Explore Jiunu Peak at night, experience Shiyan cuisine, and an unforgettable hunting trip

Last week, I went hunting with two friends, Sabrina Eleanor and Antonio Thackeray, to Jiunufeng Forest Park in Shiyan, Hubei Province, and it was our first time trying this adventure and the first time we came here. We spent three days and two nights here, experienced the fun of night observation and shooting, tasted the special food of Shiyan, and gained a lot of memories and touches. Let me share such an unforgettable hunting trip with you.

All three of us are people who love nature and exploration, often traveling and adventuring to different places together. This time we chose Shiyan Jiunufeng Forest Park as our destination because we heard that it is a good place for hunting with beautiful scenery and abundant animal resources. We prepared and planned in advance, including applying for hunting licenses, purchasing necessary equipment, booking accommodation and transportation, etc., and we set off with excitement and anticipation.

Located in Yunyang District, Shiyan City, Jiunufeng Forest Park is a national forest park and a national nature reserve, and an important part of the Wudang Mountain Scenic Area. With rolling mountains, dense forests and a pleasant climate, it is rich in flora and fauna and mysterious legends. It is said that nine fairies once went to play here, but were later discovered by the Heavenly Emperor and punished, turning into nine peaks, forming today's Nine Female Peaks. We hunt here to observe and study the local wildlife, but also to enjoy the interaction and challenge with nature. Of course, we also abide by the rules and precautions of hunting, such as only hunting in designated areas and times, only shooting or capturing legal and reasonable target animals, not destroying or polluting the environment, and so on.

We chose Wenjia Mountain and Jiunu Peak as our hunting areas because of their beautiful scenery and rich animal species. Wenjia Mountain is the main peak of Jiunufeng Forest Park, with an altitude of 1331 meters, it is an excellent place to see the sunrise, sunset, sea of clouds, mist, rainbow, snow and other celestial wonders. Jiunu Peak is the core scenic spot of Jiunufeng Forest Park, which is composed of nine peaks, each of which has a beautiful and tragic story. Both locations have excellent infrastructure and services such as ropeways, observation decks, parking, restaurants, accommodation, etc.

The main way to hunt in Shiyan Jiunufeng Forest Park is to observe at night, because this can see more rare and hidden animals, which can also increase the difficulty and fun of hunting. We set out every day in the early evening to find a suitable vantage point, then use night vision binoculars and infrared binoculars to observe and track the animals, and when we find suitable targets, we use firearms to shoot or capture them. We shot a wild boar here, caught a hare and a squirrel, and these are the fruits of our legal and reasonable hunting.

Night observation is a special and difficult way to hunt, which requires more preparation and skill. Before we make night observations, we will do the following:

• Choose the right location. According to the activity patterns and habits of animals, we will choose a place where we can see the range of animal activities, and also pay attention to avoid exposing our position and sound, so as not to disturb or provoke animals. We generally choose some highlands, hidden places, near water sources, etc. as observation points.
• Bring the necessary equipment. According to the characteristics and needs of night observation, we will carry some necessary equipment, such as night vision binoculars and infrared binoculars. Night Vision Binoculars allow us to see the silhouette and movement of animals in the dark, and Infrared Binoculars allow us to see infrared signals emitted by animals to determine the type and sex of animals. In addition, we will also carry some other equipment such as flashlights, compasses, maps, communicators, first aid kits, etc. in case we need them.
• Learn to use equipment. Before departure, we familiarize ourselves with and practice the use of various equipment to improve observation effectiveness and safety. For example, when using Night Vision Binoculars, we should avoid looking directly at strong light sources or flashing objects to avoid damaging the eyes or affecting vision; When using infrared binoculars, we should pay attention to adjusting the focus and brightness so as not to miss details or cause interference. We will also learn some basic observation and shooting skills, such as how to judge the wind direction and distance, how to choose the timing and location of the shot, etc.

Through these preparations, we have laid a solid foundation for night observations, and also increased our confidence and expectations. We believe that in night observation, we can see more rare and hidden animals, and also experience more fun and challenges of hunting.

