Shotguns are all completely cleaned, oiled, wiped and have been returned to their resting place in the safe. Ammo has been checked, re-boxed, and is in the ammo locker under lock and key. So…what do I do now? Now I’m going to work on a 22 rifle I’ve had for some years.

I don’t like synthetic stocks on shotguns, rifles, or handguns. I tend to call them “tupperware” guns. That said, I am now going to re-work, and re-stock a Remington 597 that came with a “tupperware” stock.

I got the urge to do this some time back, and after browsing the internet, some gun catalogs, gun shops, and other places, stumbled across an outfit in Mitchell, SD called Boyds. They make stocks for rifles and shotguns. Lots and lots of good stuff on their site… www.boydsgunstocks.com

As luck would have it, they were closing out their stocks for my 597. Pepper laminate, what they call VIP inletted, which means that it is pretty much a drop in and bolt up situation. Very little, if any additional inletting or wood working to do to make your action fit. Mine dropped in okay, and only spent a couple of minutes doing a bit of wood removal to make it a perfect fit.

Got that done, then hunting season started, and we all know that the work on the rifle immediately went to ’suspended’ status. Now I’m back in the swing on it. Since the 597 has a matte finish, I’m going to remove both the front and rear sights. Screw holes will be filled in with J-B Weld epoxy, filed/smoothed down and touched up with high heat flat black paint. This should give it a nice smooth line.

The sights that come on rifles are useless to me. I wear glasses, progessive lenses, and can’t keep a total focus on the target, front sight AND rear sight all at the same time. Something is always out of focus. Guess that’s the price for growing old! Since I have already topped it with a very clear 4x scope, open sights are history.

Next comes solving the length of pull (LOP) to fit me better. For some reason, most, if not all, manufacturers make their stocks for 22’s a bit short, at least for me. I guess their thinking is that 22’s are for kids and women. They need to think again. First problem I have encountered is that the butt has a gentle curve in it so I have two choices…I can cut the curve out or figure out something that will not necessitate cutting it. Thought about a recoil pad simply to add an inch to the LOP, but the mounting plate on the recoil pad is straight, and hard. I’m still thinking about how to overcome the curve.

I am going to oil finish the stock, using Tru-Oil. All I’ll need to do is final sand the stock and start applying the finish. Usually I’ll put two coats on, rub it with steel wool after the second coat has dried, then keep applying oil and rubbing with steel wool until I have achieved the luster and finish that I want.

I will also be glass bedding the action, just to make sure that it is nice and tight and won’t move around while handling or shooting it. Now most people think this is a very technical thing, but it is actually very simple. I use AcraGlass and if you can read and follow directions, then you won’t have any problems at all. The main thing is to follow the directions.

As soon as this project is finished, I’ll post some before and after pictures.

John

Just had some venison dropped off…a pound of tenderloin and some venison sausage. Added that to the collection of wild game in the freezer and will be chowing down on some of it this weekend. And of course, on Super Bowl Sunday. So, with the bulk of the hunting seasons now closed, it is time for me to put on my chef’s cap and get down to some serious cooking and eating.

Thought I would take this opportunity to share a few recipes with you, and if you have some of the same things in your freezer, perhaps you’ll think them tasty enough to try yourself.

Venison tenderloin

Since I only have a pound, they’ll be cut into four 4 oz filets.

In a large, deep skillet, melt 1/4 cube of butter, bring to a bubble, then add 1 tablespoon of black pepper, 8 tablespoons of Worcestershire sauce, 1 tablespoon of garlic powder, and four or five healthy dashes of Tabasco sauce. Stir well, then drop in the filets. Brown lightly…about 2 minutes each side, then remove and set aside for the time being.

Reduce heat on skillet to medium high, and add a package of wild rice, with appropriate amount of water. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and cover, stirring as needed. It’s best to follow the directions on the rice.

While rice is cooking, prepare whatever green veggie you like.

When the rice is done, remove from skillet and put in a serving dish, then add in another 1/4 cube of butter (or margarine) bring the heat up and bring to a bubble. Put browned filets in the skillet and cook for another two minutes each side. Remove filets and place on plates.

I save the second seasoned butter and use it to “heighten” the taste of the rice and green vegetable.

Second recipe is for duck…..as in Cajun Pot Duck. This is for two ducks.

Wash and clean ducks well. I soak them for about 4 hours in lightly salted water to help remove a lot of the fat/oil contained in the duck. When fully soaked, take a clove of garlic (or two) depending on the number of ducks to be cooked, and cut each clove into six pieces. I then pierce the breast, three incisions on each breast, and insert a chunk of garlic in each incision. Set them aside in the refrigerator for an hour.

When you are ready to start cooking the ducks, take a large dutch oven and put in a whole stick of butter/margarine…this is 1/4 lb. Heat level is medium high to high. Add a tablespoon of black pepper, and stir the melted butter and pepper. When the butter starts to bubble, add the ducks to the mix, browning completely all the way around.

