[img][/img]I have always been interested in hunting, especially night hunting, because I think it is more challenging and exciting. So, when I heard that Dongming Mountain Forest Park in Huzhou, Zhejiang, China is an ideal hunting spot, I immediately decided to go and check it out. I also invited my two good friends Eve Micah and Bert Gunter to join me. They are also hunting enthusiasts, and they are very interested in Chinese culture and scenery. We booked the park tickets and accommodation online in advance, and prepared some necessary equipment, such as guns, ammunition, night vision binoculars, etc. We were looking forward to having an unforgettable night hunting trip in Dongming Mountain Forest Park.
We took a flight to Shanghai Pudong International Airport, and then transferred to a high-speed train to Huzhou Station. From Huzhou Station, we took a taxi for about an hour, and finally arrived at the gate of Dongming Mountain Forest Park. We collected our tickets and accommodation keys, and then headed to the wooden cabin we booked. The wooden cabin was located in the depths of the park, surrounded by dense trees and clear streams. The air was filled with a fresh fragrance. We put our luggage away and couldn’t wait to start our night hunting trip.
When night fell, we picked up our guns and night vision binoculars and quietly walked out of the cabin. We turned on the night vision binoculars, and everything in the dark became clear. We followed a small path forward, looking for possible wild animals. We knew that in such a vast and mysterious forest, there were all kinds of creatures, some were gentle, some were fierce, some were rare. We hoped that we could encounter some prey that would make us excited, but also be careful to avoid some potentially dangerous animals.
After about half an hour, we found a group of wild ducks playing in a water area. We immediately crouched down and approached them quietly. We observed them for a while with the night vision binoculars, and found that they were all fat and did not notice our presence. We decided to give it a try and see if we could shoot one. Eve Micah and I each aimed at a wild duck, while Bert Gunter was responsible for observing the surroundings. We counted to three and then pulled the trigger at the same time. After two shots, we saw two wild ducks fall down, while the others flew away in panic.
We ran over happily and picked up the two wild ducks. They were both male, with smooth feathers and warm bodies. We tied them together with a rope and hung them on our backpacks. We felt that this was a good start, so we continued to walk forward, hoping to encounter some more prey.
Soon after, we heard some calls, like those of some kind of bird. We walked in the direction of the sound and found an open grassland. On the grassland, there were dozens of wild chickens foraging and communicating. We crouched down again and slowly approached them. We carefully observed them with the night vision binoculars, and found that they were all healthy, and some even had chicks. We felt that this was a rare opportunity, so we decided to shoot two more. This time Bert Gunter and I were responsible for shooting, while Eve Micah was responsible for observing. We also counted to three and then fired at the same time. Two wild chickens were hit and fell to the ground, while the others scattered and fled.
The ones we shot were both female, with soft feathers and light bodies. We also tied them together with a rope and hung them on our backpacks. We felt that this was a perfect harvest, so we continued to walk forward, hoping to encounter some more surprises.
However, in the next hour or so, we didn’t see any more prey worth hunting. We only occasionally heard some animal footsteps or breathing sounds, but we didn’t see their figures. We scanned the surroundings with night vision binoculars, but we didn’t find anything interesting. We felt a bit disappointed and tired. So, we decided to go back to the cabin and rest for a while, and set off again tomorrow.
Just as we were about to leave, we suddenly saw a large animal running out of the woods. It had a sturdy body, gray-black fur, two pointed ears and a flat nose on its head. It was rushing towards a group of small animals on the grassland, as if it wanted to prey on them. We looked at it carefully with night vision binoculars and found that it was a wild boar! There were also several piglets behind it, like its family members. We watched them in surprise, not knowing what to do. We knew that wild boars were very fierce animals, and if we angered them, they would attack us without hesitation. We didn’t dare to act rashly; we could only wait quietly for them to leave.
