We have a few traditions at deer camp.  One is to hunt closing weekend of archery deer season despite the weather.  Another that was started last year is Ice Fishing Weekend.  We get together at Deer Camp and everybody goes ice-fishing.  Well, almost everybody. 

I need another hobby like I need a broadhead in my noggin (youch!).  So, while the rest of the guys are at the local lake I stay behind, do some coyote calling, shed hunting, a little deer and turkey scouting, a little napping and cook up dustyvarmint’s Best Blackbean Huntin’ Chili for dinner.  A triple batch is required and one will include javelina from my recent trip to Texas.

Despite my once annual trip I’ve never successfully called a coyote or found a shed antler in the state of Wisconsin.  While growing up in Kansas we successfully did both on occasion.  I’ve even found bullets and arrows, but no antlers.  However, I keep at it.  Perseverance is the name of the game.  This year I won’t be coyote calling, but I’ll definitely be looking for sheds.  Hopefully it isn’t too late.  A friend found a matched set the first weekend of January in a period of extremely heavy snows.    

Deer Camp has no electricity or running water.  Some might consider that an inconvenience.  To me it is more of a comfort.  It settles my brain to hang out at Deer Camp with ten to twelve inches of snow outside.  Very relaxing.     

So, wish me luck with the shed antlers.  I’m off to (not) Ice Fishing Weekend!

happy hunting, dv

It’s award winning!  Ok, it only won a second place four-pack of microbrew beer and a set of glasses at my sister-in-law’s annual chili party, but it is much requested.  The thing that surprises me most is that the majority of the attendees are not hunters or outdoor’s persons.  Never-the-less it is very popular. 

dustyvarmint’s Best Black Bean Huntin’ Chili 

• 1 lb wild game roast
• 1/2 T onion powder
• 1/4 t garlic powder
• 1 T chili powder
• 1 t ground cumin
• 1/2 t salt
• 1/4 t oregano
• cayenne to taste (optional)
• 2 cans black beans
• 1 15-16 oz can tomato sauce 

Mix all ingredients in crock pot.  Cook for 8-10 hours.  Remove roast.  Place in plastic bag, whack with tenderizer mallet, shred with forks, return to crock pot.  Let heat through or until you can’t stand to wait anymore.  Serve with crackers and cheese or your favorite condiments.

I have made this recipe with pronghorn, venison, beef, feral hog and javelina; sometimes ground, but mostly roasts.   

Caveat Emptor Hunter

How comfortable were you when booking your last hunt?  Did you feel like you were talking to a used car salesman?  How many “90%” success assurances have you gotten from outfitters?  Did you check references?  Where did the references come from?  If you had a bad experience did you tell anyone?  If you had a good experience did you tell anyone? 

From my perspective the outfitting business still seems like a Caveat Emptor, buyer beware, environment.  While reviewing Outfitter Reviews and surfing forums I frequently see hunters stung by bad experiences.  Don’t get me wrong.  I am certain the majority of outfitters are hard-working, honest folks just like the majority of us and that they also get stung by poor customers.  That isn’t the focus of this blog, though. (more…)

One of the hardest things about deciding which tree stand you want is trying it out.  It isn’t easy.  Some companies won’t let you near them in the store, others won’t take them back if they’ve been opened and yet others charge a twenty percent restocking fee for returned stands.

In cooperation with your local dealer Lone Wolf Stands is letting us try them out in the hunting field for two days.  Who can beat that?  My local archery pro shop is a participating dealer.  They have one Alpha Hang On stand and a set of Climbing Sticks hunters can try before buying.  Very cool!

Yours truly is a huge fan of Lone Wolf products and lucky enough to own the Alpha Assault, Sit and Climb and their Climbing Sticks.  Although not cheap, their light weight and functional products are top of the line.

Visit The Lone Challenge for more information or visit your local Lone Wolf Stands’ dealer.  Come back to dv’s Mostly Archery and let us hear your experience with The Lone Wolf Challenge.

happy hunting, dv

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Coming up on Mostly Archery

• Outfitter Reports – Why We Should Be Doing Them
• Overhauling My Bow
• How To – Make Your Own Turkey Friction Call

Burlington Boss Tom’s Chapter

of the

National Wild Turkey

Federation

Announces its

9th Annual Banquet

Wednesday March 11th 2009

Cotton Exchange

(Intersection of Hwy’s 20 & 83,

Waterford, WI)

Doors open at 5:30 p.m.