When the ducks are browned, place them on their backs. Add water til only the breasts are above the water line, let water come to a boil, then reduce heat to medium/medium low and cover. This will allow the steam to cook the duck breast. After 20-25 minutes add the following:

One medium white onion, chopped.
6-8 carrots, peeled and chunked.
3 medium to large potatoes, peeled and chunked.
1/2 teaspoon of celery salt.
1 teaspoon oregano
1 teaspoon basil
1 teaspoon Rosemary

Replace lid on dutch oven, and let duck and veggies simmer until the carrots and potatoes are done.

After adding the veggies, make a large pot of rice…either regular or wild rice. I use 3 cups of water and 1 cup of rice. By the time the rice is tender, the veggies in the duck pot should be real close to being done.

Prepare a plate with a ring of rice around the plate, then place a duck in the center of the ring, and ladle the veggies and gravy inside the rice. Don’t worry if it looks too soupy, the rice will soak up the juices.

Bon apetit.

Duck Poppers

Thaw and soak two ducks, per the instructions with Cajun Pot Duck.

When fully soaked, remove breast meat from two ducks. Slice into three chunks per breast. Take some slices of thick sliced bacon and lay out on cutting board, then lay a chunk of breast meat on each slice of bacon. Season duck breast with garlic powder and Tony Cachere’s cajun seasoning. Be generous. Roll the bacon and breast meat into meat rolls and pin with a tooth pick. Place the poppers in a dish and let sit in the refrigerator.

Fire off your charcoal grill….gas grills are okay…but I prefer to use my grill as I can add some hickory or mesquite or pecan to give it some “smoke.” Build a good fire out of the charcoal, you want this to cook “hot” much like if you were grilling some really good steaks. When heat level is correct, add a chunk or three of water soaked wood. When it starts to smoke, toss the duck poppers on the grill and close the lid. Turn 1/4 turn every four to five minutes. Total cooking time will be approximately 20 minutes. I always sample one to make sure that it is completely cooked. Good finger food for a football game.

I do doves the same way…we breast out the doves instead of picking them…but wrap them with bacon, season with a dash or three of Tony Cachere’s seasoning, and toss them on the grill with some wood for smoke. They are great when served with Ritz crackers, swiss cheese, tortilla chips and dip (I prefer onion and/or guacamole) and washed down with a bit of white zinfandel.

Now I’m feeling hunger pangs. Hope you find these recipes enticing.

John

What a great time. Took a friend of mine and his son, and a friend of his son’s out to the blind Sunday morning. They were 12 and 13 years old. Neither of the youngsters had ever duck hunted before. They had spent some time in a dove field, however, so the concept of wing shooting was not a totally foreign concept to them.

We scared a few gadwalls out of the decoys as we moved into the blind, which has happened every time we’ve gone this year, and after getting settled in, watched them wheel around and come right back in. Both the boys were really excited about that, and then it was a matter of waiting for shooting hours to commence.

During that time, I explained that drakes and hens of some species were cool to take, while drakes in other species were the only ones we wanted to shoot. Specifically, mallards and wood ducks. As we waited, some more gadwalls came in, wings whistling as they came over the top of the blind, then the soft splash, splash, splash as they settled down. A few more minutes of time passed, and after checking my watch, I said it would be okay to shoot at the next group that came in. This was greeted with excited smiles, and after they got their guns loaded, safeties set, we sat back and waited.

It was less than five minutes later when we spotted a small flight of ducks, far out over the river, and rather high. I hit the call, giving a short hail, and over half of them turned and headed in. Much to my surprise, it was a flight of mallards, the most we have seen the whole season. I told them to get their guns ready, and I would tell them when to shoot. The mallards made two wide circles, seemingly wary, then commited themselves and came on in, almost head on to us, wings cupped, orange feet already down.

When they were about 30 yards out I said to take them. Both the boys stood and fired, three shots each. Four ducks fell dead. Robert, my friend, took two shots, killing two, and I sat and watched. Have to admit that I was a bit stunned that the two kids had killed four, but happy for them at the same time.

We marked all the birds, then slid out through the floor into the pirogue to retrieve all the downed birds. I was directed by them to the birds that they had shot, and after retrieving the third duck, saw the band on the leg. Kid’s first duck hunt and he gets some ‘jewelry.’

Got back in the blind and distributed the ducks to each of them. Then pointed out the band. Kid didn’t know about them, and how really ‘rare’ they are. I explained how the band got to be there, and how it was used to track ducks on their migration. Then told him that in all my years of duck hunting, I had collected exactly three bands.

Two hours after getting in the blind, we all had a limit of ducks, and after making sure that all the guns were unloaded, stowed them in their cases, and loaded up the pirogue to get back to dry land. On the drive back to town, we called the number on the band to report it, and got the feedback on the band. Mallard drake banded in Saskatchewan, Canada, June 17, 2005.

It was a really fun day. Time spent with a friend and two youngsters, passing along the love of the outdoors, showing them a little about duck hunting, some gun safety, and opening another avenue for them to explore and enjoy. I felt like I was passing the torch to them, for they are the future of hunting.

