Wild Game Dinner 2012

April 14, 2012


Dripping Springs, Texas

We have just completed the third annual Wild Game Dinner that my father-in-law hosts. The event gives everyone a chance to clean out their freezers and try a few new recipes, while enjoying the company of close friends and family. This year the Good Lord decided to bless us with 30 mile per hour winds that successfully kept us cool but definately made keeping fires and pits at the correct temperature for cooking somewhat of a task.

Tara, Sawyer and I arrived at her parents a little after 8:00 Friday evening, and we began preparing the feast for Saturday. The backstrap "crown", the whole pig and a new item to the menu this year, the "fattie" were prepped.

The Venison Backstrap "Crown"

Whole Pig

Beginning the "Fattie"

Ready for the Grill

We made two "Fatties". The first we made with venison/pork pan sausage and assorted vegetables. The other had an Italian spin with marinara sauce, mushrooms and spinach.

Original Fattie

Italian Fattie

We lit the fire around midnight to get the coals going for the pig. Dealing with wind and trying to get the pit to the desired temperature took a little longer than anticipated, and we finally put the pig on at 2:00 AM.

After some much needed sleep, it was time to put a few more logs on the pit with the hog and start the Crown.

5 1/2 hours on the heat

As the day progressed, we cooked the Fatties and quail.

Time to eat!!!!

Quail

The Crown

The pig

Original Fattie

Italian Fattie

There were several other dishes I did not get pictures of including chukar and fried venison backstrap.

Hard at work.

Lori Darlin' sneaking snacks

This event is the once a year time that Tara wears a camo shirt. This was also Sawyer's first time to wear her camo.

After a long night and day of cooking and eating, everyone was full and worn out... Even the dogs.

Now it is time to start restocking the fridge for next year.

Happy Hunting,



Last Quail Hunt of the Year

March 11-12, 2012

Inflight Outfitters, Lake Mathis, Texas

We wrapped up the 2011-2012 quail season with a Sunday afternoon and Monday morning hunt. Sunday afternoon started out a little warm, but the dogs worked well as we battled through the sweat in our eyes. After a great dinner and early morning breakfast, we were back in the field again. The fog lifted around 9:00, and we had another enjoyable hunt.

Thats another great season in the books, and I'm already looking forward to next year.

Happy Hunting,



Finally...

I finally got the chance to hunt behind my own dogs for the first time this season. Here are a few pics...

Happy Hunting

Inflight Outfitters

January 16, 2012

My dad and I took some of our field guys quail hunting at Inflight Outfitters on Lake Mathis this past Monday. As you can see from some of my older posts, we frequent this preserve a few times a year. They do a good job and the food is amazing. We ended the afternoon hunt with 83 quail, 9 chukars, and a good time had by all.

Dad and Tony getting on the truck.

Tony and Bubba, like an old married couple.

Headed into the field.

Scary trio.

Bubba on his phone again.

Another South Texas sunset.

Happy Hunting,

Laredo

January 6-8, 2012

Every year, my father-in-law tries to get me down to Laredo for a meat hunt. I got free this year and joined him for a few days. Deer movement was slow, but we had a great time anyways. Kill total for the weekend was one spike for Gus and one big pig that we both plugged full of holes. Enjoy the pictures.

First morning's hunt was between an Industrial Park and the Railway Station. This was a very noisy hunt.

Nice deer at a distance. You can see the trains in the background.

All you need... A heater and a taco.

One of the mornings I saw several nice little deer.

Another from the same hunt.

Couple of bucks through the morning haze.

Gus and I tag teamed this big pig.

Tenderloin from Gus's spike. My wife enjoyed it, but not as much as I did.

The sun sets on another great weekend.

Deer season has rolled to a close, but we still have several weeks of quail season left. With my baby girl starting to get a little bigger, hopefully I will be able to get out and run my dogs a little before the season ends. Until next time...

Happy Hunting,