Dealing with tree rats

[NRA]

Now thats what I call a fire place!

[jmoore]

Now thats what I call a fire place!

Not only is that area nice, but there's wood storage built in underneath, and the kitchen is on the opposite side. So it gets warmed by radiant heat for many hours after the fire is out.

[vintage hunter]

Deer neck meat, some mighty fine eating. Only part better IMO is the shanks, very tender and flavorful after a long slow cooking in the crock pot.
No wild bird population to speak of here either. Usually flush out a covey or two while rabbit hunting but none so far this season. They never fully recovered from the '73 blizzard followed by the '74 ice storm. The population made a further decline bordering on extinction in the early '80s. Dad got out of the bird dog business in '85. These are ''artificial'' pen raised birds my cousin puts out to hunt. No where near as much fun as the real thing but good eating none the less.
This was an open hearth fire place till the Buck insert was added around '82, much more efficient and way safer. Miss Jack Russell sure enjoys it on these frigid days.

[browningautorifle]

What breed of birds are those by the '97? Hungarian Partridge?

[vintage hunter]

They're a commercially raised version of the Northern Bobwhite Quail. Those pictured are the rooster bird, the hens are pretty much the same body color but have a buff colored throat patch and brow stripe instead of white bordered by black found on the roosters.
Used to be zillions of wild ones around here but they're seldom seen now.

[WarPig1976]

Looks soooo good...

[jmoore]

Bobwhite Quail

Bird grenades. Step into a covey unawares and...

Miss having them about!

[browningautorifle]

Boy, this thread has sure taken a wander...more like we're sitting up on the porch...way down south of course. Too cold for that up north...or the east.

[WarPig1976]

Yeah,, Exploding trees, bird grenades, wicked fireplaces,cooking tips... Very informative thread indeed...

[vintage hunter]

Bird grenades, never thought of it that way. As much as I bird hunted years ago I never did really get used to the covey rise. And I knew when it was gonna happen.
Jim, it's been too cold down here lately for bull sessions on the porch. Now the weather prognosticators are calling for snow and ice the next two days.