John

It’s that time of the year where the hunting seasons are winding down with the exception of quail and rabbits which will end in February. Duck season here this year has been fantastic, with more ducks now in the state than we have had in several years.

The deer hunters have also been very happy with the overall population, and every hunter, whether successfully harvesting a deer has at least seen deer while in their stands, with several that I know harvesting more than one. While I don’t deer hunt on a regular basis, I still manage to swap a few ducks for some venison.

Quail season is still open, but numbers here are still on the decline. Fields that once held numerous coveys are lucky if they have a single bird left. Part of the reason for the decline in the quail population is due modern farming techniques, mainly zero margin cultivation, which greatly reduces the cover that quail need to maintain a population.

Another reason is the increase of the predator population, mainly coyotes and bobcats. Almost every hardcore deer hunter I know has seen both of these species while sitting in their deer stands, yet did not eliminate them. At the same time, a lot of deer hunters are quail hunters, and they continuously bemoan the veritable rarity of quail these days, while doing nothing to deplete the predator population. Their excuse is that they were deer hunting and if they had shot a coyote or bobcat, they might not see a deer. While this is true, they can still do things to deplete the predator population and enjoy increased deer AND quail hunting success. This can be done by having their “hunting” season end when deer season ends. Simply put, predators are an open season form of hunting that runs year round, if they want to pursue it.

As I have stated previously, I love wingshooting. To me it is a lot more fun than sitting still in a cold deer stand, watching a crossing or a trail that may or may not have a deer travel that way that day, or any day, for that matter. I also love coyote hunting. It doesn’t take a lot of effort, very little equipment, and almost every rancher or farmer who has any livestock who has what they feel is a coyote “problem” will welcome you if you knock on their door, introduce yourself and ask if you can hunt/shoot coyotes on their land. And don’t kid yourself, hunting coyotes can be very exciting. And an added bonus is that almost every land owner who allows you on their land to shoot coyotes will volunteer their land to your other hunting pursuits. Which comes in very handy if you don’t own land to hunt on, or do not belong to a club that leases land.

About a year ago I knocked on the door of a farm house not two miles south of town and asked if they had heard any ‘dogs’ singing in the dark. The farmer laughed and asked if I was referring to coyotes. I replied in the affirmative. He said he was “covered up” with them, and if I was serious, he would show me where he thought they were denned up. As we talked, he lamented the loss of several calves to them. Arrangements were made for a friend of mine and me to meet him the next Friday afternoon late. We showed up and he drove us in his truck across a pasture that he had cleared of livestock, and pointed out the area in question. We gathered up our gear and set out a ‘decoy’ I had made, then set up our shooting mats and rifles.

Now, I like to use the ‘decoy’ and an old, old Olt’s mouth call, and after we were ready, I hit the call for about 45 seconds, tugging on the string to make the decoy appear to be a wounded rabbit. In less than a minute we had four coyotes in sight, all headed for the decoy. Two came right on in on it, stopping less than 50 yards from the decoy, the other two stopping further out, noses working the wind to detect any other scents.

Working on a countdown basis, my hunting buddy and I shot at virtually the same time, each of us downing the closer ‘yotes. The two that were further out, turned and started to trot away, heading back to deep cover. I hit the call two more times and they stopped, each of them sniffing the air and looking back in the direction of the decoy. Again, we counted down, firing almost simultaneously, and the other two went down. All told, we had been in the field for less than thirty minutes and had four ‘yotes down and dead. Examination of the four showed we had what appeared to be a dominate male, two juvenile males, and a mature female.

After calling for another 30 minutes or so, we knew we were done in that pasture, and with four dead coyotes, it was pretty much over for the day, as none showed up in response to the call and decoy.

We gathered up our gear as the land owner drove back across the pasture, and the look on his face when we showed him the four coyotes was one of those “kodak moments.” He said he only heard two shots, and asked how we got four coyotes with two shots. After explaining the technique to him, he smiled and told us that we had “done good.”

The point of this story is that your hunting season doesn’t have to end. You just have to change ‘targets.’ You can improve the habitat for other species..in this case quail and rabbits by eliminating their predators. You also get the added benefits of having access to private land you could never have gained access to before, and you keep your shooting skills sharp year round.

When I coyote hunt, I carry two rifles. One for relatively short shots…those inside 250 yards, and one for the longer shots..those over 250 yards and inside 500 yards. My calibers of choice are the 223 Remington chambered NEF Handi Rifle and a custom 25-06. My buddy, Robert, uses a Remington 700 in 243, and a Browning A-Bolt in 300 Win Magnum. All four are lethal on coyotes, and almost any centerfire rifle is good for coyotes and bobcats.

So, when you lament that your hunting season is over, think again. There are lots of opportunities for us to keep a season going year round, make new friends, and open up lands that would remain closed otherwise. Of course, it should go without saying that you need to make sure of your line of fire, not trash the land you are hunting on, pick up after yourselves, and thank the land owner for letting you enjoy yourself. You’ll be surprised how many of them thank you for helping him rid his property of these “varmints.” And if you mind your manners, you’ll be invited back again and again.

Happy hunting…..

John