Hunt Smart Think Safety http://www.git-r-slung.com/blog/ Gun Safety Innovations Blog en-us Nucleus CMS v3.23 © Weblog http://backend.userland.com/rss http://www.git-r-slung.com/blog//nucleus/nucleus2.gif Hunt Smart Think Safety http://www.git-r-slung.com/blog/ Community Wednesday 11/19/08 http://www.git-r-slung.com/blog/index.php?itemid=486 A Great Youth Hunt
A lot of people talk about introducing young people to hunting, but far fewer actually do it. One of those who matches his actions to his words is Rex Howell. You can read about this years youth hunt on his blog. Marian also attended the hunt and has some great pictures to share.

Hunting and Fishing Tips from Othmar
Othmar is widely acknowledged as a great resource for people who like to hunt and fish. He hasn’t let us down with his two latest posts. For those who ice fish he offers tips on the BC Fishing Blog. If you hunt, he discusses “Stalking the Forgotten Art” on the Whitetail Deer Passion Blog.

A Discussion of Fair Chase
Let’s face it; there are several issues that can divide a group of hunters. One of them is what constitutes a fair chase. Phillip at The Hog Blog has a great examination of this question. I’m still not sure what I think about this issue, but the discussion sure is interesting.

Albert’s Back and In Rare Form
I always love it when a writer I enjoy starts writing again after an absence. Albert’s latest post deals with The New Big Game: English Fly Fishing Sportsmen. Apparently a writer in England was a bit alarmist when it came to the dangers of hunting and fishing in America. Albert took it upon himself to reply. It’s definitely worth a read.

Win Some Stuff
When I come across them, I always like to point out opportunities to win gear. Here are a few I’ve found. Othmar has opened the 2008 Big Deer contest for entries. Scott Linden is looking for contestants for his Great Outdoor Game Show. Apparently he’s offering lots of great prizes.

Recipe Roundup
There’s lots of good cooking related stuff out there this week. The blog Yeah We Fish Too points us to a cooking revival. Whitetail Woods features a recipe for venison chili. A Blessed Crazy Life features links to a whole heap of recipes.

Just a Reminder
If you haven’t seen it yet, or even if you have, I wanted to remind everyone about the Thanksgiving Write About the Good Challenge over at the Outdoor Bloggers Summit Blog. I hope a lot of you will take part.

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]]> Community Wednesday http://www.git-r-slung.com/blog/index.php?itemid=486 Wed, 19 Nov 2008 10:13:49 -0500 A Boy Who Hunts http://www.git-r-slung.com/blog/index.php?itemid=485
My nephew is 13. He’s crazy about hunting and fishing. When I asked him what he wanted for Christmas, I was hoping he’d tell me something specific. A particular kind of fishing lure he’d been craving or a DVD that he just had to watch perhaps. Unfortunately, he wasn’t nearly so specific. His Christmas list for me reads this: “anything related to hunting or fishing”.

I could, of course, give him a GunTriever, but he doesn’t yet treestand hunt much and I really want to give him something that he can use now and enjoy. I’d also like to give him a gift that will encourage his love of hunting and fishing and nurture it. His Dad hunts a bit and my father, his grandfather, has hunted and fished for years, so he does have people to take him hunting and fishing. He just needs the equipment and the tools to help him learn.

What I need from all of you are suggestions. If you have kids of your own, what are you getting them? If you were once a 13 year old boy, what would you have wanted to receive? Please keep in mind I don’t have an unlimited budget, so sending him on an all expenses paid elk hunt or some such thing is probably out of the question.

I could really use some help here guys. This is the first time he’s asked me for anything related to hunting or fishing and I’d like to come up with something great. Any suggestions you can give me would be greatly appreciated.

Technorati Tags ]]> Life in Northern Michigan http://www.git-r-slung.com/blog/index.php?itemid=485 Mon, 17 Nov 2008 09:18:51 -0500 Community Wednesday 11/12/08 http://www.git-r-slung.com/blog/index.php?itemid=484 Some Great Veterans Day Posts
There were a lot of great Veteran’s Day posts written yesterday, but two really stood out for me. One was Mungo’s post about his grandfather who served during World War II. The post includes some letters his grandfather wrote while overseas. The other is Jody’s post about veterans living in poverty. Jody claims that humor is what she does best, but this is a very eloquent post that speaks directly to what we owe those who helped to keep us free.

