Ho! Ho! Ho!

Grouse Hollow Journal for the week of December 26, 2013 by Greg Koelker

Grouse Hollow Journal for December 26, 2013 by Greg Koelker

I got to open a Christmas present early this year. Okay, at least one other person in this house might say, I did it again this year, that is - ruined her Christmas present surprise. I have a rather long history of doing that. Let me explain; I was shopping on Amazon the other day and found a Vexilar Flasher (basically a sonar for seeing your bait and fish under the water) really cheap, so I called out to the kitchen, “Would you mind if I ordered this?” My better half came in and rolled her eyes. “Well, Merry Christmas!” She added, “I was going to wrap a box with pictures of a flasher, a Go Pro Camera, and some snow shoes in it and let you choose which one you wanted, but here you go.” As I said before, I have done this a time or two before. I once bought a top coat two weeks before Christmas and found out later that Ellen had to take back the new top coat she had already had wrapped up for me and find something else. I once showed up with a shop vac just before Christmas; she had been all over that weeks before and had to return the one she had hidden away. Once on Christmas Eve, Ellen figured she'd foiled my gift surprise spoiling when she stopped on her way home from work and purchased a Kodak instant camera for my gift thinking that there is no way he can do it again. Yup, you guessed it; I had bought a Polaroid instant camera earlier that day. I am just lucky I am not on the list for coal I guess, but you have to admit she sure knows what I like for Christmas.

Anyway, I took the flasher out on the ice at Stoddard Bay on Wednesday last week, dropping the transducer in a hole here and there to see if there were fish. I found some, and caught a dozen or so mostly small bluegills. On Friday I had a dentist appointment, so I went over to the gravel pit behind Gundersen Lutheran and tried the deep water. In the first hole I tried I found fish, so I spent an hour trying to entice them up to my world. The flasher helps one locate the depth the fish are at and put the bait in that zone. I landed three keepers and a few small ones.

Last week I used the term, “There's something you don't see every day.” With that in mind, I have to share that Ellen and I played Santa and Mrs. Claus at the Coulee Connections School in La Crosse this last week. (I was Santa.) Our young friend Eli Jackson is a teacher there and asked us if we'd do it. Anyway, Momma and I (Poppa) both fielded questions from a dozen or so elementary students like how old are you? What do reindeer eat? Did you deliver gifts during World War II? How do you get back up the chimney? Are cookies and milk all you eat? Do the elves live at the North Pole all year? and so on. We also got some gift requests and lots of hugs. I “Ho! Ho! Ho'ed!” my way through, but Ellen did an amazing reading of “Twas the Night Before Christmas.” (When I remarked on her wonderful performance, she said she almost knew it by heart; she said, “Don't you remember when Mark was little? I had to finally tell him no in June or we would have read it together the entire year!) I read a story called “Snow” and Ellen finished with a special request for a pretty long book about some kids that had a magical transporter that allowed them to go to the North Pole and build a snowman. Anyway, doing this was something new for us, and it was pretty cool - except that the suit is probably better suited for riding in a sleigh at night or maybe ice fishing or going to a Packer game. (I have a whole new appreciation for the mall Santa.)

Anyway, Mrs. Claus, uh, Ellen and I will be married 80 years this December 29 - okay, that's 40 for her and 40 for me. We have been through some tough times, and we have had what seems like way too many tragic losses of family members and friends; however, in retrospect, I know we would both say that life has been and is, good, with much love and good fortune. We have two great sons and a very special daughter-in-law, we have wonderful families, lots of good friends and neighbors, more than enough to eat (most likely the reason I got asked to play Santa), a picturesque place to live, a long line of loyal and loving pets, our health, good careers, and lots of interests and activities and even this journal to keep us busy in retirement. I can truly say, I wouldn't change a thing.

