Welcome to Backwoods Bound.
Backwoods Beauty Photos | Bulletin Board | Candid CamShots | Contact Us | Fishing
Fun Facts | Home | Hunting | Links | Newsletter | Recipes | Site Map | Store

Backwoods Bound Bullet Volume 18 - Issue 6

  Welcome to the July 2017 issue of The Bullet. We hope everyone had a fun and safe Fourth of July aka Independence Day holiday. We certainly did and now I’m looking forward to a trip to Kentucky Lake in a few weeks. I hope you’re able to get out a lot this summer and go camping, hiking, or fishing, go to the park or just hang out in the backyard with family and friends. It’s all good.

I won’t bore you with anything else this month. Let’s get to it. Enjoy issue number two hundred and one of The Bullet. Until next month, J. E. Burns, Editor-in-chief.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

In this issue:

~ Backwoods Trivia
~ Recipe: Frog And Shrimp Gumbo
~ Article: Hand To Gland Combat: The Unwanted Neighbor
~ Recipe: Tennessee Tenderloin
~ Article: Navigation Tips
~ What's New
~ Article: Art of Nature: Never Alone

~ Recipe: Dixie Dogs
~ Last Minute Stuff

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

BACKWOODS TRIVIA: Do you know the answer to this month’s question?
 
Which month’s name is derived from the Latin word for “seven”?

Find the answer at the end of this newsletter. Send your trivia questions to mail@backwoodsbound.com.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

RECIPE: FROG AND SHRIMP GUMBO

~ 5 lbs. frogs, cleaned and skinned
~ 3 lbs. medium shrimp, peeled and deveined
~ Zatarain’s Liquid Crab Boil seasoning
~ 1/2 cup oil
~ 1/2 cup flour
~ 3 medium onions, chopped
~ 1 green bell pepper, chopped
~ 3 stalks celery, chopped
~ 1 tsp minced garlic
~ 1 can diced Rotel tomatoes
~ 3 qts water
~ 2 tsp salt
~ 1 tsp black pepper
~ 1 tsp red pepper
~ dash all spice
~ dash ground cloves
~ 1/4 tsp ground thyme
~ 1/2 tsp ground basil
~ ½ tsp ground oregano
~ 1 tsp chili powder
~ 2 bay leaves
~ 1 1/2 lbs. frozen okra
~ 1/2 cup chopped green onion tops
~ 1/2 cup chopped parsley
~ cooked rice, optional

* Place frogs in a large pot and cover with water. Add two to three capfuls of crab boil seasoning.

* Bring to a boil and boil 30 – 60 minutes or until the meat separates from the bones.

* Strain the meat through a colander and set meat aside. Once cool, remove meat from bones.

* Using the oil and flour make a roux in a large heavy pot (Dutch oven works great) to the color of a brown paper bag.

* Add the onions, garlic, bell pepper and celery. Cook until tender stirring constantly.

* Add the tomatoes and simmer 30 minutes stirring often.

* Add the water and the rest of the seasonings except the green onion and parsley. Stir well.

* Gently boil for 20 – 25 minutes. Add the frog meat and okra.

* Simmer for 2 – 3 hours. The longer you simmer it the better the taste. Stir occasionally.

* Add the shrimp, green onion and parsley the last 20 minutes.

* Serve over cooked rice if desired and enjoy.

Note: The okra used should be frozen. If you use fresh okra, cut it up and fry it until it ceases to be "slimy".

Thanks to Gerry Mills for sharing this recipe with us. To see more frog recipes to try, visit our site at www.backwoodsbound.com/zfrog.html.

Remember to send your favorite recipe to mail@backwoodsbound.com. We'll post it on the site or use it in an upcoming issue of The Bullet.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

** AFTER THE SHOT TROPHY PLAQUES **

Our handcrafted plaques are made from solid oak not plywood or particle board giving your trophy a solid base to anchor to. Each plaque comes stained with a wall hanger installed. Clear-coating is an available option.

We specialize in unique designs! We’ve done everything from lightning bolts to walleyes to shields to light bulbs, hanging and stand up designs! Just tell us what you have in mind and we’ll make it happen!

No matter what type of trophy you want to display, we have a plaque or trophy to fill the need. Contact us at sales@backwoodsbound.com with your ideas.

Don’t settle for an ordinary looking plaque! Go one better and order your AFTER THE SHOT Trophy Plaque today. Prices start at $32.95. Don’t wait, order today!

