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Aviation Buff Locates 20 Brand-New British Spitfires Buried in Burma

Sarah Smith — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 09:29:30 -0400

--Chad Love

This has absolutely nothing to do with hunting, fishing or conservation news, but if you don’t think this is cool, then you don’t have a pulse. And if you are (like I am, and I'm sure many of you) a WWII aviation and history buff, then it's beyond cool. Twenty brand-new, still-in-the-box British Spitfires that were buried in Burma at the end of WWII and promptly forgotten, have been found.

From this story on aviationpros.com:

Twenty Spitfire fighter aircraft buried in Myanmar during World War II are to be dug up and shipped back to Britain, officials say. The planes will be returned to Britain as a result of intervention by British Prime Minister David Cameron, The Daily Telegraph reported. The planes had been buried more than 40 feet beneath the ground for nearly 67 years because of fears of Japanese occupation.

...David Cundall, 62, a farmer from Scunthorpe, North Lincs, located the planes at a former Royal Air Force base using radar-imaging technology after a 15-year search that cost him more than $207,000 and involved 12 trips to Myanmar.

Wow. Many aviation buffs consider the Spitfire the most beautiful airplane of the WWII era and one of the most beautiful machines ever made, but like most military planes of that era, out of the thousands and thousands produced during the war, only about 35 are still flying. For the equally interesting backstory on the the amateur plane buff who tracked the planes down, here's a cool story in the UK Telegraph.

So this begs the question: what is your favorite WWII-era airplane? For me, as much as I love the Spitfire, I'd have to say my personal favorite has always been the Vought F4U Corsair. No, it can't compete with the Spitfire for sheer elegance and beauty, but for a history-obsessed kid growing up in the 70s, hanging on each episode of Baa Baa Black Sheep every week, the Corsair with its menacing midnight blue paint and awesome inverted gullwings was -- to use the patois -- the shizzle.

Coast Guard Rescues Three Stranded Alaskan Hunters

Sarah Smith — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 10:11:27 -0500

--Sarah Smith Barnum

It was a close call for three Alaskan hunters who were stranded after their skiff drifted away leaving them 20 miles from Sitka. When the men didn’t show up for work Wednesday, the Coast Guard Sector Juneau was called in to conduct a search. Luckily for the hunters, it was only an hour wait in a cabin near Sevenfathom Bay—it could have been much worse.

From this story on Juneauempire.com:

Three stranded hunters were rescued 20 miles from Sitka after their skiff broke free of its mooring and drifted away, according to authorities. The Coast Guard stated in a release that an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew from Air Station Sitka found the missing hunters stranded at a cabin near Sevenfathom Bay at 11:30 a.m. Wednesday. All three men appeared to be in good condition.

The hunters had left for a weekend hunting trip aboard a 17-foot vessel on Saturday and were reported missing to Coast Guard Sector Juneau watchstanders when they did not show up at work Wednesday morning, according to the release. The Coast Guard conducted a search of the sea and shoreline between Sitka and Sevenfathom Bay, the destination of the hunters, and worked with the Sitka Mountain Rescue to coordinate a local investigation for the missing men, the release stated.

Sector Juneau Lt. j.g. James Dooley said they were found within an hour.

Baby Seal Found Sleeping on New Zealand Woman's Couch

Sarah Smith — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 14:14:44 -0500

--Sarah Smith Barnum

Not many people come home at night and ask themselves, “Is that a baby seal snoozing on my couch?” Actually, nobody does that, until now.

Annette Swoffer of New Zealand found this adorable baby seal curled up, asleep. Luckily for Annette, there were no bears and none of her porridge was missing...

From this story on the Huffington Post:

New Zealander Annette Swoffer got the surprise of her life when she found a baby seal in her kitchen, who later began to snooze on her couch, the New Zealand Herald reports.

According to the report, the seal wandered from the bay waterfront, through a residential area, across busy roads, under a gate, through a cat door, and up some stairs before he was found at around 9:30 p.m.

"I thought 'I'm hallucinating, this is just wrong,'" Swoffer told the paper. "Then it looks at me with those huge brown eyes. It was so cute..." Swoffer then called the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA), who called the Department of Conservation. According to a report by Stuff.co.nz, the department was already looking for the pup.

When biodiversity program manager Chris Clark came to pick up the animal, he told Swoffer he'd been looking for the seal all afternoon and that it had likely just been weaned from its mother.

A baby seal is much more innocent and easy to photograph than say, a 150lb bear cub in the living room, like the one featured in Field Notes earlier this year.

