TURKEY DAY TRADITIONS

It seems everyone has some sort of Thanksgiving day traditions.  Whether it's the usual meal and football watching or any other sort of activity there's always something to look forward to when friends and family get together.  Many of these traditions involve outdoor-related activities.

We started one inadvertently a few years ago.  The Thanksgiving weekend is long enough to be able to set a few traps and run them several times over the course of the weekend.  Our first year's take was considerable and my kids, as well as my nephew, had a good time.  We caught several coons, including one 25-pounder we called coon-zilla, possums and our first coyote.

It was our turn to host the holiday this year and one of the first questions from my sister's kids were "are we going to run traps?"  My 12-year-old niece was on the bandwagon now and likely still miffed she didn't get to go a couple years ago as I didn't have enough room on the ATV for ALL the kids.  My daughter was home from college and she wanted in on the action as well.

I met my sister and her family outside of town on their way here last Thursday.  She followed in her mini-van (much to her chagrin) through a pasture to where I had set traps the day prior.  It looked like we were pulling up to Worlds of Fun as my truck and the van emptied and kids went everywhere.  We had three 12-year-olds, a 14-year-old and my soon-to-be 19 year-old daughter.  My sister and brother-in-law even tagged along with their beagle "chili" dog in tow, too.

We quickly found several of about a dozen traps had connected.  We caught two raccoons and a possum and were optimistic about our beaver chances (check the next blog for that story) as we set more beaver traps.  The kids were excited to be outdoors on a nice day and it was a new experience for my sister and her husband.

The usual turkey day meal followed and we watched football like millions of other Americans.  My company had to leave to go to other relatives that evening but as we said our farewells they were all reminding me to call and text them pictures of the next day's catch.  They couldn't wait to see what was in store. 

It's an odd tradition, but one the kids will remember forever.    

TRAP HAPPY

The opener of the Kansas furharvesting season doesn't get quite the same fan-fare as the upland bird opener. However, to those outdoorsmen and women who enjoy trapping they've been looking forward to last Wednesday all year. It's the perfect time to take advantage of the renewable natural resource of species like coyotes, raccoons, possums, skunks, beavers and muskrats. And for the first time ever, Kansas now has a limited-quota season on otters.

My boys and I started our trapping expeditions a few years ago. They were studying history in school and had asked about the fur trade and trapping. I geared up with some traps, read a lot on http://www.trapperman.com/ and we set out to try our luck.

I quickly learned that trapping was hard work. And you just couldn't set traps anywhere and expect to catch anything. Trappers must know the sign, habits and habitat of their quarry more than any other outdoor pursuit. Most of the fun for my boys was getting out and romping along the stream and finding all sorts of "treasures" little boys manage to bring home. It was also quality time I could spend with my boys.

They learned about the natural world and we talked at length about life and death and humans' role in the scheme of things. Furbearer populations kept in check keep Mother Nature from wiping them out with disease and also keeps the food chain in check. And speaking of checks, it's the only thing I do outdoors that pays me back monetarily. Our first season we made nearly $200 on our catch. It didn't even come close to covering our start-up costs, but it more than paid for gas and snacks.


I set 15 traps yesterday and checked them this morning. I had three possums, two raccoons and a skunk. My boys and I were taking odds before they left for school on how many critters we'd catch. They'll run the line with me this weekend after basketball practice and we'll be off and running again this year. It was indeed a good start to the furharvesting season.

PEACEFUL PARTICIPATION

It's not often I slow down long enough to just sit and watch anything. A K-State or KC Chief's football game might be the exception but most of the outdoor things I enjoy I'm an active participant. But maybe that's why bowhunting is relaxing and good for the soul. I may bowhunt a dozen times or so a year but chances are I only get the bow off its hook once or twice a season, if that. Even in a good year it's primarily a spectator sport.

I sat for the first time the other night on a beautiful fall evening. I never really expect to kill anything and was simply looking forward to time in a tree. Nothing knows you're there and witness to the natural world is rewarding. I wouldn't be disappointed.

I'm always fooled by squirrels and other four-legged creatures sounding EXACTLY like approaching deer in dry leaves. The first heart rate increase was caused by a lowly possum meandering through the woods from behind me. When it finally came into view I had to laugh. It kept me amused for the next 45 minutes munching aimlessly on whatever it could find on the forest floor.

