They Call Him "Drake"

He's a hunter in training.  Start'em young!

If that isn't the cutest little duck hunter I ever saw!  And yup...it runs in the family!  Well the duck hunter part, not so much the 'cute'!     BURN! :o)

My brother sent me these photos and I just had to share them with you.  Drake goes to watch and carry a duck occasionally, but he has accomplished the art of breakfast very well!

Lip Licking!

Breakfast of course is what duck hunters do when the birds aren't flying.  Personally, I think it's an excuse to eat lots of bacon...

Drake and Papa

And BS with good friends (translation: hide from the wives)...

Enjoy your weekend friends!

Rib Rackin' 2011

It's that time of year again when the hunters hope to fill their freezer for the year.  I have been in touch with Jody and I know he is hoping for the same!  Best of luck, Jody!!  Above all, be safe!  I know you will be.

Around here, the season is pretty narrow for shotgun.  No rifle allowed.  However, if you bow hunt, the season is pretty long.  Luckily, Pig Pen bow hunts too, so we have our first of the year.  Neither of us "caught" a deer as my MIL says during first shotgun season down in Southern IL.

Well, I did shoot...but those dang eyes shut on me!  I could have kicked myself!  That's how we learn though, right?

Here's the part where some of you may want to close your eyes...ooook...I warned you!

As you will see, several others had a great season!

My nephew won the "Big Buck, Big Doe" for his 101 lbs doe.  He was pretty excited about that!  Great Job Kid!

My brother came in second with his buck.  I am pretty darn sure he wont go hungry this year!

We were joined again by a friend who couldn't make it to last years Rib Rackers Deer Camp because he was deployed in Afghanistan with the Army Reserves for a year.  He got a nice buck his first trip back!

Great job, Joe!  Most importantly, thank you for your service!  Glad you made it home safely!

It was a great season and even though 'the girls' are still waiting for their first deer, it's alright!  We sure do enjoy just being out there!

Thanksgiving quickly followed and since we do things a bit different around here, some of you might enjoy this little clip:

She may not have gotten her first deer, but she sure hit that target!

After we got done horsing around, my little brother (ya...the big guy) exclaims "Happy Thanksgiving Everybody!".  Soon thereafter, AL the-neighbor-dude texted Pig Pen asking what the heck we were up to now!?

Ya just never know!

I hope all your Thanksgiving and family visits were wonderful and that Christmas is off to a good season as well!

Been seeing some pretty darn nice aprons coming from that challenge Susan put out there!  You guys are awesome!  And seeing as how Erin did a post on her sewing area deluxe, I am going to have to do a little sharing on my new area as well! 

Eventually ;)

Sighted and Saggy

No, this is not my target:

My niece sighted in her new gun.  My brother, Pig Pen and I got it for her Birthday.  I would say she did very well!

She sent the picture via text, to which I responded that it must have been her Dad's target (hehehe)!  I added that she did very well, and better than I did with my new gun and scope.

I also told her that she did better because I was older and have poorer eyesight.

She laughed at me and said "Haha, I did better than U!"

To which I responded, "Yeah, well, well, my boobs are bigger!"

And she said......

"But like you said, u r old, so they are saggy!"

WHAT?!  Can you believe these PUNK kids these days?

Ahhh, who am I kidding...I was proud of her for the quick and lethal comeback!

She's still sleeping outside at deer camp!

Wrapping Up - "Rib Rackers"

So what IS a "Rib Racker"?  Over 40 years ago when it all began, a group of guys decided to keep their version of a scrapbook.  To get your picture in the book, you had to have a successful hunt.  They didn't start the book right off, so the first picture is from 1971 and has been going ever since.  I forgot to take a picture of the actual book, my bad.  But this book goes on the trip every year as well!

This years "Rib Rackers" included:

My Brother, Donnie with his 8 Pointer

Close up of the Rack

Pig Pen with his 6 Pointer and a Doe

Donnie's Dad, Larry with his, umm...not sure how many Pointer!