Alaska Boat Captain Saves Four Bucks Found Swimming Near Juneau

Sarah Smith — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 10:54:40 -0500

--Kurt Schulitz

Four bucks who overdid a leisurely group swim near Juneau, Alaska had to be rescued by Tom Satre, captain of the charter boat the Alaska Quest. After swimming around his boat a few times, the deer were completely exhausted.

These types of stories are not unheard of, but are always amazing. Thankfully, the bucks lived to swim another day.

From this story in the Juneau Empire:

A foursome of young bucks fell upon some good luck Sunday as they were pulled from the icy waters of Stephens Passage by a group of locals out to enjoy the last few days of recent sunshine. These good Samaritans describe their experience as "one of those defining moments in life." The winds blew hard down Taku Inlet that day, said Tom Satre, captain of his 62-foot charter vessel the Alaska Quest. The fury of the gusts had whipped the water into white-capped waves, which Satre guessed were topping out around three feet.

...This State Marine Park is located 25 miles south of Juneau and boasts a public dock, a public use cabin and few other decrepit buildings. It's a fine place to get out of the weather and soak up the sun. For the four family members - Satre, his daughter Anna Satre, brother Tim Satre and Kelly - this was to serve as a locale for a Sunday luncheon. But as they neared Point Arden, Kelly spotted something in the water. She raised her binoculars. Expecting to see the bobbing body of a sea lion or the heads of eiders, instead she saw ears - deer ears.

Kelly ran to get her brother. Satre slowed the boat, and the group began to watch the group of four juvenile Sitka black-tailed deer. "They swam right toward the boat," he said. "Then, they started to circle the boat. They were looking up and looked like they needed help." This was the first time he'd ever seen deer in this much distress, Satre said. They were foaming at the mouth, and not able to make it onto the swim step, they instead swam under it. The group knew something had to be done.

Satre guessed the bucks were of last year since their antlers were very small, for some just nubbins, and hardly large enough for him to grab on to. So he fashioned a lasso and, one by one, hauled them by the neck onto the back of the boat.

According to Kelly, the typically skittish and absolutely wild animals came willingly and once on the boat, collapsed with exhaustion. They were shivering, she said. A few could not hold up their heads. She didn't know if two would make it. "They couldn't stand up on their own," Kelly said. "(And) they couldn't shake the water off their coats. We didn't want to touch them, but it was clear they were happy to be there. They probably would have crawled on board if they could have."

How to Make Spiced Cider

Sarah Smith — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 10:28:03 -0500

by David Draper

From the cool autumn nights of late September on through the holiday season, a hot cup of spiced apple cider can melt away any chill. That sweet, peppery bite warms the stomach and soothes the soul. Splashed with a little bourbon or brandy, it even adds a twinkle to the eye.

Warm a three quart pot over a medium heat. Toss in a pinch of whole cloves, a spoonful of black peppercorn, and two cinnamon sticks.

If you happen to have a few allspice berries (I never do), throw them in the pot, too.

After about a minute or two, your kitchen should start smelling like autumn. Pour in two quarts of apple cider. (Plain apple juice will do, if you must.) Raise the heat and bring the mix just to, but not past, the boiling point. Reduce the heat to low.

Stir in a small handful of brown sugar and zest from half an orange or lemon. Let the cider steep for about 30 minutes—if you can wait that long. Let cool and pour through a cheesecloth-lined strainer.

Huge Bug Thought to be Extinct Found in New Zealand

Sarah Smith — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 10:14:42 -0500

--Chad Love

Live bait anglers, prepare to get Crocodile Dundee'd, because this cricket is bigger than your sorry cricket. "You call that live bait? Now here's some live bait!"

From the (UK) Sun:

An explorer has found the biggest insect ever on record - so large it can scoff a carrot. She's called a Weta Bug and has a huge wing span of SEVEN inches and weighs as much as three mice. Renowned entomologist Mark Moffett, 55, discovered the cricket-like creature up a tree on New Zealand's Little Barrier Island.

He spent two days searching for the creepy crawly which were thought to be extinct after Europeans brought rats to the island many years ago. American Mark, 53, said: "Three of us walked the trails of this small island for two nights scanning the vegetation for a giant weta.

"We spent many hours with no luck finding any at all, before we saw her up in a tree. "The giant weta is the largest insect in the world, and this is the biggest one ever found. "She enjoyed the carrot so much she seemed to ignore the fact she was resting on our hands and carried on munching away. "She would have finished the carrot very quickly, but this is an extremely endangered species and we didn't want to risk indigestion.

