One of the attractions of the show was the antler scoring by Buckmasters.

Here is Steve Lucas of Buckmasters.  Steve is in the dark green shirt busy scoring a buck. 

Three men and their bucks…  These 3 gentlemen showed up with their buckheads in hand to have scored.  Mark was able to catch them as they walked in the door.  Hopefully they will read my blog and let us know how they scored.  They are some awesome looking bucks. 

And we can’t forget about the story I told here of how I had to bring Mark’s buck in last year.  Well this year, Mark was in charge of bringing in his own buck that he never had scored.  It did score and will be in the Buckmasters Whitetail Trophy Records Book.   

As some of you know, I was at the Hammond Outdoor Sports Show this past weekend.  Mark has been a part of running the show since it started 24 years ago.  It really is a great show and I would like to say what a great job they all did. 

I’d like to share a few photos we did manage to take.  I wish I was able to take more but I was busy talking and talking and talking.   Next year I will have to bring a photographer to follow me around.

One of the things we always enjoy is the trout pond for kids.  They set up a big pond, fill it with trout and kids experience real live fishing.  I got a chance to show my great niece, Addison, how to fish.  Then her Mom, Ashley, came around and helped.  Ashley and I were able to catch 4 fish in 10 minutes.  What was funny is we were the only girls surrounded by a bunch of Dads watching our techniques.             

Well look who it is.  My favorite store in the whole world.  Those who read my blog on a regular basis know I couldn’t spend a weekend away from them so here they are.  The team from Cabelas.

This next photo is of Robin from the City of Hammond and the two gentlemen from Woodlander who carve these great outdoor animals.  Look out boys she has her weapon in hand.

This next photo is of Eddie from Mik Lurch Fishing Outlet.  He is my new best friend with that rod he has.  This was my all time favorite item from any show I have been to.  I can’t express enough how HOT this rod and reel combo was. They sold out.  Yes it is pink and the best part of about it, it lights up.  Yes you heard me right.  When you turn the reel the bottom of the reel lights up.  I can’t tell you how many little girls were walking around with their pink t-shirts on, their pink camouflage pants or jacket, and in their hand they were proudly carrying one of these rod and reels.  I also saw a few women and men who also purchased one.  One man I was talking to was considering buying one as a conversation piece for his next fishing trip with the guys.  I just love it!  And guess what…..

I GOT ONE TOO!!!   My picture is a little blurry but I was trying to get the effects of the lights flashing when you spin the reel.   Oh look, my fingernail polish matches perfect.

If anyone is interested, you can get more information on their website at Mik Lurch Fishing Outlet. Click on their contact button and tell them Jody at The Hunter’s Wife sent you and you just have to have one of those rods.   Your wife will love you, your girlfriend or your daugher.  Heck, even your male friends might just want one.

All in all, the show went really well.  I hope everyone enjoyed it and the vendors had much success. 

On the next The Hunter’s Wife…..Three Men and Their 4 Bucks.  Including photo from the show. 

My husband picked the number of 121. 

The winner is Mickey with a number of 123.  Congratulations Mickey!!!  Email me at jody@thehunterswife.net to claim your prize.

I can’t thank all of you enough for playing.  It was fun.   If you haven’t noticed already I love to play games and I love to give.  What better way to enjoy both then to share it here with all of you.

If any of you are interested in some great lures, as the ones I gave away, email me and I can get you in touch with Jimmy at Hammond Tackle.  They are all handcrafted and one of a kind.  Add them to your collection or get them for a gift. 

Next month I will be holding another great giveaway contest.

Thanks again everyone.  It was fun!

CONTEST HAS ENDED - THANKS EVERYONE! 

Are you feeling lucky today?  To enter today’s giveaway, guess a number from 1 - 200.   The first person to guess the number exactly or closest to it wins.   One entry per person.  Please leave your guess in the comment’s section below.  It’s that easy.  I will annouce the winner bright and early Wednesday morning, January 30, 2008. 

What do you win?  Compliments of Hammond Tackle are these fine fishing lures.  The winner will receive all 3 boxes of lures.

This is the Great Lakes Six Pack.  All spoons are solid brass then plated or painted.  The hooks are extra strong red VMC with a quality black split ring.  Weight approx. 5/8 oz.  each.  Great for Salmon and Trout.   Includes the Plano 3456 box.

This kit is the Trail Creek Spinner 6 Pack.  All spinners are handcrafted for genuine brass and nickel components.  Hooks are extra strong red VMC.  Spinners come in size 3 1/4 oz.  Includes the 3456 Plano box.

 This kit is the Trail Creek Spinner 6 pack size 4 3/8 oz.  Includes the 3456 Plano box. 

If you have any questions, please feel free to email me at jody@thehunterswife.net.

Good luck everyone!

Please note:  For those who do not have a website or a blog - just leave the website field blank.  Just fill in your name, email and your guess in the description.

Just a reminder - I will be holding a contest on Monday, January 28, 2008.

It’s a guessing game and anyone can enter to win a free gift. 

