Steven Rinella is Back

The Following is a post from Steven Rinella about his new show.

For those who don't know, Steven Rinella is my favorite author.

As some of you have probably figured out by now, Zero Point Zero Production and I are no longer making our show for The Travel Channel. While it was great experience to be working with that network, and while they gave us a lot of room to make the show we wanted to make, we had to part ways. Ultimately that’s turned out to be a very good thing, because for the past four or five months I’ve been working with the same crew to make a show that’s better than anything The Wild Within could have dreamed of being. This new show, Meat Eater, will premiere this coming January on Sportsman Channel. It has the same look and feel as The Wild Within, the same non-stop action, the same philosophical approach, but it’s even more authentic and gritty and gorgeous. During the creative process of putting the show together, we used the slogan “Killer Hunts, Killer Food” as our rallying cry. And that’s exactly what Meat Eater will deliver to you. If you don’t believe me, check out some of these choice new photos that were taken while we filmed.
And it gets even better. When you’re working with a network like Travel Channel, they end up owning all your footage. You might shoot 60 hours of tape on a hunt, which gets pared down to about forty-five minutes in the edit. The rest of that material ends up in a sort of video graveyard, doing no good for anyone. But now, with our new setup at Sportsman Channel, we own our own stuff. It’s ours to be greedy or generous with, whatever we choose. And we’ve chosen generosity. We’re in the process of building an on-line community where we pour out our hearts and souls (and our footage) for anyone who wants to see what’s up. At anytime. So if you’re sitting around in the middle of the night, 1) wondering what to do with the bullfrogs you just speared; 2) wondering how to properly grill a venison loin; 3) wondering which knives are worth the money and which knives aren’t; 4) wondering what next fall’s crop of presidential candidates might mean for hunting; 5) wondering what happened on past episodes or what might happen on future episodes; or 6) just wanting some wild and wooly entertainment, you can come visit the Meat Eater site and satisfy all your curiosities and desires. Or, if you just want a t-shirt with our sweet new logo on it, we might be able to help you with that as well.
Right now, though, before any of that happens, I need you to do me a big favor. I need you to go to the new Meat Eater page on Facebook and get joined up. Since there is no button that says “love it,” you’ll have to settle for the button that says “like it.” Please, do it now. If not, I’ll come to your house and skin you out and stuff you into a backpack. Well…not really. But you get the point.
Thank you, and good luck out there. –Steven Rinella.
P.S. If you don’t get Sportsman Channel, don’t worry. We’re going to help you with that as well.  

Blind Hunting

G-10 ground blind set up in ruins of 18th century homestead in Big South Fork.

I like most hunter's in the eastern hardwoods use tree stands  which hang high up in  the canopy of straight timber.  But I have also found times when the deer are using areas characterized by thickets and small scraggly brush.  It is these time that I employ my G-10 ground blind which is less than ten pounds and folds up into a small backpack.  This portability and weight translate to a much more mobile and faster Envirocapitalist.  I don't believe you trade much as much visibility in a ground blind as you gain in comfort. Just recently in The Big South Fork National Wild River and Recreation area I shot a doe (which later field dressed out at about 85lbs or 45lbs of table fare) at 36 yards with my Horton Crossbow.  The doe never knew I was in the world and as you can see from the above picture I had not spent a bunch of time brushing up the set, I simply set the blind up within bow range of the deer trail near a scraggly tree to break up its outline.

The Envirocapitalist relaxing in G-10 ground blind wearing camo hat knit by Cousin Jaime

While I still prefer more active types of hunting, blinds are fast becoming my favorite type of stand hunting. It is so much more comfortable than a tree stand and allows you to move more which keeps me attentive longer. I have found it to be just as effective as climbing 15 feet up a tree and while it may have a reputation as for older hunters I am not to proud to hide on the ground. If it was good enough for Daniel Boone it is good enough for me.  I have spent much of this month in the woods and have three deer in the freezer to show for it. Stay tuned those stories to follow.........Your Pal The Envirocapitalist.

