Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner

Posted on August 1, 2015 by foresterartist

If you’ve never eaten black bear, let me tell you, it’s delicious!

Two carnivores hunting in the woods. There’s something to be said about harvesting an animal that is perfectly capable of harvesting you. We encountered this beautiful beast while hunting Spring turkeys. With Autumn comes a different season.

Orange Glazed Bear

bear meat cut into thin strips
soy sauce
fresh ginger
fresh garlic
ground mustard
flour of your choice for dredging (wheat, cornstarch, rice, etc.)
avocado oil
coconut oil
orange zest
barbecue sauce (homemade or one you like)
sesame seed
green onion

Marinade thin bear strips in a splash of soy sauce, fresh ginger, fresh garlic, with a pinch of ground mustard. Marinade over night or vacuum marinade for 30 minutes. The longer the better.

Place enough flour to coat the meat in a repurposed produce bag. Drain and save marinade juice from meat. Place meat in bag of flour, toss to coat.

Heat a splash almond oil with a dollop of coconut…

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Wild Wednesday … California Valley Quail

Posted on July 22, 2015 by foresterartist

California valley quail, California quail, valley quail, quail

California Valley Quail, Callipepla californica, in pen and ink. This is the male. The covey often has one bird acting as lookout. This one was standing on a stone fence.

Wild Wednesday … The Lookout!

Posted on July 15, 2015 by foresterartist

A California chipmunk, Neotamias obscurus, kept a sharp eye on me from the safety of a tall snag.

Wild Wednesday … My Stalker!

Posted on June 17, 2015 by foresterartist

My wild-eyed stalker!!!

I have a stalker. I don’t know what it wants. It just stares through my office window with that wild look in it’s eyes.

Wild Wednesday … The Killdeer

Posted on June 10, 2015 by foresterartist

Killdeer in colored pen and ink, and in person.

Forestry Friday … Spotted Pine Sawyer

Posted on June 5, 2015 by foresterartist

Pine Sawyer Beetle, pen and ink, pen, drawing

The Spotted Pine Sawyer in pen and ink.

PineSawyer3

The spotted pine sawyer beetle is in the longhorn beetle genus. If you hang out around enough log landings you’re bound to see them. This one flew into my truck.

Be careful how you pick them up. They have strong mandibles and are happy to bite you.

They reproduce in dead and dying trees. Their larvae will bore into the log, thus reducing its value.

The larval form is a borer that damages the wood.

A log deck in the wood is a natural attractant for the beetles. If the logs sit in the woods too long the beetles will get into them.

Spotted Pine Sawyer, Monochamus galloprovicialis.

Wild Wednesday … Flower Powered!

Posted on May 20, 2015 by foresterartist

This is a Bumble bee with purpose. Manzanita flowers are in it’s sights. It’s time to fuel up!

Wild Wednesday … Curious Young Bear

Posted on May 13, 2015 by foresterartist

Black Bear, bear, pen and ink, pen & ink, ink drawing, drawing

Curious Young Bear in pen and ink.

As we rounded the corner, we spooked this young bear. He ran up the hill a short distance and hid behind a large Douglas-fir tree. His curiosity got the best of him as he peeked around one side of the tree and his behind stuck out the other. I stopped the rig so we could watch him. He didn’t run away. We got out and started taking pictures.

His curiosity got the best of him. He had to get a better look at us.

He watched us for a while and we watched him. An older bear would never have stayed for a look. Soon his curiosity was satisfied and we went our separate ways.

California Black Bear, Ursus americanus

Monica was our pole plant/log clerk for many years and is a dear friend. She lives near Shasta Lake and has told me countless stories of her encounters with bears around her home. Of course she had to listen to my countless bear stories too. She just retired, so I gave her a signed and mounted print of this pen and ink. I think of her every time I look at it.

Wild Wednesday … Wiley Coyote?

Posted on April 22, 2015 by foresterartist

Wild as in wildlife. Naturally, the coyote comes after the roadrunner.

coyote, watercolor, watercolour, pen and ink, ink drawing, wildlife

Coyote in mixed media. Done with pen and ink, and watercolor.

I enjoy seeing wild coyotes and I see them often. As a dog lover, I’m sympathetic toward them. On the flip side I have no illusions about their predator nature and I keep an eye out for our pets and livestock.

This coyote was just west of the house. She came cruising through and posed very politely.

Ranchers have to protect their livestock because it’s their livelihood. Coyotes have to hunt because it’s their livelihood. It’s a tough reality for coyotes and ranchers alike. All part of the harsh balance of nature.