It's a Remington

My husband and I did exchange gifts last Wednesday night , January 10th. The speculation that I was getting a shotgun had been laid to rest. It is a fact that he took counsel with our neighbor and returned to the local gun shop. The shotgun is a Remington, Model 870 Youth Express, Pump Action,21" barrel,20 gauge, Rem Choke. Otherwise known as a "Lady's Gun" as well... Because of my short stature other full sized shotguns are a bit hard for me to handle. Having control when it comes to aiming at a moving animal is a high priority. I am looking forward to the opening of the hunting seasons next fall...After a summer of practice with my gift I should be able to provide food for our table, harvested from our land. Thanks Honey !

Oh Blessed Day !

Wouldn't you know it ! One of the wily rooster pheasants that keeps running around here made his appearance in the backyard. Going from point A to point B. I should have grabbed the gun sitting at the backdoor and went in pursuit Still might ! The pheasant like to sit in the area behind the house with a southern exposure, to sun bathe. They have cover to run into if they are approached by the un-known. Hope everyone has been getting in time at their favorite activities if you've had time off from the work- a - day world. I wish " good hunting" to all those that still have a season to pursue...

Wouldn't you know it !

Bless their little hearts...I wasn't ready to go outside at 7:00 this morning. There wasn't any activity. It is amazing how the deer multiplied in the field out northwest of the house. Pretty soon it seemed they were appearing out of nowhere. The boundaries started expand to include our backyard to the south and to the immediate east of our home.(where they are seen very frequently) Everything was all said and done by 7:20 - the deer running to the south, west, and east. Are you acquainted with the feeling of excitement at the expectation of being able to accomplish something you set out to do ? Then the next emotion that comes when your rush of hope is dashed...You got it! There wasn't a culmination of deer slug to to deer. Then the realization comes that time is running out. Family activities took up the day. Time has run out for this season, without the two landowner shotgun deer tags being attached to an intended target....Now, I can concentrate on getting those wily pheasants that keep evading me.

Next to the Last Day...

The morning began by sneaking out the back door at 6:45 AM. Took up a lookout post by a tree not far from what was a very busy deer browsing area the day before at 7:00 AM. Well, ya know what...They showed up from behind me. Was I ever one unhappy person when I heard the deer snort and take off since they were able to see and smell me from the direction they had arrived in. I decided I would go inside for awhile only to find another group was following on the heels of the first. In the afternoon I headed for the back timber. Wouldn't you know it; upon picking a spot the very object of my hoped for goal ran as fast as they could across the ravine and disappeared. I stood in one place for almost 2 hours. There was only one other deer that passed in the neighborhood after being spooked by the gun fire going on at the property just north of me. The weather was very moderate for a mid December day. It was cloudy with mist, but for some reason the moisture didn't hit me as I tried to be invisible , concealed in the rose brush.

Countdown to the End

Hi everyone! Thought I would stop by and let you all know that I have been busy using my domestic skills. My husband asked me to make "Pumpkin Bars" after Thanksgiving. The twist being instead of pumpkin I used "Hubbard Squash". It takes some processing to get the squash ready to be added to the other ingredients. We discovered when I made the first batch of "pumpkin bars" a few days after Thanksgiving that the hubbard squash made for a tasty substitution. He ingested the whole baking sheet full on his own one bar at a time, of course the freezer was a big help in the freshness factor. He thought they tasted so good he asked me to repeat the recipe to help provide dessert for

his Experimental Aircraft Association Christmas Party on December 14th.

Back to the topic of our blog entry for the day. Yes, time is swiftly coming to a close for our last shotgun deer season of 2006. The deer continue to make their presence known. They start having a pattern to their behavior and repeat visits to various locations , as soon as you get it figured out they change it again. Today, I sat for an hour and a half in the fore-noon in one spot. A lot of activity all around . Not far away a " very young deer" stood watching me. I saw another head peering out from a space to the left of the first deer. Thinking it was the same "very young deer" I continued to remain seated in my three legged chair. My legs needed to stretch after being crunched in one position for a long time. As I rose from my chair a rush of sorts erupted from the rose brush. The group of young deer that had taken refuge took off running in a wide circle in the opposite direction, not to be seen again in the same place later . Returning for another 2 hours in the afternoon to what I thought should be a good place for activity because of the buck rubs , bed, and well worn deer trails ended up without seeing anymore creature activity of any kind. Yet again I went into the house to warm-up and catch-up on some e-mail. The end of the day was fast approaching. The deer knew not to get to close...stay in the open. Friday the 15th ends without the use of either of the 2 landowner tags I purchased to help the Iowa DNR try to keep the population in check . Better luck tomorrow ?

Another Beautiful Day

What a gorgeous morning for the start of the second shotgun season...I was up before sunrise and outside as the eastern sky was still trying to draw forth the rays of the sun from its night of slumber. The moon was still trying to escape being chased ever so slowly by the light of day. My intention was to find some unsuspecting deer to bring back to the house but each time I could have possibly had a chance there was always an excuse why the shot wouldn't have worked. I have heard a multitude of gunshots very close by but not sure who was doing the shooting or what they had found worth the volley of slugs. They must have had more selection than I this fine morning. Maybe an animal or animals they could put in their freezer to put on the table when the winter finally becomes so cold out they aren't able to get to the store. It continues to be my full intent to be successful at bringing home at least one animal or bird from the hunting licenses I have purchased again this year. Every time I see the pheasants, turkey, or deer I get into an anxious mental and physical state. I head for the 20 gauge Remington shotgun on loan from a neighbor who has been hunting these woods ever since he was old enough to handle a gun. Most often times the creature has moved on beyond range before I am able to gather the gun and get my shoes on. (I don't like wearing shoes in the house) There is still time today for me to get my deer. I will try again this afternoon and evening if I don't have any visitors drop in. Updates to come...