More to explore than you think.

AS FAR AS THE EYE CAN SEE.

One thing that continues to perplex me is the belief of the city dwellers that our wilderness is almost gone.  I will be the first to admit that I wished there was more wilderness and less suburban sprawl,  but I am not delusional enough to think that the outdoor opportunities in America are few. If I quit my Job and spent the next year just exploring I probably couldn't make a dent in all the wild places in the East much less the western part of the country.  I love Big South Fork (See other stories on BSF here, here, or here) I intend to hunt it next weekend with a good friend Wild Bill Picket.  We have not been able to cover all the ground available to us even though we make a yearly trip there.  I can't wait to get there, it has the feeling of a true wilderness. I hope everyone can find wild land to explore nearby and take advantage of it. Your pal The Envirocapitalist.

Grandeur

The Beauty of Creation

As most who read this blog know, I not only like to spend my spare time outdoors but the outdoors is also my office at work.  One might think that spending the majority of my waking hours outdoors would dull me to the grandeur that is God's creation.  The time I spend in the splendor actually has the opposite effect.  I find my self enjoying vistas, falls, and wild lands even more.



Natural Wonder

I find lately that not only do I enjoy the exercise of retrieving my own food from the earth and not paying a middle man at the grocery store, but I also feel like I am in the "real" world when I am away from town.  It may sound crazy but when I am on pavement, in buildings, or even at my home I feel that I am in a man made matrix and that I am only truly free when I am in the woods outside the confines of society.  I feel closer to God outdoors and even seem to think clearer.  Unlike some activities being outdoors seem to only bolster my desire to stay longer or go more often.  No one judges me when I am hiking.  I don't have to worry about how to pay for my accomadations when I am backcounty camping.  I prey others out their are enjoying the adventure of the outdoors as well. I will be, October and November are the two months I kill all the venison for the year. It is important time to me but it is also very enjoyable.  I dare say for the cost it is better than a movie and it is for real.  Your pal the Envirocapitalist.

Do the Doe

Can't eat horms

I would like to convince all of the people who manage their leases for trophy bucks that they need help with doe population control.  I have heard of hunting clubs making rules that each member must kill a doe before harvesting a buck. This is to ensure quality deer management.  I would like to humbly offer my services free of charge to come to your lease at my expense and crop your does. I promise I will not only pass on all the old grizzly bucks I see but I will document their movements for you members that wish to harvest these over the hill bucks.  I think it is a wonderful idea and any of you guys who wish to take me up on it leave a comment, that is if you are within driving distance of East Tennessee.  I sure am tired of hunting public land your pal the Envirocapitalist.

Deer Season

Trophy shot by sportsman and eaten by Envirocapitalist.

It is that time again in East Tennessee, opening day of deer season. Many hunter's will take to the woods with bows in their hands.  If successful a hunter can expect (after processing )at least 40lb plus  of meat to store in the freezer.  I have found that it takes 7 small does to feed my family a year but recently that has been unnecessary.   Not only do not have the time to hunt enough to kill seven deer but I have found so many people willing to just give their deer to me that I could probably never hunt again and have plenty of meat.  It is so odd at times that they act as though I am doing them a favor by removing their "unwanted meat".  I cannot understand since it is the tenderloin that drives me to wake up early and chase these creatures around steep ridges.  It is like buying chicken quarters at the store and not eating them because it is to much trouble to cut them up and cook them.  I will always be careful not to offend my "sportsman friends" who don't eat deer but still hunt them because I am slowly becoming dependent on their kills. I only shot one deer last year and that was a miracle considering how little I hunted.  With that said I will now adjourn to my man cave to pack my bolts and sharpen my butcher knife in anticipation of success in the field, Your pal the Envirocapitalist.

The Eagle

Found this jewel floating around the internet. I do not know who the original author is.

In one of the western states, a man was caught sitting at a make-shift campfire by a forest ranger, and to the ranger's horror, the man was eating a bald eagle. The man of course was put in jail for the crime.

