I new it was inevitable. Bruce had been in failing health for several months. Sadly, earlier this month, we had to have Bruce put down.

Bruce came to us in June of 2006, already old and the best miles behind him. Yet, there he was, his heart strong and eager to serve.  Dog? Cat? No…Bruce was our 1993 Geo Tracker that I paid $150 for. I had spotted the ad the first day it came out: 1993 Tracker…bad body…$150.  I called the owner and went up later in the day and bought him.  I was told it needed a battery and a V-Belt.

Bruce started, with a jump, and ran hot on the seven mile trip back to Troy, NY.  When I got home I popped the hood and found the reason for Bruce overheating…the belt was shredded. Now the jump start made sense. Bruce’s alternator pulley froze up causing the belt to shred and the water pump not to work.

$150 later Bruce had a new V-belt, alternator and battery, which turned out to be the only repairs he would need.  He passed NY’s tough inspection with no problem.  He served faithfully as an around town – run-the-son to- school car and as my hunting and fishing vehicle.  Bruce would get into unbelievable places, in 4 wheel drive.  He embodied my teachings as America’s Frugal Sportsman…no monthly payments, 4 wheel drive and 30 miles to a gallon!

His main problem was body cancer, a known Tracker nemisis.  It had progressed to the point that I could look down and see the road in two different places.  His brakes were getting bad and I weighed getting them fixed or facing the sad reality that Bruce’s life was at the end.  Bruce made the decision for me. On the way home from my Doctor’s office, one of Bruce’s calipers simply exploded.  I limped home very dejected, kno0wing that Bruce had passed his time.  My wife and son were equally saddened as Bruce enjoyed Rock Star status with us, for his dependability and lack of cost to maintain.  We knew that it would be a miracle to replace him, or as my 11 year-old son, Kobe, said: Look for a new Bruce.

We did, for a month or so. But any Trackers were out of our specs for a suitable vehicle for America’s Frugal Sportsman to drive around in.  Finally, I settled on a weathered 1993 S-15 Jimmy.  It needs some work, but I will done and good for about $900 and no payments.  Not the bargain Bruce was, but those don’t come by every day.  And, I look! Why not buy a more expensive vehicle?   You’re kidding!!!  Why have a $350 monthly payment plus higher insurance premium just to have something shiny? No payments means I can spend more on other things…like hunting and fishing stuff.  Think about it…would your wife complain if you bought a knew $1000 bow if you didn’t have that $425 dolllar payment due on your Silverado?

Being frugal is fun but it can get addicting, I warn you.

So far the Jimmy is just the Jimmy…no name. Every vehicle just does not get a name. We new Bruce was special but it was his color that gave us his name.  GM called it Majenta…most people call it pink. So what else do I name a pink 4X4 driven by a guy…right!  Bruce!

I know Bruce is waiting in the parking lot in Heaven for me and the family to get there. He has earned his rest.

As I sat reading some great outdoor stories, it occurred to me that some of you folks still have some venison in the freezer. A good way to encourage yourself to put more venison in the freezer is to have a good meal of venison…makes sense, right?

Here is a recipe that I have used, especially for people who think they do not like venison:

Northeast Kingdom Venison Stew

(also works with elk)

Three pounds of venison, preferably cut into 1 inch cubes

One one pound package of baby carrots

Two large onions – wedged into eight pieces each

One garlic bulb

Five – Six large baking potatoes cut into 2 inch pieces

One Half pound sliced baby Bella mushrooms

Merlot or Burgundy (actually Gallo Hearty Burgundy works best and

is cheap)

Red wine vinegar

2 Cups Seasoned flour (flour, black pepper, Montreal steak seasoning, paprika and onion powder mixed well) Flour should no longer look white, but use your best estimate.

Two one gallon zip lock bags

In one zip lock bag put 1/8 cup wine vinegar, 1/2 cup wine, 1/2 cup water, 1 tablespoon veg oil, 1/2 teaspoon black pepper, two cloves (crushed) garlic, 1 teaspoon salt (if you use salt).

Put the venison into the zip lock bag and close. Make sure everything is well mixed and let sit for 2-3  hours (or overnight in the fridge).

