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Backwoods Bound Bullet Volume 21 - Issue 10

  Welcome to the October 2020 issue of The Bullet. The archery deer season is well under way and so is the under-utilized fall turkey season. I’ve read reports from all over that there aren’t many who hunt turkeys in the fall but those who do usually easily fill their tags. Firearm deer season will be here before you know it as well as rabbit season, duck and goose hunting and all manners of upland game hunting
. And who can forget the great fishing opportunities that are happening now! With the world still in the grips of the pandemic it remains to be seen how it affects the hunting this fall and winter.

Outdoorsmen and women have always set an example for being good stewards of the land and water and all its creatures that we love to pursue and I hope we can show the world that we can be good stewards of our health and the health of those we love and respect. So let’s continue to wear our masks, wash our hands and make every effort we can to stop the spread of this deadly disease. I’ll step off my soapbox now.

Okay. Enough said. Let’s get to it. Enjoy this month’s issue of The Bullet and “wear because you care”. Until next month, J. E. Burns, Editor-in-chief.

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In this issue:

~ Backwoods Trivia
~ Recipe: Honey Meatballs
~ Article: Another Old Gun
~ Recipe: Sweet And Sour Alligator
~ Article: You Plotting On Me? - Part 2
~ What's New
~ Candid CamShots
~ Recipe: Backwoods Bound Tamale Pie

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BACKWOODS TRIVIA: This month’s question was sent in by Amy Lambert. Do you know the answer?

What are Butch Cassidy and The Sundance Kid real names?

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

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RECIPE: HONEY MEATBALLS

~ 2 lbs deer burger
~ 1 cup bread crumbs
~ 3/4 cup milk
~ 1 small onion finely chopped
~ 2 eggs
~ 1 tsp salt
~ 1/2 tsp pepper
~ oil
~ 3 cloves garlic, chopped
~ 3/4 cup ketchup
~ 1/2 cup honey
~ 1/4 cup soy sauce, use reduced sodium if desired
~ toothpicks

* In a large bowl mix the meat, bread crumbs, milk, onion, eggs, salt and pepper together. Mix well.

* Form 1" balls with the mixture and place on a foil lined baking sheet.

* Bake at 450 degrees for 10 – 12 minutes rolling them half way through.

* Remove and drain on paper towels.

* In a large pan, heat a little oil and sauté the garlic until soft.

* Add the ketchup, honey and soy sauce. Mix well. Cover and simmer 10 minutes. Stir as needed.

* Add the meatballs to the sauce and bring back to a boil.

* Reduce heat and simmer 5 – 6 minutes. Stir occasionally so they don’t stick.

* Serve and enjoy using toothpicks to pick them up with.

Our thanks to Pat Kish for sending in this recipe for all to try this deer season. Visit our site at www.backwoodsbound.com/zdeer.html for more deer recipes to try this fall.

Send in 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.

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** 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 arrowheads 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 $33.95. 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."

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ARTICLE: ANOTHER OLD GUN by David L. Falconer

  The old man’s name was Boyd Kelly and he and my friend Billy Jack had taken up with each other as fishing buddies at a boat ramp on Lake Texoma and became fast friends. Mr. Kelly was a Marine because my understanding is once a Marine always a Marine. He had been a wealthy man financially at one time and he loved to hunt and fish. He was looking for a fishing partner when the good Lord steered Billy in his direction.

  Mr. Kelly was dying of cancer. Oh, he was fighting it because that was his nature, but it was not a fight he was going to win. Billy and I were going to Mr. Kelly’s home because he had a Winchester 101 20 gauge, he was asking $600.00 for and he owned the gun since some time in the late 60s or early 70’s. That meant if it was a standard grade gun even it was worth that and maybe a little more.

  I had heard a lot of stories about Mr. Kelly from Billy and I felt like I already knew the old man and surely, I knew the cut of him from the old men I had grown up with. It took only a few minutes of talking with him for me to realize that it was my loss that I did not know him better.