Visit our site at www.backwoodsbound.com/ats.html for photos and information on how to order your plaque. Order with our secure on-line ordering system and pay with confidence using Paypal.

"It only takes a little more to go first class."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

ARTICLE: HAND TO GLAND COMBAT – THE UNWANTED NEIGHBOR by David L. Falconer

  I woke one morning and as I walked into the living room I thought I smelled the faint smell of skunk. I had seen one or two in the yards at night here in the little town I live in so I figured one had sprayed outside my house when one of the loose neighborhood dogs jumped it. Wrong!

  That evening after working at my stone business, we came home and it was a little stronger. I walked all the way around the house and there was no skunk smell, which meant, yep, the little son-of-a-skunk was under my house!

  You never heard the likes of growling and cussing and gnashing of teeth, but once I got my wife calmed down I decided there was really no need for her to slide through the vent hole under the house and go hand-to-gland with this stinky rodent after all. (Hell, I can't fit in the vent hole and besides, I’m kinda scared of spiders.) I had an old Kona bear trap in the storage building and some aluminum sheeting panels to funnel that little critter right into the waiting jaws of death!

  My wife and I created the funnel necessary to bring the skunk out from the house and it looked pretty darn good! Then I found my trap. Hmmm. Seems I had forgot that the one I brought here from my grandparents was for beaver and about 3 times larger than what I would need for a skunk. With the jaws on it, you could easily catch a Rottweiler! I don't want a Rottweiler or any other dog harmed in my yard so we called a friend and asked him if he had any traps. He did. It was a live trap.

  One problem with live traps though. Live trap equals live skunk and I can't shoot a .22 in town! Okay, I know they aren't loud, but the city police had threatened me with harsh punishments if I shoot another gun in the city limits! (Wasn't my fault that the best dove flight pattern was right over the top of my house and I did have a license.)

  The trap had some bent wires that worked the trap doors and we had to repair them. Since the idea behind the funnel was to catch him coming or going from his new domicile, I did not see any sense in baiting it. Donnie decided that he did not bring over a can of sardines for nothing and he proceeded to open the can as we stood there beside the open vent and funnel.

  Suddenly my eyes got watery and I couldn't breathe. I thought I might throw up or faint. Donnie ate half the can of those oily sardines with his fingers. That's right! He tested the bait on himself! While I held the flashlight, Donnie put the rest inside the trap and we left it in place.

  I would like to note for everyone Donnie did not seem to be harmed by his sardine consumption. He went home and I went in the house.

  Needless to say I put a lot of thought into what I was going to do if I had a skunk in that trap the next morning. Dreams of Pepe-LePew filled my nightmares and I almost got up twice in the middle of the night to see if I had been fortunate enough to entrap that stink spewing rodent with the enticement of half-eaten sardines.

  Part of me thought what if he had not been under the house. Suppose he had been under the brush-pile I needed to burn and was right now traipsing around my yard waiting for someone unsuspecting to wander through in range of his stink gun?

  I did not get up with the chickens, but I did rise before 9 AM. Despite the threats from our local law enforcement I decided it best to arm myself with a reliable rim-fire rifle before checking the trap. I loaded it with .22 short hollow-points and walked to the back yard.

  The trap was empty and either Donnie had returned to finish off his snack or the skunk had dined on left-over sardines before making an escape that would have made Houdini proud! The door pointing toward the vent was closed solid, but the other door had failed to trip all the way, giving just enough space for a nose to lift it up. Anyway, the trap was empty and the fish was gone and there is no skunk within a million candle power spotlighted area under my house. (That spotlight was so bright I could see everything.)

  I set the trap again, but did not put any sardines in it. How will this saga end? I’m not sure, but if I catch him, I’m sure hauling him off without being sprayed will be a story all to its own.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

** KAREN'S KREATIONS **

It’s time to celebrate Christmas in July by taking 25% OFF Any order! That’s right! Take 25% off all items from bookmarks to wine charms! Everything from bikes and boating to scuba is on sale.

If saving 25% wasn’t enough, we’re offering Free Shipping on All orders over $50.00!

Our wine charms, bag tags, earrings, bookmarks, zipper pulls make great gifts or make any special occasion special and we’ll personalize them for free!

We can customize the colors of all items to suit your needs! We can also make custom charms from your photos! Just send us a picture and we’ll make a charm from it. It’s easy.

These deals end July 31st so place your orders now!

