We didn't bag a deer this year but we still had a great time. We moved positions the last day but no deer were insight. At least we didn't see them where we had been hunting. Some years just don't turn out too productive in terms of meat but still productive in terms of quality time. My son and I enjoyed many hours of spending time together. Another blessing is that we hunt where I grew up and each hunting trip involved spending time with my parents which was great for my son and his grandparents.
One of the great things about hunting is spending time with family. When hunting involves three generations the time is even more special. There were no deer in this area when I was growing up so we spent our time quail hunting and squirrel hunting. It is great to spend time in the same woods as I spent with my Dad and Grandfather. Unfortunately my son never got the pleasure of meeting my grandfather but through our hunting trips it seemed that he was with us enjoying the experience with us.
It is good that hunting success isn't measured strictly in terms of the number of animals that are taken (especially since most of our trips do not end in a trip to the deer processor). As we say all the time, "that is why they call it hunting and not shooting."
This blog is dedicated to the great outdoors. It is named in honor of Spring Creek located in North Alabma where many outdoor experiences are available for people that enjoy the great outdoors.
Monday, January 30, 2012
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
One More Chance
My son and I have one more chance to bag a deer this hunting season. The last weekend of the hunting season brings many memories although we haven't killed a deer this year. We will be spending the day near our usual hunting location. We have seen deer but haven't taken a shot because they were too far away. We are going to adjust our hunting location to hopefully get a little closer to where they have been crossing. I know Murphy's law says they will come out where we have been hunting but we are going to give it a shot.
Sunday, January 22, 2012
Coyote Hunting
As deer season winds down many hunters look towards coyotes as a way to keep hunting until the weather warms enough to start fishing. I am not very experienced at coyote hunting but here is a great article about hunting hunting. Click here got the article.
Saturday, January 21, 2012
Alabama Fish Species
Here is a great site showing the various species of fish in Alabama. The picture are great and it has great information about each species. Click here for the link.
Rain Out
The hunting season is winding down and the weather will not cooperate with us. This was the next to last weekend to hunt and thunderstorms put a damper on our hunting trips. A little rain is one thing but flooding and thunderstorms is not my idea of good hunting conditions. We are now aiming for next Saturday which will be our last chance to fill the freezer this year.
How to Age Your Buck
I hope this article helps you learn how to age your deer.. Personally I have read articles and watch people do it and I still don't get it but maybe it will help you.
Click here for the article and good luck.
Click here for the article and good luck.
Wildlife Management 101
Here is a great article about managing deer, elk, and it answers the question, "Why do we hunt turkeys in the Spring." Click here for the article
Friday, January 20, 2012
Cooking Fish
Here is an article from Frshwater Fishing Blog. I hope you enjoy it.
How To Cook Your Freshwater Fish
So you’ve caught your favorite freshwater fish – congratulations! How are you going to cook it? Well …
If you’d like some tips on how to make your fish taste as good as it can, I think you’ll like today’s guest post by Benjamin Castillo!
10 Cooking Tips for Freshwater Catches
According to the American Heart Association, two servings of fish per week provide omega-3 fatty acids, which can prevent plaque buildup and may help reduce triglyceride levels in the blood. While this comes as good news to seafood lovers, many others are apprehensive about adding fish to their diet, simply because they don’t know how to prepare it in such a way so it will taste good. However, this can be remedied without having to take classes at one of the many cooking schools found online. Read on to discover some tips that will help you get the most flavor out of your freshwater fish.
1.) Make sure the fish you’re using is fresh. Fresh fish should not smell fishy, and should have a moist, shiny appearance with rosy pink gills.
2.) Be careful not to use too much water when cleaning your fish, as this tends to firm the meat.
3.) Consider the type of fish you are preparing. The color of the meat, its flavor and its texture all play a role in determining the best cooking method. Fish with lighter meat, such as catfish, should be broiled or poached, while darker, firmer meats, like that found on trout, can benefit from the enhanced smokiness of the grill.
4.) Know when to say “when” during the cooking process. Fish is done when it is white in color and is flaky. If you overcook your fish, you will end up with a tough and flavorless piece of meat.
5.) If you are considering frying your fish, stick with a dryer fish, like trout, rather than one that contains a lot of oil, such as salmon. Fish with a lot of oil will stay too moist for any breading to properly adhere and crisp, resulting in a soggy mess.
6.) Deep frying is a popular method for cooking catfish. However be sure that whatever oil you decide to use will not smoke or burn at or below 375 degrees, as this temperature is required to properly deep fry your fish.
7.) When grilling meatier fish, consider using indirect heat. This will slow down the cooking process, allowing the center of the fish to cook without burning the outer skin.
8.) A common mistake that people make when cooking fish is turning it too many times. If the fish is less than a half-inch thick, no turning is required.
9.) Cooking fish in the microwave can be problematic, due to the inability to constantly view the fish. A good rule of thumb is to cook fish for about eight to ten minutes per inch of thickness.
10.) One of the best parts about cooking fish is that any leftovers can be frozen. Leaner fish can last up to six months, while fattier fish only last about three months. Regardless, leftover fish should be thrown away when the meat becomes mushy.
Clearly freshwater fish are an excellent addition to any diet. However, cooking a delicious meal using these fish doesn’t have to be a mysterious process. With a little research and practice, anyone can create a delicious, nutritious meal for their friends and family!
