Hunting and Fishing Terms – as I learned them
by: Tom Sorenson
A post a while back from The Hunter’s Wife got me to thinking – always a dangerous thing for me – about the outdoor terms I learned as I was growing up. I imagine that from different parts of the country, the same things may have different meanings – but here is what I learned:
Texas bullseye = when an animal is moving directly away from you – the rump has been a Texas bullseye to me for as long as I remember. I’m thinking they don’t use this term in Texas?
Bear Bait = That would be my dad. Ever since he started hunting a drainage absolutely infested with bears and coming back with tale after tale of close bear encounters, he earned this title. Forget twinkies, just take my dad – the bears will come!
Taco’d = Thanks to Yeah We Fish, Too for this one – check out the link to understand the meaning. Obviously, I just learned this, but I love it, so I included it in this list. It just makes sense.
Backstrap = Tenderloins. I’d watched my dad dress several animals and had even helped on a few. However, when I shot my first deer when I was all alone, I realized I didn’t know where the backstrap was. I remembered going into the body cavity and getting some meat from near the backbone – so I figured these were the famous backstraps. I grabbed the tenderloins, and left the backstraps on the mountain. I imagine there were some coyotes that ate very well that night. I’ve not been able to live this one down.
Powerbait = Synonymous with “sure fire way to catch fish.” Also was synonymous for many years as “the only way to catch fish.” I have since branched out.
Fly fishermen = People that didn’t know what powerbait was. Then my brother became one – and he’s working hard to convert me.
Archery = Difficult, painful, and costly addiction.
Trophy = Anything you catch or shoot. This remains true today.
Trigger = The mechanism on the rifle that caused it to fire. Evolved into the mechanism on the release that causes my bow to fire.
Eyes = I’m not sure, but some sort of evil monster best left alone. I remember many times approaching a herd of elk with my father and hearing him whisper -”Careful, there are fifty eyes looking at us.” I don’t know about you, but that sounds downright scary to me.
Purple Freight Train = A what?
Blog = Cut it out, this is a family oriented hunting & fishing website. Don’t use that language.
7 Responses to “Hunting and Fishing Terms – as I learned them”
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Backstrap I think is an international word that means the same thing. Mmmmm….backstraps.
I am familiar with the Texas heart shot which is what you call the Texas bullseye.
I also know the Archery term all too well and I agree with your definition of trophy.
Great post.
I like the taco’d reference too. It made me laugh when I first saw the reference and the accompanying pictures.
I’ve never heard of the Texas Bullseye, but my Dad, who is the hunter I know best, grew up in Michigan. He may not have known about that phrase.
Entertaining post… made me smile.
Tom, it is indeed Thursday even though my post is a Friday Sky watch. Most often the Sky watchs posts are entered in today mainly for those oversea bloggers where they are already a day ahead!
You are not going crazy.. or shall I say any crazier than you are already! LOL
By the way… it would be nice to see that photo that you had talked about on my blog if you still had it! Sounds pretty sweet!
~Michele J~
Texas Heart Shot… that phrase brought back some memories. Toco’d was a new one for me, but is now in my repetoire (sp?). Thnx.
I got taco’d a few times Tuesday night by some big Owyhee Browns…..I remember looking at my new rod a couple times and thinking, “Wow that thing can really bend.”
Oh the eyes – just wait until it is a flock of snow geese or pintails circling and circling and circling and circling… talk about the eyes watching you!
Funny stuff.
I’ve always heard it referred to as a “Texas Heart Shot”. I finally had to ask someone what the heck it was after I heard it a time or two as a kid.
A few I’ve run across that make me smile.
Balled up. Desert racing term describing a vehicle that is now wadded up.
Pilgrim. Someone not familiar with nature about to get eaten, mauled, bitten, etc.