Deer Down – Get Your Hunting Story Fix Here
I’m sure I’ll miss some of the blogs that are posting stories about hunts, but here’s a small list to get you started. Marc at NY Bowhunter got another buck. The gang at Simply Outdoors, with the exception of Arthur (sorry Arthur), has had a great season so far. The Hunting with Mike blog has been putting up some great tales of deer hunting success as well. Things also seem to be going well at the Cypress Creek Hunting Lodge.

Happy 1st Birthday NorCal Cazadora
Judging from the number of comments, it appears a lot of us have already stopped by to wish her well, but if you haven’t yet, take a moment to drop in and congratulate NorCal Cazadora on her first birthday. Holly is a terrific writer and a real asset to the outdoor community. We’re lucky to have her as part of the OBS.

Three Ways to Looks at Deer and Deer Hunting
Every once in a while a piece of writing just stops you and makes you think. This week I found a few of those. First is this lyrical piece by Ryan Connolly at HuntingLife.com. Then we have a short and too the point post about deer hunting and trophies from Way in the Bush. Finally, we have a great piece about the trails hunters follow from Catfish Gumbo.

Recipe Corner with Campfire Flavoring
If you’re looking for a good recipe for Thanksgiving, you might want to try this pumpkin pie cake. For more hearty appetites, we have an offering of venison taco casserole. John at Western Wanderer also points out something I’ve noticed myself, food cooked over a campfire tastes better. John has his list. My list would include fruit cobbler in a Dutch over and those little brown n’ serve sausages. What’s on your list?

Technorati Tags ]]> Community Wednesday http://www.git-r-slung.com/blog/index.php?itemid=484 Wed, 12 Nov 2008 10:01:20 -0500 A Love of Nature http://www.git-r-slung.com/blog/index.php?itemid=483 I’m going to preempt the regularly scheduled Safety Friday post because there’s something else about which I feel compelled to write today. It’s kind of a personal story, but I think there’s a good message in it for everyone who loves the outdoors.

My grandmother died yesterday.

If there is one person I can point to and say “that’s who taught me to love the outdoors” my Grandma Ackerman was it. She had a passionate love for nature and weather and the beautiful scenery that was all around us. Every walk through the woods was an adventure and a learning experience. There was always something to see or touch or smell or learn more about.

Grandma was also an artist who specialized in landscapes and animal paintings. I still own three of her landscapes and other family members have countless examples of her animal paintings. She loved doing small drawings of birds and flowers and worked to get the coloring exact. Her love of the outdoors and the animals that lived there shows in every one of her paintings.

She was a teacher and taught her classes and her grandchildren what she knew about nature lore and bushcraft. She taught us how to predict the weather using the signs in the natural world all around us. Grandma could do an hour lecture just on different cloud formations. Spending time with her was a lesson in being aware of the world around you. It was also a lesson in asking why and how. Why do animals do what they do? How can this plant be used for food or medicine? What does this track or sign mean?

I’m sad to say that most of her lessons didn’t really take with me when I was growing up. I was an intellectual kid who loved books and didn’t really like the outdoors. I did like the bird books and the rock collection and standing outside at night to look at the craters of the moon, but I really wasn’t up to tramping through the woods to explore. Still, some of what Grandma passed on to me was lying dormant, waiting for the right time to spring forth. I think, had Grandma been a bit more based in reality these last few years, she would have been proud of my newfound love and respect for the outdoors and the work I’ve been doing.

A lot of outdoor bloggers talk about their fishing or hunting mentors and publically say thanks for what they’ve been taught. Today that seemed like an appropriate thing for me to do. Grandma was one of the first who taught me to fish. She encouraged my wanting to learn new things and supplied help and advice. Part of the reason I love learning is because she had such a passion for it. A big part of the reason that I love the outdoors is because of her as well.

