I am kind of new to hunting. I have been trying for deer now for the last 3 deer seasons, count this one (2007). So far that is all I have tried for. And I haven't gotten anything as of yet. In 2005 I went out a couple times trying my luck with Slug shotgun. Then in 2006 I tried hunting deer with my bow. This year I am hoping to get a deer or 2 or more, and I hope to do both bow and Slug hunting. So far I have hunted near Deer Island, a small piece of land my Uncle owns in the Hamburg area. And a place by the river north of Council Bluffs.
I am hoping to try some place better or maybe even go back to Deer Island. Last time I went there is was with a group of guys, half of them got deer. Anyway, I am a Disabled Veteran so I have Iowa's Lifetime Hunting & Fishing License for Disabled Veteran's. I have also been to Hunters safety class as it was required to get the Lifetime license in 1998.
I am looking for someone to go hunting with. I have plenty of free time as I am unable to work because of my service connected disability. But I do not always have transportation. That is why I have not gone hunting very many times in the last 2 or 3 years.
About what I have to hunt with. I have a couple camo items (shirt & coveralls), my Orange vest & hat, gloves, knifes, Shotgun with 2 barrels (1 rifled for slugs, 1 for regular shotgun use), and 2 or 3 chokes for the shotgun. I also have a bow. And I also have a handgun, a 9mm. I know I can't use it for deer, but other things I can. So from what I know anyway, since I am new to hunting, I believe I have everything I need to hunt anything I want.
Now about what I want to hunt. As I said I have hunted for deer, even though I haven’t gotten anything yet. Well during hunting season anyway!!! LOL!!! Last year I hit a young deer on the highway with my car. After doing the police report I got to keep the deer. And I processed that myself. I was able to have a couple steaks from it. But since it was hit by a car, several bones were broken and so I was not able to get all of the steaks I would have liked. So most of that deer I ended up grinding it. So I kind of know how to process my own deer. I just need a better place to do it at. Anyway, I also want to hunt Turkey, Pheasant, Quail, Rabbit, Squirrel, and maybe Feral Hog.
And I might even try Duck and/or Goose. But only if I can find out how to cook them so that they are not greasy. I have only had duck 3 or 4 times. All but one was from when I was in the Navy, on a couple of the ships I was on. And those I did not really like because they were to greasy. But about 3 or 4 years ago I had some that an Asian friend of my sister supposedly made. And that was really good. But I say supposedly made because the day that I had it she told me that she made it. But a few months or a year later I asked her how she made it and she said that she bought it from a restaurant nearby. I was like what; you told me you made it. And she then said Oh, maybe I did. I do make it sometime, but I usually get it from the Restaurant when I don’t feel like cooking.
Anyway, if any one might want to be a hunting buddy, contact me and let me know. I would love to get out more to go hunting. Oh, and in case anyone wants to know why I don’t always have transportation. It is because my mom and dad have been divorced for a couple years now. And because of my mom, my dad lost his car, and don’t have the money to get a new one or have a place to stay. So I let him stay with me, and use my car to get back and forth with for work. And since I am an Unemployed Disabled Veteran on a limited income. I can’t afford to get another car. And with gas prices how they are now, neither of us can afford to buy gas 2 or 3 times a week. And since he works about 27 miles one way. To help with gas I let him drive it, instead of me taking him to work every day. So it is only 2 trips worth of gas instead of 4 every day.
Ronald Lee Ray Jr. Disabled Navy Veteran