It’s a Good Day When.......

[Dean Romig]

A few pictures from our wonderful woodcock happening yesterday.

Incidentally, we went back to the "scrubapple sidehill" again today in the hope of a repeat performance. We were very lucky that either they were still there or that more had dropped in overnight. In any case, we had 12 flushes - most pointed by Grace - but today I couldn't get a break. Every flush I had was behind the screen of a gnarly scrubapple tangle. Jamie connected on two of them... lucky guy...

That's the new camp built in 2000 and finished in 2001 & 2 but we never skipped a beat - still hunted from the new camp even while it was under construction. The long low section closer to the viewer is the camp - the rest of it, the tower and the three story stone structure is Tom & Diane's home. This place was his brainstorm and he built it, stone by stone and beam by beam, almost entirely by himself. Jamie and I stayed in a camping trailer for two weeks while we helped tobuild the camp section.
I've told Tom that he has actually built a monument to himself but he disagrees - says he just likes working with his hands.





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[mobirdhunter]

Really enjoyed the photos...especially the "dog tired" one!

Sometimes I cannot believe the bond between hunter and dog. It's an incredible thing to behold (even from your lap). You are a lucky man.

[Opening Day]

Dean, when you said camp, that is not what I was expecting to see Guess you better not come to my camp, no running water, woodstove heat, gas lights ! Beautiful place

[Dean Romig]

Have it your way Tom, but it's just not the same... you'll overcook it that way.





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[Tom Flanigan]

Originally Posted by Dean Romig

Have it your way Tom, but it's just not the same... you'll overcook it that way.

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I have never skinned a bird in my life since I started hunting at 13 years old. Good old gramps told me a person who skins a bird doesn't deserve to eat it. But just for you Dean, I am going to pop the breasts from some woodcock and do it your way. I wouldn't do it for anyone else Dean. Gramps will be rolling in his grave and I'll probably be shaking too hard to pop the breasts, but I'll do it.

[Dean Romig]

And just for you Tom, I’ll pluck one of mine and roast it your way. Please give me your cooking instructions so I can enjoy it the same way you do.





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[Tom Flanigan]

Originally Posted by Dean Romig

And just for you Tom, I’ll pluck one of mine and roast it your way. Please give me your cooking instructions so I can enjoy it the same way you do.

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I never cook the woodcock by themselves. I put two or three grouse in the oven first and after a while add the woodcock. I put a pad of butter on the birds backs and lightly salt and pepper. Sometimes I'll put a little paprika on because it looks nice on the cooked birds. I slice an onion and cook it with the birds. Woodcock take about 20 minutes to a half hour at 300 degrees, depending on the stove. I make a gravy from the drippings using Gravy Master to darken it a bit. The little fat strips under the skin of the woodcock is very tasty. The skin and legs are the best part, in my opinion.

I am an absolute fanatic about my game. I age all my game including birds in a refrigerator I have set up for the purpose. I like my grouse aged for five days and woodcock the same in the refrigerator kept at 38 degrees. I place waxed paper over them to keep the uppermost layers from drying out. It is important that they are not wrapped and air circulates around them during aging. Aging makes the birds more tender and I believe, adds a nice mellow taste. Sometimes I just put the drawn birds in the refrigerator with the feathers on. It works well and you don't need the waxed paper but they are harder to pluck and therefore you have an increased danger of ripping the skin. If I have too many birds to pluck after hunting, I just do some every day.

[Dean Romig]

Garry - we really do have a special bond. She is devoted to me... and I to her. She’s a PITA sometimes but we overlook her transgressions.





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[Double Play]

Originally Posted by Dean Romig

She’s a PITA sometimes but we overlook her transgressions..

As she does yours.

[Dean Romig]

Eric - we have a Vermont Castings "Resolute" wood stove, an outhouse just off the picture to the left, and the running water is disconnected the first time Tom sees frost on the field in the morning. It doesn't have many creature comforts but it's very comfortable when we come in from beating ourselves up chasing birds. Oh, and we do have electricity in the new camp.

Remembering the old camp that we hunted from for forty-some years, the new camp is like the Taj Mahal... and it does look a lot nicer too.





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