View from my bucket. The ice was too thick to make much of a hole.
This is my first field report using iPhone technology. It’s interesting to file from the edge of a corn field over looking a spread of decoys, but something about it feels awkward.
The morning was cold, in the low 20s, and the pools at Columbia Bottom Conservation Area had 1/2 inch of ice. Click to continue »
Dragging out even a small deer was a harsh reminder that I need to work out more.
Some years ago, when I was trying to learn to hunt, my biggest frustration was how hard it was to find people to teach me. I didn’t grow up hunting and I found out just how hard it can be to learn as an adult, especially since I didn’t have many friends who hunted.
Things progressed rapidly for me after a couple of years, thanks to the generosity of some good friends who love to share the hunt. They’re like family now and we hunt together every chance we get. Because of their encouragement, I became inspired to share what I have learned. Click to continue »
Those of you who know me have probably figured out that I am really into food. I hesitate to label myself as a foodie, as I see that term as mildly pretentious, but I have sometimes described myself as a “hobby chef.” My restaurant, Chez Teak, is located on the south end of The Hill, perhaps the last authentic Italian neighborhood in the United States.
While I love Italian food, there’s only so much pasta and veal a guy can take. Most of the food I cook at Chez Teak (my wife is my only regular customer, since it’s just one table and our dog is always nosing up to it) is inspired by a variety of cultures and techniques. Increasingly, wild game has become the foundation for the entrees. But that’s only because I’ve just now gotten to the point where I can kill my own food with any consistency. Click to continue »
Today our great nation celebrates Veterans Day, also referred to as Armistice Day, which commemorates the remembrance of the armistice signed between Allied forces and Germany, ending World War I. It’s a day to reflect on the sacrifices made by brave men and women who selflessly served our country to keep us free.
It’s also the anniversary of a little-known tragedy in the tradition of waterfowling. Click to continue »
I hunted the Missouri Central Zone waterfowl opener last weekend through the luck of drawing pill #2 at Columbia Bottom Conservation Area on Saturday and because my buddy Andy had a reservation at the same place on Sunday.
The weather was warmer than desired for a good duck hunt. The ducks weren’t interested in moving much and we had only a few groups work our decoys. The area is nice, with increasing water levels in the pools and plenty of food around with recently harvested crops, but we still need ducks to come south.
The lack of ducks was mildly disappointing, but my chief complaint was the weight of my decoy pack.
For archers, the sight of a nice deer in shooting range is always an adrenaline rush. A substantial rack on that deer can put a guy in a tree stand into tachycardia, something that is equally scary and exhilarating.
Last weekend my good friend Jamie had that experience. Late Saturday afternoon, he had a handsome 10-pointer wander under his tree stand on some choice property we hunt in Illinois. Jamie had been in the stand for just under an hour when he figured a few prayers wouldn’t hurt.
National Public Radio’s All Things Considered had a piece Monday about Oregon Gov. Ted Kulongoski, a second-term Democrat whose passions for fishing and the environment have made made him a central figure in Western environmental policy.
Oregon has sunk hundreds of millions of dollars and countless man hours promoting renewable energy projects as part of Kulongoski’s vision of a long-term solution to environmental and economic issues. The projects are intended to improve the state’s natural resources and bring green jobs to the state, which has an unemployment rate of nearly 12 percent.
Kulongoski suggests that he fishes for the same reasons most of us do: the escape from the hassle and hustle of our daily lives. It’s easy to see the link between his passions: if the water is contaminated or the rivers are dry, there’s no place to retreat.
Hunters checked 1,242 deer during the urban portion of Missouri’s firearms deer season Oct. 9-12. (MDC photo)
The Missouri Department of Conservation reported Wednesday that hunters killed 1,242 deer during the urban portion of Missouri’s firearms deer season Oct. 9 through 12. The number is almost double last year’s total.
Counties entirely or partially open for the urban portion were St. Charles, St. Louis, Jefferson, Boone, Cole, Greene, Christian, Cass, Jackson, Clay and Platte.
Hunters in Boone County tagged 247 deer, followed by St. Charles with 160 and Green with 139. 80 percent of the deer killed were does.
Loading ...Here is a map of total deer checked in Missouri for this season: