Trio's First Pheasant Hunt

There is nothing quite like a crisp cool November morning, an excited dog at your feet, and pheasants on the brain.

Pheasant hunting has been a joy of mine for quite a few years now. It is a very active and exciting sport that really gets the blood pumping. It is a lot of walking which is great exercise for myself and the dog. Mostly though it is the anticipation, the anxiousness of not knowing when a bird could explode from the grass in front of you!

A couple of days ago I took our pup Trio out on his first pheasant hunt. While we did not manage to bring home a pheasant for supper we did get some action and have a great experience.  

I let him explore the parking lot for a while to get him running around and burn off some of his excitement. This was only the second time he had been out in the marsh and all of the sights and smells had to be explored. While he was exploring I was listening for a rooster to cackle as the sun slowly crept higher in the sky.

There! An excited cackle from a rooster pheasant just to the south of us. I had been watching Trio explore the area as the pheasant sounded off and he stopped immediately to listen. Now I knew exactly which way to go and we started off.

We headed south towards the source of the sound, passing through a brush line and into the open field. We had only just begun walking through the tall grass when Trio reached a corner in the field. A flurry of wings and grass erupted right in front of little Trio and he stopped only for a second before he leapt off after the bird. I raised my gun and got off a shot but some tree branches interfered and the bird sailed off into the distance.

I called Trio back and praised him for a job well done. In the few seconds that our first encounter lasted I was able to learn many things about my new puppy! First I could see that he was very excited by finding the bird and wanted more than anything to catch it. This is very important for a bird dog because sometimes a large bird like a pheasant can scare them and cause them to become bird shy. Second I saw how he reacted when retracing the spot where the bird had been, how his tail moved and how he carried himself. It is very important for a hunter to know exactly how your dog reacts when they find bird scent or get "birdy". I noticed how his tail movements quickened and how his overall movements changed, he was moving very aggressively back and forth towards the scent trail. Being able to discern between a birdy dog and just normal excitement will make you more prepared for a flush.

So even though we did not bag a bird that morning we had a great first experience. Trio got his first encounter with a live bird and his first chance to meet the rest of the hunting group as well.

Pheasant hunting is a great sport to share between friends both two legged and four legged!

Gift Guide for the Beer Guy

Do you have a beer fanatic in your life? If the answer is yes then you know just how picky we can be about our beer! This also makes it difficult to buy us gifts related to beer because we can get so particular. This year make your beer connoisseur light up with these great gift ideas straight from the wishlist of a true beer fan!

The first rule of beer drinking is to always pour it out...into a glass of course! The only way to get the best beer experience is to always drink from a glass. A different style of beer equals a different style of glass, this is a great set from Libbey that includes six different glasses for six different types of beer. It also includes a guide to each glass and beer style as well as a food pairings list!

If you are like me then you enjoy sitting outside with a cold beer, especially next to a hot grill! I am a huge fan of charcoal grills but not a fan of getting ashes in my beer or bugs or anything. Brew2Go has the solution with their insulated beer tumbler! Not only does it keep your beer cold it also has a lid, no more bugs or other foreign substances invading your beer glass (unless your drinking an import that is!). It also looks like an upside down beer bottle which is really cool! 

This is a really great poster of all the different styles of beer. While it is a spoof on the periodic table of elements, it contains a lot of really good, accurate information. Home brewers will really appreciate this gift as it contains original and final gravity's for each type of beer! It also has a good explanation of each type and commercial examples of each beer. 

Once your beer lover has finished studying the periodic table of beers poster it is time for them to roll up their sleeves and create their perfect beer at home! This home brewing starter kit from Superior Brew Kit is the perfect way to get started in home brewing. This is the most complete kit I could find, it has everything you need except the stainless steel stock pot. If you are going to get into home brewing please start out with a kit like this one, I know it is pricey but it will give you high quality results. DO NOT start out with a cheap home brew kit, your experience will not be good and you will give up on the hobby before realizing how much fun it actually is! 

Here is a high quality stock pot that will go perfectly with the home brewing kit that we just talked about. This 5 gallon pot is from Polar Ware, it is made of high quality food grade stainless steel and won't break the bank! The best part about this pot is that it is made right here in the good ole USA! 

The next item on the list for the beginning home brewer is a beer kit. I have used these kits before and the beer is really good! Brewer's Best kits are great for beginners and come complete with detailed instructions on how to brew your first batch of beer. All the ingredients are included to make a 5gal batch of beer!

While the beer kits are great I will definitely suggest swapping out the yeast that comes in the kit with a liquid yeast from Wyeast. These are high quality strains of liquid yeast that will greatly improve the flavor of your beer! Wyeast has a great collection of yeast for many different flavors of beer.

What is the best way to enjoy your newly crafted home brew? By drinking it out of a boot of course! The glass boot is a great old German beer drinking tradition that any beer fanatic will appreciate. This is a 2 liter boot from Oktoberfest Haus and can easily hold an entire six pack so be careful when you fill this up!

If your beer fan has a bar or a man cave, the ultimate gift is a kegerator! This model from Kegco is perfect for the beer fan who wants to take things to the next level. This model ships with everything except the keg, including a CO2 tank! It is also equipped with 2.5 inch casters to easily roll it from one place to another. This model also comes with two removable shelves so you can use it as a regular refrigerator once the keg is tapped out!  

