Articles posted by "Dan Stefanich"
ROLLAWAY CUTTING MAT BY DEER DUMMY
Last fall I featured a portable meat cutting mat that rolls up and cleans up easily. But it works great for morels and fish too. The folks from Deer Dummy produced these for deer hunters, with photos depicting step-by-step photos of the various cuts of meat. Well, it also works [...]Read more
TEACH KIDS TO HUNT AND SHOOT- THE RIGHT WAY
Hunting is a privilege, a tradition and to many families, a legacy. It’s one of the best ways to unplug kids from the internet or video games and spend quality time in the outdoors. But there are right ways and wrong ways to introduce them to this great American pastime. Here are [...]Read more
DSO NOW ON CHICAGO NOW
In 2011, I started blogging on Chicago Now – the blog site of the Chicago Tribune. I was fortunate to share outdoor news and experiences as a contributing blogger with my good friend and mentor, Don Dziedzina on his Illinois Outdoors blog site. But recently, I launched my [...]Read more
HUNTER SAFETY EDUCATION A GREAT WAY TO INTRODUCE KIDS TO HUNTING
If you are planning to take your kids hunting this fall, NOW is the time to get them into Hunter Safety Education Classes. The Illinois Department of Natural Resources offers TWO ways for young hunters to get certified- through their traditional instructor-led 2-day classes, or [...]Read more
BAKED CHEESE & GARLIC MORELS
Don’t get me wrong, fresh morels cooked in butter are tough to beat. But this one might do it. Battered and baked in garlic butter, this dish is an excellent side for for a nice juicy ribeye, served with some wild asparagus. Don’t forget to sautée a few of the morels in butter [...]Read more
ROLLAWAY CUTTING MAT BY DEER DUMMY- PRODUCT REVIEW
The folks from Deer Dummy produce these rollaway cutting mats for deer hunters, with photos depicting step-by-step photos of the various cuts of meat. Well, it also works great in the spring. I used the mat to cut up a pile of morels, as well as filet some fish. The mat works [...]Read more
CWD DISCOVERED IN WILL COUNTY
The first case of Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) in Illinois was reported in Boone County in November of 2002. Since then, the disease has continued to trickle into the Illinois deer herd, mostly into the counties bordering Wisconsin. But now it’s here in Will County. A deer [...]Read more
MEMBERSHIP TO USCCA
OK, this is not considered “gear”. But in my opinion, it’s one of the best investments and one of the best services that I could possibly endorse, especially for my readers in Illinois. It’s a Membership to the United States Concealed Carry Association. [...]Read more
SPEED CINCH ELIMINATES KNOT-TYING FOR OUTDOORSMEN
Of all the outdoors gadgets I’ve used, the Speed Cinch is probably one of the most useful and versatile tools for securing the end of any rope or cord. Anyone who uses rope to tie things down or hold things up can use the speed cinch to secure a load in seconds. The Speed [...]Read more
A FAMILY TRADITION COMES FULL CIRCLE
My first memories of hunting are distant, but clear in my mind. I remember climbing into a deer blind with my Dad — pitch black, windy, and cold, climbing in the darkness to reach the safety of a wooden box high up in a tree. I remember falling asleep then being awaken with a [...]Read more
