By Jerry Long, August 30, 2010 In this series of blogs I share the day-by-day journal from my archery safari experience with Dries Visser Safaris in the Republic of South Africa. The entries will likely contain more detail than some desire, but in keeping with dv’s Mostly Archery mission, I want to help you be [...]
Go to African Archery Safari – Part 1Author Archive
dv Goes To Africa – Completing the CBP Form 4457
By Jerry Long, August 23, 2010 Completing the Customs and Border Protection Form 4457, Certificate of Registration for Personal Effects Taken Abroad, in preparation for traveling to the Republic of South Africa. If something is “supposed to be done” I generally try to do it to be on the safe side. The subject of whether [...]
Go to dv Goes To Africa – Completing the CBP Form 4457Outfitter Report – Shiloh Ranch Hunting Camp 2007
By Jerry Long, August 16, 2010 Here’s a trip report from a hunt to Shiloh Ranch Hunting Camp in Stonewall, OK. High school classmates 20 years later; Brian, Will and myself. 1) Outfitter: Shiloh Ranch Hunting Camp 2) Owner: Matt & Cheryl Napper 3) Address: 28570 CR 3630, Stonewall, OK, 74871 [...]
Go to Outfitter Report – Shiloh Ranch Hunting Camp 2007National Trapper’s Association Convention
By Jerry Long, August 10, 2010 For a change of pace I attend the National Trapper’s Association Convention in Marshfield, WI and get to spend some time with my father and an old family friend. Not quite a year ago dad called and said he and long time family friend Harvey King, Harvey King Custom [...]
Go to National Trapper’s Association ConventionQuest for The North American 29 – Tule Elk
By Jerry Long, August 3, 2010 Bowhunter and friend Gary Martin harvests the Tule elk turning his Super Slam 28 into the North American 29. Over time you’ve read about and seen pictures of local Super Slam bowhunter and friend, Gary Martin, here on dv’s Mostly Archery. He called last Friday morning to tell me [...]
Go to Quest for The North American 29 – Tule Elkdv Goes to Africa – Packing List and Packing
By Jerry Long, July 27, 2010 As departure for South Africa looms large I finalize my packing list, see what luggage I need and do a packing “dry run”. Strategy “Pack your bags then throw out about one-half of everything you packed.” I’ve seen that recommendation a couple of times when people ask what to [...]
Go to dv Goes to Africa – Packing List and PackingGot Archery Heritage?
By Jerry Long, July 20, 2010 Some of us tend to think we’ve been involved in archery for a while. Not necessarily so when it comes to West Allis Bowmen. Hollis Allen began work on his compound bow in 1961. He was granted the patent in 1969, the year I was born. Can you imagine being [...]
Go to Got Archery Heritage?Got Archery Heritage?
By Jerry Long, July 20, 2010 Some of us tend to think we’ve been involved in archery for a while. Not necessarily so when it comes to West Allis Bowmen. Hollis Allen began work on his compound bow in 1961. He was granted the patent in 1969, the year I was born. Can you imagine being [...]
Go to Got Archery Heritage?DIY Stabilizer
By Jerry Long, July 13, 2010 Is it really necessary to spend $75 or $175 on a TV antenna, GPS, marriage counseling, toast making stabilizer? Back around 2002 I started looking for a new stabilizer. I was always a fan of the old Saunder’s Torque Tamer, but boy was that thing heavy and mine had [...]
Go to DIY Stabilizer4H Archery
By Jerry Long, July 1, 2010 Coaching the next generation of archers. When I think of a Super Slam archer someone who teaches 4H archery really isn’t what comes to mind. However, friend and Super Slam archer Gary Martin has run the 4H program at West Allis Bowmen for seven years. I met outdoors buddy [...]
Go to 4H ArcheryBowhunting Fitness – Warrior Dash
By Jerry Long, June 24, 2010 Participating in the “The Craziest Frickin’ Day Of Your Life” sounded like an excellent way to celebrate my 19th, errrrr, 41st birthday. What Warrior Dash Is What is Warrior Dash you ask? Similar to the event I wrote about in Bowhunting Fitness – 5K Obstacle Run, Warrior Dash combines [...]
Go to Bowhunting Fitness – Warrior Dashdv Goes To Africa – Bow and Arrow Set Up
By Jerry Long, June 18, 2010 The final test, broadhead flight, of my Africa set up made me happy for nearly 24 hours. Even if part of that was a Monday… I was pretty comfortable going to Africa with my normal set up. The outfitter recommends 64 ft/lbs KE for the plains’ game I am [...]
Go to dv Goes To Africa – Bow and Arrow Set UpMostly Archery Updates Move To Thursdays
By Jerry Long, June 14, 2010 I kept my word, see The Foundation Of An Outdoors Person, and returned to coach 4H archery this summer after a 15 year absence. Every Monday and Wednesday night in the month of June is taken up coaching our next generation of archers. So, during this month updates to dv’s Mostly Archery will occur on [...]
Go to Mostly Archery Updates Move To Thursdaysdv’s List of Archery and Bowhunting Don’ts
By Jerry Long, June 7, 2010 dustyvarmint’s Mostly Archery mission is to help you avoid the same mistakes I’ve made over time. Maybe this list will. I’ve made some silly, frustrating and unnecessary archery and bowhunting mistakes over time and I’ve been around a few others who’ve done the same. Hopefully the below list of [...]