Until next time, get out - I laughed out loud when I read the following New Years wish from pianist Margi Harrel. I think you might too:

“May you get a clean bill of health from your dentist, your cardiologist, your gastro-enterologist, your urologist, your proctologist, your podiatrist, your psychiatrist, your plumber and the I.R.S.

May your hair, your teeth, your face-lift, your abs and your stocks not fall; and may your blood pressure, your triglycerides, your cholesterol, your white blood count and your mortgage interest not rise.

May New Year's Eve find you seated around the table, together with your beloved family and cherished friends. May you find the food better, the environment quieter, the cost much cheaper, and the pleasure more fulfilling than anything else you might ordinarily do that night. May what you see in the mirror delight you, and what others see in you delight them. May someone love you enough to forgive your faults, be blind to your blemishes, and tell the world about your virtues.

May the telemarketers wait to make their sales calls until you finish dinner, may the commercials on TV not be louder than the program you have been watching, and may your check book and your budget balance - and include generous amounts for charity.

May you remember to say "I love you" at least once a day to your spouse, your child, your parent, your siblings; but not to your secretary, your nurse, your masseuse, your hairdresser or your tennis instructor.

And may we live in a world at peace and with the awareness of God's love in every sunset, every flower's unfolding petals, every baby's smile, every lover's kiss, and every wonderful, astonishing, miraculous beat of our heart.”

Happy New Year! Enjoy.
 

Check out this "smart car"

Try this fun video. If you don't laugh, I'll be shocked.

http://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?feature=player_detailpage&v=fybch3DX8c8

Enjoy

There is a car under those guys out there in 6-7' of water.

Members of the La Crosse Dive Unit assess the situation.

Two wreckers tugging with all their might.  

Not quite up on the ice yet.

Dude!  Where's my car?

Grouse Hollow Journal for the week of December 19, 2013 by Greg Koelker

Grouse Hollow Journal for December 19, 2013 by Greg Koelker

Ice Ice Baby! I have been ice fishing out on Stoddard Bay dozens of times over the last 35 years, and I have seen just about everything related to angling through hard water occur, get used, or get caught in one way or another. On Sunday morning, I was able to say, “Now there's something you don't see every day.” I was meeting Vince Ruetten at Stoddard Landing so we could maybe hunt up a fish dinner or two. When I pulled in, the La Crosse Dive Unit was parked by the ramp along with two or three tow trucks. I saw a squad car parked nearby as well. Uh oh! There were three guys in orange and yellow vests out 40 yards from the boat launch tapping shovels into the ice. There was a yellow police tape up around the site too. Somebody had gone through and sunk to the bottom! Vinny and I watched for awhile, and then we went fishing. When we came back in for lunch, the small car was partially up out of the river, but apparently hung up on the tires. The tow trucks were trying to hoist the car up when we saw a cable break - or come loose - and whip back at the mostly still sunken car.

Anyway, let me back this up a bit to Saturday afternoon when I was unloading my ice sled at the landing. A small silver station wagon, maybe a VW Jetta, went zipping by me and right down the ramp onto the ice and out across the lake. I held my breath, but nothing happened. Another guy closer to the landing who was also getting ready to go out said something like, “I thought that guy was going to get wet!” I had made plans to meet Jeff Bye out on the ice. When I got out there, he had a bucket of perch going, but he was as amazed as I was that the car made it out on the ice. He told me that he had accidentally dumped his minnow pail at the landing, so he drilled a hole out from the ramp to dip some fresh water on his bait. He said the ice there was at most 2 or 3 inches thick - it was probably 9 inches where we were fishing. Anyway, long story short, I was back at the landing at dusk talking to Adam Woodhouse when the car came back in pushing a four-wheeler that wouldn't start. They came in slowly and drove right up the ramp without incident. Of course if you walk, or drive, on thin ice it can be risky, and while I guess I would have figured the ice would be even stronger after another bitter cold night, just because he made it on Saturday, didn't cut any ice with Ma Nature on Sunday morning. The car that broke through was one and the same - so go figure.