The second most important accessory for any home bar or man cave is a classic beer light! This one is a classic Miller High Life suspended light. No matter what beer your fanatic is in love with there is a beer light to match. However, any Wisconsin beer fan can definitely appreciate this classic light! 

Many of us beer minded guys like to wear our love of beer on our sleeves and now we literally can! These great beer mug cuff links will make the perfect stocking stuffer for the beer lover in your life!

Finally we must cover what to get for that beer lover who is also a Star Wars fan. This is probably the greatest bottle opener that I have seen so far! Diamond Select has created this Han Solo in carbonite bottle opener for Star Wars fans and beer drinkers a like. 

I hope this guide helps you find the right gift for the beer lover in your life. I am also curious to see what other gifts people come up with so feel free to leave a comment and let me know what you got your beer lover!

Composting Fall Leaves

There is no better season than fall in Wisconsin. The cool crisp air in the mornings, followed by a comfortable sun splashed afternoon can't be beat. The smell of leaves permeates the air, as they leave behind their summer green for the many vibrant hues of orange, yellow, and red. Apples are ripe for the picking and the pies are hot and fresh, tossing their cinnamon aroma into the cool breeze.

 The leaves of course are going to fall soon and cover our yards with their colorful blanket. This means that in order for our grass to survive, we have to remove the leaves before they suffocate our lawn.

 You can of course rake them into a pile and have some fun with the little ones first, but ultimately they have to go. Living in town I only have three choices for my leaf disposal, raking them up and hauling them to the curb is one choice. That means I have to make sure they are there, whenever the city comes by to pick them up, which can put a lot strain on your schedule. My second choice is hauling them in myself to the city dump which is also a lot of work and requires time off during the hours that they are open.

 The third and final choice is composting. This is by far the best answer for me and for my flower beds come spring time. I have built myself a compost bin from treated lumber and chicken wire. It is a very simple design and is very effective in turning our yard waste into valuable compost. You can also purchase many different types and sizes of compost bins. 

Instead of raking leaves I usually just put the bagger on my lawnmower and essentially use it like a vacuum to suck up the leaves. This is not only faster and easier but it also chops the leaves a little which helps speed up the composting process.

 Another added benefit is that we are filling fewer garbage bags each week because we throw all of our food waste into the compost bin as well. Everything from egg shells, to coffee grounds, to old leftovers, gets thrown in the compost. This keeps our garbage can less full and less offensive. Between recycling and composting we only put our garbage on the curb every other week while the rest of our neighbors have theirs out every week. Composting is not only good for the environment but it can also be a quick and convenient solution for yard waste disposal!

For a great resource on how to build compost bins visit this composting site.

Loaded Baked Potato Soup

If you are looking for a fast easy meal, something warm on a cold day then this soup can't be beat! It is so simple that anyone can make it. I add garlic to mine to turn up the flavor and whatever vegetables you have around the house. This is a really hearty meal and makes a ton of leftovers! 

My mom used to make a version of this that she called potato chowder. She would make a huge batch of it and we would have lunches for a week, or she would freeze some of it for a quick meal when no one had time to cook. This is what is called "stick to your ribs" food it will warm you up, fill you up, and put a smile on your face!

Loaded Baked Potato Soup

1 pound bacon

1 1/2 sticks of butter

2/3 C. flour

7 C. milk

4 large potatoes peeled and cubed

4 green onions chopped

2 cloves garlic 

1 bag shredded cheddar cheese

1. Microwave the bacon ahead of time by placing it on a plate lined with paper towel to soak up the grease. I usually put it in for about 2 minutes less than the number of strips, so 6 strips equals 4 min. This method has worked well for me so far! Let it cool after it is crispy, then crumble it and set it aside.

2. In a stock pot, melt the butter over medium heat. Whisk in flour until smooth. Gradually whisk in milk constantly stirring until thickened. Add potatoes and some onions, save some green onions for garnish. Bring to a boil, stirring frequently.

3. Reduce heat and let it simmer for about 10 minutes or until potatoes are tender. Mix in bacon and about half the bag of cheese, save some for garnish, add salt and pepper to taste. Once it tastes good and the cheese is melted you are done!

What are some of your favorite cold weather meals?

Planting Tulips

A lot of the first flowers that come out of the ground in the springtime come from bulbs that were planted in the fall. Tulips and irises are just a couple of these types of flowers, we went with red and yellow tulips.

When planting bulbs in the fall make sure you have a good location that gets enough sun. Each type of flower has different specifications for how much Sun is required for good growth, details on the package should explain how much sun is required. First you need a small garden spade, a way to get water, and a really cute helper doesn't hurt either! 

Dig a hole about 6 inches deep then place the bulb with the flat side down into the bottom of the hole. Water generously before covering with dirt and then move about 4 inches away to start the next hole. Bulbs should be planted between September and November, here in the east central region of Wisconsin, again check the package for instructions on when to plant for your location. 

The final step in bulb planting is to cover the area with a thick layer of leaves or straw, anything to help insulate them from the winter cold. Once the first warm days of spring arrive and there seems to be no danger of frost, clear the leaves or straw and you should find small green shoots already popping out of the ground. If you don't see anything growing yet it's ok, just clear the area and let the sun warm the ground and they should come up just fine. This is another great family project, the kids will enjoy planting the bulbs and even though by spring time they will have forgotten all about them, they will still be excited to see them grow!