"After she had chewed a little I took this picture and we put her right back where we found her." Mark, from Colorado, added: "We bug lovers hear a lot of people who think insects are inferior in some way because of their size, so it was great to see such a big insect. "This became all the more amazing when we realised that this was the largest insect recorded."

Does anyone make a 14/0 cricket hook?

Hooded Vegan Vandal Attacks British Butcher Shops?

Online Editors — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 13:08:32 -0500

Old Blighty carnivores beware: There's a "mad vegetarian" on the loose in one British city, and your local butcher shop may be the next target of his vegan wrath.

From this story in Metro UK:

Police hunt 'mad vegetarian' vandalising butchers shops in Bristol. Police are hunting a hooded man who is believed to be behind the vandalism of six butchers shops in Bristol. Shopkeepers at the family-run stores believe a 'mad vegetarian' could be behind the attacks, which began eight weeks ago. Between them, the shops have had their windows or door smashed with a brick a total of 11 times. Adrian Cunliffe, director of Millhouse Family Butchers, believes the two attacks on his shop could be animal rights-related since no attempt was made to steal anything either time.

Mr Cunliffe said: 'There has to be a motive so maybe it is animal rights activists or someone with something against butchers. 'But surely they would put something on the brick or leave a note to say why it has been done, otherwise it would just be mindless vandalism.' Each attack has taken place in the early hours of the morning and witnesses have reported seeing a hooded man fleeing the scene. Avon and Somerset Police are keen to speak to a white man aged 20-30, of medium build and wearing jogging bottoms and a grey hooded top who has been seen near a number of the butchers around the time of the attacks. A spokesman said: 'We are looking into the possibility that these incidents could be linked.'

So what do you think? Animal rights monkey-wrencher, protein-deprived nutter, or just some dude who doesn't like butchers? How long do you think it'll be before we see the press release from PETA lauding him as a hero?

Environmentalists Suing USFWS Over Crops on Wildlife Refuges

Online Editors — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 11:09:53 -0500

A coalition of environmental groups are suing the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, claiming the agency broke federal law by allowing genetically-modifed crops to be planted on national wildlife refuges.

From this story on the Mother Nature Network website:

Environmental and food safety groups filed suit on Wednesday against the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, demanding it end the cultivation of genetically modified crops on Midwestern wildlife refuges. The groups claim the federal agency broke the law by entering agreements with farmers that allowed planting of biotech crops on refuge land in eight U.S. states without environmental reviews required by U.S. law.

Most of the crops at issue are "Roundup Ready" biotech crops engineered by Monsanto to tolerate dousings of Monsanto's Roundup herbicide, the plaintiffs said. Roundup Ready crops have been shown to "foster an epidemic of superweeds," and create other problems for the environment, according to the plaintiffs. "National Wildlife Refuges are sanctuaries for migratory birds , native grasses, and endangered species," said Paige Tomaselli, an attorney for the Center for Food Safety, one of the plaintiffs in the lawsuit.

"...The groups claim the government violated the National Environmental Policy Act by failing to do a complete environmental impact statement before allowing the biotech crops to be planted in the refuge areas. They also claim violations of wildlife protection laws. The Fish & Wildlife Service had no immediate response to the lawsuit.

Thoughts? Is this just a frivolous lawsuit, or should there be laws against planting GMO crops on national wildlife refuges?

Wild Side: Mashed Pumpkin

Sarah Smith — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 11:54:44 -0400

by David Draper

Sure mashed potatoes are the standard side dish for a big, fat venison steak or deer roast, but with Thanksgiving just around the corner, why not try a couple of ingredients that offer up some autumn flavors? Somewhat surprisingly, pumpkin and allspice make a great compliment to venison, and while you can pair them a number of ways, an easy mashed pumpkin side dish just might be the best.

*When buying (or growing) a pumpkin for this dish, try to avoid jack-o-lantern type pumpkins which generally have a thinner flesh. Look for pumpkin pie or cheese pumpkins at your local market.

Honeyed Mashed Pumpkin

1 fresh pumpkin of about 3-5 lbs.
2 tbs. honey
2 tbs. butter
½ tsp. allspice

Preheat oven to 450°.

Cut pumpkin in half, scoop out seeds and place each half flesh-side down in baking dish.
Bake 30-45 minutes, or until you can pierce the skin with a knife.
(Alternately, you can boil or steam chunks of pumpkin, but I feel roasting adds a deeper flavor.)