I understand the driver escaped and that he was okay. Anyway, thanks to the volunteers of the La Crosse Dive Unit, the tow truck recovery guys, the police and whomever else helped out.

The question and opinions kept popping up as I talked to people in the area. One said, “Oh, this guy is so gonna get a fine.” Another, “This is gonna cost thousands.” So what happens if one were to ice something (car, four-wheeler, snowmobile, etc.) down so to speak? You might be amazed to find that your auto insurance will cover if your vehicle goes through the ice. With full coverage most companies will cover, minus the deductible, for everything, divers, towing charges, etc. I am going to guess that it would be a one-time thing or one might be looking for other insurance.  My agent said there is no “stupidity clause,” (but then she doesn't ice fish.) As far as the DNR, I think it goes case by case, but I hear you have 24 hours to get the vehicle out and then they will do it for you - not for free.

Speaking of getting put on ice, how about dem Packers? My ears are still ringing from all of the shouting!!! per day

Until next time, get out - Robert Frost once wrote,

“Some say the world will end in fire,

Some say in ice.

From what I've tasted of desire

I hold with those who favor fire.

But if it had to perish twice,

I think I know enough of hate

To say that for destruction ice

is also great

and would suffice.”

Ice is also great for skating, coolers, drinks, sculpting, and fishing ON. Here's hoping you all have a good Christmas and a great 2014 from all of us here at Grouse Hollow. Enjoy.

40th Anniversary Party at Lambeau

Grouse Hollow Journal for the week of December 12, 2013

Grouse Hollow Journal for the week of December 12, 2013 by Greg Koelker

Besides crop damage and car damage, whitetail deer (and hunting and fishing in general) wreak havoc on my list of chores and projects around here during the fall. I leave most everything unrelated to hunting and fishing, started and not finished when the tree-stand, field, and water beckons. Finally, with deer hunting mostly behind us (there is still the Holiday antlerless hunt), Ellen and I spent last week doing necessary outdoor stuff before we got dumped on with a load or two of white stuff. I make lists and check them twice or more. (Does anyone out there, make lists and then add things to the list you already got done so you can cross them off like I do? I wonder what Freud would say about that.)

Anyway, Ellen had picked out some Christmas trees up on the ridge for consideration that needed cutting and set up in stands (we put up two or three depending on the guest list). Does anyone else hate putting a tree in a stand like I do? There has to be a better way - just sayin'. While we were up in the woods, I remembered that there are three pop-up hunting blinds that needed gathering in from the woods before the winter winds smash them or blow them to Illinois.

Back at the ranch, around the outside of our house, there were three rooftop ice wires that needed maintenance; in the shop I had Eli's rescued wind-wrecked pop-up deer hunting blind piled in a frozen muddy, rotten apple encrusted heap in the middle of the floor - it needed repair and storing (the blind spent most of last year twisted and flattened under an apple tree on our ridge); on the bench I had three piles of dumped out screws and nuts and nails that needed sorting so I could maybe use the bench to at least pile something else on; our ice fishing gear needed organizing, our portable gas grill needed cleaning and testing for a trip to Lambeau, and the shop needed rotten apples and muddy leaves swept up; in the barn, tobacco shed and garage, batteries needed to be gathered in from the tractors and boat, the truck had two tires that were apparently wrecked during deer season and had slow leaks that needed a trip to Lee's Auto for fixing, and maybe most important: the snowblower needed fresh fuel and an oil change; in the house, carpets needed vacuuming and rooms needed dusting, bathrooms needed cleaning, decorating needed to get finished, stockings needed to be hung by the chimney with care, Ellen wanted to get a pot of vegetable beef soup made just to have around, and some tailgate meal planning needed to get planned.

