Wednesday, March 18. 2009
You can die of hypothermia when the temperature is well above freezing, and you will die of hypothermia after a while in 77 degree water. Many interesting facts at Freezing Persons Recollect (h/t, Cons Grapevine). All outdoorsmen should know this stuff. One example:
...many hypothermia victims die each year in the process of being rescued. In "rewarming shock," the constricted capillaries reopen almost all at once, causing a sudden drop in blood pressure. The slightest movement can send a victim's heart muscle into wild spasms of ventricular fibrillation. In 1980, 16 shipwrecked Danish fishermen were hauled to safety after an hour and a half in the frigid North Sea. They then walked across the deck of the rescue ship, stepped below for a hot drink, and dropped dead, all 16 of them.
Saturday, March 7. 2009
We posted this before, but I thought our gentle reader MM might enjoy this fine item:
Sunday, January 25. 2009
Through the Khyber Pass to the tribal region to shop at the largest gun markets in the world. Don't miss this video. (Thanks, reader.)
The "Can" is probably the most sought-after duck for hunters (but I know I have described Mallards and Black Ducks similarly). Not only is his 60 mph flight a challenge, but he is considered the most tasty duck at the table. He is probably tasty because, despite being a diving duck, he prefers plant material. He's fairly large, too.
He breeds in the West and Northwest up through Alaska, but winters all along the Eastern Seaboard. You can read about them here.
Gwynnie took this photo of a male Can in breeding plumage on Saturday in CT. The sloped head is diagnostic, even in poor light. I suspect that he used a long lens:
Thursday, January 15. 2009
Readers know how much I like outdoor gear, and how I need to remind myself that when I wear a few layers, I need to get trousers a full size larger in the waist or I will be miserable in the woods and fields.
It was a balmy 13 degrees F this morning here, with snow. Beautiful.
Well, I need to remind myself of the same thing with boots. I tried out some new snow/winter boots early this morning to plow and sand and shovel the driveway and walks before going to work in Hartford, and I had not figured for liner socks and heavy socks. It just hurt.
Remind me, readers. I have trouble remembering this: Except for base layers, winter gear needs to be bigger than one's usual.
With the global cooling crisis, even those in the southern reaches will need to learn these details. Here's Dr. Merc's boat this morning in the Florida Keys (cannot find our friend's site right now, and I doubt he can find his snow shovel either):
Thursday, January 1. 2009
It's not too soon to begin thinking about the opening of fishing season in April. If markets don't improve, we'll be fishing out of necessity instead of for sport. 
Tuesday, December 23. 2008
That's salmon fishing on Cain's River, New Brunswick, in October. 
Saturday, December 20. 2008
I am a fan of meat pies: Chicken (or turkey) Pot Pie, Shepherd's Pie, and Steak and Kidney Pie are my favorites. And of course micemeat pie is really a meat pie too. For our Maggie's Farm Venison Cookbook, Mr. Free Market offers his Venison and Mushroom Pie.
Wednesday, December 17. 2008
Good news from DU HQ this week: Despite a global economic downturn, DU supporters rallied to raise the largest revenue in DU history: $261 million. Of that, Ducks Unlimited spent a record $231 million on its conservation mission. That’s an 88 percent efficiency rating, which sets another record for Ducks Unlimited and exceeds our long-term goal to spend 80 cents of every dollar on DU’s conservation mission. And that’s the bottom line – habitat conservation.
Last year, in the United States alone, Ducks Unlimited conserved nearly 300,000 acres of the country’s most critical breeding, migration and wintering habitats. This annual report highlights several of those habitats and key donors who helped make DU’s work possible. We tip our hats to the people highlighted here and to all the DU members, volunteers and partners across the continent. We’ve come a long way together.
It is gratifying and enjoyable to support this fine organization. Many of us at Maggie's are happy to be part of it.
Monday, December 15. 2008
We are still interested in more of your favorite venison recipes. Put 'em in the comments on that post, and we'll post it annually towards the end of deer season. Here's some venison on the hoof from a friend's Cuddeback scouting camera in Michigan earlier in the fall: 
Saturday, December 13. 2008
Friday, December 12. 2008
Battle by joystick. Ace quoted this piece on the use of CROWS (Common Remotely Operated Weapons Station) in the Middle East:  The remote control turret changed the battlefield more than you might think. It all began three years ago, when the U.S. Army realized that new remote control gun turret designs actually worked, and suddenly they could not get enough of them... The main issue was that the enemy was no longer able to knock out the turret gunner, early in a firefight, and take away a lot of the vehicles firepower. Because of that, once the enemy opens fire, they are in trouble. The remote turret tends to begin delivering accurate fire right away, and is much more immune to enemy fire than a human gunner. If the vehicle is a Stryker, the enemy will soon find themselves dealing with half a dozen or so heavily armed infantry, who get out of the vehicle and come at the ambushers. Iraqis don't like that. They also don't like how some of the CROWS turret equipped vehicles will come after them. All those accurately aimed bullets coming their way, and no enemy soldiers in sight, is demoralizing.
