Gas Pains
Tom grew up in Milwaukee, bartended in Wauwatosa in the '70s and moved here in 1984.
Commentary, observations and musings about the outdoors, life in general and maybe Tosa politics and personalities will be the order of the day. He savors a lively debate as much as terrific cooking.
The Day of the Dead
In the Catholic tradition of the Christian faith any number of feast days are celebrated throughout the year.
One of these sacred feasts is today. All Souls Day.
Guess the Critter
Last week Jill and I were out killing buckthorn and scouting deer when we found this really cool nest.
It's huge!
A Couple of Tosa Veterans
Normandy battlefield, June 1944 -
Survival in combat is like a game with misses, near misses and hits. One afternoon we were making our way up a slight hill, moving along a hedgerow. When our advance halted, we stated to dig in per routine in the lower right corner of a field. About thirty minutes later we were called forward again and halted in the upper left hand corner of the same field. We no sooner started digging when a barrage of major proportions hit the area we had just left.
Monday Morning Music
Feeling like something with a Latin/Country flavor? Start your week with something really Mavericky...
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Eastern Spink Pheasants
The ring-neck pheasant (Phasianus colchicus) is the state bird of South Dakota.
Introduced from China to the northwest coastal region of the United States in 1892 the first successful introduction of the bird to South Dakota occurred in Spink County in 1908. A couple of farmers, A.E. Cooper and E.L. Ebbert, neighbors situated south of Doland, released pheasants into the wild. The South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks released an additional 250 birds in 1911. You can probably guess how the story ends.
Countdown to Deer Camp
It's good to be back. Up 'nort that is.
Although, to be perfectly truthful I've only been away three days. Opportunities to fill the hunt calendar have been very, very good to me lately. Pheasant hunting followed by bow hunting and now the traditional nine-day gun opener which is on Saturday.
Friday Music
It's the start of the weekend people.
Slip-on your dancing shoes and turn-up the volume on your workstation computer.
Looking For Love at Deer Camp
Whoever wishes to hunt, I know where there is a deer. But don't count on me to ride it down with you. I no longer have the desire. The work it takes has made me very tired, and I am now farther behind in the chase than anyone else.
Yet I find it difficult to take my mind off the deer, and as she continues to run I follow. But I weaken; my enthusiasm is gone. Consequently, I am quitting the chase since trying to catch the deer is as futile as trying to catch the wind in a net. I advise others to quit the chase too, lest their time is wasted.
Opening Day
The atmosphere is charged.
Probably has something to do with the big jar of pickled eggs, the aged brick cheese and the home brew that was served last night.
Deer Camp - Day Two
Our deer camp rocks!
Five deer on opening day. Plus two already in the freezer from last month.
Deer Camp - Day Four
The paper today says that the preliminary count for the opening weekend is 106,404 deer killed. That represents an increase of 6.3% over last year. 952 deer were harvested in Door County. 5 of those were from our camp. The paper also said that the Department of Natural Resources is under intense pressure from Republican lawmakers.
Am I to understand that it is the responsibility of big government to deliver bigger and better hunts?
Deer Camp - Day Five
This time of year you will see a great deal of orange clothing out and about.
Sometimes called Hunter's Orange or Blaze Orange - it is the garb du jour around here.
Deer Camp - Day Six
Two-thirds of the way through the traditional gun season.
It's also a day of thanksgiving and many of us have much to be thankful for.
Deer Camp - Day Seven
Odocoileus virginianus - commonly known as the whitetail deer - is native to Wisconsin. I freely admit to harboring a mild obsession over this creature. It goes beyond hunting. It extends to understanding its behaviors, preferred habitat, its place in nature and in our culture. Even the politicization of this wildlife species has captured my attention.
I was not raised in a hunting family so you might be wondering from where this obsession springs from.
Deer Camp - Day Eight
Things are winding down at camp.
I would have thought I'd see more hunters out and about in the last few days. Seems like in the past you could count upon some organized deer drives. I don't see very much of that anymore. There are still plenty of deer out there for sure because the game camera captures their presence.