Leona Henrietta Meyer Ackerman lived 98 years and made a big difference in a lot of people’s lives. I’m sure her many students benefitted from the things she taught them. I know I certainly benefitted from her teachings. I’m grateful to be her granddaughter and I only hope that I can carry her passion and her love of nature into the future. I’m certainly going to try.


Technorati Tags ]]> Miscellaneous Musings http://www.git-r-slung.com/blog/index.php?itemid=483 Fri, 7 Nov 2008 09:52:18 -0500 Community Wednesday 11/5/08 http://www.git-r-slung.com/blog/index.php?itemid=482 One quick note from me: I apologize for the lack of posts these last few weeks. I'm hoping I'll be able to go back to my regular posting schedule soon. In the meantime, if anyone wants to do a guest post for the OBS blog, you're more than welcome to do so. Just let me know.

CSI: The Hunter’s Wife
Jody, who writes The Hunters Wife, consistently, makes me laugh. She has a way with words and can see the funny in almost any situation. Her latest post is no exception. If you want a good laugh or need to brighten your day stop over and read about her latest adventure.

Kids Who Hunt and Fish
The outdoor blogosphere just seemed to be overflowing with stories about kids who hunt and fish this week. Here are some of my favorites. Taylor Rather tells us about deer hunting in the national forest. Base Camp Legends has the story of a 10 year old with her first buck. Catfish Gumbo has the story of a 10 year old boy with a gift for catching crappie. Finally, The Happy Anachronism gives us a cute little girl and some fish. What could be better?

Christmas Gift Ideas
If anyone was wondering what they should get me for Christmas, and why wouldn’t you be, I have a few humble suggestions. I think this solar powered flashlight is awesome and would love to have a few around my house. If you’re more into offering homemade gifts, I’d like to suggest that these peanut butter chocolate chip cookies would make a terrific gift.

How Do You Introduce Someone to Hunting?
This is the question currently being examined on the Hunt, Eat, Live Blog. There are already several good comments and pieces of advice. If you haven’t contributed your two cents to the discussion yet, stop by and add your opinion.

Duck Hunting Gear for Women
Holly from NorCal Cazadora has done a lot to educate women about hunting and to give advice to novice hunters. Her latest post is no exception. If you’re a woman who is gearing up for a waterfowl hunt, give Holly’s latest post a read. You’ll be glad you did.

Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Wetlands
We have wetlands in Northern Michigan and, in many cases, they’re protected by the State. Although I know they exist, I don’t know much about them or why they’re so important. Luckily there is an outdoor blogger who can tell us. To learn more about wetlands, read this post or this one on the River Mud Blog.

Technorati Tags ]]> Community Wednesday http://www.git-r-slung.com/blog/index.php?itemid=482 Wed, 5 Nov 2008 10:04:21 -0500 Safety Friday: Halloween Safety Tips http://www.git-r-slung.com/blog/index.php?itemid=481
Make Sure Costumes Can Be Seen – Being a dark and spooky Dracula or a wicked witch can be lots of fun but those sorts of costumes can’t be easily seen if your kids are trick or treating at dusk or after dark. Make sure the costumes have some reflective material on them, or have your kids carry a reflective basket for collecting candy or a glow stick. The object is to make them visible to passing motorists.

Consider Alternatives to a Mask – Masks are fun but they can also make it hard to see where you’re going and block peripheral vision. Instead of a mask, consider face paint, or a wig and hat. Those items will still let you stay in the Halloween spirit without impeding your vision.

Set Pumpkins Away From Traffic Areas – A pumpkin with a burning candle inside is a great symbol of Halloween and a fun decoration but it can also pose a danger to trick or treaters with long flowing costumes. Make sure any pumpkins with candles are set out of the traffic area and in a place where they can’t come into contact with costumes or any flammable material.

Review Basic Safety Tips - Remind your kids of the safety tips they already know, like looking both ways before crossing the street and not talking to strangers who may approach them. Halloween is an exciting night for kids and they may forget the rules in their excitement. Sitting them down before you go out and reminding them will help the rules stay fresh in everyone’s mind.

Don’t Drink and Drive - The Halloween punch and other refreshments at a party can pack quite a punch. If you’re going to drink, either designate a driver or call a cab. There may be a lot of trick or treaters on the streets when you’re driving home. The last thing you want to do is turn someone’s Halloween into a nightmare.

