still call it hunting. Several comments were made questioning the ethics of doing so. But careful review of the conversation yielded no reasons for questioning the ethics of the activity. It is reasonable to suppose one man's ethics are another's moral morass.
At this point ethics and morals seem to be intertwined so tightly as to be indistinguishable. The easiest way to separate them is to define them. Morals are something that we all agree upon ie: killing for the sake of killing is wrong; broad general ideas. Whereas ethics are our method for assuring a moral outcome to any of our actions, or how we define our values. Those of you that are philosophy majors or philosophers please feel free to correct my definitions.
I propose that we dissect what transpires when we pull the trigger. At what point do we have to consciously make a decision as to whether the shot is righteous or not. Is there an ethical checklist that one must complete if and when he is to pull the trigger? Does it matter if you are feeding your family or killing for horns and antlers. What are the objective values that we need in order to make an ethical kill.
Much of it is subjective. Do you consciously decide if pulling the trigger will be ethical when it's a rat? Most will strive to humanely end the rodent' s life by shooting carefully and with purpose.
It becomes stickier when the competitive nature of the human race comes into play. You've paid $4500 for a three day guided Mule Deer hunt. You brought the wife along, and she's been fawning over the broad shouldered guide. You know that your comfort zone is inside of 125 yards. Your guide gets you to just inside of 270 yards on a broad racked 4X4. He puts down his laser range finder and tells you it is 270 yards. He says it's big and tells you to take the shot. He puts his 10X Stetson down for your rifle to rest on for God's sake.
What do you do?
That would be determined by your definition of right or wrong, your ethics.
Is it a 30/30 or 300 Winchester Magnum.
Your knowledge of the ballistics table.
Have you any experience at 300 yards
Can you whip the guide if you mess it up and he chortles about it up at the lodge.
In front of the other hunters... and your wife.
Well maybe that last one doesn't count, but I sure as hell would add it to my equation.
I don't care how big the deer is, if I had a Winchester 94 in thirty-thirty I wouldn't shoot. That's the extent of my decision making process on that particular scenario. I know what I'm capable of and I leave it at that. Whereas with my Weatherby 30/06 I might consider the shot determined by the particular scenario.
Now, if I am in an enclosed property, it would depend upon my perception of whether I earned that deer ; did I work for it. First thing, why am I there? In my particular case, it wouldn't be for a magnificent specimen of that species. No, I would either be shooting culls for meat, or hunting a representative example of the species.
If I was shooting for meat I wouldn't take the shot. I'm there for meat not a big deer. If I was there for antlers, I would take the shot assuming in this case that I had fulfilled my personal criteria for an acceptable hunting experience, and I was comfortable with the probability of that shot.
"A Trophy is a Trophy is a Trophy, and to each his own." Adds Mike Riddle of Native Hunt. "My Trophy might not make P&Y or B&C or S.C.I. books but, it will always remain "MY" Trophy each and every time I look upon it, and reflect on that particular hunt while reliving the most vivid of memories which are conjured up from that hunt."
My primary game species is the feral hog. Most of the time hogs are baited, but in my particular case, I ambush them on their way to the bait, that's what I prefer. I've also ridden in doorless vehicles, four wheelers, and on horseback in pursuit of them, and chased them with dogs. Many of these hunts are less than an hour long from start to finish, but they are hunting expeditions none the less. Personally I have never shot an animal from or even near a vehicle. But I have dismounted and stalked into position to take a killing shot.
Traditions also play an important factor in what we consider ethical. In the south, you chase deer with dogs. When I moved here I was aghast! Up north you shoot dogs that chase deer! But after consideration of the effect, the traditions, and the sport, I concluded that it was just another method of hunting. Interestingly enough I consider hunting hog, bear, or lions with hounds the height of hunting. Well, the height would be wild boar, hounds, horses and lances.
In some areas up north you can bait bear. That is an acceptable means of hunting for those areas. If the management goals of that area were negatively impacted by the practice then it is well within the scope of scientists in the management division to curtail the practice. It is not acceptable for others to deny the practice because they feel it is unethical.
The Hodgeman, otherwise known as Mike Rodgers, as always, does a great job of illustrating the discussion:
"When we step outside of our culture and examine hunting traditions of other cultures the ideas get more outside our realm of experience. When I first moved to Alaska and saw some of the hunting practices in Western AK I was appalled. Shooting swimming caribou from boats, baiting bears, setnets, killing whales- among other things. It took me a while to realize this was a trip to the "store" and the people involved didn't want the experience to be "sporting" because it was their method of survival. Is it ethical- certainly. Moral- I think so. Is it for me- no."
