PITTSBURG, NH on OCTOBER 21st, 2022. Max, Zorro, and Ralph
photo by Phil Manzi
I suppose I owe some of you an explanation, as to why I always seem to be a day or two late with the Blog in October. This might be the very first time I ever let on to my readers, the real reason why I'm late. The truth is, I am an upland bird hunter. I hunt wild birds (Ruffed Grouse and Woodcock) over pointing dogs. Dogs that I personally train. I've had pointing dogs since 1974. My first pointing dog was an English Setter "Caley." She was actually a surf dog who surfed. Check the YESTERDAY section in the Blog for pics of her surfing.
But I got serious about it when we got "GUNNY" our first German Shorthair.
There was Gunny, Scout, Patch, and now Zorro (above pointing a Grouse) our current 2yr old. I introduced Max to bird hunting and pointing dogs the same year he started boogie boarding. In other words, since he was a toddler. In fact, all of our kids have spent time in the uplands with our GSP's. Gabby used to go with me all the time. She would take photos of me and the dogs. Even Noelle (the vegetarian) would walk in the uplands with the me and the dogs. Both of Max's late grandfathers were big hunters. It's in our DNA.
It should be known, that everything we harvest, we eat. Every bird. Every deer. Every turkey. We eat what we harvest. Now I know that some of you are anti hunting. Mostly because of the whole anti gun movement. But even Old Uncle Joe Biden is NOT anti hunting. Besides, we're not using AR-15's to hunt Grouse and Woodcock. Nor are we using them for deer. Though I do know that many Wild Hog hunters down south, use them for boar hunting. But again, these are responsible hunters/gun-owners who use them. And it should also be known, that I am all for strict background checks, and gun laws regarding purchasing AR 15's. And you should also know, that the shotguns we use to hunt birds are Over and Unders. They are NOT automatics, or semi automatics (though I have no problems with semi auto shotguns.)
In other words, "over and unders" only shoots two shells. You'd have to be pretty damn stupid to use an "over and under" to even think about committing a mass shooting.
Two shots is all you get before you have to reload. They are known in the shotgun world as: the "Gentleman's Guns." The Grouse that Max harvested (above) will be cooked in November. And if you've never dined on Ruffed Grouse, they are to die for. By far the best tasting game bird out there. Ask anyone who has ever dined on Grouse. The best.
Here's Zorro on point again. Here's the typical scenario. You cast the dog into good bird cover. And the dog hunts for the scent of the bird. Once the dog picks up on a scent, the dog will get as close as possible before the bird flushes. Once the dog steps into that scent cone, the dog freezes. That's the "point." The dog is on point, frozen in time. Then the hunter walks in front of the dog, and flushes the bird. Once the bird is airborne, the hunter shoots the bird, and the dog retrieves it, and brings it back to the shooter. Looks easy on paper, but it is anything but easy. It is by far, the most difficult of all the upland bird hunting. I am talking about Grouse and Woodcock in the mountains.
photo by Phil Manzi
This is me last week up in the mountains, with a Grouse that Zorro pointed and retrieved. This is a meal that we all worked hard for. We walked 30 miles in three days. And it was hard walking. Now I realize that there are some of you who will never take part in this lifestyle. And I respect that. What I don't like is when people disrespect me, or my friends and family, for hunting.
The truth is, we are all hunters. You, me, and the person sitting next to you.
The ONLY difference between us, and you non-hunters is; You use a shopping cart, and we use a shotgun. And for those who say, "I didn't kill the chicken I am buying." I say "No, but, you're the reason why they all died a horrible death." Chickens for the most part, do not have a good life. They are raised and slaughtered for your consumption. Period. They keep the lights on 24-7 so they eat and get nice and plump for you. You are the VERY reason for the millions killed each day. And if you are a TRUE VEGAN, or one of the Radical PETA members, and you wear any kind of leather, or have leather interior, whether in your vehicle or home? Then I would label you a hypocrite. Agree?
The bottom line is, when Thanksgiving rolls around
next month, we will all be eating birds. But at our home, they will be birds, that we harvested. (wink).
I am a longstanding member of The Ruffed Grouse Society. Google it. They do amazing work in saving the uplands and restoring Grouse and Woodcock habitat. I am also a past member of the Conservation Commission here in Hampton, NH. I have donated thousands of dollars over the years to help keep the woods and forests in their natural habitat.
I am a surfer and a hunter.
WE SURF. WE HUNT.
Same with these guys. Harry Manzi, Kevin Grondin, and Lenny Nichols. And the man who took the photo. Kody Grondin. This is a THRESHER SHARK. They were out fishing for Tuna when this beast hooked onto the bait and the rest as they say is a wild and crazy fish story. According to the boys the THRESHER actually attacked the boat a couple of times.
The THRESHER'S Tail is how they disable their prey. One whack from that baby and you are knocked silly. Once they stun their prey, they take their time chewing away on the harvest. FYI the meat from this Thresher was amazing.
To answer the nagging question that most surfers and swimmers in New England often ask. "Are there sharks out there?" Here's what you need to do. Walk down to the water's edge and stick your finger in the water and taste it. If it's salty? There's your answer."