Remove pumpkin from oven and scoop flesh into medium saucepan set over low heat.

Add butter, honey and allspice.

Mash thoroughly and serve warm with grilled venison steaks or venison roast.

Conservation (Bad) News: Salmon Plague Spreads to Wild Pacific Stocks

Sarah Smith — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 09:10:38 -0400

by Bob Marshall

Deadly Disease Threatens Wild Pacific Salmon

File this one under: Just when you think things couldn't get worse.

Earlier this month fishery officials in Canada and the U.S. confirmed the deadly infectious salmon anemia had been found for the first time in wild Pacific salmon. This is the same disease that devastated salmon farms in Chile and other countries. The disease was found in two sockeye salmon smolts off British Columbia.

The news sent shock waves through the fishing industries and communities that depend on salmon. It was good to see the threat also quickly cut through the entrenched partisanship in Washington resulting in a bi-partisan bill to address the outbreak.

Senators Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), and Mark Begich (D-Alaska) introduced legislation giving federal agencies six months to determine the scope and cause of the outbreak and to recommend steps to protect the salmon stocks along the West Coast, Canada and Alaska. The bill is co-sponsored by Senators Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) and Diane Feinstein (D-Calif.).

There's a lot to be concerned about. Although a vaccine for the disease is currently being tested on Atlantic salmon, there is no known cure. Its sudden appearance is an example of the threats that fish farming operations pose to wild fish stocks. And its proven deadly virulence has some fisheries experts convinced the two infected smolts are just the tip of a disease iceberg already growing in that region.

And it's not like this is the only disease coming out of Chilean salmon farms.

Frankenfish?

That outbreak of infectious salmon anemia couldn't have come at a worse time for AquaBounty Technologies, the Massachusetts firm that has developed a genetically modified salmon it hopes to sell to fish farm operations. The company combined growth genes from Chinook salmon and slices of DNA from ocean pout, a fast-growing eel-like creature. The result is an artificial salmon that grows several times faster than the real thing.

Aquaculture supporters say developments like this will take the pressure off wild stocks--good news for anglers. But opponents point to incidents (above) of disease from these creatures spreading into wild stocks.

Sportsmen’s groups are keeping a close eye on the debate.

Longleaf Pines Get Help in Mississippi

On the good news front, Mississippi has scored a victory in the popular cause of reestablishing the longleaf pine forests, earning two grants to restore the habitat on public and private lands in the state. The tall, broad-shouldered trees created a beautiful savannah-like habitat that was resistant both to fire and hurricanes, and was an important habitat for a wide variety of wildlife. But the trees were also valued for their hard lumber, eagerly sought for homes and naval industries.

Longleaf pines were once common in 35 of Mississippi's counties. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service awarded the Mississippi Department of Wildlife Fisheries and Parks a grant to improve more than 3,000 acres of longleaf pine habitat on Marion County and Theodore Mars Wildlife Management Areas in South Mississippi. Funds will be used to improve habitat for endangered wildlife species such as the gopher tortoise and black pine snake, and will also create habitat to benefit white-tailed deer, wild turkey and bobwhite quail.

The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation awarded MDWFP, and its partners, the Longleaf Alliance and the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) to improve longleaf pine habitat on private lands in Mississippi.

Come On Tavelocity Gnome, Make My Day

Online Editors — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 10:07:55 -0400

--Chad Love

This one really needs no explanation, does it? The garden gnomes have apparently had enough... (via BoingBoing)

Here's the product description:

Garden Gnomes are widely regarded as friendly, whimsical, peaceful little creatures... Not anymore! I don't know what it was that finally prompted the gnomes to take up arms. Maybe it was one too many gopher invasions. Perhaps it was the overwhelming gaudiness of neighboring plastic pink flamingos encroaching on their ancestral homeland. Or maybe they just finally got tired of the media portraying them as traveling morons. Either way, they've had enough and they're out for blood. My gnomes stand just under a foot tall, weigh somewhere between one and ten pounds, and each one comes with your choice of either the ubiquitous M16A2 assault rifle or the venerable AK-47.

You want one, admit it...

Christo's New Art Project on Arkansas River Causes Environmental Concerns

Online Editors — Mon, 27 Jun 2011 14:09:43 -0400

--Chad Love

Here's one from the "Watch Your Backcast" files: The artist known as Christo has won approval from the Colorado State Parks Board to erect almost six miles of fabric panels over parts of the Arkansas River.