Don’t forget about the Hammond Outdoor Sport’s Show going on this weekend.  You can read about it here. 

THIS POST IS RATED PG 

About once or twice a year I take a family trip with my Mom, sisters, nieces, and nephew.  It is normally a long weekend to a cheer competition, to Georgia to visit my Moms long time friend, or to Kentucky just to get barbeque.  For those who have never had southern Kentucky barbeque you are missing out.  Starnes is our favorite.

For reference purposes, please note my Mom and sisters have big boobs.  They are not just big boobs they are BIG boobs.  (Sorry family.)  I on the other hand, well let’s just say mine won’t sag at 60. (Sorry me.)

It was road trip time; destination Georgia.   Eight of us in a van equipped with a CB radio.   We had an 11 hour drive ahead of us with four adult females and four kids.  The van looked like an apartment with blankets, pillows, books, coloring books, snacks, lunch, drinks you name it we had it.   My older sister was in the drivers seat, my younger sister in the passenger seat, my Mom and I behind them and the kids were in the back.

After a couple hours on the road and the kids settled we decided to turn on the CB and listen to the trucker’s talk.  My older sister has a bit of a lead foot so we were listening for any mention of any cops ahead.   We had never communicated on a CB or really listened to one so we were waiting in anticipation to hear our first trucker.  It was actually entertaining listening to all their slang until we heard…

 ”Billy Bob, you got a bodacious van full of beavers headed up your backdoor and you should see them there puppies.”  We all looked at each other laughing never imagining that we would hear such things.  Next thing I know we are all looking ahead of us, behind us, trying to figure out where these drivers are and who they’re talking about.  We thought they must be some where in the area because we could hear them pretty clearly.  But there was no van.  We decided it was probably truckers from the other side of the highway.   

As we start to approach a trucker ahead, my younger sister, who is in the passenger’s seat, looks up at the trucker as he is looking down at her.  Static then comes on the CB and we hear  ”Bodacious, Bodacious, Bodacious … those sure are some puppies.” For about 5 seconds we all sat there in silence and realized we were the “Bodacious Beavers.” 

After the shock and laughter we decided we had a long trip ahead of us.  What else is there to do on an 11 hour drive then have a little fun.  We then hear driver #2 call up to driver #3,  “Bobby Ray, bodacious puppies at your backdoor.” 

My younger, gifted sister quickly tells me to switch seats with her.  I jump in the front seat and we slowly pass driver #3 and then we hear “Billy Bob, son, you need glasses? Those aren’t no puppies.”  Of course my Mom and sisters are laughing hysterical and I decide I don’t want to play anymore and want to go in hiding.   And that is what I did as I switched sits with my gifted Mother.

My older, gifted sister slows down so driver #2 will pass us again.  The CB static comes on and we hear  “Bobby Ray, those sure are some puppies but that’s a different puppy.” As my Mom politely waves.

My older sister, the driver, decides to slow back behind driver #1 and grabs the mike of the CB and says “Boys, you want to see some puppies … we got puppies.”  We put my 2 nieces, who are 5 and 7, in the passenger’s seat and we drive past all three drivers.  We then hear laughter and one of the drivers say “Well I’ll be.  You ladies sure do have yourself a sense of humor.  I apologize for our rudeness.  Where ya’ll headed?”     

We didn’t find it to be insulting, well maybe I did, but we had a good hour of laughter.   We also got some tips on bounties and trucker slang and our new trucker friends turned out to be very nice southern gentlemen.

Please note; 

• Driver’s names have been changed to protect their privacy.
• Kids weren’t aware of puppies.  They just wanted to have the truckers honk.
• I should have never got in the front seat.  I am scarred for life.
• Mom, I’m sorry for sharing this story and I promise word will not spread thru town.  If you see Mrs. K at the grocery store, I’m sure she doesn’t know we were misbehaving.

Photo from Georgia:

Kids looked really thrilled to be there…Oh and look, it is Mom politely waving.  She is good at that. And to my gifted sisters, do you see those legs in the picture? I thought so!

Mom & Betty … BFF’s

Look what I received;  Thank you, Thank you, Thank you.

 The Excellent Blog Award is to recognize excellent blogs and their spreading of community spirit on the internet.  The award originated from Project Mommy who then awarded The Backwoods Drifter. 

I am happy to say that I received this award from Rex at his Deer Camp Blog.  Thank you so much Rex and for all your kind words.  You are one of the most welcoming bloggers I know who provides so much for the outdoor community.

Now that I was honored with the award, I am to pass along to 10 others.  I am going to pass onto a few bloggers that I think haven’t been recognized and are very deserving and a few of the new bloggers who are also deserving.

Low Country Hunting - For always being a part of my blog and providing great hunting information.
A Blessed Crazy Life - For finding my blog and starting one of her own. 
Artemis 12MONTHSOFWINTER - For her beautiful photography.
Jake’s Outdoors -  For a great hunting site who is new to my blogroll.
Penn’s Outdoors - For another great hunting site who is also new to my blogroll.
nybowhunter - For Marc for stating he would rather go to Cancun then hunt.  I loved it! 

