Shane Ullrich
On a blistering afternoon last weekend we celebreated one of the great outdoor rituals of American life – the Outdoor Barbecue.
In this case, we were at an event that smacked of a boxing match, an annual showdown over the grills that was founded by Bryan
“The Butcherblock” Gardner and Jason Jennings. This year’s bout, held in the backyard of a home in the Liberty area, featured newcomers Team BRECAS. Starting lineup for the team waas Lucas Hufford and Brett St. Clair.
The two teams faced off in what is known as the Grills Gone Wild competition, the name of the game was Slow Pulled Pork, and when all was said and done, the flavor was in favor of the founders.
I must say that Team BRECAS did stand out and certainly earned some respect with the WGF (World Grilling Foundation).
The turnout was enough to pack the house with a count of 50 people and tastebuds from as far away as Madras and Hillsboro, ranging in age from 16 months to 65 years. They all enjoyed the cookoff immensely.
Matt Melcher, the official on site, stated that “the people eating the good food were the real winners.”
The pork came from Chuck’s to ensure fair comparison of meat and after coals were ready, the meat was started at 6 a.m. By 7 p.m. ballots were counted in the Attitude of Chef event. Score was 28-11 in favor of Team Jason and Bryan. In the Appearance of Meat event, Team BRACAS took it, 27-13. Aroma of Meat went to Team BRACAS as well, 21-17. But in the Sauce competition, the score swung back to the founders, who swamped the competition 28-9.
That was the blow that took the belt and trophy for Team Founders.
This year’s cookoff was judged a success by the Corner Ladies (the wives), although they made it clear the competition was close.
Team Bryan and Jason stated that the five P’s of barbecuing are Prior Planning Prevents Poor Product and when you start at 6 a.m. and work with coals, “the proof is in the product.”
Great job, guys. I tried both and they were great. I got competely stuffed trying to decide whose was better.
I believe the outdoor barbecue is the greatest pasttime when it comes to sharing your spoils of the hunt, so I brought some summer sausage from last year’s deer. It went over great and we had a great time. Can’t wait till next year.
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Hunting season is here and by the time my next column comes out, the archers will have been out there. Let me know how you do. We want to hear your story.
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Along the lines of hunting information, here are some tidbits garnered here and there:
State wildlife managers last week clarified the open area and bag limit for the late elk bowhunting season in Western Oregon.
The open season is Nov. 25-Dec. 10 and the bag limit is one antlerless elk in the following areas:
■ Alsea, McKenzie, and Stott Mt. Units
■ Portion of Indigo Unit in the Willamette River drainage ( includes the middle fork of the Willamette River; Brice, Sharp, Mosby and Lost Creeks; and the Big and Little Rivers)
■ Portions of Santiam Unit within Linn and Marion County, excluding Mt Hood National Forest land in Marion County
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Application deadlines for early season game bird and bow hunting opportunities are quickly approaching.
The deadline to purchase all controlled and general season bow hunt tags is Friday, Aug. 25.
All ODFW POS locations are currently accepting applications for controlled game bird hunts. Successful applicants are reminded they will need to return to a POS agent to claim their permit or purchase a tag. Copies of the 2006-07 Oregon Game Bird Regulations are not required to apply but are available at most licensed vendors and on ODFW’s Web site.
Sage Grouse
Permit application deadline for controlled sage grouse hunt is Aug. 28 with results available Sept. 1. Season dates Sept. 9-17.
Sauvie Island Wildlife Area
Application deadline for the first waterfowl hunt period, which includes the opening day of duck season, is Sept. 11.
Klamath Wildlife Area
Applications to reserve one day of early season game bird hunting are due Sept. 16.
Controlled fall turkey tag
Applications for all controlled fall turkey hunts, including a new hunt in the John Day watershed, are due Sept. 12 with results available Sept. 20. An additional 3,000 fall turkey tags will be available on a first-come, first-serve basis for 10 western Oregon counties beginning Sept. 21. Hunters are limited to one fall turkey tag.
