Wooo Hooo! First post!

[Redneck Socialist]

Hi all,

I had a hunch we had a bunch of outdoor enthusiasts here at DU. Now we have a place to share stories, photos, talk about gear, get advice on trips or destinations, whatever as long as it is outdoor related.

I'm an avid hiker, hunter and angler. I spend most of my free time outdoors so I eager to hear from other folks with similar interests.

Hunting season is winding down so soon I will be planning my winter hikes. For the most part I'll be heading up to the White Mountains in NH and I'll probably be spending some time up in Maine as well. Can't wait for snow! :hi: :bounce:

[Kolesar]

1. Hello outdoor world!

I have done a lot of miles on the trail dayhiking and a good amount of backpacking, too. I am fortunate to have hiked in many of our awesome national parks, but I also have a great appreciation for lonely trails in Pennsylvania. I love watching wildlife (and clouds, too). I was a river activist in the 1980s. At this time, I usually wake up and think about global warming, though. We have to do something to preserve these precious wildlands.

[Redneck Socialist]

4. Welcome to the Group

I'd love to hear about some of you hikes sometime. I hiked a few miles in PA about a decade ago. There are some nice areas down there.

[goju]

2. Season over?

Congrats on the group btw, good work.

Waterfowl is just starting, no time to put away the guns yet :)

Id like to see the northeast some time, must be nice.

[Redneck Socialist]

3. Sort of

I've got one deer so the freezer is full. I still have one tag for a neighboring state and a couple of weeks left to fill it.

As for duck hunting, though the season goes on for a while I'm a casual duck hunter at best. Late season things will be icing up soon except for the coast and I don't really have the gear for big water shooting.

[Shrek]

5. Upland game season is just starting here.

I've got until the end of January to get my pheasants and quail. So far it's been a little too warm to have much success so I'm hoping for a cold snap sometime soon. A little snow wouldn't hurt either.

[alwynsw]

6. I'm getting ready for late rabbit and quail seasons

Just as soon as I exhaust the rest of deer season looking for the big boy.

I may even go after a few tree rats. They're some fine eating with mashed potatos, biscuits and gravy.

[wildeyed]

10. Weirdly, we were just talking about cooking squirrel in the crockpot.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=236x779#806

[alwynsw]

12. Fry a young one as you would chicken

Use the drippings to make your gravy base. FOR ALL YOU YAMKEES: I'M TALKING ABOUT GRAVY - NOT WHITE SAUCE OR THAT BROWN STUFF YOU PUT OVER ROAST BEEF.

Best homemade biscuits in the world:

Couple cups of self-rising flour
Pinch of Clabber Girl
Healthy tablespoon of lard
Enough buttermilk to mix it all up

Roll it out, cut with a vienna sausage can.
Bake at 350, middle rack in a pan greased with a light coating of lard until golden brown. Now them there's some fine biscuits.

You city folks can just use whomp biscuits if you want, but they ain't as good.

[MrSandman]

14. Use the drippings to make a stock for...

Dumplins.

That is the great argument here: Biscuits and gravy or squirrel dumplins. I side with the dumplin crowd, but have enjoyed squirrel gravy and biscuits. But never whomp'ns.

[slackmaster]

7. I'd rather be outdoors

Working SUCKS!

:argh:

[Romulus]

8. thanks for the push!

this should be a great!

[wildeyed]

9. Rock climber here.

Don't get out much, what with the kids and all, but I can live vicariously through others. :hi:

Thanks for the forum, looking forward to it.

[Township75]

11. Outdoor life is the only life...

Maybe we should start a separate thread for posts of hikes or trips.

I am into the same sports as all of you: hunting, fishing, climbing, mtn biking, hiking, trail running. I also am into primitive skills (animal/human tracking, hide tanning, fire making, shelter making).

BTW - hunting update - my first day out and I didn't get CRAP! How frustrating. It was warm, and rainy, and the deer just werent moving much.

[alwynsw]

13. I got skunked yesterday as well

I've still got 8 days left. Wanna bet a quarter on the first, next deer?