At his trial, the judge asked him, "Do you know that killing and eating a bald eagle is a federal offense?"

The man answered, "Yes I do your honor, but I got lost in the woods and hadn't had anything to eat for two weeks. I was so hungry. Next thing I see is a bald eagle swooping down at the lake for some fish. I knew that if I followed the eagle, I could maybe steal the fish. I caught up with the eagle, which lighted upon a tree stump to eat the fish. I threw a rock toward the eagle, hoping he would drop the fish and fly away. Unfortunately, in my weakened condition, my aim was off, and the rock hit the eagle squarely on his head, and killed him."

The judge was moved by the man's story and gave a fast judgment. He said, "Due to the extreme circumstances you were under, and because you didn't intend to kill the eagle, the court will dismiss the charges."

The judge, being somewhat of an outdoorsman himself, then leaned over the bench and whispered to the man. :If you don't mind my asking, what does a bald eagle taste like?"

Feeling he had made a friend, the man said, "Well your honor, it is hard to explain. The best I can describe it, it is somewhere between a California condor and a spotted owl."

This is funny to me because I enforce environmental laws and I can't count the times someone confessed a crime to me because they were somewhat proud of it. Your Pal the Envirocapitalist

The difference between me and modern hunters

I am a opportunistic Predator. It is fairly simple as to why I come to this conclusion.

1. I keep guns with me at all times
2. I eat what I kill and what other hunters kill.
3. If I see it and it is in season I kill it, skin it, grill it. Even if I wasn't hunting it at the time.
4. I have received a call and dropped what I was doing to drive down the street and shoot a Ground Hog. ( I had it cleaned quartered and vacuum sealed in less than an hour) See Ground Hog recipe here.
5. I never have the time or money to go on far away hunting trips.
6. I somehow fill my freezer every year just by taking advantage of every opportunity.

I am not ashamed that I am not a "sportsman" but a hunter. I'll shoot a doe instead of waiting on a rack buck. I kill, skin, quarter, and grind to eat, no letting a processor do my dirty work for me. I enjoy this ritual because it connects me to my ancestors , the land, the animals, and my innate need to be self sufficient. I am not competing against other men to see who the best hunter is, I am making a living off the land. Your pal the Envirocapitalist.

Puppies are good.

Puppies are good for kids, and puppies are even good for grown ups.  Our new Jack Russell Terriers were intended to help teach my children responsibility and give them some outdoor playmates.  It turns out that the little fellers are good for Mrs. Envirocapitalist as well.  They have already entertained me and stole my wife's heart.  They have played with the children outside and have already proven to not be gun shy.  They have laid on my wife's lap and chased each other around the front porch.  So far they are a hit.

I hope these little dogs build a bond with my kids and bring joy to them for a long time, but I have to admit it brings back memories from my youth of having dogs and has made me very happy.  The squirrels are in trouble next year and family outings such as hikes and camping trips are going to have a whole new dimension.

If you don't have any dogs I would strongly suggest you consider getting one. A well trained dog which serves a purpose brings more joy than any possession.  Any way Brave is sleeping on his back while Rosie chews on his ear so I had better go and oooh and aaaah with the rest of the family. Your pal the Envirocapitalist.

It is hard to hunt with a 8 year old

We typically eat between fifteen and twenty squirrels a year, they are not a favorite food of my family but they are relatively easy to obtain and hunting them late summer/early fall gives me a chance to scout for deer and turkey.  It is also an ideal time to take your young hunters afield and teach them the lessons they will need to learn to be successful when after larger game. I will be the first to admit that it is tough to hunt with young kids.  Young boys do not want to be quiet, sit still, or be patient, which are important when hunting anything. I love hunting with my son even when it causes us to be less successful because I can see him learning, growing, and enjoying the success we do have.  Knowing that it was the valuable experience I gained as a kid which allows me to feed my family and make money off ginseng and trapping on top of my day job gives me the extra incentive to teach my son all I know. If you have skills or knowledge you think are valuable please pass them onto the next generation, it will make a difference and really it is your responsibility.  On this hot August morning what might have appeared as a fun opening day of squirrel season with my son was in reality just another part of shaping the men of the future. your pal the Envirocapitalist.

