Ha haha, snicker, snort
He's going to love that title.
permit and roughly 130 receive a permit making the Delta Junction Buffalo hunt a highly coveted event.
No, I am not one of the fortunate hunters drawn for the permit. However, Jeff Mason, one of my Alaska pals, has a friend that was drawn for the permit. Jeff and I have been on stand-by waiting for a downed buffalo call for the past several weeks. Too, Jeff and has been scouting about and taking his permitted friend to promising hunting grounds. Just a couple of days ago I received a call from Jeff. Jeff reported "hey Chuck we got a dead buffalo on the ground and need some assistance." In situations similar to this one I would normally think "man, I wish I didn't answer the phone" but I would still go help. This time however, I was elated to be summoned to the field.
You see, this was an opportunity for me to help skin a buffalo that descended from the American Great Plains. Being that I'm a fellow who hunts and studies history, the plains buffalo are prominent in my mental picture of westward expansion. Images from history lectures and books about the west sort of came to life when I snow machined my way to that dead buffalo. (Note: I had to imagine that the snow machine was a horse given to me by a Plains Indian in exchange for a rifle.) Jeff, his successful hunting friend, and I repeated the word "ta Tanka" (Dakota, Lakota, and Sioux word for Buffalo) as we remembered it from the movie "Dances With Wolves." It was cold, very windy, and it took several hours to get the beast dissembled and placed in game bags. But I was fortunate to be a part of it.
Yes, it is a great accomplishment for a hunter to locate one of these fine creatures and successfully bring it down; however, the greatest achievement here is harvesting hundreds of pounds of meat that will be eaten over a long period of time. Every piece of edible meet will be eaten, including the heart and tongue.
Okay so first I looked at the photos and thought "ew".. Then I read along and remembered my dad on many a hunting excursion, skinning his "catch" in the garage. Oh and the Deer Pepperoni and Moose Steaks. Thanks...I think.
ReplyDeleteHi Chuck!
ReplyDelete"No animals were harmed in the making of this blog post. Oh....wait." Hah. I'm sure the moose burgers are tasty though, and it sure cuts your food bill in half. I'm glad you're having fun in the remainder of your Alaskan days.
My Mom's friend's, friends (got that? :) ) used to hunt deer and other game for food. Nothing like moose though. I'm sure they'd be dying to try moose.
Also wanted to add that it's GOT to be getting warmer now right? Like....30 degrees maybe?...for some reason, sometimes the weather bug doesn't load on my laptop.
ReplyDeleteAccording to my weather widget it is currently 37 degrees in Delta Junction tonight Katie. Chuck I love your account of this buffalo harvesting experience, especially the part about imagining you were on a horse traded for a gun. Experience of a life time I'm sure. Miss you.
ReplyDeleteHey Chuck,
ReplyDeleteGreat post. Great smile.
Blessings,
Aunt Janice
Hey Chuck,
ReplyDeleteGreat post. Great smile.
Blessings,
Aunt Janice
That buffalo looks HUGE - compared to when hubby butchers a deer - can you make buffalo jerky sticks (regular or hot), buffalo dry beef, buffalo hamburg, buffalo sausage???? Just wondering! Man, you could feed a village with all that meat! Barry is biting at the bit - he said to tell you, you are so lucky to have this experience.
ReplyDeleteI like this post, Chuck. Very interesting. You are officially an Alaskan pioneer now, aren't you? Congrats on the buffalo skinning experience. Save me some jerky. Just kidding. Don't.
ReplyDelete