'Green Acres' is the place you ought to be

While scouring the mountains in Montana one time, I've encountered people who could have easily been mistaken for Grizzly Adams. They were hermits living off the land, sustaining themselves by eating wild game and fish from streams near their cabins.

I've also spent days with trappers in the northern Ontario wilderness, observing how they traded bear skins and various other furry overwraps for store-bought food and implements. I've joined natives from the Canadian Arctic as they went about their rituals of hunting seals and other creatures.

And because America's Outdoor Show (Jan. 27-31) will have a "new and improved" look to it, I thought you would like to read about an interesting chap who never fails to bring a smile to my face thanks to his innovative treatment of food.

He has been enlisted to appear at the new show, and believe me when I say the audience will be in for a treat.

For example: It was the last day of the ice fishing season a couple years ago. Many in our group were having a ball catching big crappies. I caught my share and was getting ready to head back to shore when Spence Petros held up his hand to stop me.

At that moment, Mike Ventrasca opened his bucket and hauled out enough food to feed a platoon of famished icemen.

Wrapped sandwiches were distributed to the crew, and when mine was handed to me I was blown away by what Ventrasca had prepared. Each sandwich was more than 6 inches thick and was stuffed with cheese, ham, lettuce, pickles and olives and slathered in various condiments.

On another crappie outing during the open-water spring run, Ventrasca presented Petros and I with turkey subs that must have weighed a couple of pounds apiece.

And then there was a bass fishing outing in southern Wisconsin. We had a ball catching largemouth, but all of a sudden Mike declared it was lunchtime again. Out came the humongous sandwiches wrapped in foil. I never imagined someone could stack as much turkey and other meats in between two pieces of heavy bread. Added to those gut-busters was a large plastic bag of pickles and vegetables. I was ready for a long nap after the feast.

I used to think photographer Mike Seeling and the late Buck Squancho were the ultimate renaissance men because they were able to transform wild game they harvested into wonderful table fare. Move over, guys, because that opinion has gone by the wayside.

A couple years ago Petros called to inform the group that we are no longer to call Ventrasca "plumber Mike" (in honor of his occupation).

"I've given him a new moniker that fits Mike to a T," Petros said. "Ventrasca will now be referred to as 'Green Acres.' "

That nickname caused me to immediately conjure up an image of the old television show with Eddie Albert and Ava Gabor.

Green Acres lives in McHenry County, far from the hustle and bustle of traffic and fast food joints.

At any given time he'll have a goat wandering through the house. A couple chickens are always clucking their way around the property, frequently joined by ducks, and his his cooking pots and pans are usually holding wild meat of all sorts.

Green Acres will be at America's Outdoor Show later this month and it's expected he'll bring a freshly harvested deer to the exhibition hall to show people how to dress and butcher the meat while at the same time preparing venison.

This is something you won't want to miss.

Neither is his mystery stew, but I better let him explain about that.

Outdoor notesAnd the beat goes on, as a winter filled with outdoors shows gets started.The Chicago Muskie Show starts hooking the faithful Friday at Harper College. This event has been a longtime favorite with muskie hunters and want-to-be muskie folks. Doors open at noon Friday. It will cost you $10 to get in at the Palatine campus.Fishing report:Fox Chain: There may be a change afoot on Lake Marie. A small group of anglers reported catching walleyes in 12 feet of water just after sunset. Despite the bone-chilling air temperatures, the real die hard group of fishermen has been willing to scout Lake Marie and locate walleyes and big white bass. Pistakee Lake bluegills are still gobbling tiny jigs in 8 feet.Lake Michigan: Montrose Harbor ice fishermen are finally starting to connect on perch while others have managed to land a few small rainbow trout.Lake Geneva: Ice fishing has started in earnest with some crappie caught in Fontana. Geneva Bay has given up a few pike.bull; Mike Jackson can be reached via e-mail at angler88@att.net, and you can catch his radio program 6-7 a.m. Sundays on WSBC 1240-AM.