2023 Eastern Shore Maryland AFI Duck Camp

 

I was fortunate enough to have been chosen one of the four veterans to participate in this unique opportunity.  It had been many years since I last hunted ducks, and being a motivated DIY'er I had never been on a guided hunt before.  

I can't say enough about the great experiences I had with Wingman Guide Service.  Joshua Bourne runs a fantastic operation, and it is evident his service is a passion, not just a business for him.  

I arrived to a wonderfully furnished house and made to feel welcome by a truly family run operation.  I was provided with a snack of bacon wrapped marinated jalapeno duck poppers as we enjoyed lively conversation around the blazing fire pit.  After a hearty feast of mashed taters and pot roast for dinner, all the prior service vets discussed our "war stories" probably a little later than we should have stayed awake.

 

At 0300 Joshua was up early whipping up a fine breakfast complete with potatoes, eggs, toast, sausage, and hot coffee.  We were ready to hit the water by 0500 well fed and excited for the adventure.

The weather this day was challenging, but our capable guides knew an area where they had not pressured birds and their knowledge of the vast marshes proved invaluable.  After the 30-minute boat ride we started to put out our set just at first grey light.  Soon we were nestled in our little floating island between two decoy sets and ready to watch the skies.

Lack of wind and clear conditions made it challenging to predict the travel and direction birds would come in, as they pretty much had any angle they wanted.  

Soon we were rewarded with birds and had several good opportunities in these really bright and clear conditions.  My shotgun wing shooting was a little rusty at first, but I was finally rewarded with a lone bufflehead that came streaking in over my direction just over the water and swinging from left to right was I fold it with a single blast as the others watched.  That one did feel good!

We ended the morning with six birds along with a interesting bluebill duck in the mix.  

Getting six birds in tough "fowl" conditions was pretty successful!

I had to bid all adieu fairly early to pick up my son from school, but I thanked Joshua and his son for such a super time and great guide skills.  Said goodbye to my new veteran brothers from the hunt.  This BHA AFI program and the generous donation by Wingman Guide Service was a great experience. I highly recommend and thank all involved!  

2023 Traditional Maryland Puiblic Land Deer Camp

 

Well another year in the books for the annual western MD trad deer camp.  Only 3 traditional shooters this year due to a variety of reasons including illness etc. 

 

As usual it was a hard hunt in the hungry public woods, but the group managed to again draw blood when my brother Chris shot this little 8 point and we had the meat pole in use again. 

 

 

 

Cold weather had them moving.

 

I passed up a 2 inch spike who ran a doe and fawn within 10 yards of me on the first day and lots of small bucks chasing out of range the rest of the hunt.

 

 

 

Dan brought some Polish beer from New Jersey and we ate well.  Roasted a leg of lamb on the fire one afternoon.

 

Was a good time despite the low turnout.

 

 

Another Try for Longbow Bear in MD - Almost!

 

After 5 years of hunting the one week, no scent no bait, MD bear season in the past without a single sighting even...I got a good shot at one and a lucky bear was educated.  

 

 

The Terrain was a steep Mountain area that has a fire trail running parallel to the ridge line about halfway up.  There is an old abandoned farm and orchard downhill from the fire road and steep hardwoods above.

3 of us went in the fire road at first light.  Walt went uphill first and set up along the ridge.  Brent and I kept going until we reached the access to the farm.  I went uphill and set up in this bench area.  Just walked in and straddled a blow down near the root ball.  No cell service at camp but signal up on the mountain so I checked my phone, and of course that is when I heard a branch snap.  Brent had gone down the fire road that turned around a bend from where I went up and was still hunting.  He must have pushed the bear, but he never saw it.  

