Everyone remembers their first time shooting a Buck. Please share your stories and pictures of your first Deer.
I shot my first Deer in November of 2004. We were hunting private land in Pine County, MN and it was freezing outside. Swede and I were stand hunting and after sitting for about 2 hours in 12 degree weather, I was frozen. I hadn't seen nor heard a thing except for the farmers donkey, when i heard that " Snap". I looked behind me and there was a nice 9pt just walking along, smelling the rut, without a care in the world.I slowly turned, raised my 30.06 and fired.....CLICK! My rifle misfired, so i quickly rechambered my bolt action, raised my rifle and ClICK!...Another misfire. This happened 2 more times, before I had to completely reload my rifle. Surprising, the Deer didn't even noticed me. It continued to slowly walk, it's nose to the earth, completely oblivious to my frantic attempts to get my damn gun to fire.
So, now i have reloaded my rifle and sure enough, I cant see the deer anywhere. Looking through my scope, I final catch a glimspe of its tail through the woods. My first shot misses and yet the deer doesnt run. I reload and fire again....BANG and the Deer disappears.
At this point, I am crushed as I figured there was no way that I had hit the deer. I climb down from my stand and walk in the general direction of where I think the deer was standing. As I approach, I see it laying on the ground...No blood nothing...I had hit it in the spine and dropped it where it stood. The Deer never knew what hit it
Wednesday, August 15, 2007
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Deer Hunting Stories from Minnesota |
Monday, July 23, 2007
Thursday, April 05, 2007
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Deer Hunting Essentials |
Deer Hunting
If hunters held a popularity contest for wild animals, the whitetail deer would win every time. Admired for its speed and jumping ability, a deer can run 40 miles per hour and leap over a fence 8 feet tall. Besides their beauty, Deer are also extremely challenging animals to hunt.
Deer move silently through the woods, constantly aware of the hunter’s presence and can disappear from sight in the blink of an eye. Deer are naturally camouflaged and their acute sense of smell is 1000 times more powerful than humans. Even the best hunter can leave the woods after 3 straight weeks, without firing a shot.
Hunting Gear
A few things every hunter needs are deer stand, weapon, waterproof boots, knife, tags, orange clothing, rope and a permit. There are two different types of deer stands, ladder stands, and climbers. Ladder stands are ladders with a platform on top of them chained to a tree. Climber stands are platforms with a seat that may be carried on your back and then placed usually about 4-8 feet off the ground on a tree.
Waterproof boots are not essential but they come in very handy, especially since deer do not always fall down where you shoot them and may run for a few miles into the woods. Knives are essential for skinning and field dressing deer. Tags and permits are required to hunt deer legally; they may be purchased from local sporting good stores or your state’s DNR website.
Rope is necessary for dragging your deer after the kill. Adult female white-tailed deer can weigh 145 pounds, males 170. The heaviest whitetail ever recorded in the United States was a 500-pound Minnesota buck.
Hunters and environmentalist alike will agree that deer hunting is an extremely valuable wildlife conservation tool that ensures the biological success of our natural resources, while supporting the nation’s economy.
38 Million Strong, the American Hunter pours $70 billion into the economy annually--with a whopping $179 billion in ripple effect. This makes the American Hunter among the most prominent and inflectional of all demographic groups.
The American Deer Hunter, Men and women from all walks of life, doing what they love, growing the economy, helping conservation and contributing to society.
Sunday, March 18, 2007
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Minnesota Deer Hunting License bill on track in House |
ST. PAUL (AP) - Despite resistance from a powerful hunters' group, a bill that would tack an extra dollar cost onto deer hunting licenses remained on track Monday in the Minnesota House.
The Environmental and Natural Resources Committee approved the surcharge on a 10-5 vote. The money it would raise each year - almost $500,000 - would repay meat processors who turn donated deer into venison for food shelves.
R. Jane Brown, executive director of the Second Harvest Heartland food bank, said finding enough butchered venison is a continual challenge.
"Deer meat is highly desirable because it is abundant and nutritious and high in protein, which is in short supply among donated food products," Brown said in an e-mail to lawmakers....
