Opener

david0311 said:
The best way I found for sharpies and carp as well--(old story coming)

Is get a plank board (pine if available) stuff bird with apple place on plank--cook at very high heat for two hours--or more

Let bird and plank cool--

Throw away bird--

Eat plank--:rolleyes:
Click to expand...

Very good!!! :)
 
Zeb, no difference in flavor between shartails and chickens, they are closely related species and occasionally hybridize where their ranges overlap. I will say that they are best eaten freshly killed. One of the best game meals I ever had was fresh-killed chickens we prepared while camping on the Fort Pierre Grasslands. If anyone is interested, PM me and I can share some preparation and cooking tips, and no, it doesn't involve any pine boards or apples. Sure wish I was getting out there to hunt them this year.
 
Grey Fox said:
Zeb, no difference in flavor between shartails and chickens, they are closely related species and occasionally hybridize where their ranges overlap. I will say that they are best eaten freshly killed. One of the best game meals I ever had was fresh-killed chickens we prepared while camping on the Fort Pierre Grasslands. If anyone is interested, PM me and I can share some preparation and cooking tips, and no, it doesn't involve any pine boards or apples. Sure wish I was getting out there to hunt them this year.
Click to expand...
Agreed. Do not seem to freeze as well as pheasant. I treat them like liver---fried in bacon grease with lots of onion they are not bad when fresh.
 
back from ND sharpie hunt a week and a half ago...great time! hunted 9/13-9/19, returned on 9/20...pretty blissful...not too hot, thank god. Shifted spots mid-week, from NW of minot to a spot N of rugby...hunting alone, as my buddy took the day off--knee replacement 8 weeks earlier--out following my hounds...before I know it they are face to face with something...porky? I hustle over there, and am about 8' from a badger...each dog a foot or two off each side of its head, giving me an opening the size of a large pizza...I shoot twice from my uggie 16 gauge...look down at what has happened, and the badger has my 60 lb female on the ground by the head/face/neck!!!! I took two steps, and smashed it in the head as best I can with the barrels of my s x s!!!! I grab the dog by the collar and drag her 10' away to assess the situation...she is not conscious, appears to be convulsing/seizing, bleeding, foaming, vomiting...I fear she is not going to make it, although I don't see any major damage...a good 10 minutes go by, no real change....finally, she stands up, wobbly, and starts running around me in circles, barking nonstop!!!! took her to the vet, basically OK...vet thought she was oxygen deprived...badger had her lower jaw/tongue in its mouth when I smashed it...my gunstock busted in 5 places...I was holding it by the pistol grip...large indentation on one of the barrels as if I had hit it on a curb as hard as I could...pretty wound up that night!!!!! whiskey was good...but not enough! I did kill a badger on my ground in SD about 5 years ago...one of my dogs was face to face with it, hissing like crazy...a few loads of #5's did the trick. Did I miss the damned thing in ND? I may have! But, hard to believe I killed an unharmed badger with one swing of my gun barrel! hell, it was writhing around on the ground to some degree, with my dog on the other end, though she was lying pretty still when being attacked...whole thing happened in 3-4 seconds, if that...hope I never tangle with one again!!!!!
 
Uncle Buck said:
Agreed. Do not seem to freeze as well as pheasant. I treat them like liver---fried in bacon grease with lots of onion they are not bad when fresh.
Click to expand...

met some guys from fergus falls who stayed next to us on the first leg of my hunt...one is a very accomplished photographer...he has the full page pics in the new Pheasants Forever on page 1 and the last page of the mag...these guys are sharpie maniacs! we had a cook-off the last night we were there...they did some awesome poppers, we did grilled breast that had been marinated in italian dressing...medium rare, a bit of salt and pepper...MMMMMMM!!!! the poppers were to die for as well...jalapeno, water chestnut, pineapple, bacon wrapped....plum dipping sauce with horseradish mixed in...there IS a god!!!! what a bird, what landscape, what dog work, what fun!!!! tempted to go back...really tempted.....
 
