Backcasts archive: Through Nov. 9, 2007
By Brett PaulyBlog calendar: Nov. 9 | Nov. 8 | Nov. 7 | Nov. 6 | Nov. 5
Texas voters tan animal inspectors' hides
Here's a political office Backcasts whole-heartedly endorsed: hide and animal inspector.
In fact, the position was so ideal we considered running.
"It was the perfect political office," said Jeff McMeans, who since 1990 was charged – in title only, mind you – with checking hides and animals shipped for sale out of Texas' Fort Bend County. "No pay, no office, no responsibility, no nothing."
Established in 1871 to help prevent cattle theft, the office had changed considerably since 19th century steer rustlers did business in the Lone Star State, the Associated Press reports from Dallas.
Ahh, how many times have we seen big-screen and little-screen depictions of good guys in white hats breaking up cow-stealing rings? Those were the bad, old days.
But few counties continued to have hide inspectors in the 1990s. Only a third of Texas counties had an inspector as of 1945, according to The Texas State Historical Association's Handbook of Texas Online.
And on Tuesday it was all she wrote for the outdated office, as Texas voters tanned the animal inspectors' hides and removed their positions from the state constitution, the AP reports. The constituency has indeed spoken; about 77 percent of voters approved abolishing the office.
McMeans was understandably emotional after losing his unpaid post, even though the Texas Legislature had stripped the position of its powers in 2003.
"It was an antiquated office, but it's part of our history that could be enjoyed,'' he said. "It was an appreciation of an era gone by. It's a changing of the guard."
McMeans, an attorney, said he had zero duties as inspector, but he thought the office might build his profile should he choose to run for another office. He said the best part of his role was inclusion in the county fair's parade each year.
Now that's what we call an honest politician – not doing much and gladly admitting it. Jeff McMeans, we salute you.
Bird vs. bass captions: last of a good thing
We'll now put to bed our contest to write the best caption for the osprey and largemouth bass image (see below), but not without the last, best entries:
Texas: Omelets and worms for breakfast and free transportation, too. This new diner is going to be awesome.
Weston Eckert (Hammonton, N.J.): "Mommy, is that you?"
Sam Turner (Onsted, Mich.): If you're into catch and release, could you do it over the water??? Please.
Alan (Crawfordsville, Ind.): I'm a hundred miles away, son, ready to strike!
Matt Eastman (Wenatchee, Wash.): Barbless claws would have paid for themselves by now.
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"That's what I call fly fishin'!"
The entries for our bird vs. bass caption contest keep a-coming.
As you'll recall, we spotted a remarkable image in the November issue of Bassmaster magazine of what looks to be an osprey with a fresh bass – large mouth agape – in its talons … and we just had to share.
It's one of those rare instances in the life of a photographer or shutterbug or point-and-shooter when he or she is … I know, I know, insert cliche here, but, really … in the right place at the right time.
To make the photo package complete, what we need from you is a caption to properly capture the moment in humor and reflection.
Take a look at the shot below and hit us with your best shot and submit a cutline here.
Here are the best of the recent batch of caption entries:
Carl Andrade (Cranston, R.I.): Now let's see that pike get me … umm, wait a minute here!
Michael (Cumming, Ga.): The new lure for 2008
Shuqualak, Miss.: It looks a lot better from here
Dale Z. (Kennesaw, Ga.): That's what I call fly fishin'!
Steve Coppes (Republic, Ohio): Hey, this isn't the way to the ocean! Should have never hitched a ride.
Commizzar (Chesapeake, Va.): Stay the HECK out of my LIVEWELL!!!
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Deers to you, early-season hunters
Man, is this not the best time of the year … for blogging, that is?
We kick off the hunting-story season with a couple of real beauts: one tale of survival and one that sings the praises of the great, white whitetail.
The action starts with an Associated Press report out of Trumann, Ark., where a hunter defended family members from the advances of a rut-crazed buck with but a knife. (No, not a butter knife … with but a knife. But no wonder they call them Buck knives; actually, no word on the brand of blade.)
It seems the Vincent family – father Greg, son Kyle and nephew Dillon – was tracking a deer young Kyle, 13, had shot during last weekend's youth hunt in Fulton County, when, all of a sudden (that's just good hunting-story verbiage, huh?), a different, very much alive deer appeared, ready to do battle.