Thank you Benjamin!
How To Cook Your Freshwater Fish
So you’ve caught your favorite freshwater fish – congratulations! How are you going to cook it? Well …
If you’d like some tips on how to make your fish taste as good as it can, I think you’ll like today’s guest post by Benjamin Castillo!
10 Cooking Tips for Freshwater Catches
According to the American Heart Association, two servings of fish per week provide omega-3 fatty acids, which can prevent plaque buildup and may help reduce triglyceride levels in the blood. While this comes as good news to seafood lovers, many others are apprehensive about adding fish to their diet, simply because they don’t know how to prepare it in such a way so it will taste good. However, this can be remedied without having to take classes at one of the many cooking schools found online. Read on to discover some tips that will help you get the most flavor out of your freshwater fish.
1.) Make sure the fish you’re using is fresh. Fresh fish should not smell fishy, and should have a moist, shiny appearance with rosy pink gills.
2.) Be careful not to use too much water when cleaning your fish, as this tends to firm the meat.
3.) Consider the type of fish you are preparing. The color of the meat, its flavor and its texture all play a role in determining the best cooking method. Fish with lighter meat, such as catfish, should be broiled or poached, while darker, firmer meats, like that found on trout, can benefit from the enhanced smokiness of the grill.
4.) Know when to say “when” during the cooking process. Fish is done when it is white in color and is flaky. If you overcook your fish, you will end up with a tough and flavorless piece of meat.
5.) If you are considering frying your fish, stick with a dryer fish, like trout, rather than one that contains a lot of oil, such as salmon. Fish with a lot of oil will stay too moist for any breading to properly adhere and crisp, resulting in a soggy mess.
6.) Deep frying is a popular method for cooking catfish. However be sure that whatever oil you decide to use will not smoke or burn at or below 375 degrees, as this temperature is required to properly deep fry your fish.
7.) When grilling meatier fish, consider using indirect heat. This will slow down the cooking process, allowing the center of the fish to cook without burning the outer skin.
8.) A common mistake that people make when cooking fish is turning it too many times. If the fish is less than a half-inch thick, no turning is required.
9.) Cooking fish in the microwave can be problematic, due to the inability to constantly view the fish. A good rule of thumb is to cook fish for about eight to ten minutes per inch of thickness.
10.) One of the best parts about cooking fish is that any leftovers can be frozen. Leaner fish can last up to six months, while fattier fish only last about three months. Regardless, leftover fish should be thrown away when the meat becomes mushy.
Clearly freshwater fish are an excellent addition to any diet. However, cooking a delicious meal using these fish doesn’t have to be a mysterious process. With a little research and practice, anyone can create a delicious, nutritious meal for their friends and family!
Thank you Benjamin!
Monday, January 16, 2012
Too Far
Another day where the deer were too far away for a shot. The deer came out at the same location they have two different times this year so we are thinking about moving locations. The only problem is that we do not have a stand at that location and it is too late in the year to cause such a disturbance. We are probably going to find a spot to hunt off the ground where we have been seeing the deer next time. Of course we know the deer will probably come out right under our stand but that is why they call it hunting.
Sunday, January 15, 2012
Declining Chances
The hunting season is winding down and we have yet to bag a deer. We started the year looking for the elusive buck, but as the year goes on, the freezer is getting empty and we are ready to settle for a doe. We have had some bad weather and scheduling issues that have caused us to hunt less this year.
My son is very patient and thankfully enjoys spending time in the woods even if we come up a little short, but we are both ready for some venison. The weather once again is not in our favor, but sometimes luck is just as good as planning and prepartation. We are hoping to get lucky as we hunt tomorrow in very familiar places. Whether we get a deer or not, we are looking forward to the trip. The only down side of the trip is getting up at 4:00.
My son is very patient and thankfully enjoys spending time in the woods even if we come up a little short, but we are both ready for some venison. The weather once again is not in our favor, but sometimes luck is just as good as planning and prepartation. We are hoping to get lucky as we hunt tomorrow in very familiar places. Whether we get a deer or not, we are looking forward to the trip. The only down side of the trip is getting up at 4:00.
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
Missed One? Must Be The Scope
If you have missed a trophy lately, it could be buck fever, wind, branches, or your scope could be a little off center. Here is an article about getting that scope back in place so the next trophy goes in the truck. Click here for the article.
Wednesday, January 4, 2012
Sunday, January 1, 2012
Hunting With Friends
Every year around Christmas, a friend of mine invites my son and I on a hunting trip at their camp. Last year both boys got a deer and it was a fruitful trip in every way. This year we didn't get a deer, but had just as much fun hanging out and catching up on old times. Both boys have fun playing outside with their new "toys" and playing video games in the camper.
Hunting is a small part of what we do at the camp. We always get in some quality hours in the stand, but more importantly we share memories that will last long after the last bit of deer meat is gone from the freezer. The great thing about hunting and fishing is all the adventures that take place while hunting. You never know what is going to happen and if the current trip is fairly uneventful, there is always time to reminisce about past adventures.
Hunting is a small part of what we do at the camp. We always get in some quality hours in the stand, but more importantly we share memories that will last long after the last bit of deer meat is gone from the freezer. The great thing about hunting and fishing is all the adventures that take place while hunting. You never know what is going to happen and if the current trip is fairly uneventful, there is always time to reminisce about past adventures.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)