Visit us at www.karensglabels.com or e-mail us at Karen@karensglabels.com or call 618-257-1365. Be sure to sign up for our newsletter to get news about our monthly specials!


"Because no wine glass should ever be naked!"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

FUN FACT: The first player to play Tarzan in a movie was Elmo Lincoln. He had the title role in 1918’s silent movie Tarzan of the Apes.

 Send your Fun Facts to mail@backwoodsbound.com. For more Fun Facts visit www.backwoodsbound.com/funfacts.html.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

RECOMMEND AND VOTE FOR THE BULLET

Tell a friend about The Bullet. Just go to: www.ezinefinder.com/rec.html?ez=backwo and follow the instructions. It’s free and easy!

To vote for The Bullet follow this link: www.ezinefinder.com/backwo-vote.html.html.

Thanks for your help.
 
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

FISHIN' TIP:  When topwater fishing popper type lures let it set 10 seconds or so once it is cast then just give it a twitch to entice a strike. Then alter your retrieves. Fast, slow, pausing for a few seconds, just mix it up to see what makes the bass hit.

Send your tips to: mail@backwoodsbound.com and we’ll post them on the site or use them in a future issue of The Bullet.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

** CAMPING IS CHILI TIME **

Winter may have passed on its merry way but that urge for a big pot of the best tasting chili around is still around! With its unique blend of herbs and spices, Backwoods Bound Chili Seasoning Mix makes a great pot of chili the family will love with NO added fillers or MSG.

Backwoods Bound Chili Seasoning Mix also makes great dishes like tostadas, enchiladas, stuffed peppers, manicotti, Mexican lasagna and a killer jambalaya. We’ve had customers also use it as a marinade for beef and deer roasts. See our collection of great recipes at www.backwoodsbound.com/zchili.html.

Enjoy at home or hunting camp in single pot packets or the triple value pack.

Order your supply at www.backwoodsbound.com/chili.html.

"Not too mild.... Not too hot.... Treat yourself and make a pot!"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

INTERESTING QUOTE: "If you ask me if it's okay to drink beer before noon, we can't be friends. I can't have that kind of negativity in my life." – Doug Wendling

 If you’ve seen or heard an interesting or humorous quote send it in and we'll post it next month. Send them to: mail@backwoodsbound.com.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

RECIPE:TENNESSEE TENDERLOIN

~ 1 side deer tenderloin/backstrap
~ 1 – 2 lbs bacon
~ Mr. Yoshida’s sweet teriyaki sauce or your favorite teriyaki sauce
~ toothpicks

* Cut the meat into 1 1/2" cubes.

* Cut the bacon slices in half. Wrap one piece around each cube. Secure with toothpick(s).

* Place meat cubes in a large bowl with a lid and cover with the sauce.

* Seal and refrigerate at least 3 hours. Overnight is better. Flip around occasionally so they are coated well.

* Remove and drain.

* While they drain, heat grill to medium heat.

* Place on grill and cook until the bacon is just done flipping as needed. Don’t overcook!

* Serve with your favorite grilling side dishes and enjoy.

Many thanks to Ashton Knowles for sending in this recipe. To see more deer recipes to try out or to submit yours, visit www.backwoodsbound.com/zdeer.html.

Remember to send your favorite recipe to mail@backwoodsbound.com. We'll post it on the site or use it in an upcoming issue of The Bullet.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

ARTICLE:  NAVIGATION TIPS by George G. Spearing

  Hunting or hiking, particularly in remote areas, is a great experience if approached with due regard for fitness, safety and skill.

  One of the major skill categories is the ability to navigate with or without compass and map. Ideally, no one should head off the beaten track without map or compass, but what if you find yourself in that situation, or you lose or damage your compass? Here are a few basic 'skills' that could one day be of use to you.

  Finding Direction by Using Your Watch.

  If you have a watch that is working correctly, you can always quickly determine the points of the compass as long as the position of the sun is visible.

  The method used varies depending upon which hemisphere (northern or southern) that you happen to be living in. The following methods are described using an analog watch, (that's a watch with an hour and a minute hand) but they can be applied just as well if you own a digital watch - just use your imagination to superimpose the 12 hourly numerals and the relevant position of the 'hour hand' on the face of your digital watch.

  Northern Hemisphere

  1) Holding your watch horizontally, point the 'hour hand' of your watch at the sun.
  2) Note the direction that lies exactly midway between the 'hour hand' and the numeral twelve on your watch. This will be south.
  3) Once you have established this, it will be easy to determine the other points of the compass.