Complete Story Click Here
Source: http://www.kstp.com
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Deer Hunting help communities by easing Hunger |
Since 1991, Virginia deer hunters have donated in excess of 3 million pounds of venison to a nonprofit organization called Hunters for the Hungry.
More than 12 million servings of venison have reached our state's poor and hungry. In 2006 alone, Virginia hunters donated 356,054 pounds of meat to this organization; that equals 1,000 pounds of food a day for people who suffer the effects of poverty and disaster. We cannot think of a better way to help the community than to feed those who need it most.
The fees for hunting and fishing licenses are an important source of revenue for game preserves. These preserves enable deer and other animals to live in a natural habitat with no danger of the land's being developed.
The Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries uses that money to maintain more than 1,000 miles of road and 200,000 acres of land in 36 management areas that are kept open and in good condition for public use.
They also work with the U.S. Forest Service to help manage 1.5 million acres of wildlife habitat in National Forest lands in Virginia. This would be impossible without the fees hunters and fishermen pay for licenses.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has reported that about 1.5 million deer-automobile accidents occur each year in the U.S. Those accidents account for about 150 deaths and $1.1 billion in damages. Not only would these statistics grow astronomically if people were unable to hunt, but auto insurance bills would skyrocket, as well.
So please, before anyone runs off at the mouth about how hunters "enjoy killing" or "should leave the control of wildlife population to God," educate yourself on the subject.
Chris and Sarah Hart Stafford
Source: http://www.fredericksburg.com/flshome/
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Hunters against Hunger supports the Field to Fork Program |
Hunters Against HungerHunters Against Hunger is a program dedicated to providing quality venison to food shelves in the state of Minnesota. It is designed to follow all of the rules and regulations set forth by Minnesota's Department of Agriculture (meat quality regulation) and Department of Natural Resources (big game hunting regulation).
Hunters Against Hunger is run by volunteers from Minnesota Deer Hunters Association and funded by participating chapters and the state office.
How and where can I donate?
A hunter can donate an entire deer or a portion of a deer. Click here for full details on donating.
MDA Approved Processors
Click here for a list of Minnesota Department of Agriculture approved processors
Participating Food Shelves
Find a local foodshelf. When contacting a local food shelf, be sure to ask if they accept and pick up donated venison from MDA approved processors.
DNR Field to Fork Brochure
Download the PDF: HAH-DNR_Field_to_Fork_Brochure.pdf
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Got a taste for testicles You will have a Ball |
Rocky Mountain oysters
The Testicle Festival is held in spring because that's when calves are castrated. Steers render better meat than bulls. Castration also calms their tempers and prevents inbreeding once they're released to pasture.
Rocky Mountain oysters, as they're referred to elsewhere, are nothing to blush about. They are good eatin' for those with old-fashioned pallets and a sense of culinary efficiency.
Like sweetbreads and menudo, Rocky Mountain oysters are classic among ranchers with strong stomachs and a flare for masking dishes with heavy seasoning, bread crumbs and creative names.
Those who've tried them describe them as crunchy on the outside, soft and warm on the inside.
More on the Story CLICK HERE
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Hunting Ethics are both Personal and Public |
Hunting ethics is a term which defines the true standards, conduct and moral judgement of a sportsman. Some say that people's hunting ethics are also a mirror image of the rest of their personal lives.
Ethics for the hunter can be broken down into personal and public ethics. The personal ethics of a sportsman deal with the way he treats his sport, the animals and other hunters. Though often distasteful, personal ethics do not usually entail illegal activity. On the other hand, public ethics deal with issues such as breaking game laws, trespassing on private property, poaching, etc.
Personal Ethics
Every ethical hunter should practice personal ethics as a way of showing respect for his fellow sportsmen and the animals. Instead of fighting over a particular hunting area, it is considered ethical to share the area or invite the other hunter to hunt it one day and then you hunt it the next day.
Personal disregard for another hunter's right to be in the woods should also be avoided, such as making noise to chase away game because someone beat you to your favorite spot, or putting on a drive where other hunters are stand hunting.
One of the most ethically irresponsible things a hunter can do is not follow up his shot. Always do everything possible to retrieve a wounded animal, including spending the entire day looking for it.
