Outdoors FanHouse http://outdoors.fanhouse.com Outdoors FanHouse http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://outdoors.fanhouse.com/media/feedlogo.gif Outdoors FanHouse http://outdoors.fanhouse.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/Note to Butchers: Leave the Head Onhttp://outdoors.fanhouse.com/2008/12/29/note-to-butchers-leave-the-head-on/http://outdoors.fanhouse.com/2008/12/29/note-to-butchers-leave-the-head-on/http://outdoors.fanhouse.com/2008/12/29/note-to-butchers-leave-the-head-on/#commentsFiled under:

A grassroots movement is a powerful force. (See: the Obama campaign, American Revolution and the "Napoleon Dynamite" fanbase). And put the local food crowd in that category, too. Unless, of course, your source of local food is living next door to a Cheetos factory. As the mantra of "know what you eat" catches on, it's great to see the public rediscovering farms just outside the city limits.

But, the local food movement is falling short in one category: meat. The idea of knowing the foostuff's source is important and something us huntin' folk have been appreciating for centuries. Looking at a fine cut of steak is mouthwatering. Seeing the cow's head or a full side of beef is inspiring. As a hunter, butchering a whole deer is a humbling reminder of what it takes to fulfill our gastrointestinal system. Respecting the food source is the most important part of eating well.

My thinking about this was spurred by watching "A Christmas Story" on endless repeat over the last week. You know the final scene in the Chinese restaurant? Not the singing, but instead, the reaction when the peking duck is served with the head still intact. Imagine the same drama playing out today. Our food culture is more sanitized than church camp film festival.

I'm not arguing for a total breakdown of cleanliness. Washing hands and scrubbing kitchen pots are fine, but shrink-wrapped meat is not. Seeing an animal intact is a great start, but compromise is the mark of civility so I'm willing to concede a couple of points. Perhaps leaving the feet on the chicken legs (they're great fried) or a head on the pig will give the average consumer the same reverence for flesh that hunters have when they shoot a deer or boar or goose. Also, those extra parts that we discard make a fine meal, too. I'd say along with eating local, we should start eating whole. So, step one: go buy your hunting license.

Note to Butchers: Leave the Head On originally appeared on Outdoors FanHouse on Mon, 29 Dec 2008 10:20:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>butchercivilizationdeerfoodhuntingWilliam R. SnyderMon, 29 Dec 2008 10:20:00 EST Catch and Release vs. Catch and Eathttp://outdoors.fanhouse.com/2008/12/19/catch-and-release-vs-catch-and-eat/http://outdoors.fanhouse.com/2008/12/19/catch-and-release-vs-catch-and-eat/http://outdoors.fanhouse.com/2008/12/19/catch-and-release-vs-catch-and-eat/#commentsFiled under:

A moment for personal pride. See that hefty striped bass on the right and the goofy goober holding it? That's me. (The person, not the fish, natch.) I caught that 50-inch cow in the Chesapeake Bay from my kayak. Had I flipped I would encourage you to nominate me for the Darwin Awards. It was 25 degrees with flurries and we were fishing at night. Not an Einstein moment, but those huge stripers are in the Bay for only one month a year and the fishing, like most pleasures in life, is better when the sun goes down.

After a solid fight and a couple of photographs, I released her back into the black waters. Ten years ago I would have drug her to the shore and fileted the meat for a proper fish fry. And the fellow anglers that were out there with me seemed shocked that I wasn't prepping the grill. On the drive home a toll booth operator asked if I had caught anything. I said yes and showed him a picture.

"Did you keep?" he asked. "Heck no," I said. The expression on my face must have been especially foul like when you order a sturgeon caviar and a clumsy waiter brings you salmon roe instead. I'm sure you understand. The toll booth man seemed equally horrified with my apparent soft spine. Note to self: get an EZ Pass.

His reaction got me thinking though about releasing versus eating.


It's not that I've lost a taste for fish, but my ethic for what to kill and what to let swim away has been honed over the years. And the generalized rule is size matters. The bigger the fish, the more reason to let it go.

On a simple level, bigger fish generally don't taste as good. Plus, the larger and older they are, the more mercury has built up in the skin and bones. That's reason number one not to eat them. And I don't know what I would do with that much fish. There aren't enough contacts in my phone to use up all the filets. I've kept smaller stripers, though I don't think they taste very good either, but at least I wasn't wasting pounds and pounds of meat.

Second, any fish that has survived for so long has laid a lot of eggs and is on her way to do it again. Sport fish numbers are hurting. There's no need to deprive nature of one more minnow-producing machine.

And finally I'm reminded of a boyhood lesson. When you get in a tussle you don't humiliate your opponent. You compete and then leave the scene as equals, no matter who won. On that cold Chesapeake night, when I was lucky enough to have something so big and powerful tug at the end of the line it only seems right that the affair end in a draw.

Catch and Release vs. Catch and Eat originally appeared on Outdoors FanHouse on Fri, 19 Dec 2008 09:07:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>catch and releaseCatchAndReleaseethicsfishfishingstriped bassStripedBassWilliam R. SnyderFri, 19 Dec 2008 09:07:00 EST How to Build an Igloo (and Other Snow Shelters)http://outdoors.fanhouse.com/2008/12/18/how-to-build-an-igloo-and-other-snow-shelters/http://outdoors.fanhouse.com/2008/12/18/how-to-build-an-igloo-and-other-snow-shelters/http://outdoors.fanhouse.com/2008/12/18/how-to-build-an-igloo-and-other-snow-shelters/#commentsFiled under:

The weather outside is frightful. Actually, it's worse than that. It's nastier than the septic tank at a Mexican restaurant. As the first real jolt of winter goes trotting across our fair continent, most of us are agonizing over holiday travel plans. Snow can certainly disrupt flights and drives, but it also poses a dire threat to outdoorsmen.

Hunting seasons are winding down, but there are still the die-hard who look at a cold front in late December as a great last chance to find a trophy or meat for the freezer. For deer hunters stalking a set of tracks in fresh snow is one of life's great thrills. Of course when tracking a deer like Sherlock Holmes it's possible to get disoriented. If the sun starts to sink and you're lost the best thing to do is dig in. Buiid a new home in the snow. And the upside? You don't even need 20% for a down payment. A brand new home for the price of a cold night of sleep. Living in luxury, I say.