Go to dv’s List of Archery and Bowhunting Don’tsThe KME Broadhead Sharpener
By Jerry Long, May 31, 2010 If a broadhead isn’t sharp enough to shave the hair off my arm, it isn’t ready to shoot at an animal. The KME Broadhead Sharpener makes that a reality. Maybe it is just the cheap in me, but it just makes fiscal sense to resharpen broadheads if they have [...]
Go to The KME Broadhead SharpenerBowhunting Fitness – 5K Obstacle Run
By Jerry Long, May 24, 2010 A little running, a little agility and a win for dustyvarmint. I thrive off the physical challenge of bowhunting; carrying stuff, climbing trees, shooting bows, traversing the woods, dragging a deer that weighs more than me across field and forest. And I just like running – it sets me [...]
Go to Bowhunting Fitness – 5K Obstacle RunSlick Trick Burgers
By Jerry Long, May 17, 2010 Venison. Bacon. What can be better than that? This recipe came from Gary at Slick Trick, a company that produces outstanding broadheads with excellent customer service. Slick Trick broadheads are tough, produce excellent wounds with the resultant bloodtrail and are economical in that they can typically be used over and [...]
Go to Slick Trick BurgersOf Bowhunters and Runners – Extreme
“It won’t get too cold this winter to run outside…”
Go to Of Bowhunters and Runners – ExtremeBowDekeTastrophe
By Jerry Long, May 3, 2010
With extremely limited time to hunt, my turkey season turns disastrous in a hurry.
My vacation time is limited this year due to the Africa adventure, see the Bowhunting Africa page, so turkey season was going to be very short. The morning started out well – coffee was good and outdoor’s [...]
Bow Stakes – A “Pointless” Tip
By Jerry Long, April 11, 2010
This quick tip will save you a hole in the hand, your blind or pack.
Holding a bow on your lap in a blind for long periods of time can get old. I’m not fond of attaching a kickstand to my bow nor do I want to pay for or [...]
Deer & Turkey Classic Review
By Jerry Long, April 19, 2010
Follow along with me on an after-action virtual visit to the Madison, WI Deer and Turkey Classic held 9, 10 and 11 April, 2010.
As a general rule I try to stay away outdoor expositions such as the Deer and Turkey Classic for a variety of reasons. First, they conflict with [...]
Judging An NWTF Turkey Calling Contest
By Jerry Long, April 14, 2010
Tune in to the Up North Journal where we discuss my participation as a judge in a recent National Wild Turkey Federation sanctioned turkey calling contest.
I recently had the privilege of participating as a judge in a NWTF sanctioned turkey calling contest. As I told my Regional Director, “It was [...]
How To – Use A Sharpening Steel
By Jerry Long, April 12, 2010
This week I discuss various types of sharpening steels and a method I use to maintain my knives with them.
I was down at West Allis Bowmen working in the kitchen (my favorite work-hour generator) awhile back and needed a sharp knife. While I grabbed out the chef knife and [...]
dustyvarmint’s Taco Seasoning
By Jerry Long, April 5, 2010
This week I share my favorite taco seasoning recipe.
For a small-carcassed dude I can put the smack-down on some tacos so the majority of my venison ends up as seasoned meat for this tasty staple. Since I despise dehydrated minced onion and dehydrated minced garlic this recipe is well-suited [...]
DIY – Solar Lighted Stabilizer
By Jerry Long, April 1, 2010
Ever run out of batteries or forget your flashlight, but still needed to find your way to or from your stand?
Last season I was leaving the truck and realized I’d forgotten my headlamp at camp. Then my backup flashlight’s batteries were dead. That was the slowest walk, ever, to my [...]
dv Goes to Africa – Expenses Part II
By Jerry Long, March 29, 2010
In this second post of a two part series I discuss costs associated with hunting in the Republic of South Africa.
As mentioned in dv Goes to Africa – Expenses Part I a lot of the below information was discussed in WWAC – What Would Africa CostSafari Options and listed on [...]
dv Goes to Africa – Expenses Part I
By Jerry Long, March 22, 2010
In this post I discuss costs associated with traveling to the Republic of South Africa for hunting.
Affording the Trip
Is a trip to Africa within your budget? Only you can answer that question. I’ll relate how it worked in my house-hold. It was kind of like building a fire; an internal, [...]
Return On Investment – Outdoor’s Style
By Jerry Long, March 15, 2010
Before our current financial situation the term Return On Investment was used quite heavily. In this post I offer a different perspective of ROI.
Seth was just 14 when we met through a 4H archery program back in 1993. He wanted to learn to bowhunt. His parents consented. We went through [...]
Passing On The Tradition
By Jerry Long, March 10, 2010
At Burlington Boss Toms National Wild Turkey Federation Chapter we pass on the hunting tradition.
Some of you faithful readers may remember the dustyvarmint’s Mostly Archery and Up North Journal Game Camera Photo Contest. Third prize winner Dave from Rapid City, SD asked me to give his turkey decoy to a [...]
dustyvarmint Goes To Africa
Posted by Jerry Long, March 8, 2010
dv’s Time Out Corner – Before I lose you to an assumption that an African Archery Safari is too expensive I’d ask that you continue to follow along with the dv Goes To Africa series before making up your mind.
I feel like there should be a question mark after [...]