Barb and Chuck came up on Saturday to visit and make a trip to Lambeau Field on Sunday. Our plan was to suit up and help McCarthy's heroes get off the snide against the Falcons. Of course, Chuck and I went ice fishing by mid-afternoon on Saturday. The ice was about 6 inches thick. We used my new Nils power/hand ice auger to quickly bore through and get fishing. (One can use an electric drill or the easy to attach/remove opposable handle to power this auger.) We - mostly Chuck - did get a meal of decent bluegills.

On Sunday morning, we left at 5:15, traveling across the state in a flurry of sometimes blinding snow - especially when we got on the interstate and got any where near a semi truck. We stopped at Weyauwega for breakfast at a McDonald's filled with other Packer faithful, including a group from La Farge. At Green Bay, we parked at the Resch Center, and after scrambling into our blizzard gear, I set up a table and gas grill and warmed up some kraut and Ross' Brats. The party was in full swing with music blaring and crazy outfits including two Falcon fans in short sleeve jerseys, shorts, and tennis shoes. It was below 10 degrees at the time - 13 at game time. Considering the Rodgerless Packers' 5-game slide, the house was full and rocking. Of course there were some drunken jerks - even one near us who booed when they asked for a moment of silence in honor Nelson Mandela. (He and a lot of others booed the Pack when they went in at half-time down 21-10.) During half-time, we were honored by being there to honor Packer great and hall-of-famer Dave Robinson. We held up designated color cards to spell out the big G and Dave and his number I think. It was kind of hard to tell at every angle. Anyway, we were seated just below where they undraped his name and years on the stadium wall and there was fireworks and more cheering for him - more than for the current group of mostly less than greats on the frozen tundra. Anyway, how about those Packers?! The defense finally heated up and burned the Falcons in the second half, perhaps inspired by Dave Robinson an/or maybe the booing. I guess Matt Flynn and offense and Mason Crosby did okay too! They still have a chance at the playoffs! “Playoffs?! Don't talk about PLAYOFFS?! You kiddin' me?” Does anyone else out there think the Packers still might have a chance at the playoffs? I'm putting on a list of things to get done anyway.

Until next time, get out - I haven't done much, okay, any holiday shopping. Thank goodness for online shopping. Enjoy.

Grouse Hollow Journal for the week of December 5, 2013 by Greg Koelker

The watch word for this year's Wisconsin Gun Deer Season opener was woolies, that is wear your woolies. I recall rainy openers, snowy openers, dark/foggy openers, perfect frosty quiet openers, windy openers that weren't so cold, and even one where I could have gotten by with just a tee-shirt on under my coat. In 2013, it was cold, as cold - because of the wind - as I can remember of any of the 42 opening mornings I have experienced.

The weekend started off warm, in Barb's kitchen at least. When we got to Barb and Chuck's, the house smelled of homemade soup, beef and chicken. Barb is a serious soup maker. Supper don't git no better.

Opening morning started off warm too; in Barb's kitchen - with hot coffee and El's French toast casserole with sorghum molasses on the side. We all joked about wanting Barb's stand in front of her patio doors overlooking the woods and pasture where they often see deer. She didn't really take a stand there either, braving the wind and going out on a point overlooking the woods. (After stepping outside, I was tempted to take her kitchen window stand though.) Anyway, the chores got done, the lunch boxes got packed, the thermoses filled, the trucks got loaded, and the hunters got under way. The eastern horizon was just starting to glow when El and I pulled out. We were going to our usual stands at The Bench down along the Grant River, and I had hopes we'd be some protected from the heat sapping breeze. When we got out of the truck, the wind wasn't kidding around, blowing steadily out of the north.