So in the distant land of the next page I'll list out three basic snow shelters and how to build them. And there's bonus footage: I dug up a Canadian short film from 1949 showing two First People (that's Canadian for Native American) constructing a bona fide (that's Latin for wowee) igloo.

So, first of all whenever you travel alone in the woods you should leave a detailed plan and map of where you're heading with a real person and then a second copy in the front seat of your car. That's so when you're lost the search team can figure out easily where you were heading.

Snow Trench
If the snow is deep, dig a trench about one foot longer than your height and three feet deep. Line the bottom of the trench with leaves and branches, which will be your comfy mattress. Orient the trench so that your feet will be facing downwind. Dig a hole in the wall where your feet will be to use as an entrance. Next, lay branches closely together over the top and then cover them with a thick layer of snow. Voila, an insulated snow trench.

Snow Cave
Not quite as high-tech as the Bat Cave, but it will keep you warm for a night. This is better-suited for two people, honeymoon suite anyone? Find a large snow drift and start digging from the downwind side. One person should dig and the other should remove the excess snow. Once you've dug in, then dig up. A snow cave needs a floor and then a raised area for sleeping. Once you've cleared off a sleeping platform, drive a small hole through the ceiling for ventilation and cuddle up.

Igloo
For this one we've got a guest lecturer. I've never built an igloo so let's watch two arctic natives whip up one very quickly.

How to Build an Igloo (and Other Snow Shelters) originally appeared on Outdoors FanHouse on Thu, 18 Dec 2008 16:33:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>coldhuntingigloosnowsnow cavesnow trenchSnowCaveSnowTrenchsurvivalwinterWilliam R. SnyderThu, 18 Dec 2008 16:33:00 EST The Mark of a Rifleman: A Nasty Eye Cuthttp://outdoors.fanhouse.com/2008/12/16/the-mark-of-a-rifleman-a-nasty-eye-cut/http://outdoors.fanhouse.com/2008/12/16/the-mark-of-a-rifleman-a-nasty-eye-cut/http://outdoors.fanhouse.com/2008/12/16/the-mark-of-a-rifleman-a-nasty-eye-cut/#commentsFiled under:

Football players used to get Omega brands on their biceps. Hell's Angels cruised the streets with large patches on their vests. And L.A. gangs flashed hand symbols to show allegiance. Every tough guy group out there has a mark. But, hey, us gun guys want an identifying mark, too.

Well, perhaps the best candidate is a snake bite scar. A snake bite is the cut we get over the eye when a combination of factors (usually culminating with the recoil from a high-powered rifle) jams the scope back into your forehead. Yes, it hurts. Yes, grown men also cry.

It doesn't happen much, but it is bound to happen if you shoot a lot and shoot a lot of big guns. It could be because the scope is improperly mounted or because the gun is too powerful or because of human error (read: you did something really dumb). But it's a reality of the gun range. Eventually the recoil of a rifle and an ill-placed forehead will result in a gash in the vicinity of your shooting eye. From this day forth, I'm considering it the brand of a marksman.

David Petzal, the legendary gun writer for Field and Stream, wrote up an account of some of the best scope cuts he's seen on his blog, The Gun Nut. I've pasted them on the next page for your enjoyment. Consider it an early Christmas gift.

"The two best I've ever seen came from a .30/06 with a cheap scope that had no eye relief to speak of, and a .300 Weatherby, whose owner contorted himself into a weird prone position, shooting downhill at a caribou. The ocular lens bell caught him on the bridge of the nose and opened it up like an ax. My own best scope cut came from a .30/378 with a muzzle brake. I was curious how hard it kicked without the brake and fired it prone. I found out."
Sadly all I've got to show for my days at the range is a scar on my thumb. That dandy came from an overpowered revolver that kicked back and dug the hammer into my skin. It's on my hand, though, and not the face, so it's like only getting an associate membership at a country club or transferring to a college and touting your diploma like you'd been there for all four.

The Mark of a Rifleman: A Nasty Eye Cut originally appeared on Outdoors FanHouse on Tue, 16 Dec 2008 11:05:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>cutguninjuryriflescopeshootingWilliam R. SnyderTue, 16 Dec 2008 11:05:00 EST Video: Insane Base Jumping in Wingsuits http://outdoors.fanhouse.com/2008/12/12/video-insane-base-jumping-in-wingsuits/http://outdoors.fanhouse.com/2008/12/12/video-insane-base-jumping-in-wingsuits/http://outdoors.fanhouse.com/2008/12/12/video-insane-base-jumping-in-wingsuits/#commentsFiled under:

So what do you do when skiing doesn't give you enough of an adrenaline high? You ski off cliffs with a parachute on your back. And what happens when that doesn't quite twist the screw enough? You jump off a cliff with a wingsuit on for a few minutes of flying then pop the 'chute. Wait, there's more. When that doesn't do it for you, what's next?

Well, at this point I'd start thinking about illegal substances or checking out a leather club. But not a group of thrill-seeking (and possibly insane) Norwegians. For them, a normal athletic activity is to dress up in wingsuits and leap off some of the tallest cliffs in the world. That's called base jumping and has been around for awhile. It doesn't stop there, though. Most base jumpers try to navigate away from the cliff wall, you know, so you don't get splattered across the jagged rocks.

Not these dudes. Oh no, it wouldn't be fun unless you tried to buzz the mountainside only a few feet from the cliff surface at a tame 100 mph. Watching these guys in action I'm reminded of the wise words of Stinger addressing one, Maverick: "Your ego is writing checks your body can't cash."

The most incredible video you will watch today is on the next page. It's these hombres in action. Check it out.

If you're on medicine for a heart condition you can watch it, too, but don't blame me if anything goes wrong. As for me, taking an escalator is plenty thrilling.


wingsuit base jumping from doubleA on Vimeo.