Photo is from Defend America's 2005 piece on CROWS.
Monday, December 8. 2008
Some say the finest split bamboo rods in the world. I did not know that Morgan has MS. Anybody can be productive if they want to be.
Regular readers know that Maggie's Farm is a big supporter of Ducks Unlimited, one of the major conservation organizations in North America. The 1,000,000 members of DU now protect over 12 million acres of wildlife habitat. That is a heck of a good cause. We like to have fun, too, while raising $ to protect habitat. I took some photos of our annual event (which is mainly a boy's-night-out). Our raffle girls (with their scary boss on the left who insisted on joining the photo):  More photos on continuation page -
Continue reading "Our Ducks Unlimited Event"
Saturday, December 6. 2008
Best email I received yesterday (from a bow hunting pal): "We've got four deer hanging in the garage. Can you come over tomorrow around two to help cut em up and have some beers?" My reply: "You betcha."
Friday, December 5. 2008
 Ever hung out in a duck blind? 24/7 live feeds from a duck blind in Mississippi. (Thanks, C.)
You just might want to keep the feed running all day, especially if you are stuck in the office.
Thursday, November 27. 2008
We will not be posting much today, but we want to say that a sunset from a duck boat on Lake Winnipegosis is an excellent representation of God's bountiful nature. 
Wednesday, November 26. 2008
Gwynnie and companions, around an hour from Lake Winnipegosis in Manitoba a couple of weeks ago: 
Monday, November 24. 2008
 We posted the website, HuntFishCook.com, a couple of years ago.
They have a good Game Cooking Basics.
Friday, November 21. 2008
 The "beloved" M-14 gets a new lease on life, for "designated marksmen."
Our friend emails: Forget sniping. The M-14 doesn't jam in the sand and its bullets go right through masonry (unlike the M-16/M-4). Its resurgence is the reason surplus 7.62 mm ammo is in short supply and has doubled in price in two years.
Thursday, November 20. 2008
From a hunting buddy and good Ducks Unlimited supporter: Dear Maggie's: We went goose hunting with Wild Goose Lodge in Prince Edward Island last week. I wish I had a picture to show you of all the geese we killed (33 over the three days), but it was too dark by the time we finished hunting. The weather was no good for goose hunting on two of the three days we hunted; too warm and no wind. But, we had no complaints as the proprietor, Jim Duggan is a first class guy who goes out of his way to try and get everyone a good hunt. The attached picture is from our last evenings’ banquet – started off with Malpeque Bay oysters (which in your correspondent’s humble opinion, are the best anywhere). One of the hunters brought the wine – a Schramsberg sparkler which went great with the oysters. Then, everyone had a 2.5-3 pound lobster, along with some homemade bread and potato salad. On PEI, they serve their lobster cold, with lemon wedges and of course, butter. We had a mix of whites to go with the lobster, including a chenin blanc from South Africa, which was in honor of your humble correspondent who had visited the winery while in S. Africa on safari several years ago. Dessert was your choice of hot fudge or butterscotch sundae or blueberry pie. One or two of the guests had a sundae and pie . . . I must confess that I ate on the order of two dozen oysters and if I do so say myself, three lobsters. An excellent time was had by all ten of us, including two of the folks whom had never been goose hunting. Your Humble Correspondent, J.
Tuesday, November 18. 2008
 "The inside story of how a gang of libertarian lawyers made constitutional history," at Reason.
Handgun photo is an Israeli "Jericho" polymer frame 9mm. Whether steel or polymer, Santa has plenty of these (used) in stock, so you can put this toy on your Christmas list.
Saturday, November 15. 2008
The cartoonist had a great idea, but is surely no hunter because no waterfowler would wear orange. 
Tuesday, November 11. 2008
 In anticipation of further Dem assaults on the Second Amendment, guns are predictably selling like hotcakes.
I like GunBroker.com, where I found this nice camo AR 15. The SEALs love those little .223 rounds, and they resist deflection. They can mail things to your local gun shop. Full auto, in your dreams.
Monday, November 3. 2008
What a great country! 
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