  Billy kept an extended invitation for me to go fishing with him and I had a time or two but it hurt so much to get on that lake. The loss of my friend Robert has been like an open sore and I miss him even more today than I did right after we lost him. Billy has lost close fishing buddies and he understands my reluctance and has never pushed me. He just says, “When you’re ready to go fishing, let me know!” I never got to fish with Bill and Mr. Kelly.

 When Mr. Kelly pulled that sleek Winchester from the case, I felt my heart hammer in my chest. This was not a standard grade 101. It wasn’t the premium grade gun either, but it was ornate and shown the care of a man who knew and loved guns.

 At the forearm there was wear where a man’s hand would hold it to fire it and a few small scratches along the stock showed it had been lovingly used. The locks were crisp and the ejectors clean and working well. This gun was worth $1300 to $1400 dollars.

  Now I wanted that gun. I wanted it a lot, but not enough to cheat this old man. He had been watching me handling it and checking it out, swinging it to my shoulder with both eyes over the double barrels.

  I looked at him seriously. "Mr. Kelly, this gun is worth more than $600.00. It’s worth . . . "

 Interrupting me, Mr. Kelly said softly, "Son, I know what it’s worth. I want it to go to someone who appreciates it. Someone who will take care of it." He looked toward Billy. "Billy said you intended to get it for your wife to shoot doves with."

 I smiled. “She goes with me and watches and sometimes she fetches birds for me, though she stops as soon as I say, "Sheila fetch!"

 He laughed. "That will be a good gun for her."

 "It’s a good gun for anyone. I want the gun, sir," I said, counting out the six 100-dollar bills. He took them and I looked at this gun.

 "I had both barrels choked modified at the factory for doves," he said. "It doesn’t take tubes but I never needed anything other than modified in it."

 "I prefer modified myself," I assured him, proud of my new gun.

  We visited and talked guns for a while and then we left. A few short months later Mr. Kelly was gone.

 This morning I sit at the edge of the dove field with the Winchester in my hands, thinking to myself that I started my hunting life with a Winchester Youth model 37A 20 gauge. The Old Man that taught me to shoot a shotgun is gone as well. To say I was doing some reflection of the past is an understatement.

 The doves started flying later than normal because of the cloudy, overcast day. A dove crossed in front of me and I shot, missed and corrected as it came toward me.

 Crack!!

 A puff of gray feathers exploded mid-air as the dove fell across the fence. The twin hulls flew over my shoulder as I opened the gun and reloaded it.

 I missed more than I hit for a little while that morning, but I was connecting around 40 percent of the time as slowly worked my way up to six doves in my vest.

 Then it all came together. It was if the spirit of the gun or the spirit of that old man decided I was worthy and for the next 9 doves of my 15-dove limit I was knocking them out of the air with almost every shot. The old gun became like an old friend as it hit my shoulder and bucked with the shot that rolled another dove out of the air. As the white wings came in, I found myself once with doves all around me and only enough time to load one barrel. I had found out with a very disappointing click earlier, that the bottom barrel of the over-and-under shot first and I would stuff a shell in it and fire it like a single shot as I knocked down 4 birds with three shots reloading the one barrel as fast as I could.

 I had chuckled at the unexpected double and within minutes I found myself with a full game bag of doves. Doves are a symbol of peace and I personally think that nothing says peace like dove and jalapeno wrapped in bacon with the special sauce my buddy Jason gave me the recipe just for these TRUE Texas Dove Poppers.

  Standing there looking at that gun, I remember the smile on Mr. Kelly’s face as he watched me handle the gun with respect. If guns could tell their history, they would be so valuable no one could afford a used gun. That who own a gun given to them by their dad or granddad or owns one that has been passed from generation to generation knows of what I speak. This old gun had spoken its piece again this morning and I believe it knew it had come home to someone who knew and appreciated firearms. I broke the action and unloaded it, carrying it to my truck.

 Mr. Kelly is gone, but I have his gun -- the gun he entrusted to me as someone who valued it and would take care of it. I know some of you are thinking – he sold it to you! Smiling as I walk to the truck, he didn’t have to sell it to me. He sold it because I understood and I would take care of his old friend – his old gun and make it mine.

