As the lawyer climbed over the fence, an elderly farmer drove up on his tractor and asked the lawyer what he was doing.

The lawyer responded, “I shot a duck and it fell into this field, and now I’m going to retrieve it.”

The old farmer replied. “This is my property, and your not coming over here.”

The indignant lawyer replied. “I’m one of the best trial lawyers around, and if you don’t let me get that duck, I’ll sue you and take everything that you own.

The old farmer smiled and said, “Apparently, you don’t know how we do things in these parts. We settle small disagreements like this, with the Three Kick Rule.”

The lawyer asked, “What is the Three Kick Rule?”

The farmer replied, “Well, first I kick you three times and then you kick me three times, and so on, back and forth until someone gives up.”

The lawyer quickly thought about the proposed contest and decided that he could easily take the old codger. He agreed to abide by the local custom.

The old farmer slowly gets down from the tractor and walked up to the city fella. His first kick planted the toe of his heavy work boot into the lawyer’s groin, which dropped him to his knees.

His second kick nearly ripped the nose off his face.

The lawyer was flat on his belly, when the farmer’s third kick to a kidney nearly causing him to give up, but didn’t.

The lawyer summoned every bit of his will and managed to get to his feet and said, “Okay, now it’s my turn.”

The old farmer smiled and said,

“Naw, I give up, You can keep the duck!”

From the first day I arrived at Cheyenne Ridge, I was captivated by the remarkable way that life seems so abundant here. While driving north along Highway 1804, the sunflower fields gave a warm, golden hue to what appeared to be a never ending cascade blanketing the land. I pondered what Lewis and Clark must have thought when they first laid eyes on this Heavenly bounty of life.

After settling in at the hunting lodge and unwinding after a long flight, I relaxed on the back lanai and watched one of the most peaceful sunsets that I can recall. I marveled at how it gave a glow to Lake Oahe as it seemed to touch the grassy hillsides that bordered this marvelous body of water. I think South Dakota has been waiting on me to find it. I found more than just a state. I found a diamond in a crown I call America.

Chef Daniel brings a touch of true Southern hospitality to our South Dakota hunting lodge, combining it with a phenomenal dining experience. Originally from Kentucky, Chef Daniel learned his early culinary skills from his mother and grandmother, furthering his skills through extensive research and “over the stove” experience.

His roasted pheasant breast with rosemary smashed reds recipe was featured in Southern Living Magazine, he has cooked for Jillian Michaels, celebrity personal trainer on NBC’s “Biggest Loser”, and he’s prepared dishes for Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue.  Mr. Coyt also cooked on several occasions for O’Neill Williams, whose “O’Neill Outside” hunting and fishing television show is broadcast on Sun Sports, South Sports and on WSB Radio in Atlanta.

When guests come here to enjoy pheasant hunting in South Dakota, Chef Daniel’s passion for cooking, fine wines and attention to detail will be evident at every meal.

We are truly pleased and privileged to have Chef Daniel and are excited for you to meet him!    You can read more about the dishes Chef Daniel will be creating for your South Dakota pheasant hunting trip at http://www.signaturelodge.com/diningroom.asp.  Check back soon as Chef Daniel will be sharing his insightful thoughts and wisdom on his blog.  Welcome to South Dakota, Daniel.

Early that January morning my father, son and I went out with Jim and Ross.  The men knew they’d have some lessons to give, and did it with patience and in a way that made a lot of sense…Of course, that couldn’t guarantee that I’d be any good.  We hardly finished with the lessons when the first group came over.  While I was still trying to take it all in, they passed by before I could get a shot in. 

Very soon the next group came.  Ross called them right in and a ton of birds decoyed right in front of us.  We got the okay to come up and shoot.  I’d never seen anything like it.  Hundreds of birds just feet in front of us.  A million thoughts ran through my head, and before I could actually decide which duck to shoot they were gone.  My heart is beating faster just thinking of the excitement and action.  Shots firing, guides directing, adrenaline pumping, mind racing to remember everything I’d just learned…Oh, it was great!  After that group left, I was told that I should’ve just shot as there were so many; I was bound to hit one!

Whew…after that, I needed a break!  Next on the list, try one of Kerri’s Breakfast Burritos.  They were delicious!  They warmed me up, and I was ready to get back in the game!

A group flew over and the guys let me take the shot.  Down one falls!  Yahoo!  My first kill!  It was true joy seeing that bird fall in the river.

Not much later, my son startles and runs right over to us.  There was a goose on the loose!  The goose was flapping and making noises, just trying to get out of the blind, while Jim and Ross immediately grabbed him and put him to rest…this time for good.  It was just too funny.  A great memory indeed!

Our Nebraska duck hunting and goose hunting trip came to a close shortly after that.  I was sure proud of my one duck, and so pleased that my father had a great shooting morning.  My son is now one of the only three year olds I know who says, “shoot” every time he sees a duck or goose.  A great time was had by all!  I’m looking forward to some shooting instructions from Master Shooting Instructor, Bob Edwards, at the Signature Lodge sporting clays course during the off-season as I can hardly wait to get out there again!  It was great seeing what great guides Jim and Ross are, and it was such a great bonding time for my father, son and I.  Families need to take more time to do things like this.  It was a morning I will never forget, and it certainly won’t be my last waterfowl hunting experience!

