pheasants be warned...
First day of hunting season was toady, what a great way to welcome October! I spent a few hours in the misty fields along route 313 watching pheasants fly through the air (took a few shots, but no pheasant dinner tonight) and talking with other hunters. The upland scene is a cordial one, and a younger fellow showed me the best place for luck. He had two beautiful cock birds in his vest and I was envious. Roast and smoked pheasant is a food to behold. I have big plans for pheasant pot pie...
This will be an active hunting season for me. I have my shotgun and my father's deer rifle and look forward to pheasant, goose, duck, and deer in the freezer. I will try my hand at all, but even one or two lucky days makes the sport the thrill and savory goodness it is.
I wish all you fellow hunters good luck this season!
posted by Jenna at 11:13 AM
17 Comments:
I'd love to get involved in bow hunting but my area lacks a practice range. This vexes me greatly. I don't think the neighbors or apartment management would appreciate me practicing in the open areas. Boo. :(
Lately, I find myself intrigued by hunting, which is...unexpected. As a 15-year mostly-vegetarian, I'm still somewhat resistant, but there's also a great appeal in being able to feed myself in this way, and to avoid the industrial food system, so I'm keeping a very open mind and considering my options.
Dear Jenna,
I, too, am interested in Scottish life, language, folklore, and seasonal traditions. I will be making my second trip there spring 2013.
I have a question for you: Which books do you recommend on these subjects? I've noticed several of your posts have included information covering some of the topics mentioned above, and I'd love to dig a little deeper, do more research before my next trip.
Thanks in advance for any suggestions you might offer,
Ann Sims
My husband looks forward to upland game birds every year. It's his favorite hunting season. Unfortunately, in PA they have to stock pheasants as their numbers have dwindled. Our first thanksgiving together he prepared a roast pheasant for dinner that he shot earlier that morning, I knew he was a keeper then. His favorite is the Ruffed Grouse, hard to find but good eating as well.
Happy hunting!
My boyfriend got a couple pheasants last year and we wrapped them in bacon and smoked them. They were AMAZING. Pheasant season opens here in California in mid-November, so good luck to you and enjoy them for us until then!
Good luck and steady hands!
Good luck Jenna ... a deer in the freezer goes a long way ...
Our fly fishing season has just opened here. First expedition is this Sunday - looking forward to home-smoked trout hot off the smoker this weekend, yum.
I was fortunate enough last Saturday to shoot a doe at last light as the full moon rose. I could not find her in the darkness, but did so at first light. I say this not to brag, but drive home the importance of practice and perseverance in the pursuit of game. Nothing hurts more than not finding an animal you know you've hit. Be fair to the spirit of the animal in not taking a shot you're not sure of. Search diligently after you've shot until you find the animal or have exhausted all reasonable means.
Every year we try (with the help of our neighbor) to hunt deer on our property, which we know we have plenty of. Despite our best efforts, the only animals we ever seem to shoot are predators. Not good eating. :(
My hubby got his two birds on Sat. Can't give him all the credit, he has an awesome bird dog. We had roasted pheasant with squash and fresh green beans for dinner. Now that's livin'
Best of luck!
nottherethenwhere - I was vegetarian for 18 years and I've been eating local meat for a year now. I've been getting more interested in hunting as well for the same reasons.
My father is a hunter and gun-collector and taught me to shoot a gun (along with gun safety) at a very young age. I'm just not there, yet. This is not a judgement in any way, but taking an animal's life is a very sacred act to me, along with being a very difficult one. I have to get in the right state of mind, first. I don't know if I'll ever get there.
Along these lines, there is a great interview article of Tovar Cerulli (http://www.tovarcerulli.com/) by Jason Miller about this in the new Taproot Magazine. If you are not familiar with this periodical, please go check it it. Amazing stuff.
http://www.taprootmag.com
Hunt on! If my family didn't hunt we would (mostly) not have meat.
I suppose pheasant would be delicious if not for those buck shots and clumps of feathers in the meat. As a kid my Dad would hunt pheasant and I just couldn't get past that. Yikes!
My family and I have been growing broiler chickens and eating only local meat for a couple years now. I'm now trying to get into hunting to source cheap, organic and real meat. I don't come from a family of hunters nor do I have any friends who partake in the activity. I'm wishing I had a mentor or someone local to learn from. I'm sure there are more people around this area (I'm in Saratoga County) who want to learn from locals and meet other beginning hunters. Might you consider a hosting a workshop about hunting for food? Not gun safety, shooting skills or legal stuff, but local knowledge from experienced hunters. The best hunting strategies in this area. The species that offer the best meat to effort ratio, etc.
I haven't seen a pheasant here in Western Michigan in years. I used to hear them and see them when I first moved to this rural landscape. They are a rare species now. I am not a hunter but I enjoy the same things that you describe in this post on my daily walks with my dog. Being outside and taking in all the sights, sounds and smells is what makes life worthwhile. I shoot with my camera and enjoy it so much.
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