I carried my swivel chair and rifle, slowly making my way to my stand so as not to work up a sweat. It was getting pretty light by the time I was on stand. The wind took a short breather once in awhile, emphasis on short. With a stout north wind finding every little nook and cranny of one's Under Armor, sweat shirt, jeans, coveralls, coat, face mask, hat, mittens, I had to hunker down, back to the wind, on stand. Only my feet never got cold in my Sorel ice fishing boots. I heard the first shot some time after the opening time. I only counted 12 shots all morning on stand. Usually, I count closer to 40 or so in the opening hour. Perhaps the deer were smarter than us and just stayed curled up in their beds. I did hear lots of wildlife though, mostly woodpeckers, turkeys, and squirrels. I would have to say that in my experience, one doesn't hunt squirrels on windy days, but there were at least a dozen fox squirrels chasing each other around the woods by me all morning. Everyone in our party remarked on it. (In hindsight that may have something to do with the weather coming on Monday.)

Anyway, I was first back at the truck, thankful to fill a cup with hot coffee and get out of the wind. At Barb and Chuck's, my smiling nephew Chris was showing off his nice 10-point buck. It was the only opening morning deer to hang from a party of 18. Some saw deer and didn't shoot, holding out for a buck or just not getting a good shot. Anyway, we decided to drive Burton Hill - up this time. El and I would be standers. I dropped her off along the Grant River and drove farther down the bottom across from the point of this huge hill where I usually take a stand when we drive. I had hardly loaded my rifle when I saw deer across the 500 yards of bean field headed my way. The main drivers weren't even in the woods yet. I could see them looking at the deer through their scopes from too far away. I waited. There were five deer, three fawns, and two older deer. When they realized I was there, they stopped. I picked out the biggest deer and took a shot. It appeared to be hit but made a run for the river along with the rest. I could see a truck and a stander down the bottom, so I didn't shoot again. The fawns ran back in the field again and finally turned and crossed the shallow Grant.

I stayed put until the drivers headed into the woods and down range from me. I started searching for sign - blood or hair - of a hit. I found the blood trail some 200 yards from where I started, going into blood stained reeds along the river bank. “Oh no, not another floater or deer on the other side of Grant.” I got lucky. I found my deer, an adult doe, with its head pointed at the river a yard from the water. “Whew!”

The drivers pushed out other deer up the hill, but mine was the only one taken. We had two deer hanging in the cooler by lunch time, a bit down for our group. Chuck killed two big does that afternoon at Ellen's home place. That evening the count ended at four, another low as far as I can remember. We watched the Badgers beat Minnesota on DVR replay that night.

Sunday morning was colder but not as windy, and after Chef Chuck's big breakfast of scrambled eggs, bacon, and toast, El and I did not see a deer on stand. When the group met at Burton Jesse was having his picture taken with the dandy 18-pointer he finally shot after hunting it all fall. He had been seeing pictures of it on trail cameras taken at night, never while in a stand, and he said he really didn't expect to see it during daylight. On Sunday morning, he was about to climb out of his boma (his being a small cabin on stilts with windows where he sat all opening day), when the buck walked into the nearby bean field. It had double drop tines and a tine sticking out the back, and curly tines in front. One long tine still had dried velvet on it, apparently at too awkward an angle to scrape off. Jesse said he was entered in three big buck contests. Jesse's wife Hilary also shot a dandy buck that weekend - good thing he is a part-time taxidermist.

On Sunday afternoon Ellen got some shooting when we drove the Bench. She got two deer while on stand near where she got the acorn buck two seasons ago. Chuck and I took a couple hail-mary shots at a fleeing doe and buck that ran the length of the Bench out in the cornfield against the drive without losing a hair. Brian, Jordan, and Nick all killed deer on the drive, so by the end of the day we had registered ten deer. I stayed at Bill's Burton shed long enough to watch some football highlights/lowlights after the Packers frittered away a chance to stay tied at the top of the division. Barb made roasted potatoes and french cut green beans from their garden and Chuck grilled some seriously good pork chops for supper.