The first smell is vinegar, which means there is too much acetic acid in wine.

The second is sherry smell, which means the wine has been oxidized, or exposed to air. Authentic Sherry, from Spain, is intentionally made through controlled oxidation, but you should not have that in any of your wines outside of sherry.

Does it smell dank, wet, moldy, or like an old cellar? This probably means the wine absorbed the taste of a defective cork and is commonly referred to as “corked wine.”

How about the smell of sulfur (burnt matches)? That means the wine has too much sulfur dioxide.

Your South Dakota pheasant hunting trip will not only give you the opportunity to shoot uncountable amounts of birds, you will also be able to try out several of our wines.

Bon Appétit

Chef Carl

The father replied, “Don’t rightly know son.” A little later, the boy looked at his father and asked, “How do fish breathe underwater?”

Once again the father replied, “Don’t rightly know son.” A little later the boy asked his father, “Why is the sky blue?”

Again, the father replied. “Don’t rightly know son.”

Finally, the boy asked his father, “Dad, do you mind my asking you all of these questions?”

The father replied, “Of course not.  You don’t ask questions, you never learn nothin’.”

Here are some ideas smart dog owners can utilize during off season workout sessions to keep their retrievers in good condition and ready for the upcoming season. A well thought out training plan started early in the summer allows the opportunity to have either your young dog or experienced duck hunting dog ready for the best waterfowl hunting ever at Cheyenne Ridge.

Spending time developing retriever skills and further reinforcing the level of trust between dog and handler can make a world of difference in how you will enjoy your hunt on the North Platte River. It has been said that a well trained, well mannered dog in the duck blind is a God send; an ill-mannered dog is a nightmare and that owner has few friends.

Dog owners should be willing to put in just a short period of time each day towards improving their retriever’s skill set. Training sessions should be short and consistent. Start with the basics.  Remember it has probably been some time since your dog has been goose hunting with you.  Be patient, and increase the difficulty as you build upon what has already been learned or reinforced.  Obedience should be top priority as well as socialization. If they are not listening, nothing else can be learned. Then start on drills to work on basic retrieves. Please ensure you retriever does not get overheated on these hot days and keep them well hydrated.  

Your dogs are welcomed guests on both your South Dakota pheasant hunting trip at Cheyenne Ridge Signature Lodge and your Nebraska duck hunting trip at Cheyenne Ridge Outfitters.

I love to include freshly cooked bacon bits into recipes on occasion: in mac and cheese, green beans, sautéed broccoli and garlic, and incorporated into fried rice, etc.

Being a good citizen I am, I do not pour the bacon fat down the drain. It’s bad for the pipes and is one of the major causes of sewer clogs. Leftover bacon fat – and any cooking oil really – should be collected in a container and thrown out with the rest of the garbage. But if the bacon grease is strained, collected into a glass jar and stored in the freezer, it becomes something else – liquid pig.

The possibilities for bacon fat are endless, limited only by your imagination. A bit of fat incorporated into a dish imparts a slight essence of bacon without actually frying up the stuff. My mom used to cook eggs in bacon fat; not necessarily my preference of how I like my eggs but use it according to your taste. There are directions online on making your own bacon vodka and using the fat to make popcorn.

One of my favorite ways of using it is sauté mushrooms. Heat a little bacon fat in a frying pan. Toss in some clean, sliced mushrooms – don’t crowd the pan or they won’t brown – and season with a little salt and pepper.

Of course, I try to use the bacon fat sparingly since excessive consumption (as with all foods) can lead to health problems, such as your pipes getting clogged. Only a doctor can fix that. 

Bon Appétit

Chef Carl

We had a really wet spring which has the crops really going. We have 90 percent of our food plots finished, and I can’t wait to see how great the hunting will be this fall and winter. Chuffa Gold—great for Nebraska waterfowl hunting and Merriam turkey hunting, Japanese millet—great for Central flyway goose hunting and duck hunting, and Clover and Brassica—outstanding for Nebraska trophy whitetail hunting.  We have planted Milo and corn along a creek bed as well as an area that will be flooded and make for great duck hunting similar to that of the southeastern area.

Our areas for archery whitetail deer hunts will be awesome with the trails leading from the bedding areas to the food plots. Stands are set up so that trophy whitetail rifle hunters will have many looks at our large population of bucks as they move from the North Platte River basin to the various feeding areas.

Hunters looking to bag a trophy Merriam, Eastern or Rio turkey should have no problem setting up in one of our blinds, having a guide call in a huge gobbler over decoys or belly crawl through the grasslands.

The plantings are looking good for the expanded pheasant preserve and we are seeing hatchlings already moving about the lodge grounds, proving that Nebraska wild pheasant hunting is alive and well. However, it is by no means on the same level as the world-class South Dakota pheasant hunting at Cheyenne Ridge Signature Lodge.  If Disney World is a must for children, then Signature Lodge is a must for adults.

I sit here in quiet reflection of what can only be a great year of hunting and of all the old friends and new friends to come. We’d love to have you join us.