With this being the last day of the year, I thought I would share some stories I enjoyed this year.

This is one of my favorites for the deer hunter  10 Tips for a Successful Deer Hunt - The Hunter’s Wife Version

Othmar at My Stand wrote a great piece on the Economics of Hunting. He talks about how powerful hunters are to our economy. 

Kristine at The Outdoor Bloggers Summit wrote To Get You Have To Give. It is a great reminder to all of us bloggers. Kristine also writes for Gun Safety Innovations.

Holly at Norcal Cazadora wrote about The Story of My First Duck Hunt. When she stated this “I looked down and just inches in front of my right foot, there was my duck, hunkered down, looking small and brown and camouflaged. He didn’t even try to get away and he was utterly beautiful and cute and dear God I knew what I had to do.” I actually thought she was going to give the poor little duck mouth to mouth.  It really is a great story of her first duck hunt.

I hope you all enjoy. 

Seeing that this weekend is New Years and some of you will be hosting a party I thought I would throw some ideas out your way for venison appetizers.

• Venison Meatballs  - make up your favorite venison meatballs and spread on a nice platter.
• Venison Steak Medallions - marinate in your favorite marinade and chop up in bite size pieces.  Add to a platter with cheeses.
• Venison Sausage - slice sausage and add to a tray with cheeses and crackers.
• Venison Beef Rolls - fry up venison beef with some seasonings and lay a spoon full in crescent rolls and bake.
• Venison Bacon Wrap - cut up meat in bite size pieces, wrap in a slice of bacon and place toothpick in center. Broil till bacon is a bit crispy.  If you like it hot, add a slice of jalapeno pepper inside the wrap.

And to drink … Champagne Punch - from Emeril  (If only I could cook like him.)

• 1 1/3 cups fresh lemon juice
• 1 cup superfine sugar
• 1/2 cup orange liqueur (Grand Marnier)
• 1/2 cup Triple Sec
• 1/2 cup cognac
• 1/2 cup fresh orange juice
• 2 bottles of chilled dry Champagne or sparkling wine
• Orange or lemon slices
• Fresh strawberries, optional

Combine the lemon juice, sugar, orange liqueur, Triple Sec, cognac, and orange juice in a non-reactive (non-metal) bowl and stir until the sugar is completely dissolved.  Add the Champagne and stir to combine.  Cover and refrigerate until chilled, about 1 hour.

Pour into a decorative bowl or pitcher.  Garnish with orange or lemon slices and fresh strawberries.

Please Please Please…Don’t drink and drive…call a relative…friend…hunter…taxi!!!  Be safe everyone!!!

I hope Santa was good to everyone.  Santa was good to both Mark and myself.  We had Christmas Eve at our house with my family and Christmas Day at Mark’s Mom’s house with his family.  

One of my gifts… 

In October, Cabelas opened it’s new store about 2 miles from our house.  Can you guess where the majority of my gifts came from?  Yep.  One of those gifts was a soft air gun that shoots colored 6 mm BB’s.  So this evening Mark setup a target for me downstairs to have target practice.  I was actually excited about it.  Mark, of course, had to test it out.  After his 500th round, I got a turn.  

After my 1st round, he had to sight it in.  Then changed the sight, then sight it in again.  Then move the target, then adjust the target.  Then he had to test it out again.  After his 600th round, I got a turn. 

After my 2nd round, he suggested we clean up the mess.  He was done with target practice.

More gifts…

At Mark’s Mom’s house it was time to open gifts.  I sat down by my Mother-In-Law and she would open a present and I would open a present.  Now remember, all of Mark’s brother’s hunt.  She opens a gift from son #4, Kenny.  A sweater from Cabelas.  My turn.  To Jody from Mark.  Oh look, a zip up sweater from Cabelas.  Marilyn’s turn.  Another sweater from son #4 from Cabelas.  My turn.  Oh look, a long sleeve shirt from Cabelas from Mark.   She looked at me smiling with a proud look on her face.  I looked at her with a smile, gritting my teeth, thinking I should have bought Mark a sleeping bag from Cabelas so he could use it when he spends the night here tonight. 

The rest of my gifts…

All in all it was a great Christmas.  We spent time with family and that is what is important.  As for my non-Cabela presents, Mark saved the best presents for last after we got home.

I hope everyone had a very Merry Christmas.  I will be back tomorrow blogging my little heart out and posting a few of my favorite gifts.

Merry Christmas 

Today is Friday, December 21, 2007.  I was hoping to post a recipe today but seeing that we are approaching the holiday weekend, and a great long weekend at that, I thought I would wish all of my readers, blogger friends and you peepers (lurkers) a wonderful and safe holiday. 