"What passes as ethical for a resident of the Y-K delta who's surviving from nature suddenly becomes unethical if I do it- because its not ethical in the culture I exist in."
"Common practices in my culture- catch and release fishing, shooting large bulls not fit for consumption, even fair chase are looked at as disrespectful of nature from a subsistence perspective."
Mike, thanks for helping refine the discussion.
Though I have absolutely no interest in ever harpooning a whale, I appreciate the skill and Inuit hunter's natural acumen when pursuing them. I also respect the scientists who determine what numbers may be taken, as long as it's science and not politics determining the numbers.
If we were to carefully analyze most situations that we commonly come into contention, we would find that in the end it is not you or I that can honestly say whether the action or activity is "hunting." Only the person in that moment, in that experience, can truly decide whether it is or isn't hunting.
My good friend Rick Kratzke (Whitetail Woods)has given some thought to how he defines his ethics.
"Ethics is a tricky word, but what I will tell you from my experience is this:
- I don't shoot unless I feel I can make the shot.
- I take pride in following the laws and regulations set forth by the state I live in.
- I don't harvest anything unless I intend to eat it
- I don't harvest anymore than I can consume in one year unless I am donating it to the homeless.
- I can honestly say I have passed up deer when I could have shot, but didn't, because it was not legal to do so.
Now I know everyone has there own definition of what ethics means to them, but in the end if you hunt legally and harvest humanely, (the least amount of suffering to the animal), then you have done right."
An excellent synopsis of one person's ethical criteria for squeezing the trigger.
If you don't desire to participate in a particular form of hunting, or if you disapprove of a certain practice, then you are well within your rights to discuss it with others. But to discredit it or make claims that you cannot substantiate, that is wrong. We have enough opponents without making more of them within our own ranks.
I want to close with this, an observation from Holly Heyser, our own NorcalCazadora.
"If you let people argue about methods of killing (beyond the essential mandate of avoid cruelty/excessive suffering), they forget the simple fact that 96.8 percent of American adults eat things that used to have beating hearts. Wrap yourself in complicated ethical schemes and it becomes easier to marginalize some hunters; define hunting as one method in a larger system in which humans eat animals, and suddenly you can't separate us from the non-hunters - the only remaining divide is vegetarian v. meat eater, and we WAY outnumber the vegetarians."
Among the many things that we need:
- Scholarly works that we should all be familiar with. Holly Heyser has a post on must read texts on hunting traditions and philosophies: "Books About Hunting ..."
- Solid science in layman's terms for all of us to be able to grasp easily and use in our own defense.
Again this is a work in progress. I'll be adding to it as the discussion builds. Thank you everyone for your participation an help!
Best Regards,
Albert A Rasch™
Member: Kandahar Tent Club
Member: Hunting Sportsmen of the United States HSUS (Let 'em sue me.)
The Hunt Continues...
Though he spends most of his time writing and keeping the world safe for democracy, Albert was actually a student of biology. Really. But after a stint as a lab tech performing repetitious and mind-numbing processes that a trained capuchin monkey could do better, he never returned to the field. Rather he became a bartender. As he once said, "Hell, I was feeding mice all sorts of concoctions. At the club I did the same thing; except I got paid a lot better, and the rats where bigger." He has followed the science of QDM for many years, and fancies himself an aficionado. If you have any questions, or just want to get more information, reach him via TheRaschOutdoorChronicles(at)MSN(dot)com.Wednesday, April 1, 2009
Blogs of Note: Average Joe's Handgun Reviews
.
Average Joe's NightHawk Lady Hawk
Photo by Average Joe's
Here is a nicely done Blog with nothing but good looking handguns in it. The pictures are well executed and artful. The content is excellent and informative.
The only things I find aggravating, and it's just a minor personal gripe, is that there is no comment section, and you can't open each post in its own window unless you click on the little time stamp on the bottom of the post! It makes it more challenging to link and have a good time throwing quips back and forth!
Here it is: Average Joe's Handgun Reviews Go and enjoy yourselves!
Best Regards,
Albert
Average Joe's NightHawk Lady HawkPhoto by Average Joe's
The only things I find aggravating, and it's just a minor personal gripe, is that there is no comment section, and you can't open each post in its own window unless you click on the little time stamp on the bottom of the post! It makes it more challenging to link and have a good time throwing quips back and forth!
Here it is: Average Joe's Handgun Reviews Go and enjoy yourselves!
Best Regards,
Albert
Making Jerky, Making Biltong; Either Way it Tastes Great!