 

 

I heard something running about 60 yards out and tried immediately to see if it was "brown or black".  It was black! The good-sized bear looked like it was going to pass above me at about 35 yards on a good trotting gallop pace and I had a window.  I thought this maybe my only chance at a shot so as he past a lane I actually pulled back to ¼ draw, but then let down.  This is when it took a right and started coming down!  I went from afraid it would never get close...to Oh my gosh it is going to run me over in a second!  It was still quartering towards me and about to go parallel at only 10 or 12 yards when I drew and picked a spot behind the front leg and the arrow was on the way.  I heard a crack and watched in horror as the bear looked towards me and I watched 2 halves of my arrow fly just over the bears back! I said "SH*T" out loud as I reached back and got another arrow on the string.  The bear had meanwhile taken to or 3 fast bounds and stopped about 25 yards away quartering hard away and looking back at me.  I was flustered by this point and I wanted to try another shot fast and forgot to pick a spot in all the excitement.  This was the shot I want back!  I aimed at the entire bear and watched my arrow go up over it's rear end and thunk into a tree.  I watched the rumpling rear kick up leaves as it careened downhill out of sight towards the thick hedgerows of the farm below the fire road.  

My view of the first shot. 

Wow, you don't know excitement until you are at full draw on a predator that close on the ground!  WOW~!

The results of the first shot. You can see the business end of my arrow stuck in that log behind the fletching end.

 

 

After I dug my second arrow out of the tree (having a pinned head really helps get them out of a tree without the glue line breaking).  A doe actually came up and snorted at me from the tapping of my chisel tipped file to dig out the Hill head...I guess she thought I was a woodpecker and got in close to investigate. I tried to head way down the valley and head off the bear but never got to see it again.

I am pretty sure I caught a glimpse of another bear on the last evening hunt but again I could not get ahead of the animal i spotted way ahead in a valley.

Now I am excited to get back in 2 days for deer camp!

 

 

My Hill Style Longbow Journey Movie

 I decided to play around with editing a video of my longbow journey.  I had fun putting it together with years and years of old practice film and photos.  Who was that young fellow at the beginning?  Thanks.

Braised Vension Shanks Recipe

I've been experimenting lately with ways to make my deer butchering more efficient.  Last year I decided to vacuum pack and freeze these two deer shanks whole instead of trimming and grinding it for other uses as I would typically do.  Researching Osso Buco recipes, I decided to give the basic principles a try with a whole shank instead of cutting them into rounds.  I was very pleased with the results.  Because I had a squirrel quartered and frozen, I decided to also add that to the recipe and even a tough old squirrel came out sooo good!  I may even do a repeat of just squirrel if I can get a few more.

This particular cut of meat from a wild deer is about the toughest and most sinewy chunk of meat to cook.  It is even a chore to cut it from the bone to feed the grinder!  

The first step I took was to coat the meat copiously in salt and pepper, one could also coat with the flour at this point.  I heated up the iron skillet on the outdoor BBQ to sear it, so as not to smoke up the kitchen.  A couple teaspoons of olive oil in the pan.  Next time I will use a larger skillet also.

 

After browning I de-glazed the pan with a little venison stock that I had previously canned. I poured everything into a large casserole dish with: 

1 cup of wine (I used persimmon wine I had made)

1 cup of garlic sausage Prego tomato sauce.

cup or so of diced carrots

2 cloves of minced garlic

Half a small sweet onion diced 

1 teaspoon of thyme.

1 teaspoon of salt

Ground black pepper

teaspoon of lemon juice

2 tablespoons of minced parsley

1 small can of diced tomato

1/4 cup of all purpose flour

 

Here is everything ready for the oven.  I put the pan in covered at 325 degrees for around 4 hours. 

 

You could also use a heavy dutch oven, but since I was at home I used the Corningware.  This recipe would also work well in the ground slow cooking at camp which I intend to try at some point.

It came out of the oven looking like this:

This dish was super tasty and tender.  I was highly pleased and even the squirrel came out fork tender and so very savory.  The liquid was just the correct thickness for a light gravy.  Pair this with some rice, noodles, or some mashed potatoes and you have a super home cooked meal I would venture to say that even those that "do not like venison" would probably enjoy!