After marinating venison, using tongs or slotted spoon, remove about 1/3 and place it into the second zip lock bag, add all the seasoned flour, close bag and shake it well. Remove venison and set aside. Continue with the rest of venison until all is well coated.

In 5-6 quart dutch oven place two tablespoons cooking oil or bacon fat (I prefer the bacon fat) and have heat on medium high. Using about 1/3 of the venison at a time, brown well and remove from pan. When all the meat is finished browning return it to the  dutch oven. Cover with cold water (about 4 inches over the meat), add half of the onion wedges, 1 cup red wine, cover stew, heat on med high until it starts to bubble then reduce heat and simmer covered at least 1 1/2 hours (more if it is an older deer). After simmering venison, add rest of onions, 3 cloves garlic (crushed) and the other vegetables. Continue simmering covered for about 45 minutes (until potatoes are tender).

I like thicker stew so I always tighten it up with some roo. Melt 3 tablespoons butter or margarine. Stir in 3 tablespoons  flour. Keep stirring until flour absorbs all the butter and darkens slightly. It should still be a  wet-looking. Add to stew and keep stirring until stew is the consistency you like and remove from heat. Serve right away or let cool completely and refrigerate until the next day and reheat. Don’t laugh it will taste even better when it is reheated, but either way…enjoy!

Our turkey season opens in about three weeks in NY.  I have seen a number of flocks around in my travels.  Some states are already open.  A number of my friends are reporting gobblers in the freezer already.  Hopefully, everyone has their weapon of choice ready and their camo clothes all set.

My son, Tyler, will be hunting in Louisiana.  He will trying for his first gobbler somewhere around Ft. Polk. He is stationed there with the 10th Mountain Division.  I know he has his Winchester 1300 all sighted in.  Tyler grouped it at 20,30 and 40 yards and is comfortable with the results.

Most turkey hunters will be using shotguns but there are some diehard archers that will be flinging arrows at their birds.  I have decided to join the latter group this year.  While at a Gun Show in Barre, VT in February with Tyler, I found a prize worthy of America’s Frugal Sportsman note:  I found a vintage 45# fiberglass recurve bow…for $15! You know me and bargains…I snapped it up.  The manufacture cannot be deciphered as the label as faded, but the bow is in top shape.  There I have my trusty PSE Predator sitting,  anxiously to go,  and I am taking a relic out instead.

Yep! It reminds me of when I started bow hunting in the mid 1960’s.  I do have to get a hip quiver for the arrows, however. I never liked the Kwickie Kwivers for recurve bows.  ALso, the Carbon Express I use in my Predator will do just fine on the old recurve.  Besides, it will make a more enjoyable article to write should I be successful with the recurve.

Turkey should pose no real problem, as long as they are inside 30 yards.  Many deer have died as a result of a an arrow loosed from a 45# recurve.  I will be using the same heads I did for deer, 125 grain Eastons.  Why…that way I don’t have to buy any different heads.  If you already have perfectly good and perfectly deadly broadheads, use them. With the ecomonmy the way it is, a sportsman needs to conserve funds wherever he (or she) can.

Turkey season is a long season in most states. Here, in NY, it covers the month of May, which is also the striper run in the Hudson River.  Guess I will have hunt in the morning then go chase stripers.   I have some neat reals from Australia that I will be field testing, but that is for future writings.  All I need now is to find a deal on a good box call and I will be set.

The goal of the Sportsman should be to spend as much quality time afield with friends and family as possible.  For quite some time I have been preaching about doing it on a budget.  Now, thanks to the country’s financial mess, many of you will be on a budget. By all means that does not mean to hunt or fish less.  It simply means that maybe you don’t buy the newest rifle, shotgun, bow, boat, camper, optics or Huntress pin-up calendar. Ok, buy the calendar, but watch the sales in classified ads and online auctions. With the bad ecomomy come some fantastic deals on toys and such.

I really hope I get a shot at a turkey with my bargain-basement bow.  But, I will be out there hunting and that, after all, is my goal…isn’t it.

Whatever you do in the Outdoors this spring, take a youngster with you.

I tested several products during the 2008 NY Deer Season.  Nite Vision binoculars were tested as was Buckaroostoo attractant and Chip Housley’s Scent Drifter sent dispersement system.  Head on over to the Field Test page and see who the winners were.