Public Ethics
Party hunting, shooting an animal for another hunter, poaching, or leaving a deer in the woods because it is "just" a doe or small buck are not only grossly unethical, but also illegal. If the sportsman is supposed to be in the deer woods to commune with nature and enjoy the animals we love so much, it is reasonable that an ethical hunter would not even consider some of the above mentioned ethical and legal violations.
Today, hunters are waging a battle against anti-hunters. We're also waging a more discouraging battle against adverse publicity from those few unethical sportsmen who's actions give the majority of ethical, law abiding hunters a black eye.
Ultimately, public opinion will decide whether hunting as we know it will continue. It is our duty to do everything possible to win this war. Sportsmanship
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Americas Deadliest Big Game Animal |
If I were to ask you what you thought America's deadliest big game animal was, what would you say? This animal kills or injures more people every year than any other animal. Would you say the grizzly bear or maybe the mountain lion? You would probably be very surprised when I told you that the white-tailed deer not only causes more human deaths and injuries but also causes more damage and destruction than any other big game animal.
Over 120 people are killed in the United States each year in deer-related car crashes, and hundreds more are injured. This far surpasses the few deaths and injuries caused by mountain lions and grizzly bears.
According to the Insurance Information Institute, average cost of damage to each of the 300,000 vehicles involved in collisions with deer each year is over $600, totaling more than $180 million.
Deer cause enormous damage to farm crops and suburban landscaping as well. Biologists studying declining bird populations, including woodcock, believe there is a link to the consumption of habitat by deer.
Another growing problem caused by deer is Lyme disease and two new diseases, Ehrlichiosis and Babesiosis, all three carried by deer ticks. About 14,000 new cases of Lyme disease alone are reported in the United States annually. These tick bites are not just coming from the deep woods but from people's backyards in their urban neighborhoods.
Sixty-five years ago it would have been laughable to imagine too many deer in North America. There was even concern at that time that they would soon be extinct. Today there are more than 25 million white-tailed deer and 5 million mule deer in the United States, and the populations continue to climb.
The cause of the deer population explosion is multifaceted. Foremost, state conservation departments have for decades been successfully managing deer for hunting by providing the animals with food, cover and protection. Additionally the 65 million people who feed birds in their backyards have also successfully managed deer by unwittingly providing optimum habitat.
Nature has also had a hand in the success. Prior to the 1980s, winter kill was a part of the deer management formula. But the mild winters in the past decade have resulted in very little mortality.
The only effective way to reduce deer populations is to cull them, preferably by hunting. Many conservation departments have dramatically increased their deer permits for both residents and non-residents.
This can help, but more controversial is how to control deer in urban and suburban areas and people's backyards where public hunting is either not permitted or is impractical. Numerous methods of control have been attempted, from trapping to contraceptives, but except for shooting the deer outright, nothing has proven effective.
Urban deer task forces consisting of cross sections of community interests continue to grapple with the problem of what to do with America's deadliest and most destructive big game animal
Saturday, March 17, 2007
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Armadillos are Cute and Taste Great |
Armadillos are an amazing group of animals that originated in South America. Armadillos are mammals and their closest relatives are sloths and anteaters. Armadillos are built to dig. They have short, strong legs that are well suited to rapid digging, either for food or for shelter. Like their cousins, the sloth and anteater, armadillos have strong claws.
On top of all these amazing facts, Armadillos taste great. There are numerous recipes for Armadillo including Armadillo in Cream Sauce, Armadillo and Rice and of course my favorite
Armadillo Casserole:
Two lbs. armadillo meat
8 ounces of butter
Lemon juice
Dash onion salt
Salt to taste
Pepper to taste
Lemon pepper to taste
Season with salt, pepper, lemon pepper, lemon juice, and rub with butter. Wrap in foil and bake at 325 degrees F. for approximately 45 minutes. Remove foil, add more butter and brown. For barbecued armadillo, baste with barbecue sauce over grill after removing foil
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Grizzly Bear attacking Man caught on Tape |
Grizzly Bears are one of the last remains "Wild Animals" who can still raise the back of all Outdoor Enthusiasts. Imagine a peaceful afternoon spent trout fishing when you are greeted by the sight of a charging Grizzly.