4 Maybe?  Strange Rack, huh?

Brian with his 6 Pointer (I think)

Another tradition throughout the entire campground is "Big Buck/Big Doe".  It's a pool for the largest in each category.  Seeing as how Donnie had shot his largest buck ever this year, he had a pretty good chance to take home the trophy!

On Saturday night, those in the running take their deer to be weighed.  People had been stopping by our camp to look at this big guy!  It was going to be a close call this year!

Well, if they had a trophy for "Best Rack", my brother would have won hands down!  He is for sure mounting this one on the wall!  Unfortunately, he missed the weigh in by six pounds!  I don't think he much minded, he's still a beauty!

Of the eight of us in camp, we were split evenly.  Four "Rib Rackers" and four "losers".  Here are the losers with the token deer that the Rackers were kind enough to let us share for the picture spot:

Me, Andrea, Josh, Joe

Wasn't that sweet of them?  None of us want into the book until it's legit though!  Joe is in from years past, but Andrea, Josh and I are still hoping for next year!

Here is what I learned...that I need more practice, I need to work out (yeah, right!), that sock liners are the bomb, clothing liners that breath are the best, tall fuzzy boots are smart and snappy, not to let Pig Pen load the back pack, not to drink much coffee in the morning, quiet snacks work best and water is heavy but required.

Now the one thing that cracked me up is what I referred to as "The Handicap".   Since Andrea and I were the new kids, I found it funny that her and I were the only one shooting iron sights.  Do you suppose the boys were afraid we might show them up???  I might have, maybe, told the guys what I thought of them for that...

Just sayin'.

And what made me smile on the way home?  Pig Pen's Mama calling to ask...

"How many deer did you catch?"

Well Mom, we 'caught' six total!  5 Buck and 1 Doe!

Pretty sure the only thing that I 'caught' is a cold that isn't sure it wants to manifest or not.  Because I sure didn't 'catch' a deer.  And I sure did put a gun with a scope on my list of "Must Have".

"Rib Rackers" - That's My Story!

Saturday morning, 5:30am.  My hind end is firmly parked under a tree with Pig Pen 10 feet behind and 20 feet up in a tree stand. 

He's facing one direction, I am facing another.  I'd tell you N-S-E-W coordinates, but let's face it, in the Forrest...I'm lost.

In daylight hours, this was my spot:

A nice thicket for cover opening into the woods.  Or...The Honey Hole.

This is what Pig Pen faced:

With daylight approaching, my gun propped on my knee and my hand gently holding the stock, I wait.  Praying that maybe today I would at least get to see a deer.  If I could at least see one, then I could sit that fire at night and finally have my own "Deer Stories" to tell back at camp. 

The sun finally makes it's appearance and my eyes are hungry.  It's actually very beautiful.  There is a nice fog cover and it looks like a picture book.  It really looks surreal.  One second, just thicket.  And in less than a blink of an eye...two doe.

Everyone had told me that when you see your deer, albeit your first or five hundredth, your blood pounds in your ears and your heart races.  I apologize if this comes off as cold or unfeeling, I really do.  But I didn't have that sensation.  For me, it was steps.  Motions that I had been schooled in repeatedly by the seasoned hunters.

Move very slowly.  Position your gun.  Gently pull the hammer (in my case).  Exhale.  Aim.  Well you know what comes next. 

By chance, mine was the first shot of the morning!  The doe jumped and took off!  I don't think I hit her, so now I have to slowly reload but do it quickly.  If that makes sense.  Pig Pen later told me I scared the hell out of him.  I suppose that would, considering he wasn't seeing what I was seeing.  As I was reloading I peeked at him.  He too was sighting the doe in as she ran across his lines.  I knew that if I didn't hit her, he would.

Now what I should have been doing, was sighting the second doe in.  He had the first one within range.  So that was a lesson learned.  I don't know what happened to the second doe, she is safe.  Pig Pen shot twice at the first doe that I pushed his way.  So we waited.  Keep in mind, it's the rut, so where there are doe, there are buck.