The hunting party's guns were back at camp, so Greg bragged half-heartedly he could take the deer with but a knife – fully expecting, according to the AP, the snorting buck to hightail it out of there before coming to blows.
We know you know what happened next: the deer charged and Greg made good on his word … but not before dropping his blade as the star-crossed wrestlers fell into a creek. Greg then called to the boys to fetch the weapon and a quick-thinking Dillon placed the knife (handle end first, we presume) into his unc's hand.
Turns out Greg was a competitive weightlifter in his prep days. But the six-point buck was quite a match, even after it was stabbed in the neck and ribs. It was only over when Greg's father, Harvey, showed up with his grandson's rifle to finish off the beast and save the day.
After all that, it's only fitting that, as the AP reports, a game officer let the Vincents keep the deer without it counting toward one of the boys' limits for the weekend.
Next we travel by magic blog to Minnesota's Mille Lacs County, where according to a piece on FOXNews.com, an Avon, Minn., woman last weekend bagged a six-point albino deer. It's one of those times when video tells the story best, so please tune in here.
"I thought here was my chance of a lifetime," the hunter is quoted as stating. "I had to creep a little bit, probably about 40 yards, to get to a good place where I could steady myself.
Ishmael and Captain Ahab certainly would have appreciated her efforts.
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Stand firm, save the giant earthworm
We're all for saving endangered species, even here in the Northwest, where the spotted owl has lumberjacks asking, "Whooo?" (Well, actually, "What?")
But if ever there was a questionable call for endangered status it may revolve around a worm – the giant Palouse earthworm, to be precise.
Once abundant in west-central Idaho and southeast Washington, where less than 1 percent of the wild Palouse prairie remains, according to the Seattle Times, the soft-bodied slitherers now are so rare some believe they may be extinct.
University of Idaho soil scientists are hunting for Driloleirus americanus (which means lily-smelling American worm; the worm is thought to spit lily-scented mucus when startled). But with only four confirmed sightings in the past 30 years (and one worm accidentally sliced in half two years ago by a shovel-wielding grad student) more research is required to better understand the elusive critter … if it still exists, of course.
What is known is that the worms are pinkish-white in color, are part of a hermaphroditic animal family that exhibits male and female organs, and may grow to 3 feet long, the Times reports from Colfax, Wash.
Last month, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service rejected a petition filed by conservations seeking endangered-species protection for the worm. But last week, the worm lovers filed notice they will sue to force the federal agency to reconsider and launch a major review of the species' status, according to the newspaper.
"It's an ethical decision," said Steve Paulson, the Idaho environmentalist who is leading the push for protection. "I don't think we should be causing these creatures to go extinct."
If the worm is listed, its remaining habitat must be protected.
Oh, and one more thing: If you think you can double the population of giant Palouse earthworms by following the notion that cutting one in half yields two live worms, think again. All you get by using that antiquated technique is one very dead worm.
Yeah, right, when cows can fly!
Thankfully, and rather miraculously, no one was injured, because when a UFO – unidentified falling object – this large lands on the hood of a minivan, all bets are off.
Charles and Linda Everson got the shock of a lifetime when they discovered the something that smashed into their vehicle Sunday on a highway near Manson, Wash., was, in fact, a 600-pound cow.
The couple were understandably fazed, but otherwise unhurt. However, the cow, which had fallen about 200 feet off a cliff, had to be euthanized.
Charles Everson, 49, said he didn't see the cow falling and didn't know what happened until afterward, according to the Associated Press.
He said he kept repeating, "I don't believe this. I don't believe this."
A Chelan County fire chief, Arnold Baker, said the couple missed being killed by a matter of inches in the accident, which, it's worth noting the obvious, caused heavy damage to their rig.
The Eversons, visiting the area from their home in Westland, Mich., to celebrate their first wedding anniversary, were checked at Lake Chelan Community Hospital as a precaution.
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Nest fishermen unite: The best captions for our bird vs. bass caption content
Excellent responses, folks, on the bird vs. bass caption request.
So we'll get right to the heart of the matter and list the best of the bunch right here.
