Bill: I’m feelin’ more alive already. K.W.

As to allowing him to hunt here, only if he changes his attitude. I have no problem with someone wanting to hunt and I understand the frustrations when you see people charging what you consider high prices for a place to hunt and having a better than fair chance of getting a nice trophy, but these people should also reflect that there is no free lunch.

As to the idea that these wild animals belong to the state, oh that they did, because I would sue the states pants off when ever I or anyone in my family hit one of the states animals on the hiway.

Skeptic, when you go buy some land and sweat blood and shed tears to keep it and remain on it by any means that are with in reason, then come tell me bout letting every Tom, Dick or Harry onto it to shoot all the big bucks you saved for them, for free. I notice those who bemoan the pay hunting tht has come about in the last few years the worse are people who never ever whine about what they pay for an automobile to get to the hunting area or the cost of the license fee, or the cost of the weapon or ammo for it or much of anything else except for the greedy ol’ land owner. Most landowners don’t get nearly as much in funds from the largess of the government as those who live in towns and cities across this land.

So please, if we must, let us start a new thread about all this and go from there. And pass on my phone number to skeptic as I get real tired of typing and it is much more fun to talk ear to ear or face to face! Heck here it is to any or all who care to discuss this or any matter. Early morning, noon or early evening is best. If you call and wake my wife, you will have to deal with her! 605 985 5419.

rd: I’m not sure anything skeptic said merits its own thread. I think he represents a very small, very unhappy, very uneducated constituency in the way he views farmers and ranchers. But I’m willing to consider it. How would you frame it? K.W.

Back in the old days, I shared a meal on the reservation that was a delicious stew with dog meat, tasty vegetables & homemade dumplings. (No derogatory comments about native americans please. They were good folks sharing a meal with a friend — and I was truly honored.)

Bill: I understand your feelings — I’m a dog lover, too! Thanks for the recipe. It sounds promising but what purpose does the liver spread/pate serve? Also, how much is 3kg of meat? I assume you mean red bell pepper in Step #3. (I’m not being picky — I’m paying attention.) I would probably add a bit of chili powder, cumin, crushed red pepper, jalapenos, habaneros, Thai “boonie” peppers, and some dark beer to give it a kick! Aaah!

Please elaborate about rabies being passed through wolf meat. I’d never heard that. My friends & I need to find out more before I share potential recipes.

Over the years, I got to visit lots of foreign lands and experienced some pretty exotic fare including: kundamundi, monkey, horse shish-ka-bob, rice bugs, balut, “bif-ona-stik”, raw, fermented, or pickled ___________, and the really funky mystery meat occasionally dumped into military box lunches. (My buddy shared the mystery meat with his patrol dog
and it became so ill that it had to quickly be medivaced from Panama back to the U.S.)

That was a very interesting experience you described at the wake.

Years ago, I was invited to the 200 year birthday celebration of the village of Umatac on the south end of the island of Guam. It was a great fiesta! My wife & I picked up trays and sampled lots of exotic & delicious food. I lifted a bowl close to my face as I ladled out a bit of corn chowder. In the ladle was the head of a toothy “Fanihi” — a fruitbat looking at me. I sputtered & stammered as I backed away from my “treasure”. A native of the village told me that the head was reserved for the elderly chief. With a bit of prodding, I agreed to give up my prize & comply with their tradition. My wife was by my side and now regularly tells friends of my “manly” reaction to facing this delicacy face to face!

I bet you will not be at the journal for 35 years, KW.

Jeff: I hope you’re right. But given the state of my retirement nest egg, I’m not ruling out cranking out news stories when I’m 82. I won’t be nearly as pleasant as Verma is. But then, I’m not nearly as pleasant now. K.W.

It is ethical to build a deer blind in an apple tree only when you need the meat to feed your family; but, it is not ethical to kill as many as you can just to amuse yourself.

interested: I remain confused. K.W.

skeptic: I know a lot of common men who would tell you that hunting is anything but ruined. We have more walk-in public hunting through private landowners agreements, than any other state. There’s lots of state and federal land to hunt. Road hunting remains legal for small game in most situations. And there are still landowners around the state, outside the hot, economically lucrative zones, who will give permission without pay to hunters who ask politely and in advance. I know a lot of farmers and ranchers, by the way. In my experience, they are “greedy, selfish boors” in roughly the same percentage as the rest of society. And if you consider yourself “the common man,” I know two landowners on this blog - rdennis and Nick Nemec - alone who will gladly trade you some farm-ranch labor for the privilege of hunting on their property. In fact, if you’re after does, you could probably hunt on rd’s place without throwing a single bale. Just ask. K.W.

Seriously, Congratulations, that is an incredible deer.

Skeptic, please show incidents where Bill is full of hot air. I ain’t caught him in a lie yet, but it sure would be fun to tease him about it if I could!