Video: Insane Base Jumping in Wingsuits originally appeared on Outdoors FanHouse on Fri, 12 Dec 2008 15:12:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>base jumpingBaseJumpingnorwayparachuteskiingwingsuitWilliam R. SnyderFri, 12 Dec 2008 15:12:00 EST The Dangers of Eating Fishhttp://outdoors.fanhouse.com/2008/12/09/the-dangers-of-eating-fish/http://outdoors.fanhouse.com/2008/12/09/the-dangers-of-eating-fish/http://outdoors.fanhouse.com/2008/12/09/the-dangers-of-eating-fish/#commentsFiled under:

I wish headlines like this were just shock tactics meant to get you to read. I plead not-guilty, I swear. And as evidence to back up the severity of claims like, "never eat anything that comes from the water ever again," check out the map to the right. That's the Chesapeake Bay. Now, I'm not a psychologist or an advertising executive, but I can tell you that the color red is generally not a good sign.

In this case I'm right. The red area, which is the entire Bay in the grand Commonwealth of Virginia, is a fish consumption advisory zone. The culprit? PCBs. Granted the use of PCBs was banned in 1977, they seeped into the soil and ground water and bind to organic materials that gamefish might ingest. It's been 30 years, but it will take a lot longer before they're flushed out of the ecosytem.

Other problems are fertilizer and pesticides. Agricultural run-off has flooded our waters along both coastlines with nasty compounds that make their way into the fish food chain. For now most commercial species are safe enough. But for me, that doesn't cut it. When I read that I should limit myself to a mere two servings of any number of fish types per month from the Chesapeake, that's basically a big, waving red (oooh, there's that color again) flag that I shouldn't get anywhere near a filet.

Why stop with two? The list of toxins goes on and on.Probably the nastiest and most widespread threat to saltwater and fresh water alike is the build-up of mercury in the skin and bones of gamefish. Bottom line: gross.

Fear not fellow anlgers. The news may be dire today, but our efficient and streamlined federal government is on this issue like they were with intelligence gathering before the Iraq War. On second thought, the EPA set up a website that catalogs every fish advisory across the nation. And, they even have information for Guam, Puerto Rico and American Samoa. How's that for being helpful?

This link will take you to a map. Click on your state or territory and you'll find details on all the pollution issues affecting your home waters. Oh, but don't read them if you've got a tuna steak on the grill.

Take these warnings and advisories and scary maps as a chance to get involved. Your local fishing hole almost certainly has a conservation association working to clean it up.

In the interim, sardines are about the only sure thing for eating, so crack open a tin and slurp a few of them down.

The Dangers of Eating Fish originally appeared on Outdoors FanHouse on Tue, 09 Dec 2008 17:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>consumption advisoryConsumptionAdvisoryfishfishinglakeoceanpollutionriverWilliam R. SnyderTue, 09 Dec 2008 17:00:00 EST Private Fishing Club Started for the Bling-Bling Crowdhttp://outdoors.fanhouse.com/2008/12/05/private-fishing-club-started-for-the-bling-bling-crowd/http://outdoors.fanhouse.com/2008/12/05/private-fishing-club-started-for-the-bling-bling-crowd/http://outdoors.fanhouse.com/2008/12/05/private-fishing-club-started-for-the-bling-bling-crowd/#commentsFiled under:

Screw the recession. For the world's high-rolling fishermen, 2009 won't be a year to penny pinch, but rather to spend big bucks to tango with the largest, toughest game fish in the ocean at a series of private fishing clubs. The buy-in for this Hemingway experience is a slick $100,000. (Hold on, let me check under the couch cushions, I think I can wrangle up a down payment.)

Here's the scheme, and it's a good one if you have the cash: Angler Clubs International is building several luxury vacation homes near the top saltwater fishing holes off the coasts of Mexico, Central American and the Caribbean islands. After your $100,000 buy-in, you pay $5,000 annually for the right to use any of the houses. Membership is capped at 400 people, so if you haven't bought a Christmas gift for your fishing buddy, now's the chance.

The company's aim is to give the elite business set access to the elite fish set. It's CEO meets 1,000-pound blue marlin. The two tops of the food chain then duke it out from the back of a fishing boat. And the spots where Angler Clubs International is setting up are world-famous for bonefish, tarpon, marlin, sailfish, tuna...are you drooling yet?

More important, perhaps, than the fishing access is the accommodations. I've fished in some mystical waters, places that make you fall to your knees in praise of big fish. But after said religious experience I would slink back to a roadside trash pit of a motel where a chilled bottle of champagne, I mean a chilled bottle of Miller High Life, waited in the sink for me to celebrate.

Not so at the Anglers Club. Their set-up is royal. The staff-to-guest ratio is a minimum of 1.5:1 according to an article in the Wall Street Journal's Marketwatch. Private chefs, housemaids, fishing guides, they're all there to make it a fishing fantasy.

It would suck to pay that much, though, and then get skunked, huh?-

Private Fishing Club Started for the Bling-Bling Crowd originally appeared on Outdoors FanHouse on Fri, 05 Dec 2008 14:40:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>William R. SnyderFri, 05 Dec 2008 14:40:00 EST How to Eradicate Golf Course Geesehttp://outdoors.fanhouse.com/2008/12/04/how-to-eradicate-golf-course-geese/http://outdoors.fanhouse.com/2008/12/04/how-to-eradicate-golf-course-geese/http://outdoors.fanhouse.com/2008/12/04/how-to-eradicate-golf-course-geese/#commentsFiled under:

It's a sad state of affairs when the best spot for hunting Canada geese is on the 18th green of an exclusive country club.

But that's what is happening across the country as once migratory birds set up shop as residents, taking over parks, fairways and athletic fields. Nuisance complaints are skyrocketing from goose droppings killing lawns to children being harassed by mother geese during the nesting season.

Believe the hype people. Geese are one of our biggest threats. North Korea's missles are like flying teddy bears compared to the waddling, honking, pooping masses of geese. In fact, there's a website addressing this serious concern, canadagoosemanagement.com

Check out the company's masterful slogan:
"Dedicated to solving conflicts between Canada geese and people in a cost effective and efficient manner."
It's like Dr. Phil in animal management form.

Here's an idea: hunters want opportunities to shoot waterfowl and golf course members want geese to stop ruining their fairways. Why not give hunters a sunrise tee time to help manage the population? Everyone is a winner. Man, if only there were another spot for a negotiator in Obama's cabinet, I'd nominate myself.

Hunters are rarely sought as a solution to the problem, but they just might be the most effective. Take a click on to the next page for a list of the population control methods so far (most of which have been marginally effective at best).