Several squirrels moved about the tree tops. I'm always amazed at the ease with which they negotiate their story-tall habitats without so much as a slip. One squirrel in particular was particularly note-worthy as it had to be the largest tree rat I'd ever seen. It could easily be considered big game and was large enough to nearly need his own area code. I've seen thousands of squirrels but this one was Boone and Crockett for sure.

And then as deer often do, a small buck magically appeared without any notice. The 1 1/2-year-old walked right behind and within a few yards of my tree and kept on walking. Ten minutes or so later another small, but slightly bigger buck walked right up to my tree. It stopped only 7 yards from me and stretched broadside, something every bowhunter hopes happens when it's time to shoot. It stayed within 25 yards for 10 minutes or so before finally moving off in the same direction as the previous buck. Neither buck had any idea I was watching just 15' above.

Right at last light I heard more leaves crunching and watched a decent-sized coon come up and out of the creek bed. He walked the trail in front of me and stopped when I made a movement to catch his attention. He stood up on his hind legs, bobbed his head and looked at me like "What in the world are you?" He never figured it out and finally traveled on.

I didn't kill a deer but most hunts end the same way. It's not all bad and being simply a spectator in the game of nature is sometimes rewarding in itself. There's always next time.

MMM...MMM...GOOD!

The Kansas pheasant season kicks off November 12th.  It's a great time with family and friends and enjoyed by thousands of residents and non-residents.  But maybe even more importantly is the chance to restock the freezer with one of my favorite main ingredients in a delicious dinner I've enjoyed for decades.

Pheasant stroganoff may sound a bit bizarre, but it's easily at the top of the list of wild game dishes in my book.  A buddy's mother made it for me the first time when I was in 7th grade.  That was a long time ago, but I still remember the recipe and am reminded of how wonderful it is every time I make it.  My family loves it, too, and one son says it's his favorite meal of all.  That's high praise coming from a 12-year-old.  He's like Pavlov's dog when it's cooking and circles the kitchen like a vulture.  My wife, who's real picky about wild game, says it's even in her top 5 favorite meals. 

It's easy to make.  Here's what you need:

2 pheasant breasts, boned              1 medium onion, diced
1 can mushrooms                           chicken bouillon
6-8 carrots                                      1-2 cups sour cream
6-8 celery stalks                             Flour
2-3 T oil                                         Salt, pepper

Cut pheasant into 1" cubes.  Roll in flour and fry in oil (ideally, just enough oil so there is none left when browned) over medium heat.  Season to taste with salt and pepper.  Add mushrooms and sliced carrots, celery and onion.  Add 2-4 cups chicken bouillon broth, or just enough to cover the meat and vegetables.  Cook on low to medium heat, stirring occasionally until vegetables are done.  Add sour cream and mix.  Serve over rice or noodles. 

Homemade dinner rolls are a nice addition, but we typically don't add any side dishes as it's a meal in itself.  It's easy and doesn't take too long to prepare.  We tag team it as my wife cuts up the ingredients and I cook it.  It works well.  And if you run out of pheasant, chicken breasts work equally as well.

Bon Appetit!  

DUCKS DESPITE DROUGHT

The Low Plains Late Duck Zone opened last weekend for much of Kansas.  It's a time anxiously awaited by waterfowlers statewide.  Spots with water had some success while others were wondering what the season might hold provided Mother Nature keeps holding out.  Drought isn't good for any wildlife, particularly waterfowl.  And at this late stage in the game chances are good we've got all the natural precipitation we're going to get.

Some ponds and wetlands can rely on pumping to provide water in drought years.  It's a difficult, and often expensive task, but it does provide the key ingredient waterfowl need in their migration southward.  It doesn't work on a large scale but it can provide good results on smaller wetlands and ponds. 

The duck opener in my neck of the woods found hunters having some success on pumped wetlands.  Birds didn't necessarily cover up the newly-formed pools but they did provide promise for future hunts.  We killed a few early season migrants like pintails, gadwall, wigeons and teal.  No mallards made an appearance, but that's about the norm for this time of year.  Cold snaps will send these "fair weather" ducks south on their journey and the big red-legged mallards will show up when it gets cold. 

It's hoped the "build it and they will come" mentality holds true and with adequate water migrating waterfowl will stop and check it out.  It's still early in the game and the next couple months will tell the tale of whether or not the ducks stop or just keep right on going to greener and wetter pastures.  I'm hoping they stop for a visit.