Wingshooting – Page 4 – Sporting Road

Bodhi’s Mountain
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Bodhi’s Mountain

Bodhi was my first bird dog. My first bird dog, not my dad's that is. As a Bodhisattva should do, he graciously gave up his path to enlightenment so that others may attain it, mostly so that I may strive to attain enlightenment. We returned to Bodhi's favorite spot for blue grouse this year, to find many others already hunting his hallowed grounds. Being one who doesn't like change, this had me reeling wondering what to do. We quickly found change and decided, with considerable trepidation to hunt a spot down the road to his and my favorite spot, a spot which we had never been to before, but was at least free from other hunters. After all, this is public land, they had as much right to be there as did we, and they had beat us to the spot on Opening Day of Grouse Season, so it was all done fair and square. Remy, Bodhi's grandson, didn't seem to mind, as he is still a pup himself, he didn't know any better, or at least he tried to persuade me so. I, on the other hand, knew better---that this spot could not be as good as our favorite spot which we had enjoyed for so many years. We headed off up the mountain, but at least it was the same mountain as Bodhi's Spot was on, so who knew what might await us. To our surprise, we found grouse. A lot of grouse. Dusky grouse (formerly known as Blue Grouse) here and dusky grouse there. And we made a new spot our own, it would never be Bodhi's Spot, but this one became Remy's spot. Perhaps Remy will lay there some day in

By Sporting Road|October 26th, 2012|Categories: Wingshooting|Comments Off

Girl Hunter: Revolutionizing the Way We Eat, One Hunt at a Time

Girl Hunter: Revolutionizing the Way We Eat, One Hunt at a Time is an admirably catchy title. The recipes for Braised Pheasant Legs with Cabbage and Grapes, Chukar Pie, Quail en Papillote, Pheasant Tagine, Duck Confit, Fireplace Venison Tenderloin, Chorizo Sausage, Jugged Hare, Game Bird Stock to Everyday Dry Rub and tips on aging game, should have been all right up my alley. But, somehow I couldn't get that into the book, nor the recipes beyond the initial appearances which are good. Maybe I was just in bad mood, as it has all the right elements, including the author being a classically trained chef and devoted hunter. Maybe it was the lack of pictures of the recipes. Maybe it was the lack of wild, edible foods. But, we can agree that, "Whatever your journey, wherever you find it, may it be a wild one." And the on a Moveable Hunt, harkens to Hemingway and I particularly like the Waiting for Pate in the Floatant chapter. And, who can't appreciate the Jose Ortega y Gasset quotes, such as "One does not hunt in order to kill, on the contrary, one kills in order to have hunted." I wanted to love this book from the cover and the title, but maybe it just requires catching me on a better night, so I am avoiding any star-based review, as I like the concept of it and hope to hear from others who really enjoyed it, as I really want to like it.

By Sporting Road|June 22nd, 2012|Categories: Book Reviews, Recipes, Wingshooting|Comments Off

Grouse Nuggets and Deep-Fried Pheasant with Chips
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Grouse Nuggets and Deep-Fried Pheasant with Chips

A recent issue of Sporting Times, which is published in the UK, reports on a Norfolk fish and chip shop which is thought to have become the first in England to include deep-fried pheasant on its menu. French’s Fish & Chips in Wells-next-the-Sea is offering pheasant breast coated in breadcrumbs with chips for £5 per portion. But this is hardly newsworthy in our minds, as we have been featuring grouse and pheasant in the same style for over a decade at the Chateau, which we dubbed "Grouse MacNuggets" and are served with honey, in the same style as nuggets of fame under the golden arches. It has been a huge hit with children and those new to game, together with dyed in the wool shooters. It's tough to beat really. We serve ours with rice, rather than chips. Fried, fried, fried can be a bit much, when taken all at the same time.

By Sporting Road|December 11th, 2011|Categories: Recipes, Wingshooting|Comments Off

Driving Caps

If anyone knows what happened to Harrison Hillhouse please contact me at sportingroad@gmail.com. I'd like to order another driving cap like the one shown below. These caps are the best! The label says Paris Edinborough, New York, London, but I haven't been able to find them anywhere since I picked up mine in Paris more than a dozen years ago. If you see one for sale, please drop me a line.

By Sporting Road|December 1st, 2011|Categories: Wingshooting|Comments Off

The Sportsman’s Guide to Shopping

Once upon a time, in addition to having a gunmaker and fly tire, gentleman would have a boot maker, glove maker, hat maker, a shirt, maker, maker of walking sticks, and umbrellas, possibly even a coach builder, and naturally a tailor. In London: Farlows, fishing and shooting, www.farlows.co.uk Lock & Co. Hatters, bespoke hats and hunt caps, www.lockhatters.co.uk John Lobb, Country boots and riding boots, www.johnlobbltd.co.uk Henry Maxwell, hunting, polo and field boots www.henrymaxwell.com Bernard Weatherhill Ltd., coats, vests and breeches, www.bernardweatherill.com H. Huntsman & Sons, riding habits, scarlet coats, evening coats, suits www.h-huntsman.com Holland & Holland, shotguns and sporting arms, www.hollandandholland.com James Purdey & Sons, gunmaker, www.purdey.com Boss & Co Ltd., gunmaker, www.bossguns.co.uk

By Sporting Road|November 26th, 2011|Categories: Fishing, Foxhunting, Wingshooting|Comments Off

Hanging Game Birds – How to Hang a Pheasant – Resting Game
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Hanging Game Birds – How to Hang a Pheasant – Resting Game

