Friday, February 23, 2018

Modern Wild Man ~He was an Oak Tree~


Grandpa was an Oak Tree, his leaves have turned red now.


The Love Between Grandfather and Grandson is a Tie that Binds


Grandpa and I at scout camp.

We live our life in and out of the lives of others.  So many people are blessings and instrumental to our story before we have time to realize it.  Many times like a high tide, life brings us souls to share the oceans bounty with until the tide goes out again.  Other times there are people in our adventure that are so tied to us that it's impossible to read our story without reading theirs.  Kindred spirits, souls sewn together, bricks of the same wall; life's journey grants us a few travel partners that are cemented to us, firm and unwavering.  For me, for the better part of my life, my story and my adventure has included a man I called Grandpa.  Inevitably paths part, seasons change, and we are all called home.  This season, this winter, this is the first time the cold winds of winter have blown between us.

Grandpa was a man larger than life for a young boy with adventure on his mind.  The richness of his life was people, never knowing a stranger, and introducing everyone he could to his Lord.  A man who valued his family, I found myself so often sharing time and trips and life with him.  I couldn't have known it then, but now it's plain to see his craftsmanship in the man I am today.  Never complaining and always happy to share whatever he had, he was careful that his shadow wouldn't fall on me so that I could always be in the sun.  Grandpa had time for me, for my story and he knew just how much room to give me to grow.  

Grandpa, his boys, and his grandsons on a mountain adventure.

Go karts, ball gloves, fishing rods, ponies, pocket knives, and shotguns are a means for young men, young men who will soon be old men.  They might not have been new, but they didn't need to be, maybe it was best that they weren't.  My cousins and I all knew the warmth of a home with belonging when you visited Grandpa and Grandma's house.  Grandpa was careful to always find cowboy boots and weekend jobs for me.  Trips to the mountains, to rivers and lakes were only vacations at the time, but are now cherished memories of growing up.  The man who taught me how to drive, how to bid at an auction, and how to turn a wrench, he was careful to teach in a way that you didn't realize you were his student.

Psalms 1:3 is a verse that Grandpa explained to me was his calling for me.  "And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper."  To me Grandpa was an oak tree, and I am an acorn that's fallen from his branches.  Sprouting and growing, I found shelter in the river bank held together by his roots.  His leaves sheltered me from the summer's scorching rays, but were careful not to block out the light.  A break from the winter wind and shelter from the storm, Grandpa made sure I was ready to bring forth fruit in my season and not wither.

Like an oak tree, Grandpa's leaves have turned red and his season is over.  I'm not sure where my adventures and story will go now, but I am sure it's hard to know that the seam that sewed us together for so long has been loosened at least for now. 

I'll miss the ornery twinkle in his eye, his crooked smile and crooked hat.  I pray that I can be a tall strong oak for my family and be fruitful in my season.  One day when my acorns think back on me when my leaves have turned red I hope they will have found shelter in me.

Modern Wild Man, Dad and Grandpa with a great muley buck.

~See Ya On The Other Side Grandpa~
















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Monday, February 19, 2018

Modern Wild Man ~ BBQ Goose Sandwiches


Modern Wild Man

Barbeque Goose Recipe


- BBQ Goose Sandwiches -



Shredded BBQ goose with lettuce on a sesame seed bun.

Goose Hunting Season is Here

At Modern Wild Man goose hunting is one of my favorite late season outdoor activities.  Chasing Canadian geese is challenging, fun, and sometimes a test of your patience.  Hunting geese takes much more than just shooting birds.  Scouting is critical, finding birds and patterning them takes time and miles.  Getting permission from landowners on either water or field, and setting up decoys is as much a part of the hunt as calling and shooting.

Sometimes it all comes together, the stars align and everything works out.  When the migrating geese are in your area and using a field you can hunt, it's up to you to make the wind, hide and decoys work.  If your lucky, approaching geese will be fooled long enough to get them into shotgun range and big ole' honkers will be dropping in your decoy spread.

Goose, like other waterfowl can be great table fare.  Preparation is the key to a terrific meal fixed from wild goose meat.  BBQ goose sandwiches are a favorite at the Modern Wild Man house.  If you've got goose in the freezer, give it a try!

A great afternoon goose pile up.



Modern Wild Man BBQ Goose Sandwiches


Ingredients~

Boneless skinless breast from two geese, brined* (2 geese - 4 breasts)

1 medium red onion - diced

1 C white wine ( I like Pinot Grigio)

3 cloves of garlic - crushed

32 ounces chicken broth

2 t liquid smoke

1 T worcestershire sauce

2 t balsamic vinegar 

1 stick butter

1 T canola oil

*I brine all my duck and goose meat in salt water for 3 to 5 days, changing the water daily.*
*Brining helps remove blood from the meat and gives the meat a milder flavor.*

BBQ goose sandwich ingredients ready to go.

In a heavy skillet on medium high heat pour in the canola oil and add the diced red onion and crushed garlic.  Sweat the onion and garlic until soft and remove to a large crock pot or slow cooker using a slotted spoon, keeping most of the oil in the skillet.