Early Season Success

I rarely end up with a deer on my first hunt of the season, but this year it all just came together. I only had a few hours to play because my wife had some social engagements with friends so I stayed close to home.  It was close to 8am and already around 70 degrees as I was nestled into a brush blind.  It was half pit and half brush and I had to stand to see over the front cover.  I was leaned back against the back wall when a doe with 2 spotted fawns came by.  I did not want to shoot mama with two fawns so young and dependent so I watched for a while as they fed around me.  This is the conditions of early season hunting.  The thermacell waft smoke and I was contented to watch the show.

Then they perked up and I noticed another form coming from the timber.  It was another mature doe.  This one had no spotted fawns in tow and sported a grey coat as she was in the midst of changing into her winter attire.   

Now this was looking up.  She came on in facing me, then after an eternity was broadside.  There was a problem though as the two other fawns were behind the doe.  Ugh, maybe this was not meant to be.  Watching for another eternity, I finally had my opportunity.  I drew, picked a spot and watched in horror as my arrow sailed over the doe's back!  No!

Well now everything was alerted and looking directly at me.  I froze.  After some time I decided to try to get my follow on arrow on the string which I was successful at, but the deer were really spooked.  They were there though.  I surprised myself again about the unobtrusiveness of the Hill Style longbows twang. 

For what seemed like 2 eternities we all froze.  Finally one by the one the two fawns went back to nibbling the browse, then the mama.  Finally my grey gal went back to feeding.  Eventually she fed broadside once more and I successfully drew and burned a deep hole.  Really bearing down, I let fly and saw a good hit.  Maybe 2 inches higher than I wanted and the arrow penetration seemed shallow, though I knew with that angle it probably hit the far shoulder / leg.

I sat down and relaxed listening after the crashing ceased.  Maybe 10 minutes later I thought I heard thrashing but the mind can play tricks. 

After my self imposed 45 minute wait, I started out.  

There she was a scant 60 or so yards from the shot.  It was a good double lung shot with the 190 grain ribtek.  I was impressed with the holes.

By the time I got her back at the house I was a sweaty  mess.  She weighed 95 pounds dressed out.  I got to work processing and getting her quartered and into my meat refrigerator.  I'll be doing some canning again!  It is a great start to the year.

New SUNSET HILL Blog by Nate Steen

 I am so happy to learn that Nate Steen of Sunset Hill Longbows and leather has a new blog where he will periodically post information.

Here is his welcome message and profile info.:

Hello, I'm Nate Steen. I welcome you to my blog, where my goal is to discuss Howard Hill style longbows, Wood arrows, and Leather goods. I'll discuss as time permits, their use in the hunting woods and on the range, passing along wisdom shared with me by John Schulz. I welcome your comments to share the knowledge of HIll's simplie method of shooting and his simple archery tackle and how it can be used to bring joy and success in your archery endeavors. 

 

Welcome to the Sunset Hill Longbow and Leather blog

 Good day all,  welcome to my not so serious blog site, where I will occasionally, as time permits, post information concerning Howard Hill style longbows, Leather goods, and other information as it pertains to the Hill method of shooting a longbow.  I'll also discuss my own Sunset Hill Longbows and tackle.  My goal is to share information to help others understand more fully the simplicity of this style of archery equipment and the simplicity of the shooting style that goes with it. As John Schulz once said,  "Simplicity is Elegance" and we will definitely use that approach with this blog.  Simplicity of tackle, of shooting technique, of the entire approach to shooting a longbow and enjoying the flight of a well-shot arrow to it's mark. Keep checking back and see what I or others will add... Have a great day shooting the LongBow!

 

If you enjoy longbows and the Howard Hill legacy, Nate is the man.  Check it out:

https://sunsethilllongbowsandleather.blogspot.com/