Hoosierbuck

Congratulations! That sweet little bundle is a game-changer for sure! Enjoy it, and take more video and pictures, and write more stuff down than you think you need to. You only get one chance, even if you have 10 kids all these moments will be special and you don't want to forget them, and sadly you will. HB

I don't like the thumbhole. It gets cold up here and thick gloves don't work as well with a thumbhole. At least not on my short, thick digits. HB

If you butcher your own deer, you know that trimming the neck meat to "clean" specifications for burger is a daunting task. (If you are one of those guys that just grinds it twice and says to heck with it-skip this.) I have another suggestion for you. Fajitas from whole neck roasts. That's right, leave the neck as intact as can fit into whatever roasting pan/crockpot/electric roaster you have access to. Then wrap it and freeze it whole. Thaw if for a day before you want to eat it. Trim up the outside a little fo you like, but basically just drop the whole thing into your pot with water and a cut-up onion, and fajita seasoning. (I make my own mix, pretty easy to do.) Cook it all day. Shred it apart, taking out the non-meat parts. No lie, this takes some time, and perhaps a beverage or two. Then divide this meat into meal-size portions. Freeze what you aren't using now. Heat some oil (a couple tablespoons is usually enough) in a skillet, then put in the meat, with more fajita seasoning. When it's "done" (remember it is already cooked, you are just heating/frying it up), put it in a covered dish while you sautee some onion and green pepper and whatever else you like. Put the meat back in and heat it all up together for a couple minutes. I serve with salsa (preferably fresh) and cheese on flour tortillas. I can't tell you how big of a hit these are with my family. PLEASE-don't do a shoddy job of trimming the neck and throw this meat away just because it's too big of a pain. **Because this method does cook spinal cord, not recommended for CWD areas.** HB

Congrats, my friend! I don't know how a goober like me could rate entry to the SHOT show, but it would be cool to go. I went to an NRA national convention one time, though. < HB

Way to stick it out, man. That's a great buck, and you'll be proud to have him on your wall to remember a hunt like yours. HB

Brother, you didn't lose him, he just went on ahead to scout. You will catch up someday and have a grand reunion. I am sorry for the pain you are feeling. It is a fine reflection on how much you love him. HB

You get a pass for being late Ross. Thanks for the wishes buddy. HB

Thanks a ton, y'all. I appreciate it muchly. Had a great dinner at a little Austrian restaurant in town, and now an early bedtime is in the offing. HB

Thanks fellas. Spent it ripping out a stump with a Mattock and a 10 # hammer. Good times! > HB

Thank you sir. Every day on the green side of the sod is a good one. HB

I don't think I will ever get picked, but did get a letter once. For some reason they didn't want me to show up. My wife has to go through it every couple years, and they send her home, too. HB

Niiiiiice guest you had! HB

I think a picture of the top of the dude's head or his ball cap might not be of much value to the LEO's. I don't have a great answer either, just saying this one might not get it done like one might hope. HB

Allrighty-so you saw Hammerforged's post about the 9/11 Memorial, and Adjam5's work on it. Well, those two guys are partly to blame for what follows, but I will let you guess or let them tell about their respective roles. The point, as far as I am concerned is that I just got e-mailed to me the following pics from Hammerforged, and the real deal will be in my hot little hands this week: (If you don't have at least one of Ross's knives yet, you are seriously missing out. Sell your drawer full of crappy knives and get one good one that will be a family heirloom.)

Most sincere condolences to your family, Steve. Chris

Prayers sent. HB

Caveat: they are no longer American made. Same designs...executed in China. I have zero information on the quality of the materials or anything else. I cherish my old USA Schrade knives. HB

If you want less recoil than a 12 gauge...I would avoid the .500. Seriously. HB

Leave the backstraps whole or cut in half lengthwise. Marinate in lime juice for an hour or 3. Mix a dry rub of cumin, brown sugar, chili powder, a dash of cayenne if it suits you, salt and pepper, whatever else you like. Put the spice rub on the meat, cook it just enough to get it hot through or as little as possible for the crowd you are feeding. I broil it in the oven or cook it on the grill, whatever. Can't beat it. Bring some over across I-80 and I will do it for you. HB

I only shoot does when I have a shot at one. I love to shoot a big buck, but I guess I really have come down to being primarily a meat hunter. I have a "lifetime license" and we have an incredibly liberal limit, so I shoot as many as 8-9 a year for the freezer and one to donate. HB

I have an Encore in .500 Smith, and a Winchester 94 in .44 Mag. I like them both, and there is no denying that the .500 flattens deer, but the .44 goes hunting with me much more often. Love that lever with a straight 4x Leupold. I often shoot 2-3 deer at a time with it. HB

I clean it thoroughly, over-lube, and put it away. Period. I break it out late summer and start shooting for season. Never had any problems. Store it in a basement vault with a dehumidifier. HB

Got an iPhone 4 from work. I really like it, though I am no where near utilizing its full capacity. Very user friendly. I find that I am almost always working now, though. Even more than before, I mean. Too easy to check e-mails and such. HB

WOW. You are lucky you still have a thumb at all. That looks rough buddy. Hope it heals to where you can use it fully. HB

I'm not a detective, just a "persecutor"