I might be around this weekend and you might see a post or two.   

Will you be blogging?

Merry Christmas from our house to yours…..

The Hunter’s Wife and The Hunter.

Mark just walked up behind me and sang “Let’s here it for the boys.”  I then had to say, let me scroll down to a few post and see what you boys did….hmm…an arrow mount!

Girls Rule 

Robert Cline was kind enough to send me photos of his wife and daughter’s deer from their 2007 Missouri hunt.  Needless to say, I did not receive a photo of Roberts because the girls in his house rule.  

Here is Robert’s 12 year old daughter Savannah with her 9 pt. that grossed 137 1/2″.

And here is Robert’s wife Dawn with her 9 pt. that grossed 165 7/8″.

Those are some great looking bucks.  Way to go girls!!!

As for Robert, he has a great shed antler tree you all have to see.  I’ve never seen anything like it.  Amazing! You can see it here at  The Shed Antler.

Her First Hunt 

I also wanted to add this quick story about another woman hunter, Karen.  Karen is a neighbor of my brother-in-law Kenny.  Karen’s boyfriend is currently stationed in Iraq.  (Stay safe John!)  Kenny was kind enough to take her out hunting for the first time and she got her first button buck.  This is what Karen had to say about her first experience, “There just aren’t words to describe the emotions you feel.  It’s absolutely wonderful!” Way to go Karen!

I am sure we will be hearing more about Karen’s hunts.  She is now officially a hunter! 

Congratulations to all the girls!!! 

What is a peeper?  Those of you who peek at my blog and don’t leave a comment.  That is what I call you. 

Join in and leave a comment.  Look beyond the first post.  There are lots of interesting things you might be missing out on.  I have funny stories about my hunting husband and great recipes for venison.  Check out my blogroll.  There are lots of great hunting blogs I have listed.  They hold great information for male and female hunters.  You may even find a new friend or two.  You don’t even have to have a blog to leave a comment.

It’s ok to leave a comment and say “Love your blog!” or “Great blog!”.  Don’t be a peeper or a peeker.

If there is ever a moment in time that I dread the most it is the phone call about the one that got away.   It isn’t about the average doe or the average buck.  It is about the monster of all monster bucks.  The one he has waited a lifetime to see.  The one he told himself he will probably never see again.   The one he spent hours after hours,  days after days, waiting for the opportunity to get that one shot at this buck.  The one he MISSED.

It was a couple of weeks ago and Mark was at the river hunting and I was on my way home.  I was in my glory thinking of the pizza I was going to pick up and enjoy while watching a lifetime movie in a quiet house.  Suddenly my cell phone rang and I could feel the anger, frustration and disappointment in Mark’s voice.  

He had been hunting all morning and again that afternoon.  Before sunset, a few does came within 12 yards of his stand and a small year and half buck.  After watching the deer pass he knew it would only be minutes before he would gather his gear, climb out of his stand and head back to his truck.  Then it happened.  A large buck came within 7 yards.

(This was captured on his trail cam just before bow season and who he was scouting.)

Mark grabbed his bow and came to a full draw.  As he was releasing his arrow, the deer turned.  Mark then turned slightly, released his arrow and then he heard snap.  He looked and there it was.  His arrow embedded in a large limb of a tree. 

This is the actual photo.

 And here it is.  This years mount.

I have heard this story over and over.  From telling me, to telling family, to telling friends.  Oh please, oh please, oh please someone help me.  I will never hear the end of it.

Here it is!  My new blog outfit as I like to call it.  Over the past month, I was considering making a few changes to my site.   Well those few changes became big changes.  Over the next couple of weeks you may see things come and go and moved and rearranged.   I am trying to keep it as simple and easy to navigate as possible. 

I know, some of you do not like change.  For those, I’m sorry.  For those who enjoy change, I hope this is refreshing for you.

I added my new tagline, Lovin’ Every Season.  Thanks Jenn! 

Also, if you look to the left on the sidebar you will see The Hunter’s Wife and a brief description.  Thanks to Rex, Othmar, Jeff, Jane, Karen, Krissy, Will, Tammy, Lee and Bridget for your suggestions.  I loved them all.

I hope you enjoy and if you would like to leave me your feedback, I won’t mind.

Congratulations Jenn.  I actually thought lovin’ every season was perfect for me. 

Thanks everyone.  It was such a hard choice.  I loved the camouflage comments and the references to Indoors, Outdoors. 

Jenn, email me at jody@thehunterswife.net to claim your DAC Technologies Electric Grinder.