"SURFING
AND HUNTING IN OCTOBER HEALS ALL WOUNDS."
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From the Ed O'Connell galleries. This is Markey J jamming a big ass bottom turn on a frothy beast of a wave. October 17th, 2009. Markey is a big boy and he rides a big board, so that wave is way bigger than it looks. This was from one big ass NOR'EASTER Thank you Ed for capturing another great pic.
Photo by Ed O'Connell
*Click the photo above to see a larger version of Ed's Pic.
NOW FOR SOME LOCAL AND NATIONAL NEWS
The GO FUND ME Page is still VERY active. Please if you have not made a donation, there's still time to help out the shop that has helped so many people in the past. No amount is too small. Thank you all from the bottom of our hearts.
THANK YOU ALL WHO MADE SUCH GENEROUS DONATIONS. WE ARE KEEPING THE GO FUND ME PAGE OPEN. PLEASE HELP CINNAMON RAINBOWS OUT.
*Click on the photo above to make a donation
THE PATRIOTS are now 3-3 for the season.
Not since the infamous DREW BLEDSOE vs TOM BRADY era have we (PATS NATION) been faced with such a dilemma. I'm of course talking about the MAC JONES vs BAILEY ZAPPE dilemma. Oh what to do my fellow Patriots fans? As most of New England already knows, Mac Jones AKA MAC10 went down during the Ravens game with a high ankle sprain. In comes Brian Hoyer and lo and behold Hoyer gets hurt in the Packers game and Zappe is thrown in over his head and almost does the impossible. He almost won the game.
But the very next week against LIONS, he does just that. He beats the LIONS (soundly) and the very next week, he beats The BROWNS. Suddenly everyone is forgetting about MAC10 and jumping on the Zappe Band Wagon.
Hence the dilemma.
I suppose we should be happy that we have two great QB's on the team. But honestly? It's MAC10's job. If his ankle is healed enough to play? He should play. But what about Zappe? Well, the entire NFL saw what he was capable of doing. The very least is that Belichick now has a decent bargaining chip for future trades. But the voices of Pats Nation are all in a tizzy. They want ZAPPE to start in tonight's game against the BEARS.
Regardless of who starts the team should be able to handle the BEARS soundly. Besides if Mackey Jones shits the bed out there, Lil Zappe is more than capable of getting the job done and helping his team to win another game.
Again, it's a WIN WIN situation. And even though we are in LAST PLACE in the AFC East there's excitement again in Foxboro. Not since TB12 left the building has there been such a positive buzz in the stadium and around PATS Nation. I don't care who starts, just as long as they finish with a victory tonight on Monday Night Football. GO PATRIOTS BEAT THE BEARS!
COMING NEXT SUMMER IN 2023. THE HISTORY OF SURFING IN NEW HAMPSHIRE. From the very beginnings to the current crop of rippers. The who, what, and where of NH surfing.
PLEASE HELP Hampton LIFEGUARD
JANEY!
BELOW IS A PARAGRAPH FROM HER GOFUND ME PAGE
Janey’s got grit, but she’s gonna need a little help. After her moped accident, Jane spent 2 nights in the ICU and then 9 days in the Neuro Progressive Trauma Unit. She has weeks, if not months, of recovery and treatment. It’s going to take some time to get Jane back doing Jane— surfing, Hampton Beach Lifeguarding, and being the fun-loving person we all know and love! *Click on the photo above to make a donation
KSM Photoshop of the Week
So the THRESHER Shark story reminded me of this old movie poster. Now I did not know this, and I'm going to guess that neither did any of you. That KSM was slated to be in the Block Buster film JAWS in 1975. But apparently Khaliddy was a little too aggressive on the set and the other actors could not deal with him. So he was bumped off the cast. You know it's too bad he messed up a potential movie career. He he might have found his calling in a few Halloween Horror films. But leave it to The Sheik to screw everything up. Oh well, I guess Al Qeada was more suited for his wild antics.
And so my friends, please take advantage of this weekly photo shop of the mastermind who planned 9-11 and resulted in the deaths of 3,000 innocent civilians by KSM (Khalid Sheik Mohammed).
*Note to self -must pick up a case of Old JAWS movie posters Home Depot this week.
GET WELL SOON Dave "CROP" Cropper!
HAPPY HEAVENLY BIRTHDAY Eva Fatello 10-28-22.
HAPPY HEAVENLY BIRTHDAY JoEllen Bunton 10-29-22
REMEMBERING Jerry Bunton who passed on this date
10-17-05.
GET WELL SOON Ryan Jackson NH2O!
Please keep local surfer Mike Keefe in your thoughts and prayers in the next few months during his treatments.
Keep fighting
Mike!
Please keep local Surfer/Musician Pete Kowalski in your thoughts and prayers. SURFING HEALS ALL WOUNDS!
Please Keep local surfer Bill M. in your thoughts and prayers.
Please
Support ALL The photographers who contribute to
Ralph's Pic Of The Week every week for the last 18 years.
** BUY a HIGH RES Photo
from any of the weeks on RPOTW.
Remember
my friends... Surfing Heals All Wounds.
Pray for Surf. Pray for Peace. Surf For Fun.
Ralph
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