New Years Eve...

We made a last chance effort on New Year's Eve for a few grouper, which happens to be the last day of grouper season.  Needless to say, we came up empty handed. We tried a spot way north and it didn't pan out.  We did however get 5 or 6 MASSIVE sting rays and MONSTER sharks. Here's a video that pretty much sums up the day...Fyi- the video was of us manhandling a big stingray!

Christmas eve

On Christmas Eve my dad wanted to go out and get a pig, as he was opposed to going through all the work we normally go through when duck hunting. So we had a nice, "relaxing" morning of driving to the boat ramp at 0400, getting in the boat and taking that 6 miles to a canal where we paddled canoes 1 mile then ended up walking for about 2 miles, and what did we end up getting...ducks...oh well, the ducks were beautiful. 

ducks are here # two

Well, we’re still hitting the ducks where it counts. Ross has been out with me a few times since he’s been back for Christmas break and we’ve done really well.  However, the early mornings seem to have taken their toll on everyone, so from now on I’ll most likely be hitting the honey holes by myself. I’m going back out this weekend, which is Christmas weekend, when there are mornings where I can sneak away for a few hours. I did find where there are some bucks bedding down, so hopefully I’ll have something to report next week.

On another note, in this picture you will see the mighty Rufus. He is now living with someone else, thank you to everyone who helped us in our efforts to find him a place to go. Long live THE MIGHTY RUFUS…

arts and crafts

Just a few random thoughts from my weekend on this post... here are some pictures and some thoughts...

This is inside of Keystone 12-18 packs, so I figured I'd make it, then make fun of myself for doing crafts out of my beer can box, so you can join in if you'd like. Here's a start.....can you help identify this, I know it's "fowl", but what is it?...I got this mounted for Christmas, I'm not sure how to brag about it?...Now I can say I'm going to CVS with Cora to pick up more family crafts...and: here it is, the pride of my mount collection, a testimony to all my work in the field...

Soooo... I got 20 squirrels this weekend and... I guess you're living the high life when you argue with your wife all afternoon about "how to cook the dumplings" for your squirrel and dumplings...

I guess I don't really have anything to say...good ribs...

I guess I don't really have anything to say...really bad squirrels... And they smelled worse than they looked.

I honestly couldn't eat "squirrel leg hot wings," but Blythe showed me just how much of a wuss I really am...

My dinner, the end result... not too shabyb but the "process" I'd rather just forget...Every man has his limits...I just can't do squirrel...just can't do it...

Unexpected favor.

I just got one of my old bows back from my dad who refurbished it. It came out FANTASTIC; if you ever need an old bow or arrows refinished or fixed for any reason, he is the person I would recommend. I believe he's planning on doing a lot of that type of work during his retirement (whenever that is?). I'm just reaping the benefits of his practice. Here are a few pictures of my "new" old long bow.

Please...send my compliments to the chef...

Now, by this time in the year you might be thinking, "Capt. Nate, how do you keep going? How do you maintain your figure and stamina?"
Well, if you must ask, it's by dieting correctly and eating healthy...and as evidence, one  of my staples for hunting season is below.  This is what I ate for dinner tonight, after a long morning of squirrel hunting: a medley of chicken "fries," french fries, chili, jalapenos, cheese and hot sauce...yup, you read that correctly.  Make sure you've got a lukewarm Keystone to wash it all down with :)