The Dax Files

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The Life and Times of 

Dax Montana

Hunting for the Finer Things of Life

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Saturday, September 13, 2003

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A Family Affair

Hunting is a family affair. Everyone gets involved. My wife keeps all my gear together. I hunt with Papa D and Uncle John. Even the kids get involved.

Here are a couple of pictures of Devin. He is my two year old. He seems a little conflicted today, whether to hunt with is dad, or watch the Georgia game.





He stayed home and watched Georgia beat up South Carolina. Go Dawgs.


posted by Dax Montana 9:21:19 PM

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A Little More About Hunting

This Blog is Not a hunting Blog. Hunting is a hobby of mine. We all are hunting for something in our lives, hence the Camouflage motif.

I was a sophomore in college before I went hunting the first time. I was at Georgia Southern College at the time. One afternoon, Ray showed up with a doe he had just killed. We went outside the little trailer we rented to help him skin it out. After we prepped the deer, we went inside to cook the tenderloin. It was absolutely the best thing I’ve ever eaten. I decided right then and there, that if I were ever to eat that delicacy again, I’d have to hunt.

A few days later, Ray stopped by and asked if I wanted to go hunting with him. Hell Yea! We got in his truck and took off. A few miles down a dusty dirt road, he stopped the truck. Ray got out and told me to drive about a hundred yard up the road. He would signal me when to release his dog Beau. He stood in the middle of the dirt road and whistled. I opened the dog box in the back of the truck. Beau bounded off into a field. We could hear Beau barking. About five minutes past, when this deer sprang out of the field. Ray aimed, fired, and killed the deer. He motioned for me to back the truck up. We put Beau back in the dog box, put the deer in the bed of the truck, and left.

That was it? You mean that it only takes about thirty minutes to hunt and kill a deer? What about all those people talking about tree stands? Or camouflage? Or scent blocker? What was the big deal about deer hunting?

I didn’t hunt again for eight years. I since found out that hunting with dogs is only allowed in South Georgia. Also, that we were lucky the dog found a deer so quickly. Basically, it was a fluke that we had success like that. To think that for all this time, I thought hunting was too easy. Just Damn!


posted by Dax Montana 9:14:52 PM

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Opening Day, Opening Bust

No kills today. I’m sure you tree huggers are happy about my lack of success in the field.
That’s ok by me because I got to be outside. I don’t get a lot of outdoor time due to the demands of my job. It’s hard to leave work at 3:00 am and be on stand by 6:30 am. I sleep in the tree stands a lot.

I must express my strong dislike for mosquitoes. I am eat up with skeeter bites. It was hot out there today too. I could’ve used a good breeze to cool me off as well as help mask my scent.

Here’s a picture of Uncle John prepping the 4-wheeler.





I know the club looks a little barren. That’s because the paper company clear-cut the timber about 4 years ago. It’s a damn shame too. The land was lush with trees and vegetation. It used to look like a vast wasteland after it was cut. It’s starting to come back now with trees about 4 to 5 feet high.

It’s hard to hunt when you’re not in the field much. I have to depend on Uncle John to guide me on where the best places to hunt are. He and Papa D spend most of the summer working on stands, feeders, and food plots. They scout most of the club during the summer too. I scout a little in the spring during Turkey season.

The club is actually only 680 acres. However, 2 Wildlife Management Areas surround the land. That effectively gives us about 12,000 acres to hunt.

I’m determined to get out there more often this year. It’s a break I desperately need. Maybe I’ll start taking Quint too. He’s almost seven and it’s about time to teach him about the great out doors. Just Damn!


posted by Dax Montana 8:51:29 PM

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Tastes Like Chicken

Phillip Coons at Delusional Duck wants to know what Bear tastes like.

Funny he should ask. A while back, a group of us Southern boys were hanging around the bar. (I was working.) We were talking about the different meats we have eaten. Rabbit is pretty good, Squirrel is similar, and Alligator tail can be tasty too. I won’t eat opossum. I have tasted rattlesnake. We came to the obvious conclusion that it all tastes like chicken.