First of all, to give you an idea of what we're dealing with, the average adult goose consumes four pounds of feed and poops out two pounds daily. Consider a flock usually has 20-50 members and those get to be some impressive buffet and bathroom numbers.

Here are three of the more common control methods:

Air Cannon
Around airports and on highway medians, these devices are deployed in an effort to keep geese from interfering with planes or traffic. There was a set of these near National Airport in D.C. and the geese were idly grazing near them not even looking up when they let out loud booms. In fact, I seemed to be the only one frightened thinking someone was shooting at me.

Herding
Geese go through a molting period every summer, which makes them unable to fly. Country clubs will hire goose cowboys to round them up for deportation. The problem here is that the club is not addressing the issue: that the birds like to eat grass. So even if you remove one flock, another one will show up.

Chemical Lawn Treatment
It's not a pure poisoning, so don't get up in arms about the ethical issue. Companies have developed sprays to put on grass that are harmless to humans and pets, but give geese a bad stomach ache after grazing. After a few bouts of indigestion a flock will usually clear out with no long-term issues.

All of these work, for sure, but in dealing with the goose invasion maybe it's time to let hunters manage the numbers.

And, a postscript: They are not known as "Canadian geese" in the plural, but instead as "Canada geese." It's counter-intuitive, I know, but these are not passport-carrying Canuck waterfowl.

How to Eradicate Golf Course Geese originally appeared on Outdoors FanHouse on Thu, 04 Dec 2008 15:43:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>canada gooseCanadaGoosegeesegoosehunterhuntingmanagementpopulation controlPopulationControlwaterfowlWilliam R. SnyderThu, 04 Dec 2008 15:43:00 EST Turn Medicine Bottles into Tackle Boxeshttp://outdoors.fanhouse.com/2008/12/02/turn-medicine-bottles-into-tackle-containers/http://outdoors.fanhouse.com/2008/12/02/turn-medicine-bottles-into-tackle-containers/http://outdoors.fanhouse.com/2008/12/02/turn-medicine-bottles-into-tackle-containers/#commentsFiled under:

I know that photo makes me look like a pharmacy junkie, but I assure you they're from a variety of sources and the street value of the previous occupants in each container was extremely low. I imagine anti-acid meds don't command top dollar on the corner.

So here's a quick tip for fishermen, especially those who wade or fish from canoes and kayaks. Old medicine bottles are the perfect size to hold weights, jig heads, hooks and floats. I prefer them to the standard rectangular plastic tackle boxes. For one, medicine bottles are water tight, so no leaking. Second, each one is about the right size for holding a specific piece of tackle, which helps me stay organized. In the picture I've filled two with 1/4-ounce jig heads for speckled trout and striped bass fishing in the Chesapeake Bay.

And instead of taking entire tackle boxes with you, the bottle system allows you to store them easily in pockets, fanny packs (hot fashion statement) and backpacks. Simple enough, right? A side effect of organizing this way is that it forces me to choose exactly the tackle I'll need for any given scenario. I used to suffer horribly from gear hoarding, heading to the water with everything from crankbaits to harpoons (you know, in case the odd whale or seal showed up).

Of course the drawback is that when you open your tackle bag and pull out a dozen pill bottles, your fishing buddies might give you a sideways glance. Just be sure to have a good comeback prepared.

Turn Medicine Bottles into Tackle Boxes originally appeared on Outdoors FanHouse on Tue, 02 Dec 2008 10:40:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>fishingfishing gearFishingGearmedicinepill bottlePillBottlepillstackletackle boxTackleBoxWilliam R. SnyderTue, 02 Dec 2008 10:40:00 EST The Best Site for Hot Antler Actionhttp://outdoors.fanhouse.com/2008/11/26/the-best-site-for-hot-antler-action/http://outdoors.fanhouse.com/2008/11/26/the-best-site-for-hot-antler-action/http://outdoors.fanhouse.com/2008/11/26/the-best-site-for-hot-antler-action/#commentsFiled under:

For a hunter there is nothing worse than being strapped to a desk during the fall. You look out the window and see gray clouds and cold winds rolling in. Everyone else is happy to stay inside, but you know this is prime weather for chasing (white)tail.

So you're stuck in the office. What to do, what to do...I'd suggest feeding your addiction to horn porn. Field and Stream has set up a website of photo galleries to tease any online hunter. Luckily this site is SFW. It's full of user uploaded pictures of deer captured on trail cams. (And there's a million dollar prize if one of the trail cams captures an image of Sasquatch.)

The images even have a seedy, voyeuristic quality about them, hence the pornography reference. Mostly taken at night, the photos are grainy and the deer are unaware, but you get a great look at the animal's rack...the kind of stuff that makes a hunter go weak in the knees. Take a look and try to stay calm.

For those of you unfamiliar with a trail cam, I'll explain what it does on the next page.

So, a trail cam is basically a modern substitute for scouting. They strap onto trees and take a photo when triggered by a motion sensor. It's a sweet contraption if you don't have time to pattern the deer on your property everyday. But beyond that, trail cams capture all sorts of nightlife. I've seen photos of bobcats chasing chipmunks, bears scratching their backs on trees and trespassers sneaking onto the farm. Undoubtedly, though, the image that gets us the most excited is a big buck with a hefty set of antlers walking by.

Trail cams have evolved rapidly in recent years. Originally they shot photos on a roll of film that you would have to retrieve and develop. Then companies released models with digital cameras. Now you can even get versions that email the picture to you from the woods. It's like Big Brother meets Daniel Boone.

I still prefer the old-fashioned way of scouting on foot (which is probably why I haven't shot a deer yet this year), but I also enjoy checking out what others are seeing on their property. Just call me a deer voyeur.

The Best Site for Hot Antler Action originally appeared on Outdoors FanHouse on Wed, 26 Nov 2008 14:20:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>antlersdeerfield and streamFieldAndStreamhuntingpornscoutingwhitetailWilliam R. SnyderWed, 26 Nov 2008 14:20:00 EST Dams Be Damnedhttp://outdoors.fanhouse.com/2008/11/25/dams-be-damned/http://outdoors.fanhouse.com/2008/11/25/dams-be-damned/http://outdoors.fanhouse.com/2008/11/25/dams-be-damned/#commentsFiled under:

This is a pretty random opener so bear with me. I was browsing deeply through Wikipedia last week and ended up on the page for the year 2012. Sounds like it'll be a good time (presidential election, London Olympics, end of the world according to the Mayan calendar and two key dam removals in the U.S.). So let's assume the world doesn't end, what's the next most exciting prospect for the not-too-distant future? Olympics? Yawn. Politics? I'm still overdosing from this year.

