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December 31, 2004
SPORTSMAN'S QUEST Looking ahead to 2005
Most big game seasons have come to an end and fishing has slowed. We may have overindulged around the holiday table; I'm guilty. While digesting, I thought back on a very good year, which included Desert Bighorn Sheep, excellent fishing trips, and fine upland game hunting with old friends, and some new ones too. If we were lucky, or planned well, Santa was kind and new "stuff" may have appeared under our Christmas tree, and now we look ahead. Will I draw a tag this year? I'll try; you can't draw if you don't apply. Can I travel? Yeah - but I'll have to work enough to buy fishhooks, bullets and gas. This is the quiet season to plan those trips, and yes, dream of near and far off places; read some of those outdoor magazines that have been piling up on the coffee table or in the book basket; clean gear, organize, and put "stuff" away. I'll do better this year. It's time to visit friends and talk of the coming year; take a look at those "air miles," the budget and discuss logistics. Perhaps this is the year for that "big trip." "I'd better do it while I still can" - this is the season of dreams. Who knows? Maybe dreams can come true, if we give them a little help. This is the year to give a little more time to the family. Plan an outdoor adventure; take that hunter safety class; or introduce a friend - young or old - to hunting or fishing. This could be a very good year. • It's also been a remarkable year for Donna and Kent Jasperson's son K.J. This 14-year-old drew a coveted elk tag on Table Mountain on his first try. Scouting with his parents prior to the hunt, he located a herd with a couple of excellent bulls in it, returned the next day before the opening and found them again. They bedded a 6 X 6 bull down for the night. Early the next morning it was up in the 20-degree darkness, walking through the crunchy snow, glassing for the bedded down bull; they found him! Circling around through a ravine to approach upwind, the bull was again located as they topped an adjacent ridge. K.J.'s heart was pumping, and perhaps infected with a little bull fever, he missed his first shot - or perhaps he just wanted to wake the bull and give him a fair chance - the next shot found its mark. The 270-caliber 180-grain bullet cleanly put the animal down. Big grins, hugs, and handshakes all around were followed by the work we all face following a successful hunt. I'm sure Donna or Kent were as excited as K.J., joining their son on his first remarkable elk hunt - I'm sure it won't be his or their last. This is a family that hunts and enjoys the outdoors together, a model for all of us in the coming year. I've heard from many of you, your stories of elk, deer, moose, bear and fishing trips. I've seen some of your pictures and enjoyed most of all writing and sharing these stories through this column. Here's wishing you all a great and successful New Year. Updates The Kiwanis Club of Pahrump Valley will have a raffle to support its scholarship program. An African Safari for two, which will include food, lodging, guide and two impala trophy fees, is the main prize. The drawing will be held at the Kiwanis auction. For more information, contact Marianne Murphy at 751-1084. • The Hunting and Fishing International Exposition, the SHOT Show, will be in Las Vegas the last week of January. If you get a chance, this is where you will see all of the latest sporting equipment on the market. • The Safari Club International Convention is Jan. 26-29 in Reno. This is the premier hunting and outdoor sportsman show, and worth marking on your calendar. Lots of guns, hunts and "stuff" will be auctioned, seminars to attend and good folks to meet. For more information go to www.SafariClub.org, or call 1-888-746-9724. • Homeland Security has come to San Diego's sports fishing docks. Security gates and boarding passes have appeared. Managers of the landings liken these added precautions to the airport security checkpoints, and report that operation has worked smoothly - another indication that we are in a "New World" when it comes to travel. These measures are especially designed for the long-range boats south of the border. • Well, the tuna fishing has slowed, but good action has been reported on the half-day boats to the kelp beds in the Coronado Islands - my favorite type of fishing for bonita, barracuda, and bottom fish. Send me a picture of your recent hunt, especially young folks - firsts and bests, with a phone number, and a few facts. I'd like to do something with it. Send to Pahrump Valley Times Attn: Dan Simmons, 2160 E Calvada Blvd, Pahrump, NV 89048, or e-mail dansimmons@usa.net. Recipe of the week Ol' Seldom claims title to this recipe, but most his friends know, Blondie is responsible for most of his successes - don't tell him though, it'll be our secret, after all he is my best fishing partner - Thanks Blondie! "Ol' Seldom's Black Coffee BBQ Sauce" (As shared by his better three quarters - Blondie) BBQ sauce: 1 cup black coffee; 1 cup cider vinegar; 1 cup red wine; 1 cup brown sugar, firmly packed; 4 garlic cloves, minced; 1 small onion, minced; 1 cup molasses; 3 small jalepeno peppers, minced; 1 cup Worcestershire sauce; 2 tbs dry mustard; 1 bay leaf; and 1 1/2 cups ketchup. Combine ingredients in a saucepan; bring to a boil, lower heat and simmer for 30 minutes, stirring often to avoid sticking; let sauce cool; remove bay leaf; puree mixture in blender until smooth. This barbecue sauce would be perfect for KJ's trophy elk. Start with the following marinade then grill over medium heat for three minutes on each side, brush with bar-be-que sauce and continue grilling until desired doneness. Serve with extra sauce on the side and a baked potato. 2 lbs of elk loin; 1 cup lime juice; 1 cup olive oil; _ tsp salt; and 1 tsp black pepper; mix all ingredients together and let elk marinade for at least 2 hours. |