Hand Out Packaged Candy - By pre packaged individual sized candy to give out as treats. Homemade treats are a nice idea, but too many kids have been harmed by treats like these. . Many parents are cautious about the treats their kids are allowed to eat. Giving out only pre packaged treats will help eliminate some of the worry.

Keep Identification Somewhere on Your Person - Many people going to a party in costume will leave their driver’s license and other identification in the car because they don’t want to ruin their look. Make sure you keep at least basic identification, name and phone number and information about any health issues on your person. If something should happen and you’re unable to speak for yourself, you still want someone to know who you are and who to call.

Make Sure Your Yard is Obstacle Free - Before trick or treating begins, make sure your walkway and yard are free of obstacles. You don’t want someone tripping over a rake or hose while they’re walking to you door.


Technorati Tags ]]> Safety Friday http://www.git-r-slung.com/blog/index.php?itemid=481 Fri, 31 Oct 2008 09:43:55 -0400 Community Wednesday 10/29/08 http://www.git-r-slung.com/blog/index.php?itemid=480 Albert’s Back!
I always rejoice when a blogger I enjoy reading starts writing again after an absence. There is a new post up on The Rasch Outdoor Chronicles. Go over and show Albert some love. We do, after all, want to encourage him to keep writing.

In Honor of Halloween
Since this is Halloween week, I thought it would be appropriate to include a few spooky stories. Rex, at The Deer Camp blog, who has a way with a spooky story, gives us the story of Wandering Jack. Clint at Bonneville Mariner continues his fascination with ghost towns and the ghosts that haunt them and tells the tale of The White Lady.

Two Great Interviews
I guess I have more than my share of curiosity and I love to learn what makes people tick. This week there are a couple of great interviews, one of a country music star and one of a champion female angler. Tom at Base Camp Legends writes about his interview with Royal Wade Kimes. Jody at The Hunters Wife writes about her interview with Judy Israel, BP Pro Bass Angler. Both are good reads, so please go take a look.

A Good Writer for Any Age
The Desert Rat has posted an account of a hunt written by his daughter Mikaela who is 10. It’s very well written and a great account of how a young person experiences a hunt. Go over and show some support for this young huntress and writer. We need to start encouraging the next generation of outdoor writers too.

Troubled Child’s Swedish Mauser
I don’t know a lot about guns. I’d like to learn more. One way to do that is to read great posts like this one from Troubled Child. He has a 102 year old Swedish Mauser he’s restoring. It looks like that would be a fascinating and satisfying job.

What Are Your Top Five?
The Ulimate Fishing Blog has a post listing the top five reasons for fishing. I agree with all these reasons. Do you?

Part of Why We Write Outdoor Blogs
Terry at Women’s Hunting Journal has a great post about a young woman’s first duck hunt. I think it’s wonderful that so many bloggers, like Terry, are sharing their experiences and encouraging others to hunt.

Technorati Tags ]]> Community Wednesday http://www.git-r-slung.com/blog/index.php?itemid=480 Wed, 29 Oct 2008 09:54:10 -0400 A Whirlwind Tour http://www.git-r-slung.com/blog/index.php?itemid=479
Of course, every time I've said this in the past, things free up and I'm able to go back to my regular writing schedule. Let's see if the magic works this time.

On another subject, since you all were following my posts about my health issues earlier in the year, I thought I'd tell you the latest. I saw the cardiologist yesterday. Everything is great. Blood pressure is good. Heart rate is absolutely steady and normal. I was able to stop taking the medicine that I didn't like taking. Best of all, I don't have to go see the cardiologist again for 9 months. How awesome is that? Needless to say, I'm grateful and relieved.

Anyway, I just wanted to let everyone know I might be a bit invisible this week. Hopefully I'll be able to go back to my regular rounds soon. ]]> Miscellaneous Musings http://www.git-r-slung.com/blog/index.php?itemid=479 Tue, 28 Oct 2008 09:14:07 -0400 Safety Friday: Learn From the Actions of Others http://www.git-r-slung.com/blog/index.php?itemid=478
Man shoots himself in the head - A 19 year old shot himself in the head with a crossbow. Apparently the guy was at a house party and had been drinking. There are so many safety lessons to be learned here. Don’t drink and handle a gun or bow. Don’t load the weapon unless you’re planning to use it. Don’t ever point a weapon, even if you’re absolutely, positively sure it’s unloaded, at your head.