If you guessed dam removal, then get excited, because you're right. Why is knocking down a concrete wall something worth celebrating? Because a lot of dams in the U.S. do nothing but wreak havoc on the upstream ecosystems, starting with the fishing and trickling down (or upstream in this case) all the way to tree growth.

The two dams slated for destruction are the Glines Canyon and Elwha dams, both on the Elwha River in northwest Washington. They were built in the early part of last century and didn't have any facilities to help fish swim upstream. Those fish were migratory salmon who were cut off from their spawning grounds. No place to get it on meant no eggs in the stream and no returning salmon. And after a salmon lays eggs it dies. The decaying carcasses would add nutrients to the riverbank soil, improving the health of trees and forest vegetation.

The benefits list of dam removal goes on and on, so click on over to read about them.

Most importantly, when a dam is removed it creates a seamless connection of seasonal fish habitat. Salmon aren't alone in river migration. On the East Coast, the Army Corps of Engineers wiped out a dam in Fredericksburg, Va., so that shad and striped bass could reinstate their migratory routes. Trout and smallmouth bass will also travel long distances in a river to reproduce.

Probably the second most important facet of dam destruction is the even deposit of sediment and silt. With a dam in the way, all of the stuff a river picks up and moves in its current gets blocked by the wall. With an even flow those minerals, sands and soils will be left evenly on the riverbank.

Next up, a flowing river has stabilized dissolved oxygen levels. This is important but not a very sexy talking point. Basically it means better water quality for sensitive fish such as trout.

Finally, water clarity and normalized temperatures return to a river when it's let go to a natural state. That again means more biological diversity and healthier conditions for the river and surrounding lands.

Let's hope 2012 is the kickoff of a new movement to dump the dams. That is, of course, if the apocalyptic doom predicted in the Mayan calendar doesn't come to pass.

Dams Be Damned originally appeared on Outdoors FanHouse on Tue, 25 Nov 2008 17:10:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>damecosystemelwha riverElwhaRiverfishingremovalsalmonwashingtonWilliam R. SnyderTue, 25 Nov 2008 17:10:00 EST Pirates Attack Fishing Boatshttp://outdoors.fanhouse.com/2008/11/21/pirates-attack-fishing-boats/http://outdoors.fanhouse.com/2008/11/21/pirates-attack-fishing-boats/http://outdoors.fanhouse.com/2008/11/21/pirates-attack-fishing-boats/#commentsFiled under:

Shiver me timbers, we've entered the crazy times. Pirates are totally making a comeback. They're more in fashion this fall than cashmere sweaters and plain-front trousers.

It's been 200 years since they've been a force at sea, but lately no one is safe, from super tankers to fishing boats. The map on the right is from the International Chamber of Commerce's Crime Service web page and it's constantly streaming in real time to bring you the latest pirate information.

No joke, there's a website dedicated to tracking pirate attacks around the globe. And courtesy of Google's nifty little pointers you can get the exact GPS coordinates of each sea invasion.

The stories making the big news include the Sirius Star, an oil tanker loaded with a cool $100 million in crude. But, for us anglers there's a bit more worrisome news. Several fishing vessels, both commercial and private have been boarded by Blackbeard wannabes. And though this just seems absurd to type, be careful if you're fishing the east coast of Africa near Madagascar or around the Seychelles in the Indian Ocean. Silly as it seems, these are prime fishing spots for big-game species like marlin and tuna and draw fishermen each winter from around the world.

The good news is this new breed of pirate seems to be a little less savage than his predecessor, mostly demanding princely ransoms. So far there are no reports of plank walking.

And for your pleasure, no wait, actually this is more for my pleasure, a couple of cheesy pirate jokes after the jump.

What rating did the pirate movie receive?
An arrrr

Why is pirating so addictive?
They say once ye lose yer first hand, ye get hooked

What's a horny pirate's worst nightmare?
A sunken chest with no booty

Zing.

Pirates Attack Fishing Boats originally appeared on Outdoors FanHouse on Fri, 21 Nov 2008 17:10:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>crimefishingjokespiratepiratesWilliam R. SnyderFri, 21 Nov 2008 17:10:00 EST Gun Sales Soar After Obama Electedhttp://outdoors.fanhouse.com/2008/11/19/gun-sales-soar-after-obama-elected/http://outdoors.fanhouse.com/2008/11/19/gun-sales-soar-after-obama-elected/http://outdoors.fanhouse.com/2008/11/19/gun-sales-soar-after-obama-elected/#commentsFiled under:

A vote for change seems to have also been a vote to buy a gun. President-elect Barack Obama is apparently the best advertisement the gun industry could have hoped for. NPR, the Denver Post and the Wall Street Journal have all published articles in the two weeks after election day noting the spike in handgun and "assault rifle" purchases.

Sales numbers began their climb at the same time Obama built his lead in the polls, roughly at the beginning of October. But since Election Day, new gun purchases have really taken off.

One quote from the Denver Post drives home the point:
"I was selling guns before I even opened the door," said George Horne, owner of The Gun Room. "It's gone completely mad. Everyone is buying everything I've got on the shelves. Sales have been crazy."
The general consensus among those interviewed for each story is that with a Democratic White House and a Democratic Congress, those two forces will be the death knell of the second amendment.

This fear is reflected in the recent stats released regarding background checks. Those requests were up 8% for rifles and shotguns and 28% for handguns. No government agency monitors firearm sales directly.

Though Obama promised to maintain an individual's right to own a firearm on the campaign trail, shoppers in Wyoming, Colorado and other gun-friendly areas aren't buying the rhetoric. They feel that the new administration will almost certainly reintroduce the 1994 Assault Weapons Ban that Clinton signed into law but expired in 2004.

