Sharing The Sport

Hunting is something that has been handed down in my family for probably more generations than even I realize. It's just what you do when it's hunting season. At certain times of year, our schedule revolves around it, vacation time is saved for it, and it's always been that way. It IS the priority when opening day rolls around.

Over the years I have hunted with my dad, my brothers, my uncles and aunts. I have made my children follow me through the back country....and my husband. But I rarely get the opportunity to take a new hunter out. Someone who's new to the game, new to the experience.

This past Spring my nephew and his mom (who will be the first to tell you that she is a city girl, and is fairly new to the whole outdoor experience)graduated from the hunter education program, and I thought it might be a good idea to start them out with turkeys. With tags in-hand, we headed off in search of our fair-feathered friends.

  

Our hunt was not an extreme one, but was full of calling and listening and watching in hopes that we might bag Tom. Though we never did. I still, however, would say it was successful. We learned a little more about hunting turkeys, we learned a little more about calling them. We watched them roost each night after the hunt, and even had a chance to take lots of pictures. (since we can't legally shoot them out of the tree with a gun, we shot them with the camera, not as good eating, but much easier to clean, lol) 

But spending time with family, seeing their enthusiasm and excitement, and knowing that now they understand what hunting is about and why we do it was just as much fun to me as if I had had my own tag.

Just being out and enjoying the outdoors is what it's all about. Next time, we'll have a little experience under our belt, and we'll fill our tag too. Watch out Tom....we're hooked on Turkeys.

What To Do, What To Do...

With summer in full swing, one might ponder on which activities to fit into this, all too short, season. From kayaking the rapids, to bicycling the back country, there is more to do out there than there is time to fit it all in.

Why not try something new. If you like water sports, there are many to choose from, but one that began back in 1948 called 'sailboarding' might be just what you need. Today, this popular sport is termed as 'wind surfing' and the riders....'board heads'. Though the first thought of a board head brings to mind a blonde, tan, teen on the beaches of So. Cal. holding a surfboard, I'm not above trying new things. And though I may not be as good at it as my 18 year old son, who seems always at home in the water, I'm not out to win any competition. I'm there to learn something new, and be able to say....'yes, I can do that!' (or at least I tried)

So if you are up for a new adventure this summer, check into your local sporting good shops and lakeside marinas. A new board complete with gear can be had for around $1000.00, which might be a little much to jump into before you know if it's the 'new' sport  for you. I would suggest renting the gear first, and see how it goes. The other benefit to renting is that most pro shop opporators are plum full of how to info. They will be more than happy to lend you a tip or two (because your surviving means they get there equipment back, and your not crashing insures that it is in one piece when they do). Most pro-shops also offer training for a few more bucks. I myself, am a figure it out kind of person, but I will admit that help is never turned down. The few extra bucks you spend on lessons could cut your learning curve time down tremendously, in essence, saving you time and travel to the lake money.

Happy sailing :)

No Lions, No Tigers, Just Bears!!

Over the last couple of weeks I have become completely infatuated with planning a bear hunt. In the great state of Utah, we must enter into a drawing for a bear tag, and our chances of drawing a tag are not as great as I would like them to be. Turns out, this year, my husband actually drew a tag in one of Utah's prime bear areas. (well....it's prime to us because we know there are bears there and where to find them) It's a Fall hunt, so we have plenty of time to plan, but also, plenty of time to wait.....not so patiently for opening day.
Armed with a new camera, I'm excited to start scouting, but with this years' over abundance of late snow storms....it may be Fall before they even wake up!!

One of the hardest parts of hunting, for me, is waiting for opening day, but one of the great things about hunting is the opportunity to spend time scouting. It's really amazing just how much you can learn about an animal just by searching for signs from them.

Years ago, before we began hunting bears, we hunted elk in this same area, but had no idea there were bears there. Just because I wanted to try something new, I put in for a bear tag in 2006 and was lucky enough to draw the tag, but a little concerned that I had absolutely no idea how to hunt bears or what even to look for. I had NEVER seen a bear in the wild, and I wasn't really sure I'd even ever seen signs.....that I was certain were made by a bear.