Boy with squirrels, working radio

Steven Rinella hits the nail on the head.

Image courtesy of wildernessathlete.com

Every once and a while someone comes along and speaks your mind better than you do.  As is the case for Steven Rinella, who puts into words what most hunters wished they could voice and he does it in an entertaining and authoritative way.  Even though he has only written two books, (American Buffalo : In Search of A Lost Icon and The Scavenger's Guide to Haute Cuisine) He is one of my all time favorite outdoor writer's. 
          One of  his articles entitled " Steven Rinella: Why I Hunt" which I believe to be a must read for anyone struggling with the ethics of hunting, made me kick myself for not being able to verbalise any of these points to some of my outdoor compatriots who struggle with the life and death aspects of hunting.  Both books and numerous articles I read seem to really hit the nail on the head and left me craving for more of Mr. Rinella.  His love affair with the obtaining and preparing of wild foods really speaks to me. This lead me to his T.V. Show The Wild Within on the Travel Channel.  It focused as much on the skinning and cooking of the game as it did on the chase, which I believe is a major part of the hunt and sadly missing from conventional hunting shows. After devouring all five episodes I realized it didn't appear to be coming on anymore. As heart broken as I was, Mr. Rinella appears to still be writing so I digress since I enjoy the written word over television any way. He has written several other articles, of which I can safely say you will not be wasting time by following this link and reading a while. I recommend his work highly and I am sure you will enjoy what I hope becomes an outdoor voice for my generation, your pal the Envirocapitalist.

Rosie and Brave

I believe dogs are important for children. They not only teach responsibility to children but are just plain fun to hunt, hike, and camp with.  We have acquired the next generation of dogs. I would like to introduce them to you.

The Boy holding Brave



My Baby Girl holding Rosie

 Brave is a boy and my son has already decided that he will take charge of him. Likewise Rosie is a girl and my daughter has decided to take the caretaker role for her.  Both parents (Penny and Biscuit) are both Jack Russell Terriers and good squirrel dogs. We are very happy to get the new companions and the kids are so excited they can't stand it.  We were blessed to get from a close friend of mine.  It will be a hard couple of months of training but nothing compares to a well trained dog.  Remember dogs are man's best friend because they like meat as much as we do, your pal the Envirocapitalist.

A morning on House Mountain with the Envirocapitalist.



House Mountain is a 500-acre natural area located in Knox County approximately eight miles from Knoxville. It is cooperatively managed under a lease agreement with the State by the Knox County Department of Parks and Recreation. The 2,100-foot crest of House Mountain provides significant vistas where visitors may scan the parallel ranges of the Unakas and Cumberlands some 30 miles away, or look northeast at the adjacent Clinch Mountain.  It is rugged and scenic and very representative of the region.  I love taking my son there because we can get the feel of back country with out the long drive.

Parking area at trail head as we left

Big Ry and I left the parking area at daylight since it was going to be a hot July day.  We had the parking area to ourselves. It is fairly nice even though there is no running water or electricity. The bathroom is really just a pit privy but is well ventilated and didn't stink as bad as most public restrooms.

Signs were made by a local Boy Scout.

A short walk from the parking area led us to the trail head junction. Both of these trails lead to the 3 mile long crest trail which  have scenic overlooks at both ends and one in the middle. We did all the trails today making it about five total miles.

Rocky outcrops on the southern slope

The trails leave the bottom and pick there way through extremely rocky and beautiful slopes until they reach the crest trail.  The rock formations are great to climb on and explore or just sit on to take a break.