Monday morning dawned bright and . . . snowy - in fact it looked like a blizzard had hit. We all slept in. I had left over French toast casserole for breakfast. We butchered deer this day. Brother Dave was already skinning and then caping (carefully removing the skin on the neck and head for tanning and mounting) out Jesse's buck when we got down to Burton. There were tables set up the length of Bill's heated shop, Sports Center was on the TV, and people were setting up cutting boards of all kinds (several were counter top sink cut outs), putting out knives, freezer paper, freezer bags, setting up the huge old grinder, and so on. We had a wagon to haul the meat in from the skinners this year. Good idea. I worked on hams, slicing away the debris left from hunting and silver skin and such and pulling out the different cuts for grinding, smoking, steaks, and roasts. Ellen and Barb and Lori cut back strap loins into butterfly chops and roasts. Others worked on shoulders and rib cages filling coolers with cleaned up and pretty much fat-free venison for sausage and burger. We had the deer boned out before lunch time. We had another wonderful midday meal of fried-in-butter-and-onions tenderloin medallions on bread and butter with a small cornucopia of homemade soups (chicken noodle, beef vegetable, potato with pepper cheese, chili - you get the idea), cheese and crackers, jerky, meat sticks, and cookies on the side. The snow stopped by midday, leaving four inches or so on the ground. Dave took a cooler full of venison to Hauber's Processing in Dickeyville to make summer sausage. Todd set up the grinder and we ground venison and pork butts to make burger and sausage that afternoon. The highlight for me was the meal and making the rope sausage that we tied off and then hung in Bill's smoker with some apple wood for flavor.

Until next time, get out - We got home to a very lonely Scout and little snow. Our Iowa hunters didn't see much and went home empty handed except for a good time in the woods, hardly hearing a shot fired. Deer registration was down all over so I hear. At the Thirsty Turtle (when I registered a deer El and I got on Friday) Chad Myhre said the registration seemed to be way off of the pace of 2012. Ellen said it could be because it was colder so there wasn't as much urgency in getting carcasses boned out. We shall see. More next time. Enjoy.

Some 2013 Wisconsin Gun Deer Opener memories

Goober ventures out into the Monday morning blizzard

Grouse Hollow Journal for the week of November 28, 2013

Grouse Hollow Journal for the week of November 28, 2013 by Greg Koelker

With all of the hub bub of deer hunting and turkey day and an early deadline at the paper, and even a request by some “fans” to put out my Wish List/Gift Giving Guide for the Outdoors Type (aka ODT) before Black Friday, I managed to get this year's edition ready early. Ho! Ho! Ho! etc.

My first idea came to mind this morning when I saw the forecast for opening weekend of the gun deer hunt.  The watchword for Saturday was going to be “woolies!” I have some Under Armor and it is amazing. That brand or most any of the base layer brands of outdoor under wear would be a good gift for your ODT.  $80 up to $300.  If you have an ODT who spends a lot of time on stand or ice fishing, a pair of insulated boot covers might be good; they are sort of like an insulated vest for the feet starting around $50 a pair.  Wet boots also make for cold feet, so an electric boot dryer for quick overnight boot drying is a good gift, starting around $20.  You can also help your ODT keep his or her feet warm and comfortable at home or in the car with a pair of lined Crocs.  (I am wearing mine right now.) I got my pair of lined Crocs for wearing in the house, but I have worn them to several football games and to school when I sub - when it wasn’t raining or snowing anyway - and they were great.  Off-Road Crocs and most any Crocs are awesome foot gear too with good arch support, comfort, and they are easy on and off.  $21 and up online at 6PM.com.  I have been wearing the same three pairs of Dura Built wool socks (not all at the same time) when I have been outside for the last three months.  El got them for me at Farm and Fleet and they are comfortable, warm, and THEY ARE MADE IN THE USA!  They or other American made wool socks can be had for under $8 up to a bunch a pair.

Speaking of the deer hunt, a sharp knife comes in handy many times.  I guess most ODTs would prefer to pick out their own knife, but I can personally recommend the serrated Cutco hunting knife.  I love mine; I have field dressed and/or help skin four deer this season already with mine. It does cost $140 or so, but they are made in the USA too. If your ODT already has a good knife, perhaps an electric knife sharpener.   El and I use our Chefs Choice sharpener often.  They start around $60.    