badgers

twice I have run up against badgers pheasant hunting, both times I shot the badger, both times I felt really bad about it. the poor guy was just minding his own business trying to survive but my dogs were not happy letting well enough alone. once I had 4 dogs, the other time 2. there is no way you can hold that many dogs incl. you gun and drag the mutts off, so to save the dogs and the vet bills, the poor badger had to go. don't think a bird dog at least could take a badger and surely the badger didn't attack the dog either. sorry about it all but maybe you ended up being lucky

cheers
 
The dog MAY have gone in after I shot and thought it was something she was supposed to grab...I dunno. I have heard from two other guys that they have been chased by badgers after retreating from the critter...they do not like that it seems. I had the distinct feeling that there was NO way I was gonna get both dogs to retreat without an attack..just felt that way...so, I did what I did...yes, VERY LUCKY!!!!!
 
BB, that was quite the event, glad it all turned out.

For sure, young Sharpies cooked up with some care and knowledge are excellent eating, I have eaten a ton. :eek:
I bring along a little gas grill, lots of meals on the prairie. :cheers:
 
You kill a Badger on a farmers land, you will have a grateful farmer, and probably a place to hunt for a long time. I believe they also eat pheasant eggs. But I know there are tuff to Kill, I know I have shot quite a few and never killed one with the first or 2nd shot. Usually takes 5 or 6.

Sorry if off topic.

I think badger would taste slightly better than a sharpie. IMO :)
 
Last edited:
badgers

not sure it is always legal to shoot them, not sure why you would want to if they are minding their own business and they most always are. I have shot them with a .22. arrows and shotguns, all have been one shot kills, they don't wear armor plate. they also are very unlikely to ever, ever attack you dogs, it's the dogs that cause the problem

cheers
 
mustistuff said:
not sure it is always legal to shoot them, not sure why you would want to if they are minding their own business and they most always are. I have shot them with a .22. arrows and shotguns, all have been one shot kills, they don't wear armor plate. they also are very unlikely to ever, ever attack you dogs, it's the dogs that cause the problem

cheers
Click to expand...

You must not be a farmer, (not that that's a big deal) but, Badgers do a number on the land, weather it by making huge holes in your fields or by dulling cycle blades as the cut through the dirt they pile up. My dad would make us jump off out tractors, and grabbing anything we could (ROCK, Hammer) and run after and kill them. When I was talking about taking 5 to 6 shots to kill them, it was with a 12 or 20g, not a riffle. But if you can kill them with 1 shot with a 12 or 20 great. I personally haven't seen that. But we usually shot them at around 30-40 yards and I guess if you got up too 10 yards or so it would be easier. Don't think I have ever shot one with a riffle. Mainly Cause the time I see them is usually when I am pheasant hunting.

Also, its legal in South Dakota to Shoot them Year around, no limit.

Pheasants mind their own business and I enjoy shooting them, as does almost every animal I shoot.
 
Last edited:
mustistuff said:
not sure it is always legal to shoot them, not sure why you would want to if they are minding their own business and they most always are. I have shot them with a .22. arrows and shotguns, all have been one shot kills, they don't wear armor plate. they also are very unlikely to ever, ever attack you dogs, it's the dogs that cause the problem

cheers
Click to expand...

there were badger holes everywhere...the badger decided to stand its ground...I felt like a melee was inevitable, regardless of who started it, and once it started, taking a safe shot would be out of the question...a decision was made in a split second, at about 7 feet...by the way, i have now heard at least a few stories about badgers chasing dogs and one where a hunter was chased...i get no jollies about killing things that I don't pursue...just felt like it was the smart thing to do, but maybe not...
 
benelli-banger said:
there were badger holes everywhere...the badger decided to stand its ground...I felt like a melee was inevitable, regardless of who started it, and once it started, taking a safe shot would be out of the question...a decision was made in a split second, at about 7 feet...by the way, i have now heard at least a few stories about badgers chasing dogs and one where a hunter was chased...i get no jollies about killing things that I don't pursue...just felt like it was the smart thing to do, but maybe not...
Click to expand...