Twenty minutes later, just like from a movie...Up lifted a buck out of the thicket and fog.  One second they aren't there, and the next second they are!  This buck was probably a 30 pointer.  Hey, it's my story! :0)

This time, my thumb did quiver on the hammer.  I think because it was such a big buck, my thoughts must have been "Whoa!".  So I went thru all my training in my head again, and fired! 

Pft!  This bad boy flipped me the bird, casually turned and walked away!  So I had to giggle a little at that.

Now it's time to go track down "my" doe.  I told Pig Pen on the walk that I truly don't think I hit her and he disagreed.  He said he was sure that I did.  If so, then it was a team take, I at least knew that much.  We see her in the distance and he said as we got up to her, "I bet you wounded her, but I think I finished her.  We'll know by the number of shot in her". 

Bless his little heart!  She did have two!  But try as he might, he couldn't convince this novice that one was mine though.  I even told him, "Babe, I am not that stupid.  It's called entry and exit, and they are yours."  Oh, but he tried.  Ya just gotta love him for that!

He goes about the field dressing and proceeds to drag her out.  Now I am left to sit some more.  Being alone in the woods is shockingly not scary at all.  I enjoyed it.  If you have never done so and you can safely find your way out, I  highly recommend it.  It's a great way to have thoughts all your own and just "be".

My thoughts at this point included ones of "Wahooey!"  I hadn't bagged my first deer yet, but I was learning and experiencing things I had been looking forward to!

A few hours go by and I am content just sitting there by my lonesome.  And again, out of no where, I see a doe.  This time I told myself to aim and aim good!  Remember, I have iron sights!

So I did just that!  This doe, like the last buck, just flipped me the bird!  So I have to reload, gosh darn it!  She didn't run!  I had to extend my leg fully to get to my ammo...she still didn't move!  My gun is a break away and I thought surely with all that deliberate motion, she would move!  Nope, just stood there.  So I am reloaded and she is now moving slowly.  She turned and faced me!  I am sighting her back in as she is moving again, and unfortunately she is in a spot where I didn't think I could get a clean shot, so I called to her and she stopped.  No clean shot!  Darn it!

Out of the corner of my eye, I catch movement to my right.  So I very slowly turn and yup...a buck!  Knowing I can't get the doe, well what's a girl to do???

Do you know that I am a lousy shot???  I got flipped the bird a FOURTH time!  Geesh!!!  

So that's my story...Four shots...Four misses. 
I-STINK! 
But ya know what? 
I'm am a happy little camper!
And I am still getting to "The Rib Racker" part...

Meet The "Rib Rackers"

Well, we made it there and back with lots of great stories and pictures!  I know some of you will be bored to tears and I do apologize in advance! 

I have talked to a bunch of people since we got home and received all sorts of responses to the stories.  So that said, I just want y'all to know, we don't hunt what we wont eat!  And I am truly OK with folks who disagree with hunting so long as we all respect each other.  I believe the deer live as God intended them to and not shoulder to shoulder in their own filth, shot up with hormones, antibiotics and truly helpless for cover or to run, unlike the beef we buy from the store.  There, my disclaimer is out of the way! 

On to the fun stuff! 

We arrived in The Shawnee National Forrest late Wednesday night.  After we got situated, we sat around the fire and chewed the fat. 

Larry's Van...complete with twin bed and buddy heater!

Thursday morning was our 'Scout' day.  My brother, Donnie, and his Dad, Larry, have been hunting the Shawnee for years.  Larry -39 years!  Donnie -30 years!  So they know all the prime spots and keep them for themselves of course!  (wink, wink)

Every morning, as promised...my brother would cook breakfast.  We got up at 3:30 on Hunting days!  Here is Donnie's slop on Scout day:

He fries potatoes, bacon or sausage, then adds in a dozen eggs.  And there you have SLOP!  Good Slop!!