Big Ry having lunch at West Overlook

After reaching the top we made haste out the much easier and flatter crest trail  to the East overlook and bushwhacked out to a third vista (my favorite) which is often used for illegal camping (no one allowed up here after dark).  We moved on to the west overlook and had lunch (snack). Which consisted of a granola bar, gummies and a fruit juice pouch, you now real adventure food.  After packing up we set out to finish the hike.

Big Ry leading the way

Steep and rugged

Falling rocks always a danger

Sliding our way down we dodged a few rocks that let go of the steep slopes. We also past the first hiker's of the day. they were heading up. I can't imagine why someone would wait till noon to start this strenuous hike with temperatures predicted to hit the 90's. I was starting to really pour sweet and me and Big Ry were going downhill at this point.


Forty feet below our lunch time perch





We made our way out of our little wilderness no worse for wear but with our appetite for adventure whetted.  We agreed that we should do this more often and I thanked God for his creation and my son.   Please take a kid out of doors. It teaches them lessons and toughens them. I fear we may be raising a generation not able to overcome uncomfortable situations and deal with true adversity, Your pal the Envirocapitalist

Update - late March

I am very excited for the upcoming turkey season because I have access to some private land this year. I hope to fill my four turkey bag this year to help fill my freezer. since I only put 3 deer in it this winter my meat reserves are low.  That means I need to catch more fish, kill more small game, and waste some turkeys to make up for the dreadful deer season. I will be hunting with my Savage/Stephens 12 gauge pump (old school), and despite the fact it is a modified choke and more suited to wing shooting it actually preforms nicely and I have up most confidence in it. I may play with some video of The "Hieskell Boys"  ( the group I grew up with and still hunt with) Turkey hunting to share with you all.  It is wet here so I still can't plow the garden, hope everyone out their is fairing well,  I plan on posting on a T.V. show I can actually watch called the wild within this weekend. Hope you can check it out Your Pal The Envirocapitalist.

It is always in a creek

I was slaving in front of my computer entering data on my whereabouts and activities of the prior day (the government tracks everything). When I got an email from the EPA about a possible straight pipe (think raw sewage) running into a creek in my area. "Why is it always a creek" I lamented while I loaded the truck and started the 45 minute drive out to the area. As soon as I turned into the Trailer Park which was the suspected violator I was taken back by the combination of the size of the development and just how rough it was. It still amazes me as to the staggering number of people willing to live in filth. There is a difference between poor and dirty and this place was dirty.  I put on my nifty reflective vest that identifies me as a government agent, pulled on my Muck boots and headed for the creek.  It was edged by a thick mesh of briers, weeds, and small trees which made my approach difficult to say the least. I could already smell the sweet odor of sewage before I could see the water and I heard running water, but not like a babbling brook.......more like  a bath tub faucet running full bore.  I was stunned to see the 4 inch black pipe sticking out of the creek bank, not because I haven't seen this before since I do several times a year, but because sewer water was pouring out of it at alarming pace. I would guess about 15 gallons per minute which is the largest point source flow I have ever seen. My stomach turned a little when I imagined the kids from this hell hole of a trailer park down here swimming and fishing in this creek.  I straightened myself and headed back to the truck. It would take me another hour to enter the findings of the investigation into our customer service tracking system, a field activity report, my Daily activity report, and fill out the notice of violation letter that would be sent to the violator making him aware of the problem, (as if he didn't know) and giving him a deadline to fix it.  I am frustrated by the bureaucracy I am in at times. But it is times like this I see a need for a mediator. It is just a matter of figuring out how government can fill this role best. Your pal the Envirocapitalist.