© 2009 -2011 Albert A Rasch and
The Rasch Outdoor Chronicles
$g&m f9bd 45kd q!?5.
Some time ago, my "compatriota" Mike from Native Hunt asked me about drying meat without smoke or heat. Coincidentally my good friend Ed, over at Wild Ed's Texas Outdoors, happens to have put together a fantastic tutorial on making Jerky American style. Excuse me, make that Texas style! (You might remember that he also did a great tutorial post on European style skull mounts.) Making jerky is a great way to stock up on some healthy snacks after the hunting season is over and it is a great skill to have regardless. Wild Ed's Texas Style Jerky takes you step by step on the artful and tasty way to make some homemade jerky.
Now, I'm a big fan of biltong, and making it via the southern Africa method of drying meats. There is nothing more delicious than the rich taste of meat that a well dried piece of biltong has.
I make my own using a couple of methods. Both are done indoors; one using the AC air handler, and the other a cardboard box and a fan. They both work about the same, though the AC method is about a day or two faster.
First thing you need is a hunk of meat. You can use beef, deer, elk, any of the deers (fallow, axis, etc). This does not work with pork, and for some reason, I seem to recall that it shouldn't be done with pronghorn antelope.
Cut it with the grain in slices about an inch thick. Cut them into half inch thick strips. Sprinkle them well with salt, and put them in a container over night in the fridge. The next day take them out of the fridge, rinse them off and dry them with a paper towel. Now you can use whatever spices you prefer. I like granulated garlic, Old Bay Seasoning, or Everglades Heat on mine. Now it's time to go and dry your biltong.
With the AC method you need to have an air handler unit that allows you access and enough depth to allow meat to hang freely. It also helps if your wife won't notice the smell of meat, garlic, and pepper wafting throughout the house.
Just hang the meat in the air handler. I used some wire to make a rack inside the air handler.
I have found that paper clips are by far the easiest thing to use to hang the meat from. Just un-bend them into an "S" shape, and skewer the end of the strip on it.
The cardboard box is real easy also. Obtain a tall narrow box; the type used by movers is great. They are about eighteen inches square and four feet high. Get some 3/8th inch dowels and space them out two inches apart, about two inches below the top. Cut a slot six to eight inches high and as wide as the box an inch off the bottom. This is the air entry. Now cut slots, one inch in height and about twelve inches wide on each side near the top, these are the exit holes. Open the top, and hang the meat making sure it doesn't touch either the box or an adjoining piece.
Close the top, plug the fan in and aim it at the intake slot, and wait.
Tom of Boomers and BS knows a thing or two about Biltong. He added the following:
"A 40 watt bulb in a proper socket wired safely in a board at the bottom of the box a decent distance below the meat hangers works as well as a fan in a cardboard box if you build it of wood. Some sort of drip screening/drip tray(s) (Maybe a big #10 can with holes in the sides. Albert) over the bulb itself and for general purposes of keeping things tidy helps. Ventilation holes (with screen door mesh behind them to keep flies out) in the box towards the upper end and on the top and pay attention to electrical and fire safety in your design.
Bulb design works better/faster than the fan design in cooler climates. Combination of both works too. Friend of mine built his with a lightbulb and a PC cooling fan to ventilate it."
The way to test the meat is to take slices off the end. If it's not dry enough for you, let it dry another day. I like mine a little on the wet side.
Things to remember, you need to do this in a climate controlled area. In other words, indoors because the relative humidity is constant. My guess is that you could do this outdoors if you knew that you would have stable temperatures and low humidity for four or five days. You just need a constant breeze to carry off any moisture being released."
Tom also added, "In Africa it's usually done open air, outside, in what amount to mesh tents/cabinets to keep the flies off. Not sure about pronghorn but almost all the biltong I have eaten in Africa was from the Antelope family, most especially Impala. Not uncommon for locals to convert near an entire Impala to biltong."
Pepper is a great fly repellent, if you're going to try this outdoors.
Now biltong is delicious, and it is very easy to eat the equivalent of two pounds of meat in a twenty minute sitting. You have been warned!
Best Regards,
Albert A Rasch™
Member: Kandahar Tent Club
Member: Hunting Sportsmen of the United States HSUS (Let 'em sue me.)
The Hunt Continues...
Though he spends most of his time writing and keeping the world safe for democracy, Albert was actually a student of biology. Really. But after a stint as a lab tech performing repetitious and mind-numbing processes that a trained capuchin monkey could do better, he never returned to the field. Rather he became a bartender. As he once said, "Hell, I was feeding mice all sorts of concoctions. At the club I did the same thing; except I got paid a lot better, and the rats where bigger." He has followed the science of QDM for many years, and fancies himself an aficionado. If you have any questions, or just want to get more information, reach him via TheRaschOutdoorChronicles(at)MSN(dot)com.
