Meateater: Season 5, Episode 14 - Alsaska Sooty Grouse

Six-Gun

Gotta say, despite all of the urging around here, I've only dabbled in this Netflix series.  With my wife and daughter doing a little bit of girl stuff on Mother's Day (and my son getting himself into trouble, meaning I'm also stuck in the house), I decided to put on a random couple of episodes related to sooty grouse hunting in the Alaska panhandle.

Let me just say that seeing Steve Rinella struggle in his previous year's hunt (season 5, episode 13) really made the follow-on attempt for these tough-to-hunt birds that much more eye-opening.  He enlists the help of a middle aged woman named Barb - a native to those parts - who proceeds to show how to get it done the right way.

To say I came away with respect for this lady and not only how great of a grouse hunter she is, but how tough she has to be to do what she does would be an understatement.  After hiking those mountains last year, I can tell you that it filters out a lot of *men* half her age.  Meanwhile she's easily in her late 50's/early 60's when this was filmed.

Watch this one if you want a clinic on how to get it done on one of the more rare and special hunts we have here in North America.

Linefinder

I liked that episode so much I've watched it 3-4 times.

Mike

Six-Gun

Linefinder said:

I liked that episode so much I've watched it 3-4 times.

Mike

I'm right behind you.  I have a strong feeling this one will be replayed several more times.  I can't adequately put into words how much respect I came away with for that lady and her skill.  She shows how, sometimes, you just need a slightly different approach to open the floodgates on success.

JerryBobCo

I have watched that episode, too.  Most of what I've seen of Rinella is impressive.  He has dry hunts, but airs them anyway. 

Six-Gun

JerryBobCo said:

I have watched that episode, too.  Most of what I've seen of Rinella is impressive.  He has dry hunts, but airs them anyway. 

Yup.  Not afraid to fail and not afraid to learn from others when his methods aren’t working.

JerryBobCo

On one of his shows, he mentioned that he got Trichinosis once from eating under cooked bear meat.  He also said that there were lots of worms.  He didn't elaborate, but he didn't really need to.

He also likes hearts and tongues.

Jayhawker

Saw the guy ruin a perfectly good buffalo hide trying to make a bull boat...but other than that, he's pretty entertaining...

Six-Gun

Apparently, bull boats are just hard to make.  I’m reading the Lewis and Clark journals a little bit at a time and they managed to screw up a buffalo hide and make a leaky boat in much the same way.

Jayhawker

Can't imagine a more unstable watercraft...

Six-Gun

They far more resemble the “Raging Rapids” raft rides at theme parks than any form of navigable watercraft.

N454casull

Everyone’s favorite Ben O’Brien is the editorial director for Meat Eater. 

I’ve had multiple occasions to talk to Steve, Janis, and Cal. They are friendly and entertaining to chat with. 

Six-Gun

N454casull said:

Everyone’s favorite Ben O’Brien is the editorial director for Meat Eater. 

I’ve had multiple occasions to talk to Steve, Janis, and Cal. They are friendly and entertaining to chat with. 

That’s good to hear that they are good folks off camera. The handful of personalities that I’ve met from these shows at outdoor expos and such seemed like good folks in my limited exposure.