NEBRASKAland Magazine is dedicated to outstanding photography and informative writing with an engaging mix of articles and photos highlighting Nebraska’s outdoor activities, parklands, wildlife, history and people.
Issue link: http://mag.outdoornebraska.gov/i/912676
DECEMBER 2017 • NEBRASKAland 49 are exposed to hunting the Nebraska way. His wife, Chrystal, is Nebraska born and raised. "The first time I took my daughter dove hunting, my wife said it was way too early to take her. She was 4 years old at the time, and I asked Nasreen: 'Do you want to go early in the morning when it's dark still, or do you want to do daytime?' And she said, 'I want to do the early time.' So she got up at 4 a.m. with me, and I still remember that day we went out and she cheered me on every time I shot something: 'Go Dad!' And the other hunters kept giving us funny looks. 'Go Dad, shoot it!'" Haidar said. "She got to keep a bird to play with it. "I have a picture of my daughter before duck opening day, and she had her camouflage clothes on, which she slept in so she could be ready to go in the morning," said Haidar, smiling. He is teaching Yakub about hunting in the same way. Wild Game International Not surprisingly, from one person who eats a lot of wild game to another, the conversation will inevitably steer toward food. Haidar uses venison like he does beef. Pheasant, turkey, quail and waterfowl substitute chicken. "We do a little bit of Middle Eastern, some American and Mexican dishes. I like Mexican food. My favorite thing to do with scrap meat is tacos. We also make kofta, which is Middle Eastern. It's basically ground meat grilled on a stick, and it's really good with deer meat," Haidar said. That night, Haidar made "chicken" pot pie with snow goose, but he prefers this dish with pheasant and turkey. His friend Sam Tawfek of Lincoln, who went duck hunting with us the next morning at Pawnee Lake, makes an excellent Iraqi dish with slow-roasted duck or goose on top of rice pilaf with onions, almonds, raisins and peas. Haidar eats most wild game, but because he is Muslim, he does follow certain dietary restrictions. "There are different kinds of Muslims. And Shia Muslims, which is what we are, we don't eat rabbits. Honestly, I don't even know why. No one has ever been able to explain that to me. Sam's not Muslim, so he can eat it. I can pretty much eat most game, but I also can't eat crow – anything that eats meat." While food is one common denominator across all peoples and cultures, the many ways – traditions – in which that food is prepared makes us who we are, even with wild game. It was eye-opening to exchange different ideas on how to cook the very same animals. Perspective With all the gutting done, Haidar made two trips to drag out his hunting gear and deer at Pawnee. About halfway back to the parking lot, a soft, powdery snow came falling down. Like a blanket of silence, all became quiet. There was no wind, and Haidar kept looking back onto the landscape to appreciate the view. Watching him take in the scenery, it's hard not to contemplate the thought process of someone like Haidar who has come so far – not only geographically but also spiritually. Hunting with him gave me the gift of a different perspective, which made me feel even more thankful of how blessed we are in this state. Every small turn in Haidar's life has led him to the Nebraska outdoors, and it's heartening to know that there's no other place he'd rather be. ■ This ring-necked drake duck flew into Kazem's sights and dropped. Kazem and his daughter, Nasreen Kamoona, hunting teal near Utica. Kazem and his daughter Nasreen