We decided that any time someone asks us how some animal tastes; we would string them along. What does Bear taste like? It tastes like Alligator. What does Alligator taste like? It tastes like Rattlesnake. What does Rattlesnake taste like? It tastes like Rabbit. What does Rabbit taste like? It tastes like Squirrel. What does Squirrel taste like. Oh, Squirrel tastes like chicken. Southern humor. Just Damn!


posted by Dax Montana 1:33:08 PM

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Bow Season

Saturday is opening day in Georgia. Bow Season begins at 7:14 am or Sunrise. I’m getting excited already. I have my bow, arrows, and leafy suit packed and ready to go.



I bought my Mountaineer from Uncle John a few years ago. She has Sniper II rifle sights with fiber optics. Cousin Benny invented the sights. The Mountaineer has a few good kills on her. Uncle John used to wear the Whitetails out with her. I didn’t kill with her last year though. I did have a great shot at a wild hog. I just thought it would be irresponsible to shoot so close to dark and in the swamp. I’d never be able to track that damned hog.

The leafy suit is simply awesome. It is basically a mesh jacket and pants with camouflage stitched to it. The cut of the camouflage gives it a great 3-D effect. It blows like leaves when the wind brushes against it. It allows me a little freedom to move around while I sit in a stand.

I was sold on the leafy suit while turkey hunting. Uncle John was wearing his that day. I had crossed the streambed and was up on a ridge looking down. I heard movement and spied John across on the other ridge. He saw me and signaled. Well, I heard movement over my shoulder and glanced back. When I turned back, John was gone. Vanished! Later, back at the truck, I asked him where he had gone. He said he stayed there looking at me for about ten minutes, until I moved on up the ridge. I know for a fact, I stood there looking at him, looking for him. He was simply gone. I knew right then. I’m getting a leafy suit.

Anyway, with the weather so warm this early in the season, I’ll wear some shorts and a tee shirt with my leafy suit on top.

It’s a good thing Bass Pro Shop is right down the street from my bar. If I forget anything, I can get everything there. Just Damn!


posted by Dax Montana 4:17:15 AM

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First In, First Out

Out with the old and in with the new. F.I.F.O. is what it’s called in the restaurant industry. It’s time to eat last year’s kills to make room for the new. The other day I wrote about feeding some pals the “deer” cube steak. Well, I’ve just about depleted last year’s meat.

I just added some Elk steaks, Bear steaks, and some Bear stew meat to the ole freezer. Last week, my hunting buddy and father in law went to Colorado for a weeks hunting. He was very successful. If I had known in time to schedule off work, I could have gone. Oh well, maybe next year.

Next week, I’ll treat the boys to some Bear stew. I’ll just not tell ‘em what it is until after they’ve eaten it. Bwhahahah! Just Damn!




posted by Dax Montana 3:16:36 AM

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Remember Hell!

Two years ago, I woke up to a screaming alarm clock. I turned on the news just in time to see the second plane crash into the World Trade Center. Just Damn!

I won’t have time to remember today because I’ve never forgotten the events of 9/11.


posted by Dax Montana 3:33:43 AM

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J-Walk is Back

J-Walk is now an unfucked weblog. Just Damn!


posted by Dax Montana 2:16:54 PM

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The Carnival is on.

Solport is hosting the C.O.V. this week. Go read and enjoy.


posted by Dax Montana 1:59:39 PM

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The Best Page in the Universe

Some Bloggers can rant, but This Guy takes it to a new level.

“When I say this game is hard, I mean hard like nipples-on-a-blind-lesbian-in-a-fish-market hard.”