There are also a lot of other great blogs listed in my blogroll.  Take a peek, you never know what you might find.  Hunting tips, laughter or just a touching story.

On the next The Hunter’s Wife…. “Road Trip - Boys & Boobs”  rated PG.

With hunting season over and fishing season yet to begin, I am finding that there are a variety of stories I would like to write about but I am hesitant to do so for the following reasons;

1. I have a few stories about my sisters but they think they have nothing to do with hunting.  You are The Hunter’s Wife.
2. This is a site about hunting and about my hunter but once in awhile I would like to talk about myself that doesn’t pertain to hunting.  I am my own person. 
3. I would like to share some fishing stories but I am waiting till spring.
4. I have a “Boys & Boobs” story but my Mom thinks I will get a bad online hunting community reputation.

So I ask all of you, is it alright to talk about something other then hunting or fishing?   

The 3rd day came and I figured I would be hearing from my newly wedded husband.   He couldn’t possibly go more than three days and not hear the voice of his new wife.  The day went on filled with lying in the sun, no calls, a little shopping; no calls, and then we were off to dinner. 

While at dinner, the phone rang…it was my sister-in-laws phone.  It was her husband checking in.  No call from Mark that night or the next day when we were scheduled to leave Cancun. 

On my way home I stopped at my parents to pick up the dog and visit then I went home and unpacked.  My dog was upset and had an attitude because we left him for a few days and there I was with the same attitude toward my husband. 

I called my sister-in-law that night to chat and I told her if her husband calls to let Mark know the dog is sick.  About an hour later my phone rings…

“Hey, what’s up?” … It’s Mark as cheerful as can be.

Me “The dog is just lying around and isn’t himself and I’m not sure if I need to take him to the vet.”  This was not an excuse my poor dog was so sad.

Mark “He’ll be fine, he’s just upset because we’ve been gone.”

Me “Did you get lost for 5 days?”

Mark “No.”

Me “Did you fall out of your tree stand and they weren’t able to find you for 5 days?”

Mark “No.”

Me “Did you know I was in Cancun for 5 days?”

Mark “Yes.”

Me “Did you know you are married?”

Mark “Yes.”

Me “Did you have phone service?”

Mark “I think so.”

Me “Can you explain why you think it is alright to go off for 5 days and not call?”

Mark “Ummm … I knew you were safe and having a good time.”

Me “What if something happen to me or I decided to stay in Cancun with Juan?”

Mark “I would come get you.”

Me “Do you realize you are not single anymore, and that I’m not just your girlfriend, I’m your wife.  You have no idea how upset I am with you.  You have a 19 hour drive tomorrow and a long time to think about it.  I suggest you do that and don’t call me on your way home because you’re bored.”

Mark “I really did miss you and I can’t wait to see you.  I love you and I got a bear.”

Me “Drive Safely.”

I was home rested, tan and a bit upset.  Mark came home with a bear and his tail between his legs.

Mark’s side to the story:  You know me, I am just very focused.  I was there to bear hunt and that is what I did. 

Right after Mark and I were married, Mark, his brothers and his niece’s husband were planning a trip to Canada for a week of bear hunting.  We girls decided we wanted to go to Cancun for about 5 days while they were gone.  They had never been to Canada and we had never been to Cancun.  As you can imagine, we were all excited about or own separate getaways.

The hunters were busy planning and strategizing their trip.  For months they were on the phone back and forth strategizing, discussing their maps, what techniques to use, who was bringing what food, who was driving, who was riding with whom.  It was like a group of little boys planning their first camping trip. 

We girls on the other hand, had our flights booked; our hotel booked and was ready to go.  We were so looking forward to our getaway as were the boys.  Ours was sun, sand, the Gulf of Mexico, pina coladas, Mexican food and of course chips and dip.  Theirs was bears, bears and more bears. 

The hunters left for their trip and a day or so later we left for ours.  We got to our hotel, checked in and went pool side.  Our days were spent by the pool and our nights were dinner, drinks and sitting out talking and listening to the gulf.  It was one of the most relaxing trips I had been on.  Cancun can get wild but we were there to relax and that is what we did.

As some of you already know, Mark and I are very independent.  We are alright with sometimes enjoying our own things and we are not clingy.  We are perfectly content that way.  We don’t have to check in with each other and we don’t have to do everything together.  Keep that in mind as you read further…

After the first day my brother-in-law called to check in with my sister-in-law.  My niece’s husband called to check in with her.  The guys were giving updates on who got a bear, who didn’t and who fell out of their stand.  The next day the same thing.  I had yet to hear from Mark but I was alright knowing he was safe and having a good time.   

The 3rd day came and I figured I would be hearing from my newly wedded husband.   He couldn’t possibly go more than three days and not hear the voice of his new wife.  The day went on filled with lying in the sun, no calls, a little shopping, no calls, and then we were off to dinner. 

While at dinner, the phone rang…

To be continued…