OUTDOOR Adventures

BY BRIAN G. SCHOMMER

Very soon, “Sadie the Wonder Dog” will be accompanying me into the fields to “find it.” What exactly “it” is will hopefully be old Mr. Rooster Pheasant and maybe a few of his younger sons. Any pheasant hunter in Minnesota knows that the challenge to find birds is real and, depending on the geographical reach of your hunt, quite difficult if you are not in western Minnesota, closer to the Dakota borders. That is what makes pheasant hunting a personal favorite. Sure, going to a game farm and getting a good workout or two for the dog is great, and you still must be able to aim and shoot accurately, but there is nothing quite like hunting wild pheasants.

Mourning Dove season kicked off on Thursday, September 1, 2022, and I know a few folks that utilize the early season to shake the rust off the old shootin’ iron. The daily limit is 15 birds for the statewide hunt in Minnesota running through November 29. The best recipe I have ever had for these tasty little delicacies is to brown them in butter, onion and garlic powder, a dash of smoked paprika with a little pinch of salt and pepper. I am sure there are better out there… care to share? Squirrel, Rabbit, and most other small game open on September 17th in Minnesota and while numbers show a drop in small game hunters, there are still plenty of folks out there playing Elmer Fudd and chasing that “waskly wabbit” and searching for the ever-nimble tree rats. Of course, all seasons can be found online (like everything else in our world) at www.dnr.state.mn.us/hunting/ seasons.html. The same can be said for Wisconsin and surrounding states on their Department of Natural Resource websites.

Waterfowlers in Minnesota get their chance before the pheasant hunters and for people like me who dabble in both upland and waterfowl, the 24th of September is circled just like the 15th of October. These dates are the waterfowl and pheasant openers in Minnesota. I will be playing a show on waterfowl opener with the Jake Nelson Band so I ask of my brothers and sisters of the slough, please miss a few so I can get out another time and hopefully harvest a Woodie, Greenhead, or at least a Teal or two. From what I see and read, numbers are satisfactory for a decent hunt this year so, I am personally not too worried. Rest assured, now that baseball season in on the wind down, there will be plenty of fall type banter in “Outdoor Adventures” including hunting of all kinds, late season fishing and of course, football.

But back to PHEASANT HUNTING. The ringnecked pheasant in addition to being quite elusive, is a beautiful bird that when prepared correctly, is about as delicious as anything you may ever eat. I realize there are people who simply cannot bring themselves to eating wild game and by no means will I ever try to change their view. Some folks have a hard time with hunting because those of us who hunt, kill the animals. I guess they would rather just eat the meat that they buy at the grocery store… it is “made” there, ya know? Again, not trying to change anyone’s beliefs because I know that mine will remain steadfast as well. We all get to make our own choices and that is one of the great things about living in this great country. Freedom (within reason and laws) is a great thing. For those who choose to hunt and fish, and of course, feed themselves and anyone else who enjoys this type of cuisine, hats off. For those who choose not to hunt and fish, for whatever reason, hats off to you as well. We do not have to all be alike and as a matter of fact, can you even imagine how boring it would be if we were?

The whole season thing seems to be a pattern when I am writing my weekly column. For me, writing helps me see other perspectives while solidifying my own. The more focused I become on my own views, the more I realize I need to respect the views of others, even if they choose not to respect mine. Hunting is a lot like life… we get up and get out there, trying to find that one “it.” We do everything we can to seek and find what we are looking for and if we get the opportunity to seize the “it” we are seeking, we sometimes still miss, and that opportunity moves on. Another chance may be afforded as we continue our hunt, and yet, maybe not. When we are successful in our quest, we get to enjoy the harvest as we see fit, and even sometimes, if we prepare “it” incorrectly once we have “it,” the taste still may not be as sweet. Come October, the “it” for Sadie and I will be pheasants. What is your “it?” I hope you find it… and now, Get Out and Enjoy the Great Outdoors.