Next turn up the heat on the skillet and add the goose breasts for a quick sear.  Lay the breast meat flat in the skillet for only a minute and then flip.  You are trying to sear just the outside here, not cook the goose breast.

Remove the seared goose meat and put it on top of the onion and garlic in the crock pot.  Turn the heat off on the skillet.  Immediately add the white wine to the skillet to deglaze, stirring with a wooden spoon.  The deglazing only takes a minute.  Carefully pour the wine from the skillet over the goose in the crockpot.  Pour in the chicken broth, balsamic vinegar, worcestershire sauce, and liquid smoke.  Lay the stick of butter on top of the goose, turn the crock pot on high and put on the lid.

I like to keep the crock pot on high until everything is up to temperature and then move it to low for 5 or 6 hours.

Goose in the crockpot ready to cook low and slow.

After cooking the goose most of the day or overnight, it's time to shred.  Turn off the crock pot and remove the hot goose breasts with a pair of tongs to a plate to cool.

Shred the meat with a fork and knife across the grain to make short shreds that are easy to chew.

Shredded goose breast ready for a sandwich.

Butter some good quality buns and toast them in a skillet.  Add pickles, diced onion, shredded lettuce, and a spoonful of your favorite BBQ sauce.  Serve with some tater chips, potato salad, or just a second sandwich and you are set for a great goose meal!

Meg and I on the last day of goose season, notice the banded bird.

Field Hunting Geese and Goose Hunting Over Water are Both Exciting Ways to Enjoy Hunting!

Goose hunting really gets my blood pumping.  I've been hunting geese for over twenty years now and I can't get enough.  I hope next season is waiting with skies full of birds and there is a hunt or two for Meg and I.  I hope you get out and enjoy some goose hunting too!


If you enjoy waterfowling check out some Modern Wild Man waterfowling posts:




Don't forget to follow Modern Wild Man on social media.





-See ya out there-

Meg at sunrise in the decoys waiting for birds to fly.


 






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Friday, February 2, 2018

Modern Wild Man ~It's Goose Season!~

Modern Wild Man

Goose Hunting Is a Passion!

Goose Season Is Open - Take 'Em!!


A pile of February geese!


Hunting Geese Is a Waterfowlers Addiction

Goose hunting is a blast!  I mean big ole' birds cruising by and working into your decoy spread is a rush.  Canada geese migrate south following the snow and frozen lakes throughout the winter.  Tough birds that thrive in brutally cold temperatures, geese are hard to bring down and a challenge to decoy.

The sight of 30 pound birds breaking the horizon and flying towards your setup is a great thrill.  This season has proven to be a good goose season with cold fronts pushing birds down and into feed fields most of the winter.  At Modern Wild Man we usually do our goose hunting in fields, and occasionally on water.  This year's hunts have all been in the field so far, mostly on bean stubble fields, with a couple milo and corn stubble field hunts mixed in.

A nice afternoon hunt on a bean field, notice the blinds grassed in to hide.

Scout for Geese

The biggest part of a successful goose hunt is scouting.  Finding flocks of geese in your area and pinpointing their feed fields is key.  If you can identify where the geese are feeding, hopefully you can secure permission to hunt and setup before they migrate out of the area, or feed out the field.  Little things affect goose habits and patterns, a change in the wind, sun, snow, or rain are likely to bring new birds into the area or just as likely to push birds out.  

Once you locate the birds feed field and secure permission, setting up the hunt takes into consideration many factors.  Geese are wary birds, and small details can cause them to flair or leave your spread without committing.  Your setup must provide a place for a good hide.  Canada geese are experts at picking out hiding hunters.  It's always a contest between the hunter and the geese when it comes to a good hide, especially in late season.  Details like shine, shadows or movement are deal breakers and will likely send birds packing.  But, when it all comes together, when you get on the X in a field with a good place to hide, and the birds come dropping in, it makes for an amazing hunt.

Stacking up Canada Honkers!

Goose Decoy Spread

I primarily use full body decoys with a few shells mixed in.  Setting up with the wind in mind, knowing the geese always like to work with the wind into their face, it's a trick to spread out decoys so that birds finish in close to the shooters.  Many times decoy spreads need an adjustment or two after the first group of birds works to fine tune the landing hole.  It's always a great feeling to watch a string of birds cup up their giant wings and come sailing into your spread with their feet down.  

Getting a flock's attention with long and loud honks on a goose call, and working a group over the spread changing calling with clucks and spits and moans takes some practice and experience.  Some days geese like to hear calling all the way into the decoys and other days the less calling the better, the birds body language will tell you how much to call.  I prefer to let the birds work with little and softer calling once they decide they are going to make a pass over the decoys.  

Popping up from a layout blind and picking out a target from a flock of landing geese takes a little practice, but man is it a rush.  Firing 3" BB 12 gauge rounds at giant birds 20 yards out is a thrilling way to hunt.  

I have been hunting Canada geese for more than 20 years now, and I never get tired of watching honkers finish in the decoys.  I hope you get a chance to get out and enjoy some late season waterfowling this winter and that a goose hunt is on your list!

Geese show up when the mercury drops!

Waterfowlers be sure and look over Modern Wild Man duck hunting posts:


~See Ya Out There!~










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