Speedy's Pheasant & Wild Rice

1/4 Cup margarine or butter
3 Boneless skinless whole pheasant breasts
1 Cup chopped onions
1 Can condensed cream of mushroom soup
1 Can condensed cream of chicken soup
2 Jars (4 1/2 oz. each) button or sliced
mushrooms, drained
1 Can (8 oz.) sliced water chestnuts,
rinsed and drained
1 Cup water
1 Cup uncooked wild rice, rinsed and
drained
1/2 C cooking sherry
1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon coarsely ground pepper
1/2 Cup slivered almonds, toasted (opt.)

Heat oven to 325. In 10-inch nonstick skillet,
melt margarine over medium high heat. Add
pheasant pieces and onions. Cook for 10 to 12
minutes, or until meat is browned, stirring
occassionally.

In 3-quart casserole, combine pheasant
mixture and remaining ingredients, except
almonds. Cover. Bake for 2 to 2 1/2 hours,
or until rice is tender and kernels are open,
stirring once during baking. Sprinkle almonds
evenly over top. Makes 8 servings.

My Hunting and Fishing Background

HUNTING:

Deer and Elk Hunting. I have deer hunted for over 30 years. Currently, I hunt with a Winchester .270 short mag, sporting a Burris Signature Select 3 x 10 x 40 scope. In the past, I’ve used a Remington 7mm .08 with a Tasco World Class variable scope, and a .30 caliber carbine, a Remington .243, and a Marlin 30-30, all with iron sights. I have also deer hunted with a Ruger .45 long colt single-action pistol and a Martin bow.

Many of my hunts have been from ladder stands, climbing tree stands, and ground stands, although I do occasionally hunt and stalk. I have hunted whitetail deer throughout the state of Missouri, and have hunted mule deer in the state of Colorado, with both rifle and bow, and have had successful harvests. I have also hunted elk with bow and rifle, but have never gotten an elk.

I have taken my children and grandchildren on many of these hunts. I deeply believe that these traditions should be passed on down to their generations. It is one of life’s greatest pleasures to be with one of your children or grandchildren when they get their first deer or turkey.


Turkey Hunting. I also have a great passion for turkey hunting. I’ve turkey hunted for over 20 years, and have been successful many of those seasons. I hunt with a Mossberg 835 Ulti-Mag .12 ga.

The first year I decided I wanted to learn to hunt turkey, I bought a box call, a slate call, a Quaker Boy mouth call, and an instructional tape. I practiced these calls until I felt confident in my ability to call up a turkey. To tell a funny story on myself, the first time I called one in, I was so shocked that I actually did it, that I didn’t even shoot, I just looked at it. Since that time, I’m ready and waiting.

I have also taken my children turkey hunting many years, and now they’re taking me. It’s a great family sport.


Bird Hunting. Bird hunting is quickly becoming another favorite pastime of mine. I have dove hunted for several years, and have also hunted quail and pheasant. Hunting with sporting dogs during these hunts is quite rewarding. Watching them work the terrain in search of the birds is a very moving experience. A Beretta .20 gauge shotgun is my gun of choice for this type of hunting. It's lightweight for carrying in the field.


Small game hunting. Rabbit and squirrel hunting are right up there near the top of my list for hunting. I have spent many, many hours in the woods squirrel hunting, looking for hickory trees where they’ve been working on the hickory nuts. We have always had beagles for rabbit hunting, and I especially enjoy rabbit hunting when there is a snow on the ground. I have hunted squirrels and rabbits with a Remington 870 .20 ga. shotgun, but to really tighten up on the target, I carry a Ruger 10/22 rifle.

For the past several summers, we have gone to a ranch out in Wyoming to go prairie dog shooting. We shoot anything from handguns, .17 caliber rifles and pistols, .220 Swift, 22-250, to 6mm-285 and 6.5mm 285 water-cooled rifles.

Hunting the wiley coyote is also a great sport. I had the opportunity in the past connect on one with a 400 yard shot using a Remington 7mm-08. He ended up about 40 yards out on the ice of our lake, so I was unable to retrieve him. Later that day I had the breathtaking experience of watching a Bald Eagle feed on the carcus.


TRAPPING:

When our youngest son was still in high school, I’ve spent many early mornings and late evenings setting and checking his traps with him. We have trapped muskrats, beaver, otter and bobcats. He later sold his furs to a local fur trader or took them to a fur auction.


FISHING:

Bass fishing. Now, bass fishing takes me to a whole new realm. It is an obsession of mine. We have a nine-acre lake on our property that has been stocked with bass, catfish, and hybrid bluegill, that we fish in from early spring to late fall. We have also fished in Lake of the Ozarks, Truman Lake, Osage River, Missouri River, and many other rivers, lakes, streams, and ponds throughout the state of Missouri.

I use the Bass Pro Extreme baitcasting reel, and also use a Johnny Morris baitcast reel, and I'm also familiar with closed-face reels and underspin reels. I have fished with artificial lures, plastic worms, minnows, cut bait, night crawlers, and anything else I think might work.

I have fished on Lake of the Ozarks and Truman Lake for white bass, crappie, drum and catfish. I am familiar with the operation of a boat, trolling motor, fish finders, and depth finders, although, my husband is usually the operator when we go, I’m too busy fishing.


HARVESTING:

I am a firm believer in processing any game or fish (unless it’s a catch and release). I have field dressed deer, turkey, rabbit, squirrel, doves, quail, pheasant, and fish, and feel that this also needs to be passed down to our future generations. It is an essential part of the hunt.


MEMBERSHIPS:

The WOMA (Women's Outdoor Media Association)
Writer - The WON (Women's Outdoor News)
NWTF
Women in the Outdoors
NRA
Women on Target
Missouri Hunter Education Instructor
Women Hunters



GOALS:

It is my goal to pass down any knowledge in the shooting sports I have had the honor to experience.

When Camo Wasn't Cool

I was wearing camo, when camo wasn’t cool.

I remember wearing Woodland Camo
Long before the birth of Mossy Oak
Real Tree was just something we
saw in the woods
And Advantage was what we’d take
if we could.

There was no Wetlands camo
Not even Nat Gear
But simply hunting camo
Like the Army would wear.

And I was wearing camo, when camo wasn’t cool.

I remember walking in for groceries
Camo pants and all
I’d get lots of stares
And I’m sure not all in awe
But I always held my head high
Proud what I stood for
Because camo was more for me
Than just something that I wore.

I was carrying on a tradition
which I had grown to love
I want to be able to take care of my family
If the world comes to push and shove.

I’m thankful for our freedom
And our right to bear arms
And I’ll stand toe to toe
With those who wish us harm.

So when I wear camo clothing
It’s not just when I hunt
I wear camo clothing
To make a statement.