[rlp]

Love the post. Scorpions here in AZ and know a guy who stepped on one barefoot. It was in his house at night. No harm just sore foot 2 days.

Thanks

[LaRemnant]

Originally Posted by pocomoonskyeyes

What I was referring to was what is termed a dip net. It is a larger version than what is found for use with an aquarium.

Could you please give me a link to one? I might buy it!

Originally Posted by pocomoonskyeyes

Boiling is the usual method I have used,although I have "flame broiled" some on a stick when "in a hurry". In B52's neck of the woods I would use some Common Wax Myrtle Myrica cerifera leaves to season them with, they are a good substitute for bay leaves. If you are really tough you can eat the carapace (same as shrimp), but I just ain't that tough.

So after you boil it, you had to take off the fingernail-like outer layer, right? Like shrimp? Did it have a poop strip, or did you have to take out the guts, or did you just eat all that crap?

The Wax Myrtle... a shrub... in my Peterson Field Guide on medicinal plants and herbs, it says the root bark was formerly used in tea as an astringent and emetic for chronic gastritis, diarrhea, dysentery, leukorrhea, ... jaundice, scrofula, and indolent (hard to heal) ulcers. The leaf tea was used for fevers, externally as a wash for itching and the powdered root bark was an ingredient in "composition powder," once a widely used home remedy for colds and chills.

One component in the plant, myricitrin, has anti-flammatory, antimutagenic, diuretic, and antibacterial activity. It also says that the wax is irritating, and that a constituent of the wax are reportedly carcinogenic.

It's also referred to as Candleberry, because the wax that the fruit produces used to be used to make white/gray candles by boiling them. Interesting. :)

In my Peterson Field Guide on Edible plants, it says the leaves and nutlets are strongly aromatic (can make good smelling candles), other than making candles, it says it can be used as a seasoning as well.

Hey, THANKS for making me bust out the books. Seriously! I need to do that more often. ;):) How do you go about seasoning with it? The book shows what I think is a grinding tool icon, so do you grind it up, or shave the bark a bit into food? What does it do other than make it taste more fragrant?

ThanX :D

[stairman]

Great post B52, thanks for sharing the pics. I have hunted Ocala Forest many times, camping in the primitive sites and kicking up my heels at the Frontier Lounge. The only public building for miles out in the boonies. Ive gotten lucky there but never in the woods killing anything. The track count is high but the deer seem to me to be very nocturnal there, so like Osceola I have vacated them as hunting grounds and moved on to more lucrative parcels. However, those woods are gorgeous with the sand pines and tropical folage intertwineing. The canoe trip from Juniper sprgs to the bridge is a must-do. And Alexander Spgs has some good snorkeling and canoeing as well. Id like to see what Omega comes up with at Lithia Sprgs, since I havent been down there but want to go someday. Been a spring-hopper for ions and havent checked that one off yet.

[pocomoonskyeyes]

Well La Remnant what I would suggest is a small mesh size,but not tiny. I am not saying this is the web site to use, but this was the first one that kind of showed what I am talking about.
Fishnet Co. - Custom Nets, Sports Nets, Fishing Nets, Batting Cages and everything in-between!
And this is the model that They have that I would suggest.
Replacement Nets
(30" deep and 20" bow)

Small Mesh Replacement Net - 24 lb. test - 3/16" Ace nylon

DN-30S - $12.95

Still I would say shop around. You may find something better out there. I just typed in "dip net replacement nets" when I did my search. Look for a mesh that is about the size of hardware cloth.(something you can find anywhere to give a good comparison)

As to the cooking of them I used the Wax Myrtle Myrica cerifera leaves, the same as I would use the Bay leaves you would find in the Grocery store. If you have this plant(Or it's northern relative Bayberry) there is really no sense in buying bay leaves. You may even be lucky enough to find the bay tree to do the same thing(Consult your wild edible and other plant books, You'll find it!! LOL) Just remember that you use LESS of fresh plant parts than dried as seasoning. The same is true with your wild Alliums ( onion/garlics)
Unless you are just plain TOUGH, I would most definitely suggest removing the carapace. Now I may be just a little picky, but all I have eaten is the tail section. I'm sure one of our Cajun friends could give better advice (and maybe a recipe?) for Crawfish. I didn't notice any "mud vein" when I ate them but I was hungry and probably wouldn't have cared one way or the other. Try using the Dip net in aquatic vegetation(someplace good for them to hide).
BTW thanks for all the info!! You told me some things I didn't know!