From this story on Forbes.com:

The Colorado State Parks Board approved an agreement Friday for the artist Christo to pay $550,000 to state parks to carry out his Over the River project, which would suspend 5.9 miles worth of fabric panels over parts of the Arkansas River. However, the agreement is moot if the Bureau of Land Management doesn't approve a federal permit for the project. The BLM hasn't made its decision yet. Christo's project would use heavy equipment to help erect a system of cables and anchors to hang the fabric along U.S. 50.

Over the River, which Christo envisioned with his late wife, Jeanne-Claude, has drawn support from art lovers but frustration from some wildlife advocates and river businesses. Opponents say hordes of tourists checking out the project and the work needed to erect it could stress wildlife, choke traffic and disrupt hunting, rafting and angling business. In May, Colorado wildlife commissioners voted 9-0 in favor of sending a letter to the BLM opposing the project and urging federal officials to adopt measures to ease potential effects on bighorn sheep if they do issue a permit to Christo.

The state chapter of Trout Unlimited has also voiced its concerns over the project, as have a host of state and local conservation groups. The display is projected to be up for a two-week period in the summer of 2013, but it's the environmental impact of the extensive prep work and hordes of tourists that have groups worried.

So is this art, or is it an egotistical, ill-advised pain in the a** that at the very least will inconvenience a lot of people and at worst has the potential to cause significant environmental harm? What say you?

Codey McCoy

fieldandstream-admin — Tue, 22 Feb 2011 12:43:40 -0500

Hometown:: Vincennes, Indiana
Age:: 16 years old

Read Codey’s Story...

On April 18, 2010, my alarm went off early but there was no need for an alarm. I’d been up for the last couple hours anxious to get out to the woods and listen to the toms gobble their heads off on the roost. As I got out of the truck and loaded my gun, I heard a turkey gobble. My heart started pumping. Right then it hit me: It’s turkey season!

That day was a day full of tough heartbreaks. Every turkey we called in just wouldn’t get close enough. My stepdad and I tried every sound on that slate call but it just wouldn’t get the turkeys to us. As 10 a.m. came around, we saw a monster gobbler about 400 yards and two hills away. We quickly decided to sneak up to the second hill and try the slate call once more. We got up to the hill and my stepdad began calling. That turkey gobbled and strutted like no other. The only problem is he wasn’t getting any closer to us. My stepdad decided to pull out the old reliable push call. A couple of quick calls with that, and the turkey was on his way up the hill straight to us.

About 20 minutes later the turkey is 20 yards out. Spitting and strutting like crazy, the gobbler gave me a good shot so I took it and he went down. After I finally settled down we measured the eastern turkey. He weighed 24 pounds and had a 10 1/2-inch beard.

Peter Sutphin

fieldandstream-admin — Tue, 22 Feb 2011 12:39:03 -0500

Hometown:: Richmond, Virginia
Age:: 18 years old

Read Peter’s Story...

I was having a rough season—but was determined to kill a boss tom. It was a Wednesday morning before school, and I convinced my unenthusiastic mom to let me go turkey hunting with my cousin. I only had about 45 minutes to hunt, but my mom knew I wouldn’t get one based on how the season was going so far.

My cousin and I set up near the roost, and before you know it, the gobblers were sounding off. The only problem: there were none near us. Ten minutes after the other turkeys started gobbling, one gobbled right in front of us probably 100 yards away. I gave him a call, and he gobbled back. The tom flew down shortly after, and I knew it was time to make some magic happen.

I purred and gave a few yelps and he gobbled, and he had moved even closer. Before you know it, I can see this jelly head strolling down a trail through some pines. I had just previously bought a $50 half-strut jake decoy the day before. This tom spotted the decoy and came in straight toward him. But before he got to beat the decoy up, I sent some No. 5s his way. I didn’t want him to hurt my new decoy!

It was 6:17 a.m., hardly been light for five minutes. The bird was 20 pounds with 1 1/4-inch spurs and a 10 1/2-inch beard. I was late to school, and the teacher asked why. So I pulled the turkey feet out my backpack. She looked at me blankly and said, “That’s a first. You get an excused tardy for that!”

Ryan Smith

fieldandstream-admin — Tue, 22 Feb 2011 12:33:35 -0500

Hometown:: Jasper, Indiana
Age:: 15 years old

Read Ryan’s Story...

The greatest gobbler hunt of my life would have to have been a few years ago. It was my third season afield chasing gobblers and I had only taken one at this point in my hunting career. This year was particularly hard on me because I lost my grandfather, the person who introduced me to the outdoors. He was the person who took me hunting for the first time and from that day on I was determined to chase every animal my state allowed me to hunt. But now back to the story.