Over the next month I wandered around trying to figure out where I would go if I was a bear. After treking into the thickest, deepest parts of the timber covered, rugged terrain, we found probably more sign than I needed to ensure that there were bears aplenty in any direction of travel. We found cub prints, and big bear prints, little scrapes and big scrapes, broken branches, stumps and rotten logs that were torn apart, claw marks that were left as they climbed to the top of a 30 foot tree, and roots that were uprooted. I was amazed at how many signs we found in the same areas we'd always hunted....but never noticed they were there. Though I never filled my bear tag that year, it was undoubtedly the funnest hunt I've been on....and I've been on a LOT. I have a new found love and respect for black bears, not because they are mean or vicious, but because they are the exact opposite. They are shy, quiet, and reclusive most of the time. So here's an insite for those who may fear this beautiful creature or may not understand them.

Unlike a grizzly bear, the black bear is mostly vegetarian, (which means....he would prefer not to eat you, but will if necessary). Their main diet consists of mostly berries, grasses, nuts, and bugs(larvae). Their claws are not as long and straight as a grizzly's which resemble small double bladed knives perfect for ripping flesh, but are round, much shorter and curved, and made for digging and scrounging. They come in several colors other than black, such as blonde, brown, chocolate, cinnamon and silver. An older bear has no interest in ever seeing or being seen by humans, so if he can see or hear or smell you coming, you'll never know he was there, (except for the hair standing on the back of your neck). When there are reports of bear encounters, it's usually youngsters that have been booted from mama bear so she can raise her new baby bears. These bears are learning how to look for food....unfortunately....some of them learn to follow their noses to your 'pic-a-nic' basket. Sometimes bears will attack if they feel threatened or are surprised, but these instances are rare.

In Utah, there have been only two major bear attacks that have made the news in the past 30+ years (that I can remember anyway). One of them happened because someones child was feeding a bear oreo cookies through their camper window and when the cookies ran out, the bear took the next thing he could find....the child who had been giving them to him. (This is why they tell you 'Don't feed the bears!!') As the story goes, grandpa wacked the bear over the head with a big flashlight and the child escaped. If you follow a few simple rules when you're camping, you'll likely never have problems. You are actually 180,000 times more likely to be killed in a car than you are by a bear, (that is an actual statistic) and....more people die from bee stings every year than from bear attacks. The moral of the story.....walk to where you're going, armed with bug spray, and leave the oreos at home!

Let Spring Begin!!

With Spring comes a stronger passion for being outdoors. The first glimps of Spring sunshine is an instant magnet pulling me outside. It's one of my favorite four seasons. Spring, because everything is new and fresh and green...and lets not forget all the baby critters, Summer because I thrive on water sports and hiking, Fall BECAUSE IT's HUNTING SEASON...YAYYY!!!, and Winter, because it's snowsports....and a little hunting.

Spring, however, has it's hunting perks as well. Almost every hunting show on television at the moment seems to focus on turkeys. Pics are popping up across the country on the social networks of gals and their gobblers(and guys too). And though I do enjoy chatting with the Toms of the world (male turkeys, for those who may not know the field names), I am overly infatuated with bears these days, and they happen to be huntable in the spring as well (in some places).

With good reason, bears are known as the 'phantoms of the forrest'. It's rare that you actually see one in the wild, but if you have time to scope the slopes for fuzz balls....now's your chance. As the snowline begins to receid in the high country, bears begin to feed just below it on the dandylions and grasses, so it's a great time of year to spot them.

Spring bear hunts have been banned in some states, but who says you can't scout? The great thing about hunting is that you only need a permit if you plan on harvesting something. Take a camera instead! I ALWAYS have better luck finding critters when I'm not carrying a gun anyway.

Running across a bear is rare, but last year while hunting with my two girls, we managed to push a big black bear over the ridge to the clearing where my son was walking. The bear was running towards him but didn't see him there in the shadows of the pines with his camo(bears really have poor eye sight). He said he thought he was going to be ran over, but started whistling so the bear would see him, and then backed slowly off the trail. The bear stopped when he heard the whistle and turned away at 15 yards. Most bear attacks happen because the bear is caught by surprise, or felt threatened (or because someone smelled like the hotdog they were roasting for lunch), but black bears are not naturally aggressive. They prefer not to be around humans, (hence the reason you never see them....they're hiding) I was glad I had taught my son how to react to encounters with bears in the wild, but I can honestly say I'm not sure I wouldn't have panicked and done the wrong thing. It's good to know that at age 17, he's level headed enough to handle himself in such a situation. (although, he did mention needing to change his undershorts after that)

My experience with bears is minimal, but what little I do know, trust me when I say, You can't out run a bear. I watched one travel 4 large canyons, and roughly12 miles in less than 30 minutes. In the best shape of my life, I would never be able to do that. Amazing animals.

