in our sights: hunt with heart

While attending last month’s Houston Safari Club Convention, we had the pleasure of meeting Chance Sanford of Texas non-profit, Hunt with Heart. We were so impressed with this group’s mission that we donated a jacket to a longtime female member, Taylor Dyson, and wanted to share Hunt with Heart’s work with you.

Hunt with Heart empowers kids suffering from congenital heart issues by giving them life experiences which, were it not for their conditions, they would have had playing team sports. Hunt with Heart uses hunting and fishing to teach camaraderie, problem-solving, perseverance, and success.

Participants learn the basics during a weekend-long camp at central Texas’s Beaver Creek Ranch. Afterwards, they participate in fishing expeditions, dove and big game hunts, and sporting clay shoots throughout the year. Hunt with Heart currently serves 49 members, who have a median age of 14. Unlike some wish-based organizations, becoming involved with Hunt with Heart is not a one-time event; the organization becomes a meaningful part of each participant’s medical journey.  

Hunt with Heart has also provided a supportive community for the families of its members, particularly during the lengthy and arduous treatment periods typical of congenital heart disorders. When extended hospital stays are required, Hunt with Heart steps in to help with lodging and parking costs. It has also subsidized the funerals of departed members.

You can get involved with this great group by hosting or sponsoring a hunting or fishing expedition. Financial contributions are also always welcome. More info here.

Happy hunting!
Emily

in our sights: gunning for a cure

It’s that time of year again in New Orleans. No, I’m not talking carnival season – February 11th marks the fourth annual Gunning for a Cure.

After losing their father to prostate cancer, the Perez family started Gunning for a Cure in 2013. It is a one-day skeet shooting tournament and celebration at Stella Plantation, benefiting cancer research. Over just three-years, the event has raised over $357,000 for the Tulane Cancer Center, and with this year’s event, they hope to top $500,000.

The day begins with the signature skeet shooting tournament at 9 AM, but the afterparty continues well into the evening. Beginning at 1 PM, the party is open to shooters and non-shooters alike and features a variety of family friendly activities:

• Kids’ exhibition on Louisiana wildlife, including a special meet and greet with Hammy the Great Horned Owl
• Water bottle cannon shoot for either a lifetime fishing and hunting license or a Yeti Cooler
• Silent auction, with prizes like an African safari, an off-shore fishing trip with Billy Wells, and a one-week stay at a four-bedroom condo in Gulf Shores
• Wine auction, where every $25 ticket wins a bottle valued between $15 and $250
• 3-gun raffle for a Browning Citori o/u 20 ga, Browning BPS 10 ga, and a Benelli SBE II 12 ga
• Live music by The Dirty Rain Revelers
• Catering by 12 Seasons and open bar

When we learned about this great cause, we got involved. I’m proud to serve on the Gunning for a Cure board and am particularly excited to field the event’s first all-female shooting team. Saint Hugh donated a Shooter’s Jacket and Original Long Sleeve to the silent auction.

You can get involved too. Here’s how:

• Register a team – if you’re in the area, grab three friends and join the tournament
• Attend the after party – purchase a $50 ticket, and enjoy delicious food and fun activities
• Buy a 3-gun raffle ticket – every ticket provides three chances to win a shotgun
• Donate an auction item – promote your business and support finding a cure
• Make a donation – even if you can’t join us for the festivities, you can still support Gunning for a Cure

Happy shooting!
Emily

saint hugh cooks: pecan crusted venison

Today we share a favorite from Chef Emeril Lagasse's online recipe book: pecan crusted venison.

Ingredients
12 venison medallions
2 cups roasted pecans
1/2 cup bread crumbs
2 tablespoons Essence
2/3 cup creole mustard
Salt and pepper to taste
Olive oil

Directions
1. Pulse the pecans in a food processor until they are coarse and still are textured. 
2. Add the bread crumbs and Essence.
3. Rub each medallion with salt, peeper, and creole mustard, coating each side completely.
4. Crust each medallion with the pecan mixture. 
5. Heat the olive oil the olive oil in a saute pan until it is smoking hot.
6. Add the venison, and saute for 3 minutes on each side for medium rare.

(Original calls for this to be served with bourbon mash.)

Happy cooking!
Emily 

field notes: tips for effective decoy use

Slow hunts are no fun. But even worse is what happens after: wet and frozen fingers must pack up decoys as their owners wonder if it’s even worth the trouble. So, is it?

Yes, when used effectively. Decoys work because:

• Ducks like to flock up in the winter, so flocks of decoys incentivize ducks to land, and
• Ducks are attracted to color, so vibrant decoys draw them in.

To make the most of your decoys use, follow these tips:

1. Know the ducks in your area – In marshlands, you might use green-winged teal and wood ducks, but diving ducks in large lakes or coastal bays
    
2. Buy the most colorful ducks in your area – This could mean buying more male decoys.
    
3. Add feet – Not many floating decoys come with feet attached, but ducks look for those orange toes through the water. Make your decoys even more colorful and lifelike by simply tying two small strips of orange ribbon to their base.
    
4. Add motion – This can be done by using spinners spinners (more effective in the early season), or by rigging a few decoys to a single line, which you agitate to create ripples (added benefit of easy clean-up). 

Happy hunting!
Emily