Another interesting anecdote from the reporting is that most buyers cited their reason for buying heat as self-defense, not hunting. This kind of thinking leads me to speculate that gun sales might also be increasing because of the economic downturn. Generally recessions can cause a rise in petty crime and break-ins so while Obama might be the superficial reason for a handgun purchase, a wider concern for safety could be the real engine behind the latest sales growth.

Gun Sales Soar After Obama Elected originally appeared on Outdoors FanHouse on Wed, 19 Nov 2008 10:45:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>barack obamaBarackObamagungun salesGunSaleshandgunobamapresidentrifleWilliam R. SnyderWed, 19 Nov 2008 10:45:00 EST Trophy Catches From Your Computer: New Virtual Reality Fishing Gamehttp://outdoors.fanhouse.com/2008/11/14/trophy-catches-from-your-computer-new-virtual-reality-fishing-g/http://outdoors.fanhouse.com/2008/11/14/trophy-catches-from-your-computer-new-virtual-reality-fishing-g/http://outdoors.fanhouse.com/2008/11/14/trophy-catches-from-your-computer-new-virtual-reality-fishing-g/#commentsFiled under:

First, all I can say is I hope this doesn't suck. Outdoorsy games have a tendency to miss the point. Many years ago a relative gave me a handheld fishing simulator. All you did was "cast," meaning you shook the controller like a tambourine. Then a fish would randomly strike and you reeled it in. Just typing about it reminds me of how lame it was.

And the lameness factor is probably the hardest thing for game designers to overcome. Here's why: It's genuinely difficult to instill the same adrenaline in a computer program as you get from battling a 1,000-pound marlin or getting a clear shot on a towering moose. It's like going from Amsterdam's red light district to a skin bar in North Dakota.

Okay, the rant is over. What Pishtech has created looks like a high-quality fishing simulator, almost like a Big Buck Hunter for the hook and fin crowd. And the fact that it's virtual reality means it could stimulate the senses like a real lunker tugging on the line.

How realistic is it? Well, we've got a walk-through video after the jump, but off the bat you actually have to save money to buy new rods, reels and lures. Sounds like real life to me.

This video is a game preview from Pishtech, which shows all the features. After watching it, I'm thinking this game might actually be harder than fishing in my local bass hole. Kudos for that.



What do you think? Will you play it or do you prefer to fish for real?

Trophy Catches From Your Computer: New Virtual Reality Fishing Game originally appeared on Outdoors FanHouse on Fri, 14 Nov 2008 11:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>computerfishinggamesvirtual realityVirtualRealityWilliam R. SnyderFri, 14 Nov 2008 11:00:00 EST Do You Know the Name for Each Full Moon?http://outdoors.fanhouse.com/2008/11/12/do-you-know-the-name-for-each-full-moon/http://outdoors.fanhouse.com/2008/11/12/do-you-know-the-name-for-each-full-moon/http://outdoors.fanhouse.com/2008/11/12/do-you-know-the-name-for-each-full-moon/#commentsFiled under:

November 13th marks the next full moon. For deer hunters, the November full moon combined with a cold front signals the beginning of the rut, the time of year when whitetails reproduce. The rut is prime time for hunting as bucks chase does day and night, letting down their usually defensive guard. This has been the traditional hunting season for thousands of years.

So, you'll hear some hunters refer to this full moon as the "rut moon" or even the "hunter's moon." But they're wrong. The November full moon is actually called the Beaver Moon. Huh? you ask. Well, Native Americans, among other civilizations, named each full moon through the year as a way to mark the changing seasons and as a reminder to plant or harvest crops.

The Beaver Moon was the next-to-last full moon of the year and as an indicator to set traps for beavers before the swamps froze. The pelts were used for warmth and the meat was rife with fat, both necessities for the cold winter.

After the jump I'll list out each month's moon name and the reasoning behind it. These monikers are from the Farmer's Almanac and were consistent among most American Indian tribes along the East Coast and Midwest.

January--The Wolf Moon
Pretty kickin' name, eh? This is the time of year when wolf packs would hunt through the night, howling as they searched for meat. Sometimes that meant getting uncomfortably close to the Indian camps as the scent of food lured them in.

February--The Snow Moon
For much of the U.S., this is the snowiest month of the year and temperatures could sink dangerously low. Not the friendliest name but compare it to the "Hunger Moon," which is what some tribes called it, and Snow Moon sounds pretty docile.

March--The Worm Moon
The first moon to offer a reprieve from the winter months. This moon's name came from the earth worm casts that would appear and indicated the return of the robins.
April--The Fish Moon
For coastal tribes this marked the season when shad would migrate up the rivers. And for inland tribes it marked runs of trout from the lakes to the feeder streams.

May--The Flower Moon
Simple enough. By May most of the country is in bloom and also free of frost so tribes would begin their planting.

June--The Strawberry Moon
Strawberry season is quite short. The fruit is only available for a couple of weeks and it coincides with the June full moon. That's easy to remember, right?

July--The Buck Moon
Another hunting-related moon. In July male deer and elk begin to grow antlers. An alternative nickname is the thunder moon since July is prime for boomers.

August--The Sturgeon Moon
It's hard to believe now, but giant sturgeon used to swim in most of our countries rivers and bigger lakes. Those days are long gone, but the name stuck. According to fishing tribes, this was the optimal time to catch the underwater beast.

September--The Harvest Moon
Cue the Neil Young. It's the time of year when most Native American crops were ready for picking.

October--The Hunter's Moon
Still relevant today as October marks the beginning of most hunting seasons around the country.

November--The Beaver Moon
We covered this one on page one. Don't remember? Look at the top of the page.

December--The Long Night Moon
There's nothing unclear about this one. The winter solstice=long nights and short days.

Now you've got some semi-useful trivia to impress your friends or even score a free beer from a bet.

Do You Know the Name for Each Full Moon? originally appeared on Outdoors FanHouse on Wed, 12 Nov 2008 18:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>full moonFullMoonhuntingmoonnamestriviaWilliam R. SnyderWed, 12 Nov 2008 18:30:00 EST Chinese Restaurant Busted Butchering Deerhttp://outdoors.fanhouse.com/2008/11/06/chinese-restaurant-busted-butchering-deer/http://outdoors.fanhouse.com/2008/11/06/chinese-restaurant-busted-butchering-deer/http://outdoors.fanhouse.com/2008/11/06/chinese-restaurant-busted-butchering-deer/#commentsFiled under:

Well, the headline says it all. But take solace that it wasn't a pigeon or rat or any other urban legend animal that seems to (supposedly) make its way into ethnic dishes.