We returned to the cabin and put the wild ducks and pheasants we shot on one side. We decided to use them to make a hearty dinner and celebrate our success. First, pluck the feathers and remove the viscera of the wild ducks and pheasants, then wash them with clean water. We cut one wild duck into small pieces, marinated them with salt, pepper, garlic, ginger, star anise and other seasonings for a while, then put them in an iron pot, added water and beer, boiled them over fire, and simmered them over low heat. This is a dish of beer stewed wild duck, which is said to be a specialty food near Dongming Mountain Forest Park. We cut another wild duck open from the back, removed the viscera, smeared salt, pepper, five-spice powder and other seasonings inside and outside, then sealed the mouth and anus with bamboo sticks, put it on an iron rack, and roasted it with firewood. This is a roasted whole wild duck dish, which is our own way of making it. We hope to keep the original flavor of the wild duck.
We processed the two pheasants separately, one for braised pheasant and the other for steamed pheasant. The method of braised pheasant is to cut the pheasant into small pieces, marinate them with salt, pepper, cooking wine and other seasonings for a while, then fry them in an oil pan until golden brown, and set aside. Then add scallions, ginger, garlic, star anise, cinnamon and other spices to the pan, stir-fry until fragrant, then add the fried pheasant pieces, add soy sauce, sugar, cooking wine, water and other seasonings to a boil, and simmer until tender. The method of steamed pheasant is to wash the pheasant, remove the excess fat and viscera, then cut a few slits on the meat to facilitate flavoring. Then sprinkle salt, pepper, cooking wine and other seasonings on the meat, put it in a large bowl, add ginger slices, scallion segments, shiitake mushrooms and other ingredients, cover with plastic wrap, and steam in a pot over water. Both dishes need to be steamed and stewed until the meat is soft and rotten.
[img][/img]
In addition to these four main dishes, we also prepared some simple side dishes and soup. We cooked a pot of white rice with the rice and water in the cabin, and used the remaining water and bamboo shoots, fungus, shiitake mushrooms and other ingredients to make a pot of bamboo shoot soup. We also picked some fresh wild vegetables and fruits from the nearby mountains and forests, washed them and mixed them into several cold dishes. Finally, we also found some canned food and snacks from the cabin and put them on the table as desserts.
We brought all the dishes to the table and arranged them into a feast. We sat around the table, admired our work and toasted for ourselves, then began to enjoy this delicious dinner. We chatted while eating, sharing our experiences and feelings of the day. Everyone felt that this was an unforgettable hunting trip, and also a rare trip to get close to nature. We ate very full, very satisfied, very happy.
After dinner, we cleaned up the table and kitchen, put the leftover food in the refrigerator, put the garbage in bags, ready to take away the next day. We felt tired but also fulfilled. So we decided to rest early and prepare for tomorrow’s itinerary. We turned off all the lights in the cabin, leaving only a small table lamp that illuminated the sofa in the living room. We took out the blankets and pillows on the sofa, spread them on the floor, and made a simple bed. We squeezed together, covered with blankets, lying on the floor. We played some relaxing music on our phones and adjusted the atmosphere.
We chatted while listening to music, talking about our lives and work. We found that we had a lot of common interests and hobbies, such as liking outdoor sports, watching movies, traveling and so on. We also shared some of our experiences and stories, making each other more understanding and closer. We felt that this hunting trip not only let us experience the charm of nature but also made us meet new friends. We felt very lucky and happy.
We chatted for about an hour and then felt sleepy. Turned off our phones and prepared to sleep. We said good night to each other and then closed our eyes and soon fell asleep.
The next morning, we were awakened by sunlight and birdsong. Opened our eyes and saw the beautiful scenery outside the window. We felt refreshed and energetic. After getting up we washed up a bit then ate some breakfast. We packed up everything in the cabin, took away the garbage and returned the key to the landlord. Ready to leave this cozy place and continue our hunting trip. Everyone was impressed by this cabin and left behind good memories. We hope to have a chance to come back here again and experience different seasons.
This hunting trip was one of the most memorable experiences of our lives. We not only experienced the charm of nature but also exercised our body and made new friends. We felt the vitality and fun of life and also appreciated nature’s gift and beauty. We felt this was a very worthwhile trip and also a very meaningful trip. Hope to have more opportunities to participate in such activities and continue to explore the unknown world and enjoy different scenery and culture. We believe that as long as we have courage and passion nothing is impossible. We look forward to the next hunting trip and also look forward to the next surprise challenge.