We were pleasantly surprised and excited by the process and results of the night observations. We found a lot of different species and numbers of animals here, and with the help of Night Vision Binoculars and Infrared Binoculars, we were able to clearly see their form and behavior, and even hear their calls and breaths. We carefully observe and record their characteristics and habits, while also communicating and sharing our findings and feelings with the smallest possible sounds and movements. We shot a wild boar here, caught a hare and a squirrel, and these are the fruits of our legal and reasonable hunting.

During our night observation, we encountered a lot of interesting and unforgettable things. For example, once, we found a black bear in the woods that was gnawing on a branch that looked cute. We confirmed it was a male black bear with infrared binoculars and decided to shoot it. We quietly approached it, found a suitable firing position, and aimed at its heart. Just as we were about to pull the trigger, we suddenly heard a sharp cry, which turned out to be a small black bear jumping from the tree and running to the side of the big black bear. We immediately stopped shooting and realized that it was a mother and son black bear, not a male black bear. We felt ashamed and guilty, but thankfully we didn't hurt them. We put down our guns and quietly left the place, leaving them intimate.

Another time, we spotted a flock of wild ducks by a pond that were frolicking and foraging in the water, looking happy. We observed them for a while with Night Vision Binoculars and then decided to capture one of them. We made a simple trap out of nets and ropes and placed it in a hidden place by the pond. We waited for a while and finally a wild duck swam near the trap. We took the opportunity to tighten the rope and trap the wild duck in the net. We happily ran over and prepared to take the ducks away. Just then, we heard a rush of footsteps, and it turned out to be a fox swooping out of the grass and pounced on the wild duck in the net. Startled, we quickly picked up our guns and aimed them at the fox. Just as we were about to shoot, the fox suddenly stopped, turned and opened its mouth towards us. When we looked closely, we saw that it was not trying to bite a wild duck, but to bite off a net. It turned out that it wanted to save wild ducks, not eat them. We were surprised and touched that we did not expect such a camaraderie between a fox and a wild duck. We laid down our guns, loosened the rope, and let the ducks and foxes leave freely, leaving us in amazement.

In addition to hunting, we also tasted local specialties in Shiyan, which was also a highlight of our trip. Shiyan cuisine is mainly based on Hubei cuisine and Sichuan cuisine, with a fresh and spicy taste, and a wide variety of dishes, which makes people mouth-watering. We sampled a variety of delicious dishes here, such as Shiyan bean curd sheets, Shiyan roasted fish, Shiyan fermented tofu, Shiyan braised pork, Shiyan soy sauce duck, Shiyan baked buns, Shiyan cold noodles, Shiyan candied fruit and more. These dishes all had their own unique and tasty flavors that amazed us and satisfied our appetites.

Among them, my favorite is Shiyan bean skin, which is a dough made from soybeans, golden and crispy on the outside, tender and juicy on the inside, served with chili oil, sesame paste, coriander and other spices. My friends and I are raving about this delicacy and want to eat it again every time we finish it.

I also like Shiyan Grilled Fish, which is a delicacy made with fresh fish through unique seasoning and roasting techniques, and the meat is tender and nutritious. My friend and I love to eat fish, so we order grilled fish to share every time. We ate grilled fish and drank beer and chatted about the sky, which was very pleasant.

I also like Shiyan stinky tofu, which is a tofu snack made by fermentation process, with a black appearance, rich smell and refreshing taste. My friends and I love spicy food, so we add a lot of chili oil and garlic paste to stinky tofu every time. We ate stinky tofu while feeling its aroma and spiciness and danced on the tip of our tongues.

This hunting trip has taught me and my friends a lot, not only increasing knowledge and insight, but also friendship and affection. We felt the beauty and magic of nature in Jiunufeng Forest Park, experienced the fun and challenge of hunting in night observation, and tasted the charm and culture of food in Shiyan. It was an unforgettable trip and a rare learning experience. I am very grateful to my friends Sabrina Eleanor and Antonio Thackeray for accompanying me here, and very grateful to nature for giving us such opportunities and gifts. I hope to have the opportunity to visit here again in the future and continue to discover more surprises and beauty.