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FUN FACT:  The Siberian tiger is the world’s largest cat. Males can reach nearly 12 feet in length. Sadly, there may only 400 left in the wild.

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

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HUNTIN' TIP:  If using real antlers to rattle with while deer hunting it’s a good idea to soak them in water for a couple of days a week or two before you go hunting. Remove them and let them drip dry. This replenishes their natural moisture and will help them sound more realistic. – Todd Phillips

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.

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INTERESTING QUOTE: "The right to do something does not mean that doing it is right." – William Safire

 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.

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** KAREN'S KREATIONS **

We’re once again doubling down on the savings this month. To celebrate the coming holidays take 40% OFF ALL Halloween themed items October 1st – 15th and then take 40% Off ALL Thanksgiving themed items October 16th – 31st!

PLUS as the pandemic goes on we’re still offering 33% OFF everything else we make!


With these kinds of savings, how can you not stock up for upcoming birthdays, weddings, anniversaries and don’t forget that Christmas is fast approaching!

Go to our web site at www.karensglabels.com to see all of our great products! And remember we can make items from your special photographs for a small upcharge.

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 and new items!


"Because no wine glass should ever be naked!"

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RECIPE: SWEET AND SOUR ALLIGATOR

~ 2 eggs
~ 1/4 cup + 2 tsp all-purpose flour
~ 2 tsp milk
~ 1 tsp salt
~ 1 1/2 lbs. alligator tail meat
~ 4 cups vegetable oil
~ 1 cup pineapple juice
~ 1/3 cup firmly packed brown sugar
~ 3 tsp cornstarch
~ 1 8-oz. can tomato sauce
~ 1/3 cup cider vinegar
~ 1/3 cup light corn syrup
~ 1/2 tsp garlic salt
~ 1/4 tsp black pepper
~ 1 8-oz. can unsweetened pineapple chunks
~ 1 medium bell pepper, diced
~ 2 stalks celery, diced
~ 1/2 medium onion, diced
~ hot cooked rice

* Combine eggs, flour, milk and salt; mix well. Add alligator cubes, stirring to coat.

* In 2-quart deep fryer, heat oil to 350 degrees. Deep-fry alligator a few pieces at a time until golden brown. Drain well.

* In a 4-quart saucepan, combine pineapple juice, brown sugar, cornstarch, tomato sauce, vinegar, corn syrup, garlic salt and pepper. Stir well.

* Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until thickened.

* Stir in alligator chunks, pineapple, bell pepper, celery and onion. Cover and simmer ten minutes.

* Serve over hot rice and enjoy!

Thanks go out to April Barkulis for sending in this recipe. For more alligator recipes to cook up this fall, go to www.backwoodsbound.com/allgator.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.

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ARTICLE: YOU PLOTTING ON ME? – PART 2 by James Burns

   Last month I reviewed my efforts last year of planting a couple of food plots on my property we affectionately call The Ranch in southern Illinois.

 To quickly recap I did a soil test at the Permanent Stand, (PS) plot and added fertilizer at the recommended amounts and lime and potash at half the recommended amounts on account of not finding enough potash in time and not having enough room in the truck to haul another 20 bags of lime. I then planted Bio-Logic Green Patch Plus seed.

 At the Quad Pod, (QP) plot I added a bag of lime and 1 ½ bags of fertilizer without doing a soil test. I planted Shot Plot here. Out of the two plots the QP plot did the best.

 This year I did a soil test at the PS plot and at an area called the Ground Blind, (GB). There’s a stand there now that my new son-in-law will be hunting from. He has been deer hunting once but says it wasn’t much of a hunt and he slept most of the day so this year will basically be his first time deer hunting and I want to give him ample opportunity to see and hopefully take a deer. No test was done at the QP plot.