And please keep your cutlines coming for the image below .
Casey (New York): Do these feathers make my bass look big?
Hanover, Pa.: Can I get some water on this flight?
Brandon (North Little Rock, Ark.): Now remember, after this, I am to teach you how to swim underwater.
Billy (Lehi, Utah): Done nesting? Great, I'll take you to mine so you may MEAT my family.
Landon (Morris, Okla.): Hauling bass.
Spring, Texas: Share a lunker? I think not!
John (Indiana): Are you sure there are all the worms I can eat back at your nest?
Staff Sgt. Pomilla (Balad, Iraq): The true meaning of flyfishing.
Chuck (Illinois): Alas, his foot fetish would prove to be the bass' undoing.
Rick Davidson (Ashland, Ky.): Damn nest fisherman!
Madison, Wis.: As seen here; largemouth bass can jump 40 to 50 feet … as this guy catches himself a hawk.
Michael Boyle (Montgomery, Ala.): Excuse me, sir, are you sure you're a dentist?
Tyler (Ames, Iowa): At least they usually throw you back when they catch you on an Eagle Claw. Hawk claws, not so much.
Silverstone: Your loss, my gain! Try again fishermen. Have a great day.
Mark (Arizona): My big mouth always gets me in trouble!
Jay Roberts (Macon, Ga.): The latest military stealth bomber.
J. Gargis (Mishawaka, Ind.): First class all the way. What time do we get to the Classic?
Walter Oppelt (Frankfort, Ind.): This is the last time I'm giving you a ride down by the dam.
Bob (Lititz, Pa.): Bass makes tremendous jump! Tries to swallow bird!
Daniel Mackey (Corbin, Ky.): What do you me, do I have any tartar sauce?
Marty Gum (Lake Ozark, Mo.): I knew I could jump this high! Now how do I get him ALL in my mouth.
Forrest (Gurnee, Ill.): Never seen this lure before.
Jake (Omaha, Neb.): Bet that bird was using the new Berkley Gulp. Bass just won't let go.
Bart (Papillion, Neb.): Bass gets arrested for trying to take down illegal game.
Randy Fike (Sturgeon Bay, Wis.): Wow, that's one hungry bass!
Randy Thompson (Lincoln, Neb.): Bird to bass: Saved ya. That was KVD in that boat back there.
KS (Arkansas): KVD Ain't got nothing on me!
Dennis Malloy (Sherwood, Ore.): Bass says, "Now I got him right where I want him"
John Kruse (Wenatchee, Wash.): So this is what they mean when they talk about take out dinner.
Tommy Toth (Aspen, Colo.): As soon as get this talon out of my eye, you're in trouble!
Lakewood, Colo.: Are these eagle claw hooks!
Chris Hoover (King George, Va.): Catch and release? Hell, I'm gonna get this thing mounted!
North Vernon, Ind.: Ohhhh, it's getting late I hope I make weigh-in.
Stephen (Brandon, Miss.): I knew I should have stayed deep.
Mike S. (St. Louis): Right over there's fine. Just drop me off near the House of Shad.
Josh Milner (Opelika, Ala.): That's the biggest cricket I ever saw.
Alan (Sherwood, Ark.): I just flew in from Florida; boy are my fins tired.
Kevin (Vermont): Topwater bite
Neil Belanger (Shrewsbury, Mass.): "Are you my mother?"
Adam Jones: Once again, the largemouth's eyes were too big for its mouth.
Dave (Menomonee Falls, Wis.): What gives? Even birds catch bigger fish than I do.
Ticonderoga, N.Y.: Yeah right … when bass can fly!
Mark (Norwalk, Ohio): That's quit a buzz(ard) bait!
Russ (North Merrick, N.Y.): New flyfishing technique.
Steve (Winnie, Texas): My wife's always telling me to keep my mouth shut! I should'a listened.
About the author: Brett Pauly spent nearly six years editing and publishing ESPNOutdoors.com before moving on to produce the ESPN.com Sports Travel site. He is a national award-winning writer and editor with 14 years of experience in the newspaper trade, including stints at the Los Angeles Daily News and Seattle Times. The Evergreen State is where he now makes his home. Click here to email him.
