Checking the current status.

[skipper]

Just FYI, I do not have the permissions necessary to change the site title. I only have Administrator Role privileges but Founder Role (unlimited) permission is required to do that. Tarrin is the only one who could pull that off. It might require him to renegotiate advertisement contracts and such.



I do believe Bill K said he wanted to see some of our hunting photos with comments. Remember, You Did Ask!

This is a picture of my "bag" at the early Teal Season last September. I was fortunate enough to limit out within an hour! Shot was flying all over the place. I go with a local guide who has access to some target rich flooded rice fields close to home.

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This picture is what duck looks like whenever I fry it up. I get out my Fry Daddy and fill it with peanut oil. Teal doesn't need to be cooked very long, so a quick dump in the grease and then out onto the towel. You need a big wooden spoon to fend off the tasters around my house. Get back!!

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This picture is of my top secret beer batter recipe that I use to fry my duck. I find frying to be the best method of cooking duck. That and some homemade dipping sauces, creamy horseradish and raspberry reduction. Jalapeño hush puppies, mac and cheese and banana pudding rounds out the meal. Yum! It's a Texas thing.

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This is a picture of yours truly shooting at a Wounded Warrior sporting clays event held at a local gun range and hunt club. One of the gentlemen in our group was a wheelchair bound veteran but, you sure couldn't tell it by his shooting. The event raises money for Wounded Warrior and Warrior Benefit foundations. There were raffles for about 30 guns. I didn't win anything but, my partner, an ex federal agent won three guns. Yes, I did say THREE. Wow the luck of some people. When they called his name the third time everyone started looking at him with outrage in their eyes. It was a fun day. Pro Tip: save the drinks, adult beverages, for after the shoot.

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[Bill K]

Yes, two years back upwards of 7-8 ft. and it stayed around for about 2-3 months. However nothing like a few years before that when we dealt with upwards of 8-10 ft. Tunnels out of the upper deck to the drive and street, shovel out in front of a few windows so we could see out into the drive area, etc. and of course shovel off the heavy load on the roofs. Lot of help back then came around both up here in my area and also down in the valley in the main town. Prison crews, workers from the lumber mills, etc. everyone worked to clear streets and roofs, but even them more than a few buckled and damaged homes, garages, sheds and other buildings.
It did get very interesting back then with snow levels. Last few years nothing that heavy has really hit the area. A few floods in the town and valley when the main Susan River came way over flood stage, due to heavy water runoff in the early spring months, But this area is pretty good at prepping and handling these storms, at least the old timers in the area are. Many of new ones coming in stick one winter and leave. Others learn and work into it and learn to cope.
You just have to have gear and equipment and a good back and stay ahead of it. Can be fun

[Rick in Oregon]

Well Skipper, if we had a "LIKE" button, it would get pushed after looking at your post! Nice!

I got hungry just looking at those pics!

And Bill......take it easy with the shovel there, buddy! At your age (and mine), prudence is the order of the day. We've got another fresh 4", and with my recent shoulder surgery, my loyal and beautiful wife will be 'manning' the shovel today in my stead. There's nothing like a good wife to take up the slack when we're diminished for one reason or another. I've resisted buying a blower, as if I did, it would not snow for five years. Of course I didn't buy one, so guess what happened?

Must stay healthy with spring and varmint shooting just around the corner!

[Jim White]

I've resisted buying a blower, as if I did, it would not snow for five years. Of course I didn't buy one, so guess what happened?

I've thought about picking up one of those propane torches myself, I think they would work on a driveway and concrete. Since I didn't get one; guess what; snow, Ironically, it's the same too with a generator I picked one 4 years ago and haven't lost power again...go figure.

[Bill K]

Yes Skipper, I did ask and did receive. Those are great and right in line with the photos we like of hunts, game, etc. Thank you.

[Bill K]

Rick I do watch and do limit the use of the old shovel. I just can not shovel or use one as I did a few years back, when I was younger. But it does get some use, but now days I rely on the Jeep/plow and snow blower ( top of the line track type Honda, is what I bought to replace my old one) it was pricey, but worth every penny.

[MTPaul]

Jim - My only comment about using a propane blow torch on driveways and on concrete is concrete can take A LOT more direct heat than an asphalt driveway...ask me how I know... One year my brother sent me a propane torch kit (minus the propane tank) for a Christmas gift and naturally, since there was a little ice on the driveway and around the front step apron, I thought; "What should I use to melt the ice???" Of course, the recent gift!

I fired up the torch and I'm telling you it put out one heck of a blue flame. I started on the concrete apron under the front entry way steps. It was working great on the concrete, so I then moved onto the asphalt driveway. Now I wasn't holding the torch constantly in one place mind you, I was moving it side to side so as to avoid getting the asphalt too hot. Well let me tell you something, unbeknownst to me that torch was putting out about as much heat as a twin-engine military jet with both afterburners lit! It didn't take me long to realize I was COOKING the driveway! My advice is, keep the torch away from any combustible object until you completely understand just how much heat it is putting out and then adjust your ice melting efforts accordingly.

[Jim White]

Jim - My only comment about using a propane blow torch on driveways and on concrete is concrete can take A LOT more direct heat than an asphalt driveway...ask me how I know...

Paul...I appreciate the feedback and as it just so happens, my driveway is asphalt so the torch is out for me. I don't know what it cost to re-asphalt a driveway but I have to imagine it's not something I would want to do that's for sure. I guess I'll just stick with ice melt and rock salt, it does a pretty decent job to clear a path to get in/out of cars.

Seeing you're in Montana, I have good friend that lives there but further north than you. He sent me some pictures the other day of his place and there were probably 50-head of elk in his driveway and the adjacent pasture. I gotta' find my way back over there one of these first days after all of this white stuff has come to pass for the season.

Thanks again for info,

[skipper]

Check out this guy's snow removal system:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w7ULdIBnpww

[Bill K]

Pretty neat, but that would not work with my driveway, much bigger and wider than one vehicle and snow is not, to often, light and fluffy, more heavy and wet. Need a good blower or plow to move it around, especially when it gets higher than a foot each time and over 2 to 6 ft on the level.
But that fellow had a sweet idea and it worked well for him.