My father and I were no expert hunters. We had learned some tips and tricks from close turkey hunting friends who helped us learn along the way. That season I was determined to go out and hunt for myself. I wanted nothing more than to kill a gobbler that I called in myself. My dad was new to the sport, too, so I was the one doing all the calling work on this youth season hunt. Early in the hunt I had nice strutter working his way toward me, and thought I was going to close the deal. But a gun shot from a nearby property seemed to have spooked him and he skittishly wandered away. I thought for sure my morning was over. I decided to stick it out instead of packing it in, and around 9:30 a.m. I heard a nearby gobble of a lonely tom. I threw him a few yelps, and he responded.

The next thing I knew I had three stutters rushing from the holler in front of me and into my decoy spread. It was now the moment of truth and with the help on my Remington 12 gauge, I made the 30-yard shot. I rushed out to my bird overcome with pride that I had accomplished my goal of calling in a bird and taking it all by myself. But I can take all the credit because I know my Grandpa was watching down over me that spring morning in the turkey woods.

Torin Miller

fieldandstream-admin — Tue, 22 Feb 2011 12:22:27 -0500

Hometown:: Bellfonte, Pennsylvania
Age:: 18 years old

Read Torin’s Story...

It’s hard to determine the greatest gobbler hunt of my life, as they are all great in their own regards. Any spring morning I’m sitting in the woods chatting with a tom is great, but there is one hunt that really stands out.

My father and I woke up around 4:30 a.m. to the sound of rain pattering on the tin roof. It was back to bed until 7:30. We headed out to our favorite turkey food plot. There was already a Tom strutting through the clover. We set up and called. He was coming our way but hung up—a typical big woods eastern gobbler. The rest of the morning consisted of a few jakes and some hens but nothing too exciting. By midmorning, the rain picked up again, but my father and I decided to hunt until noon, which is quitting time in Pennsylvania. At 11:45, we packed up our gear and decided to look for birds in the same food plot we had hunted that morning. As we stepped onto the grassy road that led into the field, my father stuck is arm out to stop me. Fifty yards up the road was a turkey. The hunt was on!

I started my stalk, and, as I neared the bird, I noticed it had its head resting in the fathers on its back. It was trying to stay dry in the rainy weather. I could see a nice beard sprouting from its chest. I shot the bird at 5 yards. It boasted 1-inch spurs and had a 10 1/5-inch beard.

That was the last turkey hunt I would share with my father. He passed away the next spring of brain cancer. I can’t help but think there was some divine intervention at play.

Dave Wheatley

fieldandstream-admin — Tue, 22 Feb 2011 12:15:25 -0500

Hometown:: Monkton, Maryland
Age:: 17 years old

Read Dave’s Story...

I go turkey hunting with my Uncle Jim in upstate South Carolina. It’s always a treat to go down there for spring break, be with family, and hunt with him. April 2009 was the first time I had to buy a license. I had to pay to play: $175 to be exact. It was about the third week of the season, and the old toms were pretty skittish and weren’t answering calls. Luckily my uncle’s buddy invited us to go hunt with him on his lease.

We got up way before dark, set up in a pine clearing with a few decoys, and waited for first light. Uncle Jim made tow calls to this bird before he was in our lap! I flipped the red dot on, the safety off, aimed right where the feathers met that bright red skin, and pulled the trigger. That 3 1/2-inch No. 4 Federal Supreme in the Mossberg 835 I was shooting dropped him right there—along with putting a hard mule kick on my shoulder.

My first bird was an unforgettable one, and Uncle Jim made sure I won’t ever forget it by cutting out a piece of wood shaped like the state of South Carolina and engraving on it:

Dave’s First Turkey
Spring 2009
Cherokee County, S.C.

And he mounted the fan and beard. He gave it to me for Christmas this past year after my father passed away. My uncle being there for me has meant a lot to me, and that’s what hunting is about: family, friends, and making memories that last a lifetime. I’ve been hooked on hunting ever since.

Wacky Ads from the 40s and 50s

Online Editors — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 14:46:51 -0400

Recipe: How To Cook Root Beer Glazed Duck Breast

Online Editors — Sat, 15 May 2010 20:33:04 -0400

The rich flavors of duck meat have always attracted sweet, fruit-based sauces. Witness duck à l'orange, for instance. In this recipe, we forgo the fruit for something darker, woodsier, but no less sweet: root beer. Once it is reduced down to a saucy glaze, the root beer offers a tangy new twist on the classic combination. It's incredibly easy, but more than elegant enough to serve guests. And when they take their first bites, ask to see if they can guess the secret ingredient.