Never approach a wounded or trapped animal - A South Dakota man is lucky to be alive after being stabbed by the antler of a trapped elk. The elk was entangled with another elk that was dead. The man was trying to sever the antlers of the dead elk and free the trapped one. He was stabbed by an antler resulting in a severed artery, the loss of 3 to 4 pints of blood and 42 staples in his chest and sternum. While he was trying to free a trapped animal, he still was very unwise. If you see an animal that is trapped or injured, call the Department of Natural Resources or another organization that has the equipment to deal with large animals that may be dangerous. Never approach the animals on your own.

Always obey the law - An angler in Minnesota was fined for being 44 walleye over the legal limit. He had apparently been catching fish for several days and then bragging about his haul. He was fined $3,500 plus court cost and is on one year’s probation. There are two lessons here. The first is that you should always follow the rules and regulations in your state. They have been put in place for a reason. The second lesson is this: if you’re going to be stupid enough to break the law, don’t brag about it. The angler was caught based on a tip to a poaching hotline.

And finally, here’s one story of a guy who did things right and ended up saving his own life. A deer hunter was hunting alone in the Idaho backcountry when he had a heart attack. He couldn’t make it back to his truck and he knew he had to get out. Luckily, he had his cellphone and he knew how to use it. He was able to call for help and use the GPS function on his phone to guide rescuers to him. That’s some quick and calm thinking. It’s also a great recommendation for being prepared.

Technorati Tags ]]> Safety Friday http://www.git-r-slung.com/blog/index.php?itemid=478 Fri, 24 Oct 2008 10:27:55 -0400 Community Wednesday 10/22/08 http://www.git-r-slung.com/blog/index.php?itemid=477 This Sounds Like a Job for Holly
Mike over at Hooks and Bullets had an interesting post regarding an article he found about hunting licenses and the economy. He quotes some interesting facts. Unfortunately, the article he found didn’t contain a lot of hard numbers. It sounds to me like we need to put our resident number cruncher on the case. Are you up for it, Holly?

The Duck Hunting Round – Up
There were a lot of duck hunting posts this week, that’s no surprise I guess. Here are a few I particularly liked. Holly’s Waterfowl: Just First Love is a fantastic post and also has a great discussion in the comments section. Hunt, Eat, Live features a great post about a practically perfect hunting excursion. Swamp Thing at River Mud Blog tells about his opening day hunt and gives us a lesson in wetlands as well.

What to Do With the Ducks after the Hunt
If you’re wondering what you should do with your ducks after the hunt is over, Hunter Angler Gardner Cook has the answer. He recommends eating everything but the quack. If you’re prefer meat to poultry, there’s also a great recipe for antelope tenderloin. Just reading this blog makes me hungry.

A Talent I Don’t Have, and Greatly Admire
I am probably, without exaggeration, the world’s worst photographer. I think that’s part of the reason I have so much admiration for people who can take wonderful pictures. Take Dan at Moose Droppings for instance. He is a fabulous wildlife photographer. There’s also Othmar’s wife, Heidi, also known as Artemis. I am privileged to have one of Heidi’s photos framed and waiting to be hung in my new house. Heidi writes and takes pictures for Artemis – 12 Months of Winter.

Win A Raffle Tag
John at Western Wanderer has a helpful list of raffle opportunities in the Western states. If you’re hoping for the hunt of a lifetime and can’t afford an auction tag, you might want to consider taking part in a raffle.

The Desert Rat Talks with Ted Nugent
The Desert Rat scored a major e-mail interview with Ted Nugent. I haven’t read his new book, but I’ve seen a lot of reviews and a lot of outdoor bloggers are writing about it. The Desert Rat was able to ask some questions of Ted via e-mail. This post is the result.



Technorati Tags ]]> Community Wednesday http://www.git-r-slung.com/blog/index.php?itemid=477 Wed, 22 Oct 2008 11:09:47 -0400