The culprit in this story was the China King of Hamburg, NY. Restaurant sanitation employees caught the staff hacking up a whitetail deer in the kitchen. And the Outdoor Pressroom has the money quote:

It was unknown whether the whitetail originated as roadkill or was taken by a hunter.

And the sanitation officials were quick to point out that the meat's source is irrelevant. ""In general, you can't have a dead animal in a food services establishment." I hope not.

Legally, hunters cannot sell excess meat to restaurants or butchers. This is both a conservation and sanitation measure. Read on and I'll explain.

First, if hunters could profit from shooting a deer, duck or rabbit, then it detracts from the idea that hunting is for self-sufficiency. It could also promote over-exploiting a resource. And on the sanitation front, who knows how that animal has been handled or if it lay dead in the woods for a day or two.

Hunters can offload extra meat, though, through Hunters for the Hungry. It's a charity that puts excess meat to good use by distributing it to homeless shelters and food banks.
And, as far as it goes, venison is probably one of the best meat sources. Low in fat and with a fine texture, it is my preferred red meat. How about you? What wild game tickles your palette? And would you eat General Tso's venison in place of chicken?

Chinese Restaurant Busted Butchering Deer originally appeared on Outdoors FanHouse on Thu, 06 Nov 2008 16:29:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>deerhuntingrestaurantsanitationWilliam R. SnyderThu, 06 Nov 2008 16:29:00 EST A Gadget That's SPOT On for Any Adventurer, or Even Momhttp://outdoors.fanhouse.com/2008/11/05/a-gadget-thats-spot-on-for-any-adventurer-or-even-mom/http://outdoors.fanhouse.com/2008/11/05/a-gadget-thats-spot-on-for-any-adventurer-or-even-mom/http://outdoors.fanhouse.com/2008/11/05/a-gadget-thats-spot-on-for-any-adventurer-or-even-mom/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

When I first started kayaking at the ripe age of 21, I proudly brought home documentation of my waterfall hucking exploits to show to my parents, so they could understand first-hand what it was I had suddenly become so fanatical about.

Understand they did. And they didn't like it one bit. To them, the video that provided evidence of my running Marginal Monster on Overflow Creek (yes, it looks like it sounds) was just further proof that what I had gotten myself involved in was insanely dangerous.

It didn't take long for me to get the message that they'd rather not see those videos, or hear about my exploits, simply for the fact that it worried them silly. Now, I do let them know when I'm going kayaking on longer trips. But so my mom doesn't worry about me too much, I try to keep the details vague.

Well, there's now a cool little gadget that can give your mom peace of mind, while adding safety to your own trip. It's called the SPOT Satellite Messenger, and it's something you might want to consider adding your boating safety kit. About the size of a cell phone and weighing 7 oz., this nifty little device is sort of a reverse GPS system.
Instead of telling you where you are, it can tell others -- such as your mom -- exactly where you've ended up on the planet, using GPS technology. With the help of Google Maps, SPOT allows the folks back home to log onto a Web site that shows them exactly where you are, as well as the progress you've made throughout your route. That can provide peace of mind for loved ones who, though they may not want to know exactly what you're doing, might be comforted by knowing where you are, and that you're safe.

That's the other really cool thing about SPOT: it actually let's Mom know you're okay. Just press SPOT's "OK" button each day you're out (or more often, if you want) to send out an email that everything's going just fine. Put the email addresses of friends and family into SPOT's Web page before you leave, and they'll get a message each time you choose to send one. It could also come in handy for those unforeseen situations where it takes you longer to complete a run than anticipated. Need to bivvy on the river an extra night, but not in any real danger? Let your girlfriend, roommate or spouse know.

If things do go wrong, there's a "911" button that will send a call for help to relevant authorities, as well as a non-emergency help button that you can push to let friends know you need something, even if you're not in real trouble. That function could be used, for instance, if you're sea kayaking, and you need extra food or gear brought to you at your next mooring site.

Perhaps best of all for kayakers? The little bugger's waterproof, and it floats.

Sean Morley, the 2007 World Masters Surf Kayak champion and sea kayaker who recently completed the fastest circumnavigation of Vancouver Island, took the SPOT with him on his successful record-breaking jaunt. By logging onto the SPOT Web site, Sean's wife Gina could track his progress each night, and also have peace of mind each time she got an "OK" message during the 17-day expedition.

"This is a really cool kit," Morley says. "I'd recommend it to anyone doing a similar trip, if only to allow friends and family to track your progress. Of course, it has the 911 capability, though fortunately, I never had to test that one."

But, just like all technology, it can sometimes outsmart itself. For instance, on a few occasions during Sean's trip, he reported that he sent the "OK" signal, and that SPOT's system received it. Unfortunately for Gina, though, the device's Web site didn't always update that information for her to see.

For that reason, Morley says, "It comes with a slight warning that you don't want people to misinterpret things if they can't see you making progress along your route, even though you sent the signal."

Still, for a suggested retail price of $169.99 and an annual subscription of $99 a year after that, I'd deal with that little glitch if it came up. After all, if you're sending updates regularly, folks can see that you're okay on the next update.

I think I know what I'm getting Mom for Christmas.

A Gadget That's SPOT On for Any Adventurer, or Even Mom originally appeared on Outdoors FanHouse on Wed, 05 Nov 2008 06:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>Joe BousquinWed, 05 Nov 2008 06:00:00 EST How to Remove a Fishing Hook (From Yourself)http://outdoors.fanhouse.com/2008/10/29/how-to-remove-a-fishing-hook-from-yourself/http://outdoors.fanhouse.com/2008/10/29/how-to-remove-a-fishing-hook-from-yourself/http://outdoors.fanhouse.com/2008/10/29/how-to-remove-a-fishing-hook-from-yourself/#commentsFiled under:

See that little Picasso on the right? Yep, windy day, lousy backcast and wham I added some bling to my left ear. I never wanted an earring, but I was sloppy and that's what I got, a cone-head streamer with a barbed hook right through my skin. It makes a great fashion statement if you want to show off your love of fishing, but it also stings. Actually, it stings a lot.