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How to survive a Grizzly Bear Attack |
I was browsing the internet when I came across this amazing site The Traveling Hunter from Anthony Acerrano . This article answers the question "What's the best way to defend yourself if you run into a grizzly while hunting--or if a grizzly tries to run into you?"
Nearly all authorities on the subject agree that the first two words to memorize in this regard are "pepper spray." I'm fully aware that some hunters associate pepper spray with politically correct, granola-eating, New Age, tree-hugger crapola. "Just give me my gun," these guys brag, "and I'll drop any charging griz like a sack of rocks."
Other hunters are less fanatical on the subject, but simply have serious (and understandable) doubts about the efficacy of a spray can to stop one of the largest and most dangerous animals in North America. Doesn't it just make sense that a high-caliber bullet is more potent, and more effective in a life-or-death situation?
It’s a reasonable question, and by no means should hunters dismiss the power and value of their firearms, as we'll discuss later. But as is so often the case when it comes to bears, the answer is more complex than it might first appear.
Studies by biologist Stephen Herrero and others indicate that pepper spray works on charging bears about 90 to 96 percent of the time. Mark Matheny, a hunter who was seriously mauled by a grizzly several years ago while deer hunting north of Yellowstone Park, and who subsequently began a career devoted to bear self-defense and the manufacture of UDAP pepper spray, explains how a mere blast of cayenne aerosol can stop an angry griz:
"First, with a charging bear the loud hissing and billowing cloud startles them, lessening or turning their aggressive intentions into a state of surprise or even defensive evasion. When a bear hits the wall of fog and breathes it in, his sense of smell is instantly shut down, which confuses any animal. Chemically, pepper spray is an inflammatory agent, an irritant, that gets into the bear's mucus membranes, causing temporary blindness, choking, and difficulty breathing. In many cases, they go off hacking and coughing."
For those who believe a gun is still a better bet to stop a bear, Matheny adds:
"Some people think a .44 magnum or large-caliber rifle is going to have the 'power' to stop a bear. But you're talking about a bullet not much wider than a writing pen hitting a vital area. That's assuming you even get a bullet off. Most times when someone with a firearm is attacked, they don't get a shot off. You've got to get the gun up, aim, and fire. With pepper spray, you can fire right from the holster, putting up a wide stream, even a fog, of deterrent. You can respond instantly and the likelihood of hitting the bear is much greater."
Another compelling reason for the use of pepper spray instead of bullets is that many grizzly charges are not full "attacks," but are only attempts by the bear to discourage and intimidate human intruders. For instance, if you surprise a grizzly feeding on an elk carcass (possibly your elk carcass), the bear might charge without intending actual contact, its purpose being to simply drive you away.
Of course, for those who aren't expert at reading bear behavior, it's fair to ask, "How am I supposed to know whether the bear means business or is just bluffing?" Which is precisely why pepper spray is a better alternative to a bullet in most situations. With the spray, you can very likely discourage the bear without worsening the situation or elevating it to an irreversibly deadlier level. If the bear breaks through the spray blast, and you're an armed hunter, you still have your gun as a last resort. But if a sprayed bear veers off, the encounter is over. No one is hurt. Conversely, if your first line of defense is a gunshot, and you shoot at the bear, the results will almost always be more severe. If the bear was only bluffing, you've now either killed or wounded a bear unnecessarily. Also possible is that by wounding it you've turned a bluffing bear into a seriously enraged one, intent on killing you. Another scenario: You shoot at an attacking bear and--because they come so fast, unbelievably fast if you've never experienced it, often catching you in utter surprise--you simply miss. The bear is on you. What you missed with bullets you could have easily hit with deterrent spray.
But aren't there times when you should shoot, or perhaps must shoot? While pepper spray is generally considered the best primary, first-choice bear defense, you wouldn't want to make the same mistake as the hunter in Wyoming's Bridger-Teton National Forest who, when charged by a sow grizzly with three yearling cubs, allegedly threw his high-powered rifle at the bear and pulled out a can of pepper spray, which by that time failed to stop the attack. The hunter was mauled until his partner shot and killed the 475-pound animal. Later, from his hospital bed, the hunter said he didn't want to shoot the bear because he feared going to jail (for killing an endangered species) and losing his hunting privileges.