  Southern Hemisphere

  1) Holding your watch horizontally, point the numeral twelve on your watch at the sun.
  2) Note the direction that lies exactly midway between the twelve and the 'hour hand'. This will be north.
  3) Once you have established this, it will be easy to determine the other points of the compass.

  These methods will give you a good approximation of compass direction. If your watch happens to be adjusted for daylight saving at the time, then 'remove' the daylight saving for greater accuracy.

  Another method of determining compass points can be used if you do not have a watch. This method takes longer and also requires enough sunlight to cast a shadow.

  To Find North Without a Watch.

  1) Before noon, on level terrain, position a stick of about 3 feet upright into the ground.
  2) Mark the tip of its shadow with a peg or stone.
  3) Using the tip of the shadow as a radius, draw an arc around the stick.
  4) The shadow will shorten as it approaches noon, pulling back from the arc. It will then lengthen again - where the afternoon shadow once again touches the arc, place another peg or stone.
  5) Now draw a straight line between the two pegs/stones - this will be an east/west line, with the first peg being in the westerly direction.
  6) You can now draw a north/south line at right angles to the east/west line.

  The following (less accurate) method can also be used at any time of the day without drawing an arc.

  1) Peg the tip of the first shadow, then about 20 minutes later peg the tip of the moved shadow.
  2) Draw a straight line between the two pegs, and this will be an approximately east/west line, with the first peg again being the westerly one.

  A typical error when lost is a tendency to wander off what you may think is a straight line bearing, sometimes even slowly circling back on yourself. To prevent this, note an object (tree, rock, terrain feature) that lies directly ahead of you in the direction you wish to travel, then aim for it. When you reach it, take another bearing on the direction you wish to head, sight another object directly ahead of you and repeat the process. In areas of restricted distance visibility, you may have to repeat this quite often over short 'legs' to ensure that you are remaining on course.

  Keeping a Course by the Clouds.

  What if it's a cloudy day with no sun visible to get a bearing on, or the bush canopy prevents you getting a clear "shot" at the sun? Well, if you're lucky, it may be windy with the clouds moving in a constant direction - note the directional flow of the clouds, and adjust your course relevant to their direction. If the clouds are moving from your front from right to left over your shoulders, keep them there, at the same time, sight an object straight ahead of you and head for it.

  To retrace your steps in the same general direction, just do an about turn, then keep the clouds moving from behind and now left to right over your shoulders, and repeat the process.

  Being aware of your surroundings will often pay off, so try to cultivate that habit.

  George Spearing is author of, "Dances with Marmots - A Pacific Crest Trail Adventure". Visit www.danceswithmarmots.com for more information.

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

** RED RIVER GORGE ZIP-LINE **

The Red River Gorge Zipline, was voted the most popular Bucket List Adventure in Kentucky in 2016 and we’re looking to repeat in 2017! Mammoth Cave and The Derby don’t stand a chance!

The Zipline is located in the World Famous Red River Gorge about 60 miles east of Lexington in the Heart of Eastern Kentucky near the Natural Bridge State Park and Daniel Boone National Forest in Rogers, Kentucky.

There are five Zip-lines to choose from with the two highest being 350 feet tall, being the fastest, 50+ mph, and the longest at 1,200 feet and 2,000 feet. These we like to call Racing Lines!

Bring your camera or rent a GoPro from us to record your experience.

Visit our web site for all the details including information about the lodges, cabins and camping available to you.

Visit us on-line at: www.RedRiverGorgeZipline.com

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

HUNTIN' TIP:  If possible, practice shooting your bow from your tree stand. Set up your stand in a tree in your yard and practice out of it. Also set up targets at various distances and at different angles to your stand. By opening day you're be ready!

Send your tips to: mail@backwoodsbound.com and we’ll post them on the site or use them in a future issue of The Bullet.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

WHAT'S NEW

  Always in need of trail camera pictures for our Candid CamShots feature so send yours in for all of us to enjoy. We’ll take anything as long as it’s not obscene and even then we’ll get a laugh from them but can’t put them on the site. Send them as attachments to mail@backwoodsbound.com. See this month’s photo at www.backwoodsbound.com/funphotos2.html.

  It’s the slow season in the shop but orders for our After The Shot Trophy Plaques continue to come in. Now is the time to get those antlers out of the garage and get them on the wall. Go to www.backwoodsbound.com/ats.html for all the information on our line of After The Shot Trophy Plaques. And remember we specialize in custom designs!