DIRECTIONS

MAKE THE GLAZE: Combine the root beer, brown sugar, ketchup, lemon zest, and mustard in a small saucepan and bring to a simmer over low heat. Cook, stirring often, for about 10 minutes, or until the mixture is saucy and coats the back of a spoon.
HEAT A LARGE SAUTÉ PAN (or grill pan) over high heat until very hot. Pat the duck breasts dry with a paper towel and lay them skin-side down in the pan. Reduce the heat slightly, to medium-high, and cook undisturbed for 5 minutes.
TOAST THE SESAME SEEDS: Place the seeds in a small pan over medium heat. Shaking the pan occasionally, cook until the seeds turn golden and fragrant, about 3 minutes, being careful not to scorch them. Remove from heat and let cool.
FLIP THE MEAT OVER and generously brush with the root-beer glaze. Cook for 2 minutes, or until just medium-rare. Flip again, brush the meat side with the glaze, and remove to a cutting board. Cover with foil and allow to rest about 5 to 8 minutes.
REMOVE THE DUCK BREASTS from the refrigerator about 15 minutes before cooking, and salt. (If using domestic, farm-raised ducks, score the skin with a sharp knife, in a crosshatch pattern.)
TO SERVE, SPOON ANY REMAINING GLAZE onto the breasts and sprinkle with the toasted sesame seeds, then slice. Mashed sweet potatoes make a fine accompaniment.

INGREDIENTS

2 large whole duck breasts (mallard, pintail, canvas-back), or 3 medium breasts (wood duck, wigeon)
4 tsp. sesame seeds
1/2 cup Barq's, Boylan, or other strong root beer
1/4 cup brown sugar
2 Tbsp. ketchup
1 tsp. grated lemon zest
2 tsp. Dijon mustard

Make A Cheap Recoil Reducer

Online Editors — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 21:21:46 -0500

Here's a quick and easy way to add weight to the front of your waterfowl gun, where it will help smooth your swing dampen muzzle jump, and reduce recoil by 6 to 7 percent. This recoil reducer replaces the factory magazine plug.

1. Cut the PVC to the length of the magazine plug in your gun (allow 1/8 inch for each cap). If using open pipe (shown) instead of stub-out, glue a cap on one end with PVC cement.

2. Fill the pipe or stub-out to the top with lead shot, and glue the cap on with PVC cement. Reinforce with electrician's tape if needed.

3. Following the instructions in your gun's manual for plug installation, replace the factory plug. With some models you may have to slim the cap on a grinding wheel. The springs in Remington shotguns (1100/870/11-87) are just barely big enough to go around the stub-out. Give the reducer a light spray of oil and work it on.

Materials (for a 12-gauge):
1/2-inch open PVC pipe and 2 caps, or PVC stub-out and 1 cap
Electrician's tape
PVC conduit cement
4–5 oz. of size 8 or 9 lead shot

How to Snowshoe Up and Down Hills

Online Editors — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 09:09:04 -0500

The saying goes that if you can walk, then you can snowshoe. Maybe, but it would be wrongheaded to simply strap a pair on and hit the backcountry. “You're basically tying these big tennis rackets to your feet,” says former Mount Rainier chief climbing ranger Mike Gauthier. “It's not as intuitive as one might think." Here's Gauthier's advice for traversing a steep hill in deep snow.

The Climb
1. To use the step-kick method, drive your toe straight into the slope, engaging the front crampons (metal teeth), and press down to establish a firm platform. Maintain a wide stance to avoid snagging your pant legs on a crampon.

The Descent
2. Leaning back slightly, dig your heel in first. Concentrating weight on the rear crampons will let you stop gradually. If you're going to fall, it's better to fall backward. When descending any hill, watch out for the tail of the shoe catching your pack (picture someone grabbing your heel as you're going downstairs).

How To Ice-Fish With A Sounder

Online Editors — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 21:37:06 -0500

Successful fishing with tip-ups begins with suspending the bait in the cruising lane of the fish. Pike, pickerel, panfish, walleyes, and bass often frequent the area about 12 inches above the weed tops. Here's how to make sure your bait is in the strike zone and not buried in the grass.