One last note, when scouting for bears in the Spring, remember that they have been asleep for several months and haven't eaten either, so they can be a little grumpy and more aggressive than other times of the year. It's a good idea to take all the usual precautions for wandering in bear country. (You know, try not to smell like the bacon you ate for breakfast. I read somewhere that their noses are 7 times more powerful than a bloodhound that has 220 million little smell receptors...we humans have a measly 5 million ) If you happen to stumble across one, make noise to let them know you're there, keep your distance, back away slowly, and try not to surprise them. It's also best not to make eye contact. If you're NOT looking FOR them, the best way to avoid seeing them at all is to make noise while you're hiking.

Happy hunting!

Camp Cook Made Easy

Spring fever is settling in and it seems everyone wants to be off camping. Venturing into the backwoods armed with bandaids and bugspray seems only right this time of year. Some of us outdoor diehards live for spending time together in the outdoors, sleeping on the ground in a tent, and lets not forget burning dinner over a campfire and then being forced to eat fruit snacks instead.

A little planning ahead can be a life saver for the chef. Let me just be up front and honest when I say that cooking is probably one of the worst of all of my girl-like qualities, (it's why generally my husband does the cooking at home)because unless I can put it in a crock pot and walk away, it takes too long. However, when we go camping, for some odd reason, everyone expects me to cook, so....I've learned a few tricks. Two of my favorite pans in the outdoors are tinfoil and a hot dog roaster.

Just because I have to cook, doesn't mean I must provide a 5 course meal, but if I want to get fancy, I have a plan for that too. You've all heard of dutch oven cooking, well, invest in one. For between $20 to $50 you can have your own outdoor crockpot and I have added a recipes page with pictures and a few dutch oven treats that are a snap. The great thing about the dutch oven is it can be used for any meal of the day, AND dessert.

When headed off camping, it's easy to pack too much, but the last thing you want to have to deal with is washing dishes, so it's nice if you can leave the pots and pans safely at home. It's also easy to pre-mix ingredience before you leave home and put them in zip tight bags that seal and then just reheat when you get ready. (keep in mind....you WILL need a pan to reheat it in.)

Cooking outdoors can be as simple or as extravegant as you wish to make it, but even extravegant doesn't have to leave you with a national clean-up effort. Try these tips:

        1-paper plates, and plastic utensils and cups
                  These can easily be tossed instead of washed.
     
        2-heavy duty tinfoil has more uses than you realize
                   It has the obvious uses, but also can be used as a pan itself, to line one of your own pans for      quick clean up, or as a liner for the grill over the firepit.
                 
        3-plastic seal tight bags are so much easier than bowls and you don't have to wash them.
                   Not only can you pre-mix things in them and use them as a bowl, but they have the obvious storage cababilities.

Here's a couple of things to keep in mind. While I'm expected to cook for everyone when we're camping, I also expect to have fun while I'M camping. I do not want all of my camping memories to be of me choked with campfire smoke, singed hair, and cleaning up dirty dishes. For these reasons I plan ahead, think simple, and in todays world, shop cheap. If you want a big meal, the dutch oven is great, and easier than you might think. If you're into simple, roast a hot dog on a stick with a bag of chips, or make sub sandwhiches before you go. Planning ahead makes outdoor cooking much less stressful.

Cabin Fever

Most of my free time is spent doing something....well....anything outdoors. In the warmer months I'm always puttering through the hills hiking, hunting, or fishing my favorite creek. In the cold and snowy months, I find myself looking like the child in the movie 'A Christmas Story' in hopes of not freezing to death, to find that same adrenalin rush that clean mountain air gives me. A snowboard and a pair of snow shoes are usually my fashion accessories from December through March. If you've never heard the sound of COMPLETE silence and serenity, rent a pair of snowshoes and head for that trail you usually hike in the summer.

Always being able to jump in my Jeep and wander aimlessly in the backwoods has become a habit. One that I now realize I have been taking for granted.

I have spent the last 3 weeks at a children's hospital with my daughter waiting to see IF she would get better, praying that she would be ok, watching her go from a tough little girl who follows me through bear country with no fear, to a small feeble person that couldn't breathe on her own. Her toughness though has earned her a reputation here, and I have watched her go through things no child should have to, handling each a bravely as she could.  She has overcome hellacious obstacles from pneumonia to staff infections..(note the s..she had more than one), even heart surgery, and is finally on the mend.

