1/29/10: The Blind Spot - with Tucker Whitley

Recorded/Transcribed: 1/29/2010 - WTTT's United Public Radio

This is United Public Radio.  Now offering a wide variety of sign language programs for our deaf and hard-of-hearing audience members.

Now its time to lock, load, and pull the trigger.  Its the "Blind Spot" with Tucker Lewis.

Quickly now everyone!  There is a stampede of topics coming our way on today's show!  Let's hop into the blind, load up, and get ready to massacre anything that comes our way!  Today we are talking about the best ways to clean your pistol, this year's duck and bear hunting regulations, and the top five things every deer stand needs.  That plus a whole lot more!  I am Tucker Cromwell and this is the Blind Spot!

You know, my absolutely favorite thing on the whole earth is my gun and my bullets and my hunting buddies and sitting back after a nice long hunt and sipping a beer.  I tell you what.  If I could choose just one thing- I would choose that.  It doesn't get much better.  How about you?  I know that we all have priorities- what with work and kids and whatever else.  Where does hunting fall into your priority set?  If it isn't in at least the top 4 things, you need to swap some stuff around.

My good buddy only hunts.  And I do mean, ONLY hunts.  Its his passion.  Its his priority.  He sits out in his deer stand all day.  He sleeps out in his deer stand all night.  Night and day, day and night - he is up in that tree.  Gun loaded, finger on the trigger.  His eye pressed on his scope just scanning his backyard for a nice big buck....or whatever other living thing he wants to kill.  He loves it.  He has his priorities straight.  He feeds and clothes his family with the deer and bird meat and deer and bird hide he harvests.  I can only imagine how freeing that is.  Because he doesn't have to pay any taxes of any kind- because he doesn't have an income.  He is his own man.  He is his own boss.  And through a strange, intra-family marriage, he is his own brother.  And I envy that.

Alright, I have heard from a lot of listeners that you want an update on my latest hunting video that I posted to my blog - blindspothuntingblogbyTuckerSmith.com.  I was out in the middle of a golden wheat field and saw that big buck just going to town on a doe.  It was mating season and both were in heat.  So I took my sniper rifle and took that big buck down - mid coitus.  It was so exhilarating.  As I approached the fallen animal, I could smell the scent of deer heat and deer pheromones.  I became even more exhilarated. I stood over the fallen deer and shot it a few more times in the head and stomach for good measure.  I then went back to my camp.

Now- friends, this is just one story in a literal ocean of millions of other stories.  I want to hear your hunting stories here on Blind Spot.  Jason from Durango- what is your hunting story.

Jason- Tucker Carlson!  I never thought I would get the chance to talk with such a great hunter and great American.  I went hunting last night for some polar bear.  I don't think I got any though.  It was too dark and I was shooting far too fast and in quick circles for me to track anything down.  I still had fun.

Jason- that is great to hear.  I have never gone polar bear hunting, but I hope to some day.  I have hunted every other type of bear though.  Black, Grizzly, Panda, Kola, and Water bear.  Quick story about water bears--they are small, protozoa type creatures that live in very inhospitable areas.  I had one swim into my ear canal and I got sick for about 3 months.  When I finally went into the hospital, they scanned my brain, opened me up, and took the little fella out.  I then mushed it with my finger.  I needed to get the last laugh.

Kevin from Salt Lake City- you got us in your cross hairs, pull the trigger with your question.

Kevin- Hi Tucker.  I love smoking all of the animals I kill- deer, elk, pork, and flamingo.  Its a great way to preserve the meat and is super tasty.  How do you like preparing your meats?

Kevin- that is great.  You know, I hear smoking is the best way to cook meats because of how it slowly breaks down the animals fats and tendons.  On a side note, it is also one of my favorite ways to kill animals--by slowly heating them to the point of exhaustion.  But to answer your question....I wouldn't know.  I am a vegetarian and don't prepare any of my own meals.  I only hunt for the sport of it....and because I like killing animals.

Greg from St. Louis- as they say out on the shooting range - "shoot."

Greg- Tucker.  I have a question about my gun.  It keeps discharging at the most inopportune moments.  Its really embarrassing and makes me think I am less of a man. I am not less of a man, am I, Tucker?

Son, you are not less of a man....in fact....having your gun going off so often should make you more of a man.  It shows that your gun is in working order and hyper sensitive.  Keep your chin up son and keep on firing.

Alright, well, that is about as much time as we have for today--even though I didn't talk about any of the topics I said I would.  Until next time, keep your finger on the trigger of life and get ready to squeeze.