The reality is, if a grizzly attacks, sometimes you have to shoot, and, further, you would be foolish not to. That is why I think of pepper spray as "the first line of defense, when feasible." If there's no time to hit the spray button (and with the canister mounted pistol-fashion on your belt, you can aim and fire from the hip in mere seconds), or if you spray and the bear keeps coming, you have little choice but to shoot. With a grizzly still far enough away to dissuade, you can try a shot into the air or into the ground near the animal, hoping the muzzle blast or bullet noise will stop or turn the charge. But with a close, fast-incoming bear, don't waste time with a warning shot. Aim for the deadliest point you can find. On a close-in, charging bear, this will probably be the face or upper chest. Often full-attack grizzlies lower their heads as they come in, so that's about all you have to aim at. More than one Alaskan guide of my acquaintance suggests aiming for the snout--a high shot goes into the upper skull or even over the top, into the neck or spine; and if the bear hops or you shoot low, you have a chance at the throat, chest, or even a shoulder or leg, all of which can stop the animal, if only long enough for you to aim and shoot again.
Although this is legitimate self-defense, it clearly is not a desirable outcome. That is why Mark Matheny likes to tell hunters, "Spray 'em, don't slay 'em." He points out that too many close-encounter grizzlies are killed unnecessarily; which is not only bad for the bears, but also for hunting's already precarious social image. Long-time bear biologist Chris Servheen agrees, calling the unnecessary killing of grizzlies by sportsmen nothing less than "a threat to hunting."
In the end, the ideal is to protect yourself while sparing the bears, whenever that's possible. --Anthony Acerrano
Source Sport Afield
Thursday, March 15, 2007
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Hunting Beard Evolution reveals secrets of Early Man |
Outdoor enthusiasts are familiar with the phrase "Hunting Beard", but much like telling camp stories of Sasquatch, no one knows when the tradition started. Through out history, hunters and mountain men have always grown and maintained flowing manes of facial hair. Fundamentally, the purpose of a hunting beard was to provide warmth and protection for the hunter. Today, a beard directly connects the hunter to their primal roots.
The evolutionary history of bearded hunting clans can be traced back for some 4 million years, as one of the oldest of all surviving mammal groups. Most paleontologists consider that these "clans" share a common ancestor with early primates and probably lived during the late Cretaceous together with the last dinosaurs. It was during this time that the oldest known Big Game Hunting Clans flourished in North America, but they were also widespread in Eurasia and Africa.
During the tropical conditions of the Paleocene and Eocene, things looked bleak for the Clans, as heat exhaustion and chaffing were major concerns. With the beginning of modern climates, marked by the formation of the first North American ice, many primates went extinct but the bearded clans survived and are known today as...THE DEERBEARDS
What is a DeerBeard?
"Deer Beards" are special for these are the beards grown by otherwise cleanly shaved men, solely for the hunting season. Unlike our bearded ancestors, modern day hunters spend far less time engaged in their favorite past-time. Scientists blame Mans transformation from "Hunter/Gatherer" to "Sitter/Sleeper" on a steady food supply, but some experts blame the invention of the "Drive Thru window", cable and the term "WIFE". Today, the typical hunter gathers only once a year to relive the glory of eons past.
Growing a Deer Beard affords these domesticated coach potatoes an opportunity to achieve the special bond that starvation and scurvy created in our forefathers. Shedding most modern conveniences, these hunters return to their original state of MEN! Men of the woods, men who eat jerky, cold chili and say things like "If it's Brown, It's Down" and "If growing a beards wrong, I don't want to be right."
A Deer Beard affords the common man an opportunity to connect to something special. It is the membership card into the Club of Men. It says "I take my coffee black, change my own oil and can drop a deer from 200 yards."
Happy Hunting,
Monday, March 05, 2007
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Girls gone Wild or Deer on Deer on Doe |
In all my years spent whitetail deer hunting, I have come across some mighty strange things. During the mating season, or Rut as it is called, Whitetail deer go a little nuts. I guess "Nuts" might be a little weak....The Deer Lose their Minds!!