For those three weeks, nothing else has mattered but her comfort and health, but now that we can see the light at the end of the tunnel, and our minds are beginning to think about what we want to do when we are out of here, and we both have EXTREME CABIN FEVER....Though I could have left, I chose to stay by her side to lessen the fear of being in an environment completely unfamiliar to either of us. (not to mention the fact that the motherly instinct made me want to hover in case I was needed) With the exception of walking to the parking lot on occasion, I have been indoors for almost a month.......I HAVE 'NEVER' NOT BEEN ABLE TO GO OUTSIDE.....

My parents divorced when I was 6 and I moved from my small hick town in the middle of nowhere to the Bay Area of California. (can I just say I am living proof that you can take the girl out of the country, but you can't take the country out of the girl) I lived there with my mom until I was 17, visiting my dad on holidays and during the summers. The time I spent with my dad always seemed to have something to do with the mountains. If we weren't taking my Grandma on a Sunday picnic, we were hiking or driving around spotting deer. When I finally decided that I had had more city than I could take, I moved back home with him and swore I would never take for granted the fact that I was surrounded by the beauty I did not have in the city. Finding anything resembling nature from where we lived in California, was at least a 3 hour drive.

It wasn't until now that I realized....I think I do take for granted that the mountains are a 15 minute drive from home, and I can usually go there whenever I feel like it, but being here has also made me think about how I blog. Though I will always encourage you to try and get out, I also realize everyone's lives are different and there may be reasons you cannot get out as much as you like, or maybe even at all. Whatever reason you may have, at least take the opportunity if it arises, and if you get to a point when life is too crazy and the opportunity never presents itself, go after it. You won't be sorry. Sometimes just a drive to the park full of trees and singing birds can be extremely relaxing, de-stressing, and great mental therapy. Don't take for granted the world around you and the beauty it holds.

The First Step Is Bravery

When I was younger and unmarried....I was a bit of a loner. Not because I was shy or uncomfortable with being around people(well maybe a little), but mostly because many of the things I did, were not things that the average 20 year old girl would do(Or even should do alone, but being my independent self...I did them anyway). In the back of my mind, I guess I just usually assumed that no one would have wanted to go with me....so I just went alone or with my dad instead of inviting friends. (saved myself the let down of them telling me no, and giving me weird looks of 'why would I want to do that')

My willingness to wander to the woods could have come from a number of reasons, perhaps because in a small town there's not much to do but fish and hunt, but I'm guessing it was because I was very comfortable in the outdoors having spent so much time out there while I was growing up. My reasons now are different than they used to be, but I manage to find a reason, none the less. Sometimes it's because I want to hang out with my kids that are growing up faster than I realize, and some times it's because I feel the need to hide from those same kids who seem to think I am made of money, and should be their maid, lol.

So....it turns out, that over the years.....I have learned that most of my friends would probably have gone with me if only I had asked. Many of the women I used to hang out with, love the outdoors just as much as I do. Being that most women have a mutual appreciation of sorts for the outdoors, I'm here to share my ambitions, and what I have learned along the way. Whether it be lying on the beaches of Florida, climbing to the top of the nearest mountain peak, or wakeboarding her favorite lake, being in the outdoors is not just classified as being in the woods. It's all about getting out and enjoying the fresh air and sunshine, smelling the flowers, listening to the birds sing, or even dancing in the rain in your backyard.  (Unless you live in L.A. and then your focus would probably be on getting out of the smog before you can enjoy the air, lol) It doesn't have to be sunny, or warm....you just have to make adjustments in how you dress.

Be brave. You have to start somewhere. Figure out what it is that you have been dying to do. Maybe it's as simple as taking the family on a pic nic. Maybe it's a week long vacation to someplace scenic where you can hook up with a photographic outfitter. Start with doing a little homework on what your options are. Where and when can I go, what is within my budget, what type of atmosphere will I be in, and what will I need when I get there. Having been in situations where survival skills were needed or at least helpful, and being comfortable using those skills, makes all the difference.

Knowledge is your friend.....and so is the internet when it comes to this subject. The world is at your fingertips as far as information goes. Wanting to do something, and knowing how to go about it are two totally different things. Not knowing how is often what keeps us from being adventurous. So doing a little homework is important.....know what you're up against.

Trying new things can be intimidating, and making time for yourself is always a challenge. If you take a minute to do your homework, the knowlege you gain, without a doubt, will give you the courage you need to get going.

Don't let the fear of what might happen keep you from trying. Let being prepared for anything give you the confidence to succeed.