[1] Clip a 1-ounce depthfinder or “sounder” to the hook and drop it so it falls through the weeds and hits bottom. [2] Pull the sounder up about 1 foot above the tops of the weeds. Clip on a small bobber at water level as your marker. [3] Raise the sounder an additional 3 to 6 inches (to compensate for the fact that the spool will be under the water) and slide the bobber down the line the same distance. [4] Remove the sounder. Hook the bait through the back and drop it through the hole. When you set the tip-up, the bobber should be visible on the last wrap of the tip-up spool. Not only will it mark the proper depth, but it can also reveal whether you actually have a bite when the flag pops up. If the bobber is still visible when the flag pops up, blame the wind or a frenzied shiner.

How To Make A Custom Turkey Call Striker

Online Editors — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 19:29:40 -0500

Calling in a gobbler is especially gratifying when you do it with a peg you've made. Materials aren't fancy: a 1/4-inch oak dowel plus a corncob; a solid fiberglass rod (white bicycle flagstaffs are great) or a broken carbon arrow shaft plus a 3/4-inch oak dowel. Experiment with striker-tip angles, overall lengths, and materials—including hard plastics, laminates, and even hard rubber—to get a tone that works.

A corncob with an oak shaft (far left) is made from dried corncob (sprayed with acrylic sealer) and a 1/4" oak dowel. It gives a traditional mellow tone. A great striker for close-in work.

For an oak with an acrylic shaft, use a 3/4 oak handle and a 1/4' solid acrylic peg. This will make high-pitched, true sounds that travel long distances. Ideal for windy days.

A corncob-and-carbon shaft (with acrylic sealer) can be made with a 1/4" carbon arrow shaft. It has an edgy, gritty sound, with all the rasp of an older hen.

Using oak with a fiberglass shaft (a 1/4' solid fiberglass rod), provides clear, high-pitched notes, and is good for long-distance calling.

Instructions: [1] Cut the handle 3 1/2 inches long and the shaft 5 1/2 inches. [2] Drill a 1/4-inch hole 2 1/4 inches deep in the handle, and insert the shaft. [3] Ring the joint with hot glue, and spray the handle with acrylic sealer to finish. Note:There is no need to drill a hole in a corncob. Simply cut the dowel at a 45-degree angle and push that end into the center of the cob 2 1/4 inches.

Photo by Chris Philpot

Romans: Should I Take Up Ice Fishing?

fieldandstream-admin — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 16:05:24 -0500

I’ve got a confession. I’m a fishing junkie. OK, well, that’s not the confession part. The confession is that as much as I love to fish, I’ve never plopped my bucket on a bucket in the middle of an iced-over piece of water, drilled a hole, and dunked jigs and bait in search of a mid-winter trophy.

In other words, I’ve never been ice fishing.

I hoped I would finally make it out for the first time this season, but weather patterns and schedule conflicts make the possibility of finding time on the ice more and more unlikely as the end of winter is rapidly approaching.

Watching Nate Dean's ice-fishing video made the fun I’m missing out on even more obvious. If you haven’t watched it, you need to. He’s got some good tips and explains how to use some basic gear—and proves that it works by catching a few fish. A few of those panfish and some perch like he caught towards the end, and you could have yourself a nice fish fry!

So my question to the Generation Wild world is this: Am I missing the boat here? Who else out there is an ice fisherman? Hit me with your take on the sport and see if you can make me jealous. —Ben

Romans: Two More Late-Season Whitetail Success Stories

fieldandstream-admin — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 15:43:50 -0500

Reading Tommy Ladson's deer hunting story the other day got me juiced up all over again for deer season. But then I looked at the calendar, and had that sinking feeling when I realized I’ve got at least eight more months before things get moving in my part of the country again. But thanks for the story, Tommy. It got me daydreaming, which is always nice this time of year.

While I was digging around on the Internet, I found two other similar stories of successful whitetail hunters. Fresh out of a hunting education course, Garrett Comstock, of Alabama, had a little luck on his side when he shot a great 9-point whitetail buck, his largest to date, over Christmas.

Then there’s this story about John Bowman’s incredible last-day-of-the-season 10-point whitetail. John was sitting on the edge of a marsh while some hunting friends organized a deer drive that pushed two bucks directly in his direction. Shooting a shotgun loaded with buckshot, John took aim at the largest of the two deer and dropped the animal at a range of only 30 yards. Incredible!

A lot of us have had to hang up the hunting gear for the season already, but stories like this keep us primed for next season. To Tommy and the rest of the crew, keep the stories, photos, and videos coming—we’re living your adventures through your eyes. —Ben