  We could use some new recipes for the summer season. All recipes are welcome so send in what you have. Send your recipes to mail@backwoodsbound.com. Thanks and we look forward to getting them!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

ARTICLE: ART OF NATURE: NEVER ALONE by Gary L. Fitzgerald

 Have you ever felt like you were alone...been overlooked...neglected...no one cares? These feelings all stem from the human race caused by someone in the human race. Take note! Do not allow these people to make you feel this way! Maybe they feel better or stronger by doing this.

Wake Up! You are never alone. Look to nature and its creatures. They are always there and close by if you take the time to look. They will never desert you. I feel they are always glad that you are there and will put on a show for you. Notice what they are doing, how they do it; and it seems to me they know you are watching and will look at you.

I really feel you can erase the alone feeling given to you by the human race and feel better within yourself by watching nature. I feel you and nature will be happier...so give it a try. Nature can bring a smile to you and change your life for the better. It just takes some quiet thought time and looking around. Gee, even on a quiet personal day on the lake one of nature’s creatures may visit you! You are never alone with nature.

Raccoon


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

RECIPE: DIXIE DOGS

~ all beef hot dogs
~ ground sage
~ paprika
~ cumin
~ brown mustard
~ Heinz 57 sauce
~ thin sliced dill pickles, those lengthwise sandwich slices are best
~ Buck Thorn’s Deep in Dixie Firewater or your favorite hot sauce

* Make a mixture of the spices using about a third of each but go a little heavier on the sage

* Split the hot dogs in half lengthwise.

* Rub the insides with the spice mix.

* Throw ‘em on the hot grill and cook until the skin starts to crackle and almost burnt.

* Toast some buns. (I recommend the same number buns as dogs.)

* Mix some of the 57 sauce with a few dashes of the Firewater sauce. The amount depends on how adventurous you are.

* Spread some mustard on one half of the bun and the 57/Firewater mix and pickle slice on the other.

* Add a cooked dog hot off the grill.

* Serve with the standard hot dog side dishes like potato, bean and/or pasta salad, chips, and ice cold beer and enjoy!

"Never put onions, ketchup or relish on this hot dog! They cover up the taste and after all this effort that would be a crime. Save those for those cheap pork and chicken filled dogs." - Buck

Thanks to Buck Thorn for sharing another recipe with us. For other great recipes visit our site at www.backwoodsbound.com/recipe.html.

Send your favorite recipe to mail@backwoodsbound.com and we'll post it on the site or use it in an upcoming issue of The Bullet.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

** ADVERTISE YOUR PRODUCT OR SERVICE HERE! **

4300 potential customers could be reading YOUR ad right now instead of ours!

Place your ad here for $8.00 a month! Discount rates for multiple issues.

For more details, visit our site at: www.backwoodsbound.com/advertise.html. Or e-mail us at: editor@backwoodsbound.com.

Deer season is fast approaching so place your ad now!


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

ANSWER TO BACKWOODS TRIVIA:September’s name is derived from the Latin word for ‘seven’.

<><=======================><>

LAST MINUTE STUFF

  Our trivia question last month was about how much the world record bluegill weighed. The answer we gave was 4 lbs. - 12 oz. A day later reader Mark Carlson wrote in and said the record is 5 lbs. – 12.8 oz. We couldn’t be giving out the wrong info so we looked into it so we could correct our mistake. We went to the International Game Fish Association’s web site at www.igfa.org and did a search of the records.

According to this page on their site, http://wrec.igfa.org/WRecordsList.aspx?lc=AllTackle&cn=Bluegill , the record is 4 lbs. – 12 oz. caught by T. Hudson in 1950 from Ketona Lake in Alabama.

And according to this page, http://wrec.igfa.org/WRecordsList.aspx?lc=AllTackle&cn=Sunfish, redear, the world record redear weighs 5 lbs. – 12.8 oz. It was caught by Hector Brito in Arizona from Lake Havasu in 2014. (You gotta see a picture of this fish. It’s huge! Go to: http://www.in-fisherman.com/panfish/world-record-sunfish/ )

Sometimes we get in a hurry and don’t get the story right, which has happened in the past. We’re always sorry for any misinformation we pass along and always correct ourselves but this time we’ll have to stick to what we said. Thanks Mark for keeping us on our toes. Keep up the vigilance and don’t be afraid to question anything we write. That goes for everyone!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Go To:
| Back | Next Issue |
| Main Page |