The first territory we scouted was for my nephew, Josh.  This year he hunted from a tree stand.  We call it the "TajMaStand" as it isn't broke down quite yet!

Here's one of the things you look for:

It's a 'rub'.  I didn't get a picture of a 'scrape' though.  But we did see them!

I gotta say, it's a darn good thing for "Seasoned" Hunters.  I was concerned with making a fool of myself and falling flat on my face and keeping up.  Whereas the seasoned, well they see things like this...and Stop!

I would have walked right into that puppy!  aka Skunk    Oh, and in case you were wondering, I did keep up and I did fall flat on my face...once.  :0)

After Scout day was done and we got back to camp, it was lights out fairly early.  Big day ahead!

If anyone had told me that I would sweat to death on the mile trek out Friday morning, carry half my body weight on my back, fall flat on my face while lugging like a pack mule, I would have laughed.  So I did laugh!  Lots!  We had a blast!

Here is the load and go at 4:30am!

And I believe y'all wanted to see a goofy looking me...I felt like the kid in "A Christmas Story" who couldn't put his arms down or walk!

Here is my niece, Andrea.  Orange is a good color on her!  This was her first season too!

We were in our spots by 5:30am sharp!  Pig Pen and I hunted from a blind most of the first day.  Here is what I saw on Friday:

And that be it...that's all I saw on Friday.  Just Pig Pen walking back to the blind.  Not.One.Deer.

Bummer...

But it was a good day!  I got to sit for 13 hours with my man!  And I still love him...  :)

At 7:15 we heard shots fired from my brothers area.  Patiently we waited for the radio call...and yupper!  My brother bagged an 8 point Buck!  His biggest ever!  He was so happy he said he dropped to his knees and cried just a little!  So we waited a bit and went to help him out!  Well, Pig Pen helped, I took pictures!

Nice looking rack, eh?

After he field dressed him, he drug that 149 lbs deer on out and Pig Pen took over his spot.  I stayed in the blind and waited patiently.

Wasn't but a few hours later, more shots fired from that same area, and yupper...Pig Pen got a 6 point Buck from the same tree stand!  A real Honey Hole!

6 Pointer, one rack was broken though!

Naturally, Pig Pen and my brother moved me on over to The Honey Hole.  There I sat...and sat...and sat.  Still didn't even see one.  Not.One.Deer.

When we got back to camp that night, our camp tallied off at 4 Bucks!  Pretty darn good day! 

Everyone saw deer except for me, and all who got shots off meet their mark.  So we had 4 other hopefuls still waiting...

Any takers on how Saturday went?  Guesses?  Bets?  Predictions?

I didn't sit the blind the next day.  We went to The Honey Hole. 
I'll leave it at that for now.  This post is long enough, don't ya think?

Almost There!

Well I am in the final check-check-double-check of my lists, supplies, clothes and what not for our Hunting Trip.  The part I dread most is hauling it all out to the camper!  I am 100% confident I have over packed in fear of frostbite! 

I haven't had a chance to break in those boots much.  Little bit worried about that!  We will have a mile or two to walk one way, so hopefully no blisters!

Pretty much down to the wire with making any food that has to go along.  Normally I would make a big pot of home made Chili for something like this.  But that dish was already 'called', so I opted for Ham & Beans with Corn Bread.

How dumb am I?  They don't call sleeping bags "Fart Sacks" for nothing!



I'm High and It Hurts

My shot is high.  And my shoulder hurts.  But I gotta Woman Up! 

Pig Pen took me out back yesterday for some target practice.  I do just fine with the shotgun barrel.  Kinda hard not to really, unless you close your eyes.

After he warmed me up with that, we switched to the slug barrel, which was a first for me.  It's a bit heavier, a whole lot louder and it kicks more.  I have Iron Sights, so it took me a bit to work that out.  But it's sighted at least.  I was able to compensate for getting high finally! 

I don't imagine they will hire me as a sharp shooter any time soon, but I might be able to hit the broad side of a barn!  Or deer, deer would be better.