September Canada goose
Two new goose zones were established this year—Klamath County and South Coast—to assist with agricultural depredation issues but these zones will not be hosting a September Canada goose season. September Canada Goose season opens in the remainder of the state on Sept. 9.
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If you don’t have any Labor Day plans and have a hankering to take a trip that might pay off in the future, here’s a suggestion.
The public is invited to join the Diamond Lake Ranger District of the Umpqua National Forest, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, SOLV, Diamond Lake Lodge, Boy Scouts of America, Douglas County, Les Schwab Tire Centers and other organizations in a shoreline cleanup of Diamond Lake Saturday, Sept. 2, 2006, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. or until completion.
Volunteers of all ages are welcome and participants are invited to a free picnic after the cleanup. Participants should meet at Diamond Lake Lodge, which is located at the north end of the lake.
Volunteers will have a unique opportunity to walk on the lake bed, which has been exposed by an eight-foot water draw down in preparation for a September treatment by the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife to remove invasive tui chub and restore water quality to the lake. In addition to trash and litter, expanses of Mount Mazama ash, abandoned fishing gear and other artifacts are visible for the first time since the lake’s last draw down more than 50 years ago.
For more information about the cleanup, contact Tom Rumreich, ODFW, at (541) 888-5515. For more information about camping or recreation at Diamond Lake, contact Megan Perkins, Public Affairs Specialist, Umpqua National Forest, (541) 957-3227.
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Foster Lake is still full, while the reservoir level at Green Peter has dropped to below the elevation of the boat ramp at the Whitcomb Creek recreation site, so boaters will need to use the ramp at Thistle Creek.
The South Santiam fishing flow is near summer lows. Passage of spring chinook at Willamette Falls has been completed with a final count of 37,000. The Santiam was closed to chinook angling Aug. 16. Summer steelhead passage at the falls has slowed to a trickle, but more than 18,000 steelhead have come over so far this season. Good numbers of steelhead are present in the upper river reaches and recycling of fish will continue through this month.
Anglers are reminded that the Willamette provides an excellent warm water fishery in the summer months. You can expect to find an abundance of bass, crappie, bluegill, and perch available. Target the rocky outcroppings and old dock pilings or structures. The local tackle shops near the river can set you up with the right gear and direct you to the best spots.
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The Willamette National Forest has banned camping along portions of Breitenbush Road (Road #46) and discharging a firearms, air rifles, or gas guns in specified areas of the Detroit Ranger District.
According to district officials, their action came after sloppy campers left human waste and trash in campsites along the first mile of the Breitenbush Road from Highway 22 and the first 300 feet of the French Creek Road (Road #2223). These campers’ irresponsible behavior has resulted in “serious sanitation and health concerns,” which prompted the order.
The firearms ban is the result of target shooters who have been irresponsible or have tried to intimidate others in the area, to the point of becoming a problem, officials say.
The firearms order includes all federal lands in a corridor adjacent to Forest Roads 2207 and 2209 within the Opal Creek Scenic Recreation Area and in an area within ∏ mile of the normal pool level of Detroit Lake and Forest Road 46 (Breitenbush Road) up to the intersection with Forest Road 4600.013.
The firearm order does not apply to anyone with a permit to shoot, public safety officials, or people with valid hunting licenses who are playing by the rules. (Target shooting and sighting in of firearms is prohibited.)
The areas affected by the orders will be patrolled by Forest Service law enforcement officers and Linn and Marion County Sheriff Deputies.
A public use map and information about regulations is posted at http://www.fs.fed.us/r6/willamette, or you can contact the Detroit Ranger District, 11425 N Santiam Highway SE, Detroit, or call (503) 854-3366 for information, posters and handouts.
Shane Ullrich writes about the Outdoors every other week in The New Era. Contact him at The American Barbershop, 1121 Main St., or call him at 367-8086. If you’d like to submit a photo of fish or game you’ve taken recently (this year), please drop it off at The New Era, 1313 Main St., or send it directly to The New Era at [email protected] Please include your name, details about the your hunt or fishing trip, and a phone number so we can reach you if we have questions.