Maddox comes through…Again. Just Damn!


posted by Dax Montana 3:53:25 AM

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Cube Steak Meats Uncle Tom

I was so damn hungry the other night. I went searching for the midnight snack. Although I settled for a couple of corn dogs, I spied a couple of packages neatly wrapped in butcher paper. Upon closer inspection, the words “cube steak” were stamped haphazardly on the wrapping. My mouth began to water instantaneously as I thought about the tasty venison lightly coated in flour and a secret blend of spices and simmering in golden butter. I quickly snatched the steaks from the freezer. Setting them into the refrigerator to thaw, I wondered who should share the frozen bounty with me.

My wife doesn’t care for deer meat. She grew up on the stuff and it just doesn’t give her the same thrill. I wouldn’t dare waste such heavenly cuts of meat on the children who wouldn’t appreciate the treat. My mind wandered. The flash of lightning went off in my head. Max! He’s always cooking for me. I’ll bet he’s never had Georgia White Tail before. I’ll cook for Max.

Max has cooked for the restaurants for years. He is perhaps the heart and soul of the place. Although it’s never been confirmed, he’s probably an illegal Mexican immigrant. The man works damn near eighty hours a week between the two stores. If he’s ever scheduled less, he threatens to quit. The man is a Machine in my kitchen. He’ll do whatever anyone asks of him including working on his day off. He is the perfect employee. No Doubt.

Taking the cooler packed with cube steak into the store, I hastily unwrap the meaty goodness and place in a bowl. I slowly pour a little buttermilk over the prime cuts. Buttermilk cuts some of the gamy taste from the meat. I let them marinate for a few hours. Oh, did I mention that it’s highly illegal to have unregulated meat in a restaurant.

Bruce is an old time customer. He comes in every night for two beers and some conversation. He’s more than a customer. He is a company friend. In the winter months, Bruce cooks for the “breakfast club.” Each Saturday, the bar regulars show up around 8:00 am for breakfast, drinks, and betting on football. They each take turns buying breakfast, but Bruce cooks it up. I told him I’d bring him some deer meat. Last night, I did.

While Bruce was enjoying his beer, I told him of my dinner plans. I carefully picked out three choice cuts and wrapped them up for him to take home. I then carefully explained how he should prepare the steaks at home. Before Bruce left, I cooked up a piece of steak for him to try. He was in heavenly bliss.

Max arrives just as Bruce was leaving. Evidently, Max was arguing with another cook, his best friend, and was quite upset. Apparently, he is resentful of Max because Max is trying to hard to be an Americano. Max’s friends are American. He speaks better English and he is awarded the benefits of trying to assimilate. In a word, Max’s friend is jealous.

Bruce lets out a roar of laughter and says, ”Max, you are an Uncle Tom!” Bruce then had to explain what an “Uncle Tom” is. Bruce continues to tell Max that people who are too lazy to educate themselves and are content to live on the bottom of society will always try to bring down someone else who is trying to better themselves. Bruce continues to explain that people used to call him an Uncle Tom when he was a boy. “Now they call me boss,” he laughed as he takes the last bite of his steak.

I fix Max a plate of some of the best venison cube steak ever made. We ate like kings, drank Tequila Sunrises and forgot all about Uncle Tom.

What I find curious about all of this is the realization that even in the Hispanic community people try to keep others down. I guess I never thought about it before. I always thought the black community had the patented trademark on Uncle Tomism. Just Damn!


posted by Dax Montana 3:11:16 AM

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Join the Out Crowd

Posted today, J-Walk Blog hangs up the Windows and explores the world of Fucked Weblog. It’s sad because I enjoyed the site tremendously. I always wondered where all the bizarre links came from. Now I guess I’ll never know. Just Damn!


posted by Dax Montana 1:58:59 AM

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With Fans Like This….




Who needs hit counters...

...with web sites like this?.