What would Ann Coulter say about this
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Deer Harvest exceeds ten-year average |
The total number of deer taken during all 2006 deer seasons (firearms, archery, muzzleloader) for a several-county area of southwest Minnesota is up from both the 2005 harvest and the average of the previous 10 years, according to the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) wildlife office at Windom.
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Methamphetamine and Meth Labs how outdoor enthusiast can Help |
Hunters, Hikers and Nature Lovers are helping local officials in the battle against Meth.
In the past decade, there has been a dramatic increase in the abuse of the drug methamphetamine (meth) in Minnesota. The production of meth in illegal “meth labs” has also been a serious problem for agencies and communities throughout the state.
Minnesota observed its highest numbers of (reported) meth labs and other meth-related events (meth chemical dumps, anhydrous ammonia thefts) in 2003 with more than 500 events reported. That number decreased to 320 events in 2004.
How can you Help?
While out hunting, hiking, nature viewing or doing other outdoor activities, if you see what appears to be a methamphetamine lab, contact your local law enforcement agency or conservation officer immediately.
Items to watch for
Signs of a methamphetamine lab include large quantities of common household products. Used as designed, these household products are generally safe. Mixed together, they can become explosive and/or give off toxic fumes.
- Chemicals
- Acetone
- Cold pill packets containing ephedrine or pseudoephedrine
- Drain cleaner
- Engine starter
- Iodine Heet
- Lithium batteries
- Matches (red phosphorous)
- Muriatic acid
- Anhydrous ammonia
- Red Devil lye
- Salt (table or rock)
- Sodium metal
- Trichloroethane (gun cleaning solvent)
- Toluene
Meth Lab Equipment
- Aluminum foil
- Blender Bottles
- Cheesecloth
- Coffee filters
- Funnels
- Gas can
- Hot plate
- Jugs
- Paper towels
- Propane tank/thermos
- Pyrex dishes
- Rubber gloves/tubing
- Strainer
- Tape/clamps
- Thermometer
Meth can be easily be made from these common household chemicals and products. These ingredients are mixed and "cooked" to make this dangerous drug. The cooking process can also create potentially harmful chemical residues that can remain on household surfaces for months or years after "cooking" is over. There may be adverse health effects in people exposed to lab chemicals before, during and after the production process.
Each meth lab, spill or dump is a potential hazardous waste site, requiring assessment and remediation by experienced and qualified personnel.
The Methamphetamine Program at the Minnesota Department of Health, in conjunction with many public and private organizations, has been working to share resources, raise awareness, protect endangered children, provide technical advice for the remediation (cleaning) of meth labs, and to help Minnesota communities work together to create a strong, local response to this problem through education, training, and civil action
Thursday, March 01, 2007
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Whitetail Deer attacks Hunter Video |
A bow hunter is attacked by huge whitetail deer. Luckily, the Deer didn't use its horns.
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A Deer Hunting Beard Histology |
Deer Hunting enthusiasts are familiar with the phrase Deer Beard, but does anyone really know what the heck they are or why hunters insist on growing them?
Who are the DeerBeards?
DeerBeards are the beards grown by otherwise cleanly shaved men, solely for the hunting season. Hunting season is that fabled time of year when man and beast unite and husbands return to being Men. Men of the woods, Men who eat jerky, cold chili and say things like “If it's Brown, It's Down” and “If growing a beards wrong, I don't want to be right."
The main purpose of a Deer Beard is to provide warmth and protection for the hunter. Secondly, a beard directly connects the hunter to their primal roots. Since the dawn of time hunters have grown beards. This unwritten rule is known by all men and the beard of a hunter is not to be taken lightly.
Another benefit of growing a DeerBeard is that upon reaching day 5, any man can enter a suburban outfitters and feel right at home with the other ruggeds. Once timid, he can now confidently shop for blaze orange, discuss various types of doe urine and refer to everyone of his bearded com padres as “Buddy”.
A Deerbeard is the membership card into the club of men.
It says, “I take my coffee black, change my own oil and can a drop a deer from 200 yards”.
Friday, October 13, 2006
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Deer Hunter Interview I |
A hard hitting interview with local residents regarding the hardships of everyday life. A touching story...
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Deer Hunter Interview II Beards are like SnowFlakes |
This is possibly the stupidest conversation ever recorded.
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