I'm going for my boots Monday.  Pig Pen seemed to think the taller ones would be better all purpose boots so the snow doesn't creep down them.  And I got my sock liners ordered from Campmor.com!  Thank you Erin for that little tip!

Are ya getting sick of me talking about our hunting trip? Sorry, I'm just pretty excited and I think it will be fun even if I don't get a shot off!  If for nothing else, my brother cooks breakfast every morning!  Astounding...

And I'm gonna let him!  Even more astounding.  Here I thought they wanted me along just to cook!

Outer Wear...Check!

We made the long trek to Cabela's last night to exchange my Overalls with the crotch that never ended.  It's no wonder Pig Pen had such a hard time finding Outer Wear that would fit.  It's not like the inventory or selection in the Women's section had alot of pickin's!

Here is what we ended up with:

I think these should do the trick!  They are the Cabela's Women's Ultimate Suede™ Weather-BLOCK™ 4-in-1 Parka and Bibs.

I also ordered some ClimateSmart CuddleDuds earlier this week.  Those should be arriving soon.  I looked at the ten-thousand different types of socks last night too.  Then I quickly realized that since I absolutely can NOT wear wool (itchy-scratchy want to claw myself to death), I need to find the liners you all mentioned.  That was like trying to find a needle in a haystack.  Unless of course you are a man.  I will wear Pig Pens socks when I am too lazy to walk upstairs and grab a pair of my own from the drawer, but the heel goes to the back of my knee cap, so I need to find some just for the ladies.

Now I just have to go get my boots!

Calling All Lady Hunters!

Getting ready to do something I've never done before, such as hunting, has left me stumped.  I'm a pretty good planner when I know what to plan for!

I got nothin'!

Well, not really.  I have camo in one pair of pants and one long sleeved t-shirt.  Pig Pen got me a pair of camo coveralls for my Birthday.  They are a youth XL. 

Yeah...the crotch is to my knees. 

So those will be going back real quick.  He also got me a blaze orange vest, camo face mask and gloves.

I'm thinking I may be lacking a few things.  I have been scouring the Internet.  But when you don't know exactly what you are looking for and you hit up Google, you can come up with some pretty weird stuff!  I was searching for 'warm footwear' and came up with this:

No lie.  Not kidding.  Really???  I'd be more the target than hunter!  And my brother, niece and nephew would be mortified.  Rolling, but mortified!  Maybe Pig Pen would like it...

So here is the question I pose to any of you who have ever hunted or taken part in any other lengthy outdoor winter activity: 

What the heck do I need?  What have you used and loved and wouldn't do with out?

I know I need a good pair of boots.  I was thinking rather than spending good money on "hunting" boots,

Maybe I should opt for something a little more versatile yet still practical.  I have seen some pretty sexy Sorel's lately! 


What girl could resist polka dots?



Miss Erin's

Is this the perfect excuse to tickle my fancy?  They really ought to last forever, right?  They are sorta camo...aren't they?  My coveralls will hide most of them, right?  And it's not like I don't go on long midnight runs with Pig Pen when he snow plows.  Yes, I even get out and shovel the doorways when needed!

All that aside, trying to determine the whole Thinsulate and Temperature thing.  Geez...can someone just tell me what to do???  Pig Pen has 800 and 2000.  Let me tell you the 2000's look ridiculous.  And I am out of shape, my poor legs would fall off.  I think anything that gets me down to -25 should be plenty.  Chances are if it is much colder than that, I'll be sitting by the fire!

Next up:  Layers.  Peeling layers must be the smart way to go.  Do you wear Long John's or Cuddle Duds, Jeans and your outerwear?  Do you prefer bibs and a jacket to coveralls?  How about SOCKS???

Hats, hoods, gloves, scarves, masks, HotHands, snacks, water, sunglasses, hmm, toliet paper, oh and my gun...

I have a feeling this could end badly without some sound advice from other ladies who have been there and done that! 

I swear I am not a Sally.