Up On The Hill

[Valkorado]

Elk.

Just took this shot right thru the kitchen window about fifteen minutes ago.  This is just one frame, Cheryl and I figure this herd is at least 75-80 strong and spread wide across the entire hillside.  Every winter they come.  They are loving it this year, little snow and plentiful dry grasses.

There are some drawbacks to Gunnison winters.  This isn't one of them.

[msb]

Nice view you have there Seth!! I've tried Elk steak and burger...not a fan, but they are magnificent to look at.
I don't see where Gunnison winters are so bad, from that pic. Where the heck is all your snow?? Shouldn't you be riding in that weather?

This is my neighborhood the past few weeks...

The good thing about getting some real Winter


The bad thing about getting some real Winter

[Valkorado]

Strange winter season thus far.  Some seasons we get way more than our share of "real" winter.  Not the last couple.

I'm not sad about the lack of (shoveling) snow, but our water tables are extremely low.  The severe droughts in the Southwest pulled away lots of water from the Blue Mesa Reservoir, so much they could not produce hydroelectricity locally and closed recreational boating early.  Our limited water went downstream, where they used it to produce hydroelectricity at places like Lake Powell's Glen Canyon facility.  Unfortunately, it looks like another extremely dry summer is coming.

Good on you getting in your manual labor!  I have a huge push shovel (my "manplow") in addition to a couple bent handle shovels that are real back savers for me.

I do have a blower, but for some reason I prefer shoveling.  I figure I might as well "enjoy" it while I still can.
It is good exercise in the brisk air.  Or so I keep telling myself.

[Jess from VA]

I say..... Death to snow shovels.    


Pretty awesome wildlife out your window. 

Yesterday, out cleaning my walks, a big fox just stood in my yard looking at me, broad daylight.  Suburbia, but butted up to large woods and wetlands. 

[Trynt]

Nice view you have there Seth!! I've tried Elk steak and burger...not a fan,

I agree! I had an elk burger at a MN Cabela's and it cooled my desire to to hunt them.  Success would mean a lot of elk to choke down.

[..]

Not an unusual sight in Maggie Valley as well.

https://wlos.com/news/local/elk-cherokee-north-carolina-traffic-jam-video-great-smoky-mountain-national-park-highway-441-saunooke-village-wildlife-officials?fbclid=IwAR1DT2dcZQXrbT_vVO5_ZtkvCuR1YB2bmPL1a8K7NfabUgWxrRzBXJHGZEA

[Valkorado]

Nice view you have there Seth!! I've tried Elk steak and burger...not a fan,

I agree! I had an elk burger at a MN Cabela's and it cooled my desire to to hunt them.  Success would mean a lot of elk to choke down.

It's a bit gamey.  Cow elk is best, but it is still an acquired taste.  I think those raised eating elk would find beef to be a bit strange tasting.

I prefer a nice well marbled Angus steak.

[hubcapsc]

I find myself humming AJA a lot the last several days...

-Mike

[Valkorado]

I find myself humming AJA a lot the last several days...

-Mike

You pegged it!  Exactly why I titled the post as I did.   

[h13man]

The best tasting game is having the meat filleted off the bone w/o no sawing involved. I'm sure there are different cuts like beef are better than others. Venison can be gamey but cooked in crockpot with a Italian seasonings or as venison chili, pretty damn good stuff. The only wild game  burger I've ate is Bison and it was excellent. Hunger with enough beers, any meat can taste good regardless. 

[0leman]

I grew up eating beef and pork that was raise by my family.   After left home had opportunity to eat a lot of elk/deer/antelope.   Found the elk was the best, yeah cow elk ate better than an old bull.   Deer was second.  Antelope was best as jerky or ground up with a bit of beef fat.  Though did have a several moose steaks as helped neighbor haul his out.   IT was better than elk.   

Now, that I can afford beef and pork again and old enough that don't want to haul out an elk/deer, don't hunt them.  But wouldn't pass up a good elk steak if I knew the hunter had taken care of the critter properly.   

[Jess from VA]

But wouldn't pass up a good elk steak if I knew the hunter had taken care of the critter properly.  

Yeah, I once had some Turkish restaurant chicken that I'm pretty sure got run over in the road (for a few days) in 100 degree heat.  When they ran out of chicken they sent a small boy to find some and he scraped mine up out of the road pretenderized, and blew it off, broiled it, and served it to me.  It went right down and tasted good.

I didn't even get home before the horrible botulism kicked in.  For about 7 days and 20 lbs.

I learned a fundamental principle from this near death experience....  whenever traveling far and wide, (especially in the 3d world, but really anywhere), when looking at any restaurant menu, whatever the house specialty is, order that.  No matter what it is.


The lead shot and smell put me off pheasant.   (Pass the potatoes please)

[J.Mencalice]

"And that's the way it is..."

https://www.outtherecolorado.com/news/la-ni-a-winter-to-continue-in-colorado-one-region-likely-to-get-big-snow/article_968847ba-73d2-11ec-9a1f-5367b0fe8318.html?utm_source=Master&utm_campaign=77ea724a88-Daily+Newsletter_COPY_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_b88b5f678d-77ea724a88-174314489

 :'(

[old2soon]

      I liked the Moose steak I had when I got married-1st time-in Alaska. You may keep my share of Elk and duck. Most freshly caught fish I prefer cooked over an open fire. RIDE SAFE.

[cookiedough]

only one not liking is bear meat and lamb.  Only had each once in my life so maybe it was just a bad batch or poor cooking/processing, not sure.  Elk, moose, deer, etc. are fine tasting though.  Sprinkling with nutmeg before cooking does take some of the gamey taste away though.  Never had antelope but after seeing them once in Wyoming doubt they would be tasty critters.

Best fish I like, if caught, is perch followed by bluegill, walleye, and crappie.  Not much into salmon and trout but not had either very much.  I love cod and halibut but not like those are near me to catch.

[msb]

      I liked the Moose steak I had when I got married-1st time-in Alaska. You may keep my share of Elk and duck. Most freshly caught fish I prefer cooked over an open fire. RIDE SAFE.

Absolutely...Moose (especially burger meat) and Bison are excellent. Pretty much the only meat I'll eat these days other than my regular chicken, turkey and fish. Got adventurous a couple months ago and ordered a duck sandwich at a local coffee shop we frequent...two bites were all I could manage 

[J.Mencalice]

Meanwhile, on the other side of the country, a group of youngsters are out for a stroll.

North Carolina.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5PGQznIarJc
(Sorry if there are any ads.  Skip'em)

[..]

Meanwhile, on the other side of the country, a group of youngsters are out for a stroll.

North Carolina.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5PGQznIarJc
(Sorry if there are any ads.  Skip'em)

Also happens here in Maggie Valley.