Dinner at 7:00 p.m.

Good food, good prizes, good auction,

good time. 

Contact Jerry Long at

dustyvarmint@hotmail.com for ticket

 prices or more information.

Project Afghanistan Hunt Club

The recent announcement of Project Afghanistan Hunt Club by Stabley Outdoors reminded me how thankful I am to all the great strangers and family members who sent unsolicited care packages during my deployments to Operation Desert Storm/Shield, Operation Enduring Freedom/Iraqi Freedom and just because.

Care Packages

My wife and I and my office adopt a service member each month.  We gather odds and ends through a central collection box and send them out.  As a twenty year Navy veteran it is something I strongly believe in.  Although these service members are generally deployed from the local area surrounding Naval Station Great Lakes, IL they are usually strangers to us. 

While Project Afghanistan Hunt Club is an opportunity to support our outdoors service members don’t stop there.  Adopt your neighbor’s son, daughter or grand son.  If you visit an online talk forum, ask if anyone has a deployed loved one defending our nation.  There are also organizations that connect service members with good hearted people like yourself and vice-versa.  Go to A Soldier’s Wish List to “Adopt a Trooper” now.  The last Trooper I adopted from there was also an avid outdoorsman. (more…)

The Call Doesn’t Make Much Sound

I looked at the call in my hand incredulously.  I kept silent out of respect for a fellow hunter and in the interest of passing on the hunting tradition.  He said it didn’t make much sound.  I wasn’t surprised.  I held a M.A.D. Heavy Metal turkey call.  Someone had attempted to “condition” the recessed portion of its back side.  I dug a Primos Slick Stick from my fanny pack and conditioned the call’s pristine striking surface.  The sounds were much more “turkey like” then.

To “Condition” the Call

To get consistent sound from our glass friction or “pot” calls we must keep them conditioned.  People often don’t know what I mean when I say “conditioned”.  I’m talking about breaking that hard, clear crust on the glass and giving it some texture so that the striker has something to “play” against and make turkey sounds.  We need a couple of things for this.  I condition a lot of calls every year and highly recommend the previously mentioned Slick Stick pictured below.  (more…)

Up North Journal Interview

Listen to dustyvarmint discuss custom turkey calls on the Up North Journal podcast here for tips, tricks and discussion on custom turkey calls.

Check out dustyvarmint woodworks custom turkey calls here.

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Coming up on Mostly Archery

• Outfitter Reports – Why We Should Be Doing Them
• Overhauling My Bow
• Support Our Outdoors Troops

Following is my trip report from a recent adventure with Fair Chase, Ltd. for javelina and hogs. This is a modified North American Hunting Club format.

1) Outfitter: Fair Chase, Ltd

2) Owner: Rob Kiebler

3) Address: P.O. Box 1679, Azle, TX 76098

4) Phone: (972)-523-5621 (cell)

5) E-mail:  See dv’s links page.

6) When: January 22-25, 2009

7) Where: El Indio, TX
Guided: Fully

9) Drop: No

10) Transportation to hunting area: By truck driven by guide and/or outfitter. (more…)

Here in south east Wisconsin there is a high-density of archery clubs.  I can think of at least six in a two to three county area. The clubs have even formed an alliance called the Lakeshore Bowhunter’s League (LBL) to coordinate shoot dates, set shoot dates of specific formats and share the proceeds equally.  This is a great place to live if you like archery.  I’m lucky enough to live only five minutes from West Allis Bowmen.  

The interesting thing about West Allis Bowmen is that it isn’t in West Allis, WI.  The club’s ancestors moved the club to its present location in Franksville, WI long ago.  We have active club members who have belonged since at least 1962.  A wealth of knowledge, no doubt.  WAB encompasses 60 acres including a twenty yard indoor range, ten to sixty yard practice butts, broadhead practice pit, broadhead course, two 3D ranges and a field archery course.  It takes a lot of work to keep the range fit.  

(more…)