The Canoe

I make friends at work, But I don't usually go afield with them. I don't know why, I just have limited time and a group of good friends whom I would prefer to spend time in the bush with anyway. With that said one day I made and exception and took up a very excited co-worker on an offer to try out the new canoe his father had gotten him. We took it to to Melton Hill Lake.  I thought this was smart since I didn't know what kind of canoe it was and the calm placid waters of the lake would be ideal for any canoe even with my co-worker (who was a novice) at the helm.  We met at about nine in the morning in the parking lot and I notice the canoe looked like the nice shiny wooden ones you see hanging from a ceiling or on its end with books in it.  Sure enough we drug it out of the back of his truck and it was a decorative canoe and not a canoeing canoe. I didn't know what to say........... sometimes this guy is a know it all and I didn't want to start a fuss, so against my better judgement I let him launch it with catastrophic results. As I stood there in awe while my wet co-worker slung a six hundred dollar decorative canoe around the parking lot, stopping, cussing and yelling I couldn't help but thinking maybe I should have warned him. After a few uncomfortable moments we parted company, I am sure he swore off canoes and I know I swore off adventures with hot headed tenderfoots. your pal the Envirocapitalist.

The difference between me and modern hunters

I am a opportunistic Predator.  It is fairly simple as to why I come to this conclusion.

1. I keep guns with me at all times
2. I eat what I kill and what other hunters kill.
3. If I see it and it is in season I kill it, skin it, grill it. Even if I wasn't hunting it at the time.
4. I have received a call and dropped what I was doing to drive down the street and shoot a Ground Hog. ( I had it cleaned quartered and vacuum sealed in less than an hour) See Ground Hog recipe here.
5. I never have the time or money to go on far away hunting trips.
6. I somehow fill my freezer every year just by taking advantage of every opportunity.

I am not ashamed that I am not a "sportsman" but a hunter. I shoot does instead of waiting on rack bucks. I kill, skin, quarter, and grind to eat, no letting a processor do my dirty work for me. I enjoy this ritual because it connects me to my ancestors , the land, the animals, and my innate need to be self sufficient. I am not competing against other men to see who the best hunter is, I am making a living off the land. Your pal the Envirocapitalist.

The Benefits of Eating Wild Game

From Hunting For Tomorrow Foundation



1. Many people grew up eating wild game meat. Now there is ample evidence of the healthful benefits of eating wild game. It is even becoming fashionable to do so as evidenced by the offerings of wild game in fine restaurants around the country.

2. In general, game meat is leaner than meat from domesticated animals. The amount of fat on game meat may have a slightly stronger taste, so you should remove it before cooking. For maximum tenderness, cook slowly – either braise in liquid, or roast and baste frequently.

3. Some game meat is higher in dietary cholesterol than domestic meats, but the combination of more lean body tissue, generally fewer calories, less saturated fat and significantly higher percentage of cholesterol-reducing polyunsaturated fatty acids makes game a heart-healthy choice.

4. Game meat also has a significantly higher content of EPA (Eico Sapentaenoic Acid, a type of omega 3 fatty acid, which is a good type of oil, often referred to as fish oil) than domestic meat. EPA is thought to reduce the risk of developing atherosclerosis, one of the major causes of heart attack and stroke.

Nutrition Content of Game Meat

Mayo Clinic

Website: http://www.mayoclinic.com/

Tips and Recipes

Websites: http://www.huntingfortomorrow.com/

“What’s New” then “Tips & Recipes”

www.scifirstforhunters.org/content/website/hunting/recipes/

http://www.fishersnet.com/

www.huntinginfo.com/recipes.htm

DISCLAIMER: The information contained in this FACT SHEET is for general information purposes only. This FACT SHEET is not intended to be a comprehensive or detailed statement concerning the matters addressed in this FACT SHEET and is not intended as a substitute for legal or any other kind of professional advice. You should seek appropriate, qualified professional advice before acting or omitting to act based upon any information in this FACT SHEET and contact the appropriate legal authority to obtain the information on hunting and firearm regulations.

While every effort is made to ensure that the information in this FACT SHEET is current and accurate, Hunting for Tomorrow Foundation does not accept any liability with respect to your use of, or reliance on, the information contained in this FACT SHEET.

Hunting For Tomorrow Foundation Kelly Semple, Executive Director # 87, 4003 - 98th Street, Edmonton, Alberta. T6E 6M8 Phone: 780.462.2444 or Fax: 780.431.2871

E-mail: ksemple@huntingfortomorrow.com