Thanks J-Walk! Just Damn!


posted by Dax Montana 5:18:37 AM

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Something’s In The Air

I caught a faint whiff of that little something on the drive home tonight. It caught me so off guard, I damn near wrecked the truck. I must be crazy. I felt the first stirrings of Autumn. I don’t mean that bold slap in the face…Fall’s here. It was faint, still off in the distance, like a distant train whistle cutting through the still night air. The air was a bit crisp tonight. Then I was cold. I kept the truck window open and turned on the heater. I kept snorting the night air nasally searching for the aroma of Oak or Hickory burning in some distant fireplace. I feel it. I long for. It will be here soon enough. Just Damn!


posted by Dax Montana 4:41:24 AM

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The Cul-De-Sac

Is up and running over with linky goodness at Suburban Blight.

On a side note, when I hear the term “Cul-De-Sac”, I can’t help but remember an explanation of Nascar Athletes. It went something like this:

Put on all your winter clothes, a helmet, gloves, then get in your car. Turn your heater on full blast. Then drive around your Cul-De-Sac all day. After you have gone 500 miles, get out and tell me I’m not an Athlete.

A great analogy and a great Cul-De-Sac. Just Damn!


posted by Dax Montana 3:25:28 PM

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The Blog Window...

...is closing. It seems that I've missed the Blogging window of opportunity yet
again. I only get to really sit down and write late in the evening after work.
If I miss it, its just too damn bad. There are rare occasions before work, and
even rarer times during work to Blog. Oh well, there is always tomorrow. Just
Damn!

posted by Dax Montana 2:34:29 PM

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I'm Not the Only One


Hell yea! Tony sent me an email with this Awesome Site Link. That's right Karaoke Sucks. Finally, some therapy for my karaoke dilemma. There is even a top ten list.

10. It gives bad singers the false impression that they can sing.

Well, check it out for yourself. Just Damn!


posted by Dax Montana 8:27:28 AM

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Just Damn!

I've been trying to get this idea out of my head for about a week now. Finally, Adam at A Single Guy in the South, filled in the missing piece of the puzzle with his post on Blog Branding. I can't say that I didn't attempt to create an Blog Identity. I just never consciously considered it "Branding." I designed my page to reflect me, Dax Montana. Among all the crap posts I tend top throw up on the Blog, there are a few nuggets worthy of your attention from time to time. I'm certainly not a prolific poster, or a great writer.

However, I, like you, put a piece of my soul into the Blog. Therefore, my huge ego forces me to check hit counters, Ecosystem rankings, and comments. Today I finally became a "Flappy Bird" in the Ecosystem.
Now that's an ego stroker! New Bloggers as well as a few veterans have added me to their Blogrolls lately. I am truly flattered by the recent influx of attention.

Now, the biggest surprise to me, and the crux of this post is the proliferation of "Just Damn!" into the Blogosphere. That little southern expression is slowly slipping into the consciousness of Bloggers everywhere. Several weeks ago, I added "Just Damn" to the Dax Files' title as I started to notice credit of that phrase to me.

Acidman gives me credit here, while Kim Crawford does it with these posts. Robert Goodwin posts this, and this, and finally this. Now, they're southerners, and I would expect them to use such a common southern expression. However, the "Just Damn!" phenomena is expanding outside the south courtesy of the internet. Phillip Coons uses it here. Cynical Cyn credits me here. However, "Just Damn," has expanded Across the Atlantic complete with an Acidman comment here. Very Cool!

I've been thinking about fads and pop culture phenomena like the pet rock. I wonder what makes those quirky things really take off. I'm looking to make a million dollars. Never in my wildest thoughts did I think "Just Damn!" would be the phrase that built readership of the Dax Files. I just felt it and used it again and again and again. Kind of like "Fair and Balanced" is to Fox news. However, I can't trademark or copyright "Just Damn!" It doesn't belong to me. It is a southern colloquialism that belongs to any one. I just find it funny how much it is used. "Just Damn!" has just evolved into the "Branding" of the Dax Files like Coca Cola was once the real thing but now adds life.

I'm not totally happy with this post, but I got most of the thoughts out of my head now. Maybe I can finally get some sleep. Just Damn!

posted by Dax Montana 7:41:58 AM