[LaRemnant]

Originally Posted by pocomoonskyeyes

As to the cooking of them I used the Wax Myrtle Myrica cerifera leaves, the same as I would use the Bay leaves you would find in the Grocery store. If you have this plant(Or it's northern relative Bayberry) there is really no sense in buying bay leaves. You may even be lucky enough to find the bay tree to do the same thing(Consult your wild edible and other plant books, You'll find it!! LOL) Just remember that you use LESS of fresh plant parts than dried as seasoning. The same is true with your wild Alliums (onion/garlics)

So again, how do you go about "seasoning" with it? do you grind it up, or shave the bark a bit into food? Boil it then take the wilted plants out and drink the leached water? What does it do other than make it taste more fragrant? I've never seasoned anything, other than grabbing something from the cupboard. I don't use Bay Leaves (never heard of them till now), so I am not connecting them yet, and no light bulb is going off. ;)

ThanX

[pocomoonskyeyes]

Originally Posted by LaRemnant

So again, how do you go about "seasoning" with it? do you grind it up, or shave the bark a bit into food? Boil it then take the wilted plants out and drink the leached water? What does it do other than make it taste more fragrant? I've never seasoned anything, other than grabbing something from the cupboard. I don't use Bay Leaves (never heard of them till now), so I am not connecting them yet, and no light bulb is going off. ;)

ThanX

I've always used bay leaves whole,as I did with the Wax Myrtle leaves. You can Buy Bay leaves in stores in the spice section. My Mom used Bay leaves in Spaghetti Sauce(homemade of course), She would just drop the leaf in while cooking(or 2 depending on how much sauce she was making), then remove it when it was done. I guess since most "Tastes" are based largely off aroma that is the effect they also have. Kind of "sweetens" the flavor, it(they) help with the acidity in spaghetti sauce,same with the "fishy" taste in crawdads. Just makes it a little more palatable.

[LaRemnant]

Originally Posted by pocomoonskyeyes

I've always used bay leaves whole,as I did with the Wax Myrtle leaves. You can Buy Bay leaves in stores in the spice section. My Mom used Bay leaves in Spaghetti Sauce(homemade of course), She would just drop the leaf in while cooking(or 2 depending on how much sauce she was making), then remove it when it was done. I guess since most "Tastes" are based largely off aroma that is the effect they also have. Kind of "sweetens" the flavor, it(they) help with the acidity in spaghetti sauce,same with the "fishy" taste in crawdads. Just makes it a little more palatable.

Okay, so when you say season, basically you cook/boil the food with one (or two?) leaves then take it out. So when you eat the crawdads, it actually makes the meat taste less fishy, and more fragrant like?

Sorry for all the questions. :) I am just really curious as to the application (because I've NEVER considered doing this), so I am not mistaken. Since I've taken seasoning for granted so long, I now can easily see the DIRE need to know how to properly do it, because with some things, too much could poison a fella with toxic shock, as is naturally the case with herbs.

[Foxfire]

What are Crayfish?

You can become a hardcore forager by Larry Cywin Issue #47

boiled crawfish

Preparing the Casing for Crayfish Boudin Recipe: How to Make Cajun Recipe Crayfish Boudin | eHow.com

[COWBOYSURVIVAL]

I can't help much with wild seasoning, still learning....But I can help with Crawfish. I have caught'em, trapped'em, made my own traps. I do enjoy eating them and even made a run at capture breeding them for survival. I live on an irrigation ditch full of them.

[pocomoonskyeyes]

Originally Posted by Foxfire

What are Crayfish?

You can become a hardcore forager by Larry Cywin Issue #47

boiled crawfish

Preparing the Casing for Crayfish Boudin Recipe: How to Make Cajun Recipe Crayfish Boudin | eHow.com

Excellent links!! LR I would suggest checking them out, They have better information than I do!!