Just another great day of being me. Sure glad I was using my shot gun and not my rifle.

Pheasant Recipes

To all that visit this site:
I am in search of pheasant recipes. I have 8 birds in the freezer already. Posession limit in IA is 12 so I am legal. I want your favorite ways of cooking/frying or whatever.

My Sympathies to Bard

Bard,

My sincerest sympathies in the passing of a VERY close friend. We all know how "into" Tony you were. You know after so many years of taking it in the rear from the Democrats, its nice to know you were giving some payback. Stay strong brother.


Tony Dean
PIERRE, S.D. (AP) - Tony Dean, a nationally known outdoor enthusiast who promoted South Dakota with his radio and television shows, died Sunday. He was 67.The Hofmeister Isburg Funeral Chapel confirmed that he died Sunday morning.Dean, whose real name was Anthony DeChandt, returned to his Pierre home last week after being hospitalized for complications from appendix removal.Dean was host and producer of "Tony Dean Outdoors," a regional television show that aired across the Upper Midwest. His radio show "Dakota Backroads" was heard across the region.Dean won more than 160 regional and national awards for his programs. He also served as a press secretary for former South Dakota Gov. Frank Farrar.Dean had been criticized for backing Sen. Barack Obama's presidential campaign.Darlene DeChandt said her husband's final work before his illness was recording commercials for Obama's campaign. She said if Obama won, Dean was to have been on his transition team.Jason Mitchell of Devil's Lake, N.D., recorded several TV shows with Dean. He said Dean had the courage to stand up to the National Rifle Association when it backed candidates who he felt did not have conservation at heart.

Pair of wet cocks

Today was the last day of my 5 day license in SD. (What a screw job) Today was windy, rainy, and cold. After ignoring common sense of wanting to stay home and dry I braved the cold and wet weather. I get to a walk in area near fairview SD and realized I forgot non toxic shot. Like an angel a truck come over the hill and put his blinker on wanting to pull in the same drive that Im in. Turns out he's checking the large pond for ducks. I bartered 10 lead shot for 6 - 3 inch -1 shot steel. Not ideal for pheasants. I walked the edges of this piece all the way around and end up walking through some burrs that stuck to my pants something awfull. I was pissed off, wet, and crabby. Walking back to my truck, busy picking the cockle burrs off my pants, a pair of wet cocks burst from cover. After almost dropping my gun from being scared half to death I manged to bang this double. On cue the third cock flew up as the 2nd one hit the ground. I fired and heard - click. SHIT! I thought I would only load three shells in case I would waste shells on frustration shots at a bird that was getting away. Needless to say a little frustrated on missing the triple I continued towards the truck to miss another cock - three times, the ironic thing was the last shot was definitely a frustration shot.

Incredible Trophy Room

These are pictures of a rancher's trophy room just into Montana. These aren't all the animals in the room, and the pictures don't do justice to what it was like actually being there. The guy has traveled the world to get these animals. It was simply amazing! What is not pictured is a full bar and a TV area along with other mounts. From the outside, the place looks like a rundown old farmplace. But inside, there must be over $200,000 in wildlife mounts. We got put on to this guy because Mark's brother dealt with him on some cattle a few years ago. His son-in-law actually showed us the room because the rancher was breaking a horse a few weeks ago, was bucked off and trampled. Pray for him as he in intensive care in Rapid City. He has had 4 surgeries and really needs another one, but they don't know if he can take it. Meanwhile the kids are running the ranch.

Oh yeah, Mark and I are thinking of becoming ranchers so we can travel the world, go hunting, and have a trophy room like this. Enjoy!

Antelope Hunting in Harding County

Here's a picture of the doe antelope I shot this weekend. Mark and I went the northwestern most county of South Dakota. Hunting was tough because it was the second weekend of the season and the goats really knew where they were safe and where they weren't.

I had a shot at another doe at about 120 yards, but passed it up. I had another doe tag, but really wanted a buck, so I didn't fire. I won't do that again! A guy really gets only a few chances a year to shoot his rifle at game and he should make the most of every opportunity. Mark really made me realize that. By the way, Mark had a tough year. Missed a decent buck because he couldn't "hold steady" while leaning on a fence post. He also missed a doe twice that didn't even startle at the gunshot! Why did he only shoot twice you ask? He only brought two bullets with him on the stalk. Hilarious!

Okay, the story on the doe above. We were driving down a blacktop with public hunting on both sides. About 5 or 6 does were running to the fenceline and I dropped Mark in the ditch to the west of them. I sped east and got on that side of them and dropped into the fenceline. A doe came within 10 yards of me, but I was not ready and it spooked. It ran the other way and crossed the road. I ran over to the other side of the road, but saw only a white butt running away fast. I started walking back to the truck in the ditch and suddenly saw a doe walking straight for me about 50 yards away, coming over a rise. I sat down, turned down the scope to 4 power and sited her in. She was walking quickly. I grunted and she stopped. I squeezed the trigger when she was probably only 40 yards away.

Mark talked me through the field dressing process (first time for me) and I appreciated it greatly.

Mark and I hunted hard for two full days. We walked miles and miles. We drove miles and miles. We stalked, belly crawled and ran for many hours each day after these "ghosts of the prairie". I'm tired, I'm sore, my knee is killing me, and I only shot my gun four times in two days. But it was awesome! The country was beautiful, the sky majestic, the ranchers quirky, and the companionship memorable. Mark, I had a great time! Thanks for another hunt that was successful in ways other than bagging a trophy.

The Smurf and Tony Dean

I can't believe I let Mark and Brad have my boat one day at Selkirk. Mark is the Smurf, of course. And we all know what Brad is doing with Tony Dean.

Selkirk 2008 Pictures

Here's a few pictures from this year's Selkirk fishing trip. It's the only picture of Adam that I have. He did catch a few walleyes, but seemed to specialize in bullheads. How far he has fallen. Oh, well. The weather was rainy early in the week, and off and on rain the last part of the week. Not terribly cold up there yet, so we may have been a little early this year. Enjoy the pictures and be jealous.

The Two Biggest at Selkirk 2008

Here are the two biggies caught this year on our Selkirk fishing trip. Mine was 30" and Brad's was 30.75". Brad did win the fishing contest, but actually caught the fish that put him over the top after the usual stopping time of 6:00pm. Granted, that wasn't written in the rules of the tournament, so I didn't complain too much. But don't you think there's a trend with Brad. Remember his first turkey hunt victory, when he shot his bird on the wrong property to get the win, and now pushing the limit on quitting time during the walleye tournament. Brad, gotta let go of this "win at all costs" attitude. Anyway, it was a tougher year, but we still had a lot of fun and are looking forward to next year.