 Not wanting to be rushed like last year I sent in my soil samples in July and received the results in a couple of days. They showed I needed to put the other 20 bags (800 lbs.) of lime and the rest of the potash on the PS plot. It also required 4 bags (160 lbs.) of 12-12-12 fertilizer. I once again planted the Green Patch Plus seed. I also reduced the size of the plot to 1/4 acre down from a third.

PS Plot
PS Plot With Barrier Installed.

 The GB plot needed 30 bags (1200 lbs.) of lime and a fair amount of potash as well as 80 lbs. of fertilizer. It seemed a little weird to me that it didn’t need the same amount of fertilizer as it is a ¼ acre in size too. Maybe it was the type of seed, Bio Logic Maximum that was planted.

 On the QP plot I spread 2 bags of lime and 1 bag of fertilizer as well as ½ a bag of potash. Once again I planted Shot Plot seed as well as a bunch of old green bean seeds I had confiscated from my wife’s seed stash. I’ll probably do a soil test on it next year just to see what condition it’s in.

 All through August I gathered my supplies but waited to buy the lime until I got down there because I didn’t have enough room to haul 50 bags plus all of the other crap I had to take with me. In mid-August I sprayed all three areas with Round-up so they would be ready to work up over the Labor Day weekend.

 I started on Friday of the holiday weekend by mowing the areas around the plots. Those areas require a lot of backing-up into areas and under trees and I didn’t want to be driving over the plots once there were planted. While mowing around the PS plot a doe and her fawn a.k.a., Meat Deer, came out and walked right down the edge of the plot while I sat in the tractor taking pictures and a short video of them for a couple of minutes. I had always heard that deer will come around running farm machinery but this was a first for me. They had always jumped and ran when I was mowing.

 Saturday morning I loaded up the lime and headed to the GB plot. It took a while to spread the 30 bags of lime because my spreader started acting up. It sounded like the gears that ran the spinner were starting to strip out and I prayed I could make it through the day without it crapping out as I only hand handheld spreaders to use after that.

GB Plot
GB Plot With Stakes Set

 I managed to get through the GB plot but right after starting on the PS plot the spreader gave out. Damn! I had bought 10 bags of pulverized lime instead of pelletized to see how it was to work with. Bad idea!! Never buy it! Always get the pelletized. It does not flow well through a broadcast spreader. I ended up cutting the bags open and walking and slinging it out onto the field. I figured it would disc in okay.

  That afternoon I hooked up the disc and in a few hours I had worked in the lime. The plots were ready to plant.

  Last year I just drove over the seeds to work them down and it was a mistake so Sunday morning I loaded the harrow, which is a chore by yourself, onto my small trailer and hitched it to the back of the tractor. The fertilizer, potash and seeds went into the front loader bucket.

PS Plot
QP Plot Emerging.

  It took a while spreading first the fertilizer then the potash and finally the seeds being a crew of one but I kept at it and by the late afternoon all three plots were planted and ready for some rain.

 I spent the rest of the week cleaning up some limbs, cutting and trimming, spraying weeds and mowing the rest of the property. On Friday I took off to our Clubhouse on Kentucky Lake to get our pontoon boat out of the water and cleaned up for the winter. And also to mow the grass.

 I left Tennessee on Monday and headed back to the Ranch. It had rained Saturday afternoon and also Sunday morning around the area in Tennessee where the Clubhouse is at and I hoped it had reached 100 miles north where the plots were. It had been a week since the plots had been planted and I was anxious to see if anything had come up.

  I was relieved to see that it had rained and very pleased that the seeds had sprouted. All three plots were covered with little green shoots emerging from the dirt!

  I spent that afternoon installing a Food Plot Protector system from Bio Logic around the GB and PS plots. The QP plot is just too narrow to “rope” off. It was easy to install. I placed 3 foot wood stakes around the perimeter and attached the special ribbon provided to them. I left a small area unprotected to see how the plot will look on both sides of the “fence” and to give the deer a little sample of what’s to come. Then I sprayed on the repellent.

  I had brought two spray bottles with me from TN and neither one of them worked so I had to drive into town to Dollar General and buy another. It worked out good as it had ounce markings on the side which made it easy to mix the repellent in the recommended dosage.