I'm not preaching, and I see their damage and have stepped in a few holes made by them, I'm sure you did the right thing, don't know about a hole for the farmer, but take no chance with the dog. dove hunting a week ago in Kansas I had a badger cross in front of me, easy shot, didn't take it as the dogs were not aware of it but I did keep an eye on the dogs just in case they picked up on it. besides they make great shaving brushes from years gone by


cheers
 
david0311

mustistuff said:
I'm not preaching, and I see their damage and have stepped in a few holes made by them, I'm sure you did the right thing, don't know about a hole for the farmer, but take no chance with the dog. dove hunting a week ago in Kansas I had a badger cross in front of me, easy shot, didn't take it as the dogs were not aware of it but I did keep an eye on the dogs just in case they picked up on it. besides they make great shaving brushes from years gone by


cheers
Click to expand...

Musti--Musti :rolleyes:

You say you have killed them with everything but a slingshot and mortar fire :eek:---and you question why some one would kill one???:)

Tom--you were right shoudn't encourage him :D
 
david0311

Snow covering the ground in Northern MN at this time and still snowing--got a call today to help out with dogs at a preserve tomorrow--good tune up for --real opener in a couple of weeks :thumbsup:
 
benelli-banger said:
The dog MAY have gone in after I shot and thought it was something she was supposed to grab...I dunno. I have heard from two other guys that they have been chased by badgers after retreating from the critter...they do not like that it seems. I had the distinct feeling that there was NO way I was gonna get both dogs to retreat without an attack..just felt that way...so, I did what I did...yes, VERY LUCKY!!!!!
Click to expand...
My dogs killed a badger once, but there were 4 so they had a good advantage. Only one dog got bit, on the foot. I put her down 3 weeks ago as she was 14.5 years old and had two very bad days. The loss was alieved somewhat by 5 puppies born two days later. Glad your dog came out ok. Very freaky and I could not imagine where your story was going till the end.

On the youth hunt Sat. we went only 50 yards first field, first point, a hen. We then got into two coons by a rock pile. I had two dogs on the ground and they killed the young of the year coon quickly. Mom was much tougher and they finally got it to the point I could get them off and shoot. Another 20 yards and a rooster was pointed. He quickly flew back over our heads and Tyler missed a tough shot (strong northwest wind). Ran into a clutch of 8 in the same field and a good point, shoot and fetch.
Next field another quick point and kill, then a skunk (one dog only). Got her to a lake not too far away and she was tolerable with some windows open.
Went to last field and I told the grand nephew and his grandfather to wait as we would give the birds some time to get in the field. I walked about 100 yards out to check the cover when two roosters flew in and landed about 150 yds in front of the truck. Point, flush shoot retrieve and we are done about 6:00PM. Tyler missed the first then popped 3 in a row. Weather was not hot which is my biggest complaint about early seasons. The dogs were beat, partially from the coon fight, and the thistle was bad, particularly in the second field we hunted. Just the right height to tear up their bellies. Will have to get a vest or two. Will be ok when it dries up a bit. Great day but for the varmits.
 
mustistuff said:
not sure it is always legal to shoot them, not sure why you would want to if they are minding their own business and they most always are. I have shot them with a .22. arrows and shotguns, all have been one shot kills, they don't wear armor plate. they also are very unlikely to ever, ever attack you dogs, it's the dogs that cause the problem

cheers
Click to expand...
I don't disagree, but noting is more benign than a porky but it's heel on your dog when you encounter one. My nephews dog got attacked by a mink two years ago and damn near bleed to death. Just like my dogs better than the varmits and something has to die.
 
varmits

I could see my friends lion and bear dogs killing a badger and never even work up a sweat, but then, they have led a different life. other than a few uplands game birds, my dogs, current, have yet to tackle a chipmonk. big diff. with the experience. many years ago, two of my gsp's took on a coon that maybe weighed about 15 lbs. kinda small coon anyway. they did kill it but it also cost me in 1980 dollars about $125. they got infected from the bites. your day in my life would have been just about unbelievable, what a way to go about a hunt.

cheers
 
When I was working on a golf course we had one badger. I could not believe the damage he did. In one night he roto-tilled a 25x40yds area. All we could do was re seed it and start over. We finally took him out when we found his den and gassed him with propane.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top