Frog Hollow Tavern - Augusta

Scallops with chipped pecans

Marinated Lamb, potato casserole and asparagus

With the recent prosperity from tourism now joining forces with the long-term success of The Masters, Augusta is enjoying the benefits of fine dining. Dinner at The Frog Hollow Tavern downtown at 1282 Broad Street begins with checking in at the hostess station and then taking a seat in a waiting area. Once seated at a table with a view of the sidewalk traffic outside, my server informed me of the special James River Valley oysters from Chesapeake Bay. While I did not choose this option, I knew from being a lifelong oyster connoisseur that this was not your ordinary oyster offering. Instead I chose scallops which were cooked to tender perfection and the butternut squash puree was easy to sop up.

            

Ready for a hearty supper after a long day outdoors

Going with the “Farm to Table” option included lamb chops with Yonce asparagus and goat cheese potato casserole. The presentation was impressive and the portion of food was equivalent to what a hungry customer would eat. The lamb was dark on one side and pink on the other, and this meat cut easy with a steak knife. The gouda mac and cheese side order was very filling, and I was glad to wash it down with a glass of their House Malbec wine from Mendoza, Argentina.

Could not have said it better!

At the end of my meal I tried the crème brûlée dessert, which was big enough for two. Owner and chef Sean Wight stopped by my table to ask how the meal went and I replied that either I was more hungry than I thought, or everything I tasted was savory because there wasn't much food left. As I exited the restaurant there was not an open table in sight, and parking on Broad Street was packed. And just imagine all the activity the week of the Masters in April, when the epicenter for legendary golf amid southern splendor brings downtown Augusta dining into full bloom.

 To view more about Augusta click on Forest Hills Golf - Augusta Canal Tour - Partridge Inn

Read Turkey Men and Get Ready for Turkey Season Opener

Published by Wild River Press

The 2017 wild turkey season in South Carolina will be the second year with the new regulations in effect that change the season opener date from March 15 to March 20. A reduction in the longtime bag limit of five turkeys per hunter down to three turkeys per hunter also remains in effect. Just in time for some inspirational reading about hunting wild turkeys, the Turkey Men book records how six veteran hunters attack turkey hunting, as they pursue their quarry throughout North America.

Turkey Men by Thomas Pero just published in February, and chronicles a lifetime of hunting adventures from six veteran outdoorsmen who have hunted all four species of turkey found in the United States. Lots of color photos provide common threads from all of these hunts that serve to educate the reader why some wild turkey hunts fail, and how to utilize certain tactics to increase your chances for hunting success. One of the Turkey Men featured is Rob Keck of Edgefield, South Carolina. This humble outdoor writer has heard Mr. Keck speak on several occasions, and even shared a hunt with him in the outdoors, and I can think of no better source for information on hunting the wild turkey.

“Turkeys can hang up for a number of reasons,” said Keck. “You’re calling. He’s strutting. He’s excited. He’s gobbling. He can’t figure out how to get there. I’ve lost so many birds to fences it’s unbelievable. I’ve also had some that get to a ditch and would not cross it, only to find out if I got to the other side he came right to me.” The better one knows the area you are hunting, the better your chance to make a move around the obstacle, and get that gobbler working back into your hunt plans.

To read the entire feature article in the newspaper click on Colletonian.

To view past blog entires about the Turkey Season Opener click 2016 - 2015 - 2014 - 2013 - 2012 - 2010 - 2009

To view past book reviews click Old Friends / Barns - Edisto River - Tall Timbers - Red Knot - Audubon's Aviary - Lefty Kreh - Guy Harvey - Year of the Pig- Shrimp, Collards and Grits - Passion of the Wild - Kayak Fishing - Longleaf Alliance

2017 Prescribed Fire in March

Stringing fire along a paved road baseline

With light winds, lower humidity and mild temperatures we completed a prescribed fire on March 8 that will control hardwoods and benefit wildlife. I had recently completed a Prescribed Fire Academy with the Longleaf Alliance and was keen to put the new info to use.

To view past blog entires about Prescribed Fire in March click 2016 - 2015 - 2013 - 2012 - 2009

To view past blog entries on the S.C. Prescribed Fire Council click on 2015 - 2009

Dry conditions led to a Good Burn Result

Held at Webb WMA Center

Neat Vintage Wildfire Poster

Water Pump and Drip Torch Tools

Hiking, Biking and Birding Trails of Colleton County

Entrance Signage with Wisteria in bloom

There may be no better time than spring to consider stretching one’s legs for the sake of exercise in the great outdoors. Cooler temperatures usually greet the morning hours, with flowers in bloom and wildlife stirring. The shape of Colleton County stretches across the Lowcountry like a slice of pie, from the saltwater of St. Helena Sound up to the hardwood bottoms of the Salkehatchie Swamp. Many hiking options exist within this county boundary, so here’s some directions to better visit with Mother Nature.

I made a trek to Bear Island last week to get off the beaten path, making a grand pilgrimage to glimpse the Great Kisakadee. The what? A rare bird sighting was all the buzz in late February drawing birdwatchers from across the state to the Wildlife Management Area (WMA) near Bennett’s Point. This 12,000-acre WMA is better known as a public duck hunting area, but once hunting season is over the roads and trails open to the public.

Miles of roads and trails await hiking, biking and birding

The Donnelly WMA property is located right on the ACE Basin parkway and also offers easy access for driving and hiking tours. The 2.2-mile Boynton Nature Trail is an optional place to stop and enjoy a detour from the driving course, and walk into the woods. The Boynton trail is named for the family that formerly owned this area and raised cattle there, and the entire 8,000-acre property is name after Gaylord and Dorothy Donnelly of Chicago for their conservation efforts on behalf of the ACE Basin. Signage at the entrance of this WMA lists eight members of the cooperative initiative that served as the catalyst for this ongoing wildlife restoration project.

   

To view the feature story in the newspaper click on Colletonian.

To view past blog entries about the ACE Basin click 25th Anniversary

To view my most recent Birding Journal Observations click on Jan./Feb. 2017