Gaminess is a level of intensity, from the feed and wildness of game being pursued by predators instead of being confined, that can be raised or lowered in cooking. There is discussion among game aficionados that focus on how long game birds should be hunt or left to relax before being sufficiently tenderized. Temperature is critical and it is best to hang game where the temperature does not fluctuate such as in a cold room, with a reasonable movement of air, away from flies. Pigeons, ducks, and snipe do not seem to benefit from hanging. Being raised in America, I have to confess that I cringed a bit when I initially encountered the way that they hung game birds for aging in France. Hanging pheasants and grouse in the feathers for days (or even a week or two) didn’t seem to comply with our modern standards of food hygiene and with bacterial contamination being nearly a daily feature in our newspapers even from FDA approved facilities. Oh I know that old books go on about sublime flavor “high game.” But the French have it right and the rest of Europe and England nearly always follow this method as well. While hanging, the natural enzymes begin to act on the fibers of the muscle meat, making them more relaxed and tender. When you think about it, it makes sense. Try eating a cow (or any big game animal) the following day after it is harvested—it’s nearly inedible, tough and chewy. The carcass is hard and stiff, if you try to cut the meat at this point in time. But even a few days of dry-aging it, allows the rigamortis which sets in immediately after killing the

By Sporting Road|November 22nd, 2011|Categories: Cuisine, Fur and Feather, Wingshooting|Comments Off

What is Instinctive Shooting?

Some of our friends who haven't been wingshooting with us ask what is Instinctive Shooting? Attached is an article from our side-by-side shooting instructor, Buz Fawcett, appropriately entitled "What is Instinctive Shooting?" http://wingshootingworkshop.files.wordpress.com/2011/03/what-is-instinctive-shooting-by-buz-fawcett.pdf

By Sporting Road|October 20th, 2011|Categories: Wingshooting|Comments Off

Hunt, Gather, Cook (Book Review **** 5/5)

Hank Shaw is an award-winning journalist and makes his debut from his blogger's guide to a book on foraging, fishing, hunting, simply entitled Hunt, Gather Cook--and makes the most of the fruits of a day spent gathering food in the field. His blog, Hunter Angler Gardener Cook, has developed an avid following among outdoor people and foodies alike. Hank Shaw's blog, Hunter Angler Gardener Cook, and which is more impressive than the book, can be found at: http://honest-food.net/ His poacher's blog, which is also worthy of mention, despite his bad-form tactics, can be found at: http://huntergathercook.typepad.com/

By Sporting Road|October 8th, 2011|Categories: Book Reviews, Cuisine, Fishing, Recipes, Wingshooting|Comments Off

Ten Tips for Becoming A Better Grouse Hunter

Have an Uncle Who’s Part Indian. I am not being cute or clever. My heritage is part Sioux Indian and there is something to be learned from our Native Americans when it comes to forest craft, it's not just all folk-lore. While Indians have a legendary reputation for being quieter and more stealthy in the woods, it's for good reason, but we could argue whether that is due to nature or nurture. Whatever the reason and if you weren't born with it, see what you can learn from someone skilled in this manner of stealthy stalking and it doesn’t matter if it is applied on big game or upland birds, it’s better than the alternative of bashing through the woods scaring every grouse out of the other end of it before you even step foot in the beginning of the other end of the woods. Better yet, adopt an "uncle" born or skilled in these crafts. Learn to shoot a shotgun and learn to shoot it well. We attended Buz Fawcett’s Wingshooting Workshop many times now, in efforts to become Master Shotgunners. If you hit what you can see and learn to shoot instinctively, you will be a better grouse hunter. Bring a picnic on the grouse moor. You never know when you will need fortitude from the elements or simply from your own psyche, if it's a less than stellar day. We always bring a French picnic, complete with some red wine, pate’ from birds gone by, cheese course, salad and other treats. Stuff enough shells in your bag, but not too many to begin to think you you have enough to afford to miss. My friend, Paul, grew up in rural Nebraska and his father was a professional assassin for coyotes and other predators, working for the National

By Sporting Road|October 8th, 2011|Categories: Cuisine, Picnic, Recipes, Travel, Wingshooting|Comments Off

Blue Grouse Hippies
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Blue Grouse Hippies

Jeff and I started hunting together for blue grouse over twenty years ago. We met as young lawyers starting out in the same courtrooms together. I saw Jeff sitting in front of the bar, waiting for his case to be called, and he was trying to hide an issue of Shooting Sportsman inside of his client's file. We starting talking and I found out his father, Roger Hill, wrote one of my favorite books, Fly Fishing the South Platte. Jeff went on to say this was a blessing and a curse, as his father was a retired nuclear physicist and that he never got to enjoy soccer and things like that on the weekends, as his father simply left every weekend day saying, "I am going fishing [or shooting], do you want to come along?" There being no alternative except staying home alone, Jeff obliged and became a serious fly-tier, angler, and shooter of his own. We immediately started hunting together, a journey down the sporting road which lasted many years and which I hope will continue when he finds time away from his new family. His dog at the time was a hard-headed English Setter pup, which matched well in the field with my Britanny of field-trial lines who was on his first year afield. After many years of driving dirt roads and discovering dead ends on maps, we discovered the promised land of blue grouse together and promised to never divulge its location to any outsiders, or any other grouse covert we discovered together, for that matter, under threat of death or sending sultry clients to deal with such indiscretions. After one of our first days on the mountain in the shadows of the mountain, we found a

By Sporting Road|October 3rd, 2011|Categories: Colorado, Cuisine, Dog Training, Recipes, Wingshooting|Comments Off