Local Whitetail Watch

The trail camera located in the northeast corner of the property is getting plenty of action lately.

Most of the photos are no good as they're usually the ass-end of a deer coming or going.

But on occasion there's a good one.

Like this buck...


And this doe...

click on images to enlarge

Skillet Bear

Skillet Bear

1 pound of bear cut into ¾ inch cubes

2 small fresh sweet onions from the garden – chopped

I package fresh mushrooms - sliced

Five peppercorns and a couple of juniper berries ground in a pestle

Red wine (a dry red like Chianti or Merlot)

Beef base

Ketchup

Butter, olive oil and flour

In a skillet heat 2T each of butter and olive oil. More if needed. Generously season the bear with ground pepper and juniper. Dredge in flour and add to hot skillet. Toss in the onions. Sear on high heat until browned then add 1 c each of red wine and beef base. A splootch of ketchup too.  Cover and simmer for an hour+ with the lid slightly askew and stir periodically.

Pour yourself a glass of red wine.

After the sauce has reduced somewhat add your mushrooms and simmer another 15-30 minutes covered.

Refresh your wine.

Remove the lid from the pan and reduce further. The sauce will continue to thicken.

Serve with noodles, spuds, spaetzle or whatever. I used leftover crashed potatoes and some garden peas. Your bear will be tender to the fork.  The Frau declared this an exceptional dish.

This will enhance your domestic tranquility. I guarantee it…

Hairy Turd

In keeping with the present scatological  theme here at The Platz - while out walking the dogs the other day I encountered a hairy-looking turd on the trail.

I picked it apart revealing any number of small mammalian bones.

Coyote scat for sure...

Berry Turd

While hunting black bear in Canada a week or so ago I just had to have a picture of some bear scat for the photo album.

You can tell from this photo that the blueberries are in season.

You are what you eat...

Turkeys on Parade

Taken from the Guard Tower Deer Stand - a flock of turkeys.

A parade review of the ladies!

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Busy Cams

The trail cameras have been working overtime during the past week.  With windy conditions I've amassed almost three hundred beautifully composed digital photographs of trees, grass and shrubs waving in the breeze.

I've been concerned that a camera has been strapped to one of the Guard Tower Deer Stands for almost a month and hasn't taken a single picture of any significant wildlife.  Nothing but bugs.

Finally a deer...

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Mama

This looks like a small fawn for the end of August.

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Must have been late bred and late dropped.

Nevertheless the local deer population appears to be thriving.