I think a good camo back pack or fanny pack would be handy for most ODTs.  You can get one for $50 (and up).  I also think a binocular or camera chest harness might be nice. You ODT can carry their field glasses or camera on their chest and pick them up without having them dangling in front or banging around in their pocket. Cabela's has an American made one for $17.99 with free shipping. Maybe you'd like to spend some quality time with your ODT during the hunting season; how about a two-person tree stand?  You might get invited along or maybe your ODT will have to take one of the kids with him/her, so you can have some time off.  $160 or so.  A good tree stand harness is a great idea to show you care. Mine cost around $100, but they range from $75 and up.  I also saw a tree stand lifeline that is designed to make climbing in and out of a tree stand safer for sale for under $30.  My brother, Del loves his deer sled. A plastic deer sled and rope and pulley deer hoist is a good idea to save your hunter’s back.  The sled can be pulled by the hunter or his pals or a four-wheeler and the hoist can do the work of hanging the deer.  The sleds start around $30 and the hoist anywhere from $20 with a gambrel hook to $150 for an electric hoist.  A nice stocking stuffer might be an LED headlamp.  I use mine all the time walking in and out of the woods, tracking deer at night, and even working on the car under tight places. They start around $20.  The folks at Badgerland Pheasant Farm near Westby can set up a bird hunt for your ODT.  Corky tells me that weekend hunts require the purchase of 4 birds and weekdays just 2.  At $ 17.93 a bird this seems like a great deal to me, considering they have a great place to hunt, the guarantee of game is out there, and all the scratch birds your dog (or theirs if you need to hire one) can put put up are included, and of course the hunt club is warm and you get to visit with Corky and Gerry. Give ‘em a call for a gift certificate.  (It will be a good gift for the family hunting dog too. The last time Scout and El and I went, we put up a dozen birds and Scout was quivering with excitement for two days!) My wish list includes a Go Pro action camera for recording our hunting, fishing, and other adventures.  They cost plenty at over $300, but they are quality and tough and record excellent video, pictures, and audio.  My sons use them in Colorado for ski and snowboard and biking and hunting videos. There are also all kinds of accessories and attachments you can get for them including an attachment for mounting on a compound bow or gun. For that matter, get your ODT a decent pocket camera and tell them to use it. They will never regret having pictures of the hunt. Of course flannel shirts, sweaters, and jeans are good gifts. One last really good idea. Get your ODT a leather bound journal to start recording the highlights (and low lights) of their outdoor experiences and life.

Finally, unless you have explicit directions, don’t buy what I think are epically personal outdoor items like puppies, boots, firearms, hats, ATVs, trucks, or boats.  Give a gift certificate or let them pick it out.   Of course, all of these are always appreciated.  I want to thank you for buying American made gifts when you can, and while I mentioned several big name retailers, consider buying close to home too.

Until next time, get out - El and I hope everyone has a great Thanksgiving - Go Packers! Oh yeah, on Black Friday, remember I take a XXL long in flannel shirts, size 12 boots, and really enjoy videos, books and gift certificates! I got this last musing from mountain man Mark's mom-in-law Dawn, who said she saw it on Facebook:  As I get ready for the deer season, I can’t help thinking how deer hunting and dating are alike. First of all, both take a huge amount of preparation to get ready. Then you have to figure out where you are going to go, the right place where one is likely to come along. If you are too selective and wait too long for just the right one to come along, you’ll likely go home with nothing. If you should take a shot and miss, you cry to your friends ad nauseum about the perfect one that got away. If you do get one, that’s when the work really begins! Finally, at some point you decide that you’re just too old for all of this and just stay home by the fire and think of days gone by… hmmm. . .

Enjoy.