 So now I keep praying for enough rain to keep the little plants growing. Also hoping the barrier works. I have to make a trip down to get our camper soon so I’ll be checking on things and applying more repellent to the barrier. I’ll keep you posted on the progress. Until next month.

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** LUNAR CREATIONS **

Lunar Creations specializes in hand crafted items including clothing and accessories, home decor, drink tumblers in various sizes and styles, and lots of other unique gifts! Visit our site to see our complete product line.

You can find us at www.facebook.com/LunarCreations636 or on Instagram @LunarCreations636.

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FISHIN' TIP: When the water cools in the fall, bass become more active so try using fast moving baits like crankbaits or spinnerbaits. – George Ellison

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.

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WHAT'S NEW

  Now that deer hunting has started things in the shop are starting to pick up. Orders for our After The Shot Trophy Plaques are increasing and they usually peak in January into February. Now is a good time to get last year’s trophies on the wall and get ready for this year’s trophy. Go to www.backwoodsbound.com/ats.html for all the information on our line of After The Shot Trophy Plaques

  Always need new recipes, tips, stories, fun facts and trail camera pictures for upcoming issues. Share what you have and we’ll all be grateful. Send everything else to mail@backwoodsound.com.

  Planning your fall and winter hunting adventures? Visit our Huntin’ Guides and Outfitters page at www.backwoodsbound.com/guideshunt.html for help. It’s a good place to start looking so have a peek. And if you find a bad link please let us know so we can remove it from the page.

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** ADVERTISE YOUR PRODUCT OR SERVICE HERE! **

Over 4000 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: sales@backwoodsbound.com.

Fishing season is fast approaching so place your ad now!


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CANDID CAMSHOTS

  Here’s a doe visiting Josh Burns’ food plot last November in southern Illinois.

Doe


Send your trail camera or outdoor pictures to mail@backwoodsbound.com.

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** HUNT UP SOME CHILI! **

  What better meal to have at camp but chili! An easy to make, hearty tasting, and delicious pot meal of chili made from Backwoods Bound Chili Seasoning Mix hits the spot after a day of hiking, swimming or hanging out with family. Its unique blend of herbs and spices makes a great pot of chili everyone loves without the aid of added fillers or MSG!

Try it for all of your cooking needs! Backwoods Bound Chili Seasoning Mix makes all sorts of great meals you’ll love like jambalaya, enchiladas, stuffed manicotti and lasagna. Also try it as a dry rub or marinade on your beef and deer roasts or steaks.

  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!"

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RECIPE: BACKWOODS BOUND TAMALE PIE

~ 1 packet Backwoods Bound Chili Seasoning Mix
~ 2 lbs. ground beef or deer
~ 2 cups yellow corn meal
~ 4 cups milk
~ 1 medium onion, chopped
~ 1 green bell pepper, seeded and chopped
~ 1 jalapeno pepper, seeded, cored and chopped
~ 2 – 15 oz. or 4 small cans tomato sauce
~ 1 can whole corn, drained
~ shredded Mexican blend cheese or cheddar

* In a large bowl, soak the corn meal in the milk at least 1 hour.

* While that is soaking, place the meat in a large skillet. Add the onion, peppers and seasoning mix.

* Mix well and brown over medium heat. Drain fat.

* Drain the corn meal and stir it, the tomato sauce and corn into the meat.

* Pour into a greased casserole dish.

* Bake for 1 hour at 350 degrees.

* Sprinkle with cheese half-way through.

* Remove from oven and let set a couple of minutes before enjoying.

Our thanks to Rocky for sharing this recipe with us. For more recipes to try using our chili seasoning mix, visit our site at www.backwoodsbound.com/zchili.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

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ANSWER TO BACKWOODS TRIVIA:Robert LeRoy Parker a.k.a. “Butch Cassidy” and Harry Longabaugh a.k.a. “The Sundance Kid” were bank and train robbers in the American old west who died in a shoot-out in Bolivia, South America in 1908.

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