By Chad Love

A bill that would, among other things, allow the importation of polar bear trophies into the United States is getting the US Senate a bit, well, bearish themselves.

From this story on yahoonews.com:

On its last day in session before the election, the Senate tied itself in knots over 41 polar bear carcasses that hunters want to bring home from Canada as big game trophies. After punting tough decisions on far weightier issues like raising taxes and cutting spending, Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., insisted that the Senate address the wide-ranging sportsmen's bill before voting on must-pass legislation to prevent the government from shutting down at the end of next week.

According to the story, the bill's polar bear provision would allow 41 hunters who killed polar bears in Canada, just before a 2008 ban on polar bear trophy imports took effect, to bring the bears across the border. The hunters involved were not able to bring the trophies home before the Fish and Wildlife Services listed them as a threatened species.
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By David Draper

Finally, temperatures, in the evenings anyway, are starting to feel more like fall, which means it’s time to break out the recipes for warm comfort foods. It seems like many of my fall favorites call for long hours simmering on the stovetop to develop those rich and savory flavors. Here are two great dishes that will hopefully make your mouth water and inspire you to spend some time in the kitchen.
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By David E. Petzal

As a rule, I try to avoid philosophy as strenuously as I avoid honest work. I would as soon read Hegel or Kant or Nietzsche as I would pound a darning needle up my nose. But sometimes one is forced to think about something more all encompassing than Ms. Mila Kunis (pictured here).

While hunting in New Zealand this past spring, I ran into a South African hunter of vast experience who said, in the course of our conversation, “The purpose of hunting isn’t to kill some stupid animal. It’s to give yourself a chance to stand alone in the wilderness and realize how insignificant you are.”

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By Colin Kearns

Last Saturday, I boarded a ship and traveled to a foreign land—a small island 20 minutes from Manhattan. I’d heard from a friend and colleague, David Draper, that this was a land rich with gastronomic heritage and, therefore, deserved to be explored. Neighborhoods with names like Carcass Hill, Offalwood, Beaktown, and the Game Preserve were said to announce the eclectic culinary traditions.

Wanting to visit this place and witness it for myself, I embarked on a journey by train and foot and boat. When I touched down on land, I followed my nose to the gates. On the other side, Josh Ozersky, the founder and mayor of this land stood high on a stage beside men in aprons slicing into carcasses with large, sharp knives.

“Welcome to Meatopia!” Ozersky shouted. “The Woodstock of edible meats!”
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By David Draper

The antelope steaks are stacking up here after I tagged a nice Nebraska buck just across the road from my house. As much as I love pronghorn, I’m looking for some new ways to enjoy the backstraps.

A simple way to spice things up is with steak toppings. I have a few ideas, which I’ve listed below, but I’m looking or some new ones. So, what’s your favorite way to top a steak?

My favorites:
Mushrooms – The steakhouse standby, sautéed mushrooms with a little Worcestershire and wine is hard to beat. 

Caramelized Onions 

Chutney – I’ve already professed my love for Mrs. Ball’s Original Recipe Chutney, but I have not yet tried it atop a steak. That will change soon.
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By Chad Love

I'm in the process of packing for the first extended bird-hunting trip of the season. I thought it would be interesting to list a few of the less obvious things I always take with me on these trips, and then solicit your essential items - since I always enjoy learning from you.

I carry a fairly extensive first-aid kit, but one thing I always keep in the bag are several syringes of an injectable antihistamine. Even though my dogs have the rattlesnake vaccine, an antihistamine can help stabilize a snake-bitten dog until you can reach a vet. Many guys carry Benadryl tablets for that purpose, but in the event of a snake bite I don't want to mess with trying to get a dog to swallow a pill. Plus, an injection will go to work much more quickly. Talk to your vet about it.

And speaking of vets, I always make it a point to have the phone numbers of local vets handy when I'm hunting away from home. In an emergency that can save you precious time.

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