The Rasch Outdoor Chronicles
$g&m f9bd 45kd q!?5.
Some time ago, my "compatriota" Mike from Native Hunt asked me about drying meat without smoke or heat. Coincidentally my good friend Ed, over at Wild Ed's Texas Outdoors, happens to have put together a fantastic tutorial on making Jerky American style. Excuse me, make that Texas style! (You might remember that he also did a great tutorial post on European style skull mounts.) Making jerky is a great way to stock up on some healthy snacks after the hunting season is over and it is a great skill to have regardless. Wild Ed's Texas Style Jerky takes you step by step on the artful and tasty way to make some homemade jerky.
Now, I'm a big fan of biltong, and making it via the southern Africa method of drying meats. There is nothing more delicious than the rich taste of meat that a well dried piece of biltong has.
I make my own using a couple of methods. Both are done indoors; one using the AC air handler, and the other a cardboard box and a fan. They both work about the same, though the AC method is about a day or two faster.
First thing you need is a hunk of meat. You can use beef, deer, elk, any of the deers (fallow, axis, etc). This does not work with pork, and for some reason, I seem to recall that it shouldn't be done with pronghorn antelope.
Cut it with the grain in slices about an inch thick. Cut them into half inch thick strips. Sprinkle them well with salt, and put them in a container over night in the fridge. The next day take them out of the fridge, rinse them off and dry them with a paper towel. Now you can use whatever spices you prefer. I like granulated garlic, Old Bay Seasoning, or Everglades Heat on mine. Now it's time to go and dry your biltong.
With the AC method you need to have an air handler unit that allows you access and enough depth to allow meat to hang freely. It also helps if your wife won't notice the smell of meat, garlic, and pepper wafting throughout the house.
Just hang the meat in the air handler. I used some wire to make a rack inside the air handler.
I have found that paper clips are by far the easiest thing to use to hang the meat from. Just un-bend them into an "S" shape, and skewer the end of the strip on it.
The cardboard box is real easy also. Obtain a tall narrow box; the type used by movers is great. They are about eighteen inches square and four feet high. Get some 3/8th inch dowels and space them out two inches apart, about two inches below the top. Cut a slot six to eight inches high and as wide as the box an inch off the bottom. This is the air entry. Now cut slots, one inch in height and about twelve inches wide on each side near the top, these are the exit holes. Open the top, and hang the meat making sure it doesn't touch either the box or an adjoining piece.
Close the top, plug the fan in and aim it at the intake slot, and wait.
Tom of Boomers and BS knows a thing or two about Biltong. He added the following:
"A 40 watt bulb in a proper socket wired safely in a board at the bottom of the box a decent distance below the meat hangers works as well as a fan in a cardboard box if you build it of wood. Some sort of drip screening/drip tray(s) (Maybe a big #10 can with holes in the sides. Albert) over the bulb itself and for general purposes of keeping things tidy helps. Ventilation holes (with screen door mesh behind them to keep flies out) in the box towards the upper end and on the top and pay attention to electrical and fire safety in your design.
Bulb design works better/faster than the fan design in cooler climates. Combination of both works too. Friend of mine built his with a lightbulb and a PC cooling fan to ventilate it."
The way to test the meat is to take slices off the end. If it's not dry enough for you, let it dry another day. I like mine a little on the wet side.
Things to remember, you need to do this in a climate controlled area. In other words, indoors because the relative humidity is constant. My guess is that you could do this outdoors if you knew that you would have stable temperatures and low humidity for four or five days. You just need a constant breeze to carry off any moisture being released."
Tom also added, "In Africa it's usually done open air, outside, in what amount to mesh tents/cabinets to keep the flies off. Not sure about pronghorn but almost all the biltong I have eaten in Africa was from the Antelope family, most especially Impala. Not uncommon for locals to convert near an entire Impala to biltong."
Pepper is a great fly repellent, if you're going to try this outdoors.
Now biltong is delicious, and it is very easy to eat the equivalent of two pounds of meat in a twenty minute sitting. You have been warned!
Best Regards,
Albert A Rasch™
Member: Kandahar Tent Club
Member: Hunting Sportsmen of the United States HSUS (Let 'em sue me.)
The Hunt Continues...