This isn't an uncommon occurrence. Plenty of anglers impale themselves, or their buddies. The good news is, it isn't hard to remove, though it will still hurt. The better news? You have several surgical options of how to remove the hook. The best news? We found some gnarly videos of riverside surgery in action. So grab some popcorn and prepare for some great surgery films after the jump. Actually, if you have a weak stomach, leave the popcorn behind. And consider that your warning. There is blood.

Oh, and an important reminder. Post surgery make sure you clean the wound thoroughly. If you're using a big hook, it made a big hole and the gunk from a lake or river can leave a nasty infection.

Hook and Line Method
This one is quick and not too painful. First, loop a piece of fishing line around the bend of the hook. Then press down on the hook shaft with a free finger. Count to three, then yank quickly. Hopefully it pops right out. The video explains it well, and the British narrator's charming accent makes this operation a little easier to stomach.



Push-Through Method
Not the prettiest or pain-sensitive way for getting a hook out, but this surgery option is effective. The video below might make you squirm. However, it is instructional.

Here's how it works: If a hook is embedded deep in the skin, push it through so that the barb of the hook reemerges. With a pair of cutting pliers, snip off the barb and then slide the hook back through and out of the entry wound. Conversely, you can push the hook through and cut off the eye and push it the opposite way. Simple, albeit painful.

How to Remove a Fishing Hook (From Yourself) originally appeared on Outdoors FanHouse on Wed, 29 Oct 2008 05:54:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>fishinghookhook removalHookRemovallakeoceanriversurgeryWilliam R. SnyderWed, 29 Oct 2008 05:54:00 EST Hunter Dies in Opening Weekend Accidenthttp://outdoors.fanhouse.com/2008/10/22/hunter-dies-in-opening-weekend-accident/http://outdoors.fanhouse.com/2008/10/22/hunter-dies-in-opening-weekend-accident/http://outdoors.fanhouse.com/2008/10/22/hunter-dies-in-opening-weekend-accident/#commentsFiled under:

What a terrible way to start the season. Or to end it. Or to happen at all. Period.

WPBF in northern Florida reported that a 73-year-old man died over the weekend when he tried to remove a loaded muzzleloader rifle from his truck. The gun accidentally discharged, hitting Johnny G. Hurst in the chest. He was pronounced dead on the scene. And what makes it even worse is that his wife and two sons witnessed the accident.

Hunting, as a sport, has to deal with a lot of public relations issues, probably more than any other recreation. For instance we all hear from the bunny huggers that try to shame and guilt us for "slaying bambi." But that stuff is trivial compared to safety issues. No doubt the worst thing to happen in our community is when someone is killed.

So, I'm going to have to be a nagging teacher. A few reminders from the hunter safety handbook are after the jump. Study up. We all have a responsibility to be safe in the woods.

This stuff might seem basic, but in the excitement of the moment it can slip your mind. It's happened to me. So, memorize these points. Or, if your memory is bad get them tattooed on your palm so that you'll always be reminded. All together now:

1. Treat every gun as if it's loaded

2. Always point the muzzle (barrel) in a safe direction. Just to clarify, that means don't point it at anyone, even if it's unloaded.

3. Never travel with a loaded firearm in the car.

4. Always be sure of your target and what's beyond it.

5. Always keep your finger off the trigger until ready to shoot.

Hunter Dies in Opening Weekend Accident originally appeared on Outdoors FanHouse on Wed, 22 Oct 2008 10:50:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>accidentdeerfloridagunhuntingriflesafetyWilliam R. SnyderWed, 22 Oct 2008 10:50:00 EST Pink Is the New Camohttp://outdoors.fanhouse.com/2008/10/20/pink-is-the-new-camo/http://outdoors.fanhouse.com/2008/10/20/pink-is-the-new-camo/http://outdoors.fanhouse.com/2008/10/20/pink-is-the-new-camo/#commentsFiled under:

Women might be the saviors of hunting. Or so think the nation's gunmakers. Hunter numbers are tanking faster than the global economy and are looking for a bailout. They're down four percent since the start of the decade and now only five percent of the population identifies themselves as blood sportsmen. (That's about 12.4 million folks.)

Why? Tough to say. Everyone has a theory, but the most credible, I think, are that places to hunt are diminishing as we turn farms and forests into suburbs. And our comfy technology lifestyle means more time in front of computers and online than outdoors. After all, why sit in the freezing cold when you can shoot a deer playing Big Buck Hunter? So, to combat these dire stats, gunmakers have put women In the crosshairs (that's a gold medal winner for bad hunting pun). They're downsizing rifles and shotguns to fit people with smaller frames and they're painting them pink. Yes, pink guns.

Despite the sexist undertones of pink weaponry, it looks like the companies are on to something. Earlier this month the Wall Street Journal reported that while overall hunter numbers declined, the gender breakdown shows a different story for women. They increased ranks from 1.1 million to 1.2 million in the same period.

Aiding the female hunting community is the internet. Field and Stream, the largest hunting and fishing magazine, hosts a blog written by Kim Hiss, entitled FSHuntress. And sites such as womenhunters.com offer an online hunt club for women to share tips and stories or bemoan the chauvinism. A quick read shows that while many women appreciate the marketing efforts of pink camouflage and pink firearms, they see them as a gimmick.

This quote from the Wall Street Journal article hits on that theme:

"Initially their attitude was, 'Pink it and shrink it' and women will buy," says Beth Ann Amico, an Oklahoma hunter and dog trainer who notes that pink defeats the purpose of camouflage. "We're savvier than that."

Color palette aside, it's clear that women have been welcomed into the woods and become part of the mainstream hunting crowd. Even this year's presidential race inspired a new gender-specific piece of hunting gear. Ohio-based company Lakota Industries is promoting the "Sarah-cuda," a pink crossbow as a tribute to Gov. Sarah Palin's fondness for big-game hunting in Alaska.

Pink Is the New Camo originally appeared on Outdoors FanHouse on Mon, 20 Oct 2008 10:53:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>gunshuntershuntingpinkSarah PalinSarahPalinwomenWilliam R. SnyderMon, 20 Oct 2008 10:53:00 EST