Though he spends most of his time writing and keeping the world safe for democracy, Albert was actually a student of biology. Really. But after a stint as a lab tech performing repetitious and mind-numbing processes that a trained capuchin monkey could do better, he never returned to the field. Rather he became a bartender. As he once said, "Hell, I was feeding mice all sorts of concoctions. At the club I did the same thing; except I got paid a lot better, and the rats where bigger." He has followed the science of QDM for many years, and fancies himself an aficionado. If you have any questions, or just want to get more information, reach him via TheRaschOutdoorChronicles(at)MSN(dot)com.
Helping Manatees Survive
.
Manatee and her... ummm...little baby.
It is that time of the year again when the FWC urges boaters to follow the posted speed zones and watch for manatees as temperatures warm. Manatees are once again moving from warm water sites to coastal areas where they forage for food, rest and care for their young.
Unfortunately the number of documented manatee deaths resulting from watercraft strikes was higher than average statewide from December to March 27. It was particularly high in the southeastern region of Florida where necropsy results show that at least 17 manatees died from boat strikes from irresponsible boat handling . The FWC has been carefully following the mortality numbers, and researchers have provided regular updates to management and law enforcement, regarding the location and movement of manatees. FWC’s Division of Law Enforcement used the information to direct patrols in the areas of concern.
Manatee and her... ummm...little baby.It is that time of the year again when the FWC urges boaters to follow the posted speed zones and watch for manatees as temperatures warm. Manatees are once again moving from warm water sites to coastal areas where they forage for food, rest and care for their young.
Unfortunately the number of documented manatee deaths resulting from watercraft strikes was higher than average statewide from December to March 27. It was particularly high in the southeastern region of Florida where necropsy results show that at least 17 manatees died from boat strikes from irresponsible boat handling . The FWC has been carefully following the mortality numbers, and researchers have provided regular updates to management and law enforcement, regarding the location and movement of manatees. FWC’s Division of Law Enforcement used the information to direct patrols in the areas of concern.
The public is encouraged to call FWC’s Wildlife Alert hotline, 1-888-404-FWCC (3922) to report any dead or injured manatees.
Now with the warmer temperatures, manatees will be vulnerable as they migrate and forage in the same waterways shared by many boaters along the Gulf and Atlantic coasts.
“Boaters can help manatees have a safe migration by staying in marked channels, wearing polarized sunglasses to improve vision, obeying posted boat speed zones and having someone help scan the water when under way.” said Kipp Frohlich, leader of the FWC’s Imperiled Species Management Section.
During warm weather, some waterways will have more restrictive waterway speed zones. Boaters in Citrus, Hillsborough, Lee, Pinellas and Volusia counties should be aware of speed zone changes in a few manatee habitat locations.
For more information about manatees, visit MyFWC.com/manatee/.
New! Sasquatch Jerky from Jerky.com
.
Folks,
You're not going to believe this. My friends at Jerky.com have a very special jerky for that connoisseur that you know.
Sasquatch Jerky
I know what you are thinking, "Sasquatch; big, furry, ape looking thing?"
That's right.
Only through the hard work and perseverance of the the Jerky.com acquisitions team has such a delicacy been made available to you, the discriminating Jerky aficionado.
I can't phrase it any better than the chefs at Jerky.com:
"Look no further! Straight from the Pacific Northwest region of the United States comes this rare, mouth-watering, flavor packed snack. Jerky.com is proud to introduce its signature brand Sasquatch jerky, made only from fresh, hormone-free Sasquatch meat. Prepared the old fashioned way, our hand-sliced strips of 100% premium choice Sasquatch meat are seasoned and marinated to perfection to provide you with the best product available...guaranteed."
How can you go wrong?
Jerky.com
1-877-97-Jerky
Sasquatch Jerky
Only $499.00
Folks,
You're not going to believe this. My friends at Jerky.com have a very special jerky for that connoisseur that you know.
Sasquatch Jerky
I know what you are thinking, "Sasquatch; big, furry, ape looking thing?"
That's right.
Only through the hard work and perseverance of the the Jerky.com acquisitions team has such a delicacy been made available to you, the discriminating Jerky aficionado.
I can't phrase it any better than the chefs at Jerky.com:
"Look no further! Straight from the Pacific Northwest region of the United States comes this rare, mouth-watering, flavor packed snack. Jerky.com is proud to introduce its signature brand Sasquatch jerky, made only from fresh, hormone-free Sasquatch meat. Prepared the old fashioned way, our hand-sliced strips of 100% premium choice Sasquatch meat are seasoned and marinated to perfection to provide you with the best product available...guaranteed."
How can you go wrong?
Jerky.com
1-877-97-Jerky
Sasquatch Jerky
Only $499.00
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