Hunt Smart Think Safety

In light of yesterday’s post, which spotlighted an article about another accidental shooting, I thought this Friday would be a good time to cover the basics of gun safety, yet again. Handling and shooting a gun safely is so important you can never have too many reminders about what you need to do to be safe.

One of the most basic rules is be sure of your target. If you’re unsure of what lies in the path or your shot or what is behind your intended target, don’t shoot. If you’re the least bit unsure that your target is what you think it is, don’t shoot. If there’s any doubt at all, don’t shoot. It’s better to pass up a shot that might have been a good one, rather than take a shot that results in harm to someone else.

Another basic safety rule and one that some people forget is this: don’t drink and shoot. Never handle a weapon if you’ve been drinking or if you’re taking any sort of medications or drugs that might impair your judgment or coordination.

One rule that often escapes people and causes harm is the simple idea that guns are not toys. Never point a gun at anything unless you intend to shoot. Don’t try trick shots or carry your gun in your waistband because it “looks cool”. Treat your gun like what it is, a weapon, and handle it responsibly.

To be safe, hunters should always be prepared to practice good muzzle control. Even if you happen to trip and fall, you should be able to keep the muzzle of the gun pointed in a safe direction. Even if you’re running on adrenalin or excited to be hunting, you should still always be aware of where your gun muzzle is pointing. Obviously make sure to keep it pointed away from other hunters.

One way to reduce the risk of an accidental discharge is to make sure the gun is unloaded until you are actually ready to shoot. By the same token, even if you unloaded the gun yourself only moments before, you should always assume that any gun you handle is loaded. Treating all guns as though they were loaded is likely to increase your odds of handling the gun safely.

Another gun safety tip is to make sure your gun is maintained properly. Guns need regular cleaning and proper storage to operate at peak efficiency. Make sure you know how your gun works and that you have at least a basic understanding of potential problems. You should also always make sure that you use the proper ammunition for your gun type. Using non-standard ammunition could cause a misfire or other problems.

You should also always keep your finger off the trigger until you are ready to shoot. A sudden stumble or fall, or just being startled could cause you to squeeze the trigger. An unplanned and unexpected shot has a larger chance of causing harm.

Handling a gun safely isn’t really that hard to do. It just requires that you be mindful of what you’re doing, and that you understand how a gun works and what it does. Safe gun handling also requires practice. The more you shoot, the more comfortable you’ll feel handling your gun and the more likely it is that safe gun handling practices will become second nature.


Technorati Tags [Safety Friday, gun safety, gun safety tips]

As she periodically does, Holly from NorCal Cazadora sent me a link to another article that deals with the stupid things that people with guns can do. In this case a man accidentally shot his best friend’s wife while the three of them were out dove hunting. That’s bad enough. It’s what happened next that put this event squarely in the realm of the stupid.

When the police came to investigate the incident, the group lied about what happened. They said the wife had been shot by an unknown hunter. Apparently they didn’t want to implicate the friend. Other hunters who had witnessed the incident started calling police when the story they read in the paper didn’t match what they knew had happened. Before this couple knew it, their lie was exposed and they now may face criminal charges for filing a false report.

When I was growing up, I was always taught to own my mistakes and take my lumps when it was necessary. It never is a fun thing to admit you’ve made a mistake or done something stupid, but trying to avoid the consequences only makes it worse. In this case, the shooting is considered accidental. At most, the guy who took the shot would perhaps have to take a gun safety refresher course. As much as we’d like to say otherwise, accidents do happen. The consequences for telling the truth would have been much less than those for telling a lie. So why choose to do the latter?

Hunters talk a lot about ethics. That topic is part of every hunter safety course. Ethics matters a lot to the hunting and fishing population because ultimately it is just you and your honor in the outdoors. Admittedly there are game wardens and conservation officers who are charged with enforcing the laws, but they can’t be everywhere and they can’t watch everyone. Ultimately the responsibility for behaving in a safe and lawful manner rests on each individual hunter.

In 2006, I wrote a post entitled “The Only One Who Knows Is You. It dealt with ethics and the fact that someone who is alone in the woods has no one to monitor his or her behavior except himself or herself. At the end of that post I said this:

The sad thing is that every hunter that doesn’t have respect for him or herself or for others puts a little black mark on the sport of hunting. It’s regrettable that a few less than honorable people can spoil things for the rest of us, but it is true.

Sadly, slightly under two years later, it’s still true.

Technorati Tags [hunting ethics, accidental shooting, NorCal Cazadora]

Clint’s Article About Hunting
If you haven’t read it yet, you should stop by Bonneville Mariner and check out Clint’s column on hunting. I know some OBS members gave Clint some input on the article, and he did use some of your comments.

Handling Injured Deer
Every hunter hopes for a quick kill when they’re hunting, but sometimes that doesn’t happen. Marc from NY Bowhunter has some tips for safely dealing with an injured animal. If you hunt, it is worth taking a moment to stop by his blog and brush up on your technique.

Patience is a Virtue
We’ve all had it happen. We’re sitting at the favorite fishing hole and the fish just aren’t biting. The minute we get up, the fish start popping out of the water, mostly just to taunt the poor angler who couldn’t catch them. If you’ve had this experience, stop over and read SF Boater’s tips on when to stay and when to move.

Relying on Gadgets Makes You Less Aware
Chas at The Southern Rockies Nature Blog discusses why using gadgets like GPS units can make you less aware of your surroundings. It can also cause trouble if the electronics stop working for some reason. Chas maintains that your walk through the woods should be about observing your surroundings not your GPS unit. Do you agree?

The First Tuesday’s Tip
Rick over at Whitetail Woods has started a great series. Every Tuesday he shares a hunting tip from his own experience or one that was sent to him by a reader. The first Tuesday’s tip post appeared yesterday. It involved preseason scouting using a camera. Go over and help Rick get this series off to a good start.

Where Ol’ Eagle Eyes Has Been
If you’ve checked out the Idaho Trouthunter blog in the last few days, you may have seen it has been closed down. A lot of us were wondering where Ol’ Eagle Eyes had gone. Apparently, he’s moved here. Othmar has the whole story.

Fishing or Hunting, It’s a Dilemma
Jody over at The Hunter’s Wife, has a bit of a dilemma. Opening week of deer season is the same week as her birthday. Mark, her hunter, wants to go hunt. Jody, who is the birthday girl, wants to go fish and drive the boat. What do you think they should do? Go over and leave a comment.

Technorati Tags [Community Wednesday, outdoor blogs, outdoor blog posts]

I don’t discuss politics very often on this blog for a couple of reasons. One reason is the fact that this isn’t my blog. It’s a company blog, and as such, really doesn’t have much business discussing subjects as potentially divisive as politics. Another reason we don’t discuss politics here is the fact that discussing politics can lead to a lot of dissention. I’m not interested in arguments or fights, so it seems better to simply stay away from subjects that might cause those sorts of problems.

Still, I’ve been doing a lot of reading the last few days and I have a burning question that I really want to ask. After John McCain picked Sarah Palin as his Vice Presidential nominee, I saw a lot of articles saying essentially that McCain had just sewn up the female vote, as Sarah Palin is a woman, and the outdoorperson vote, as Sarah Palin hunts.

I’m not going to go into who I will be voting for in this election, and I don’t expect anyone else to discuss their vote here either, except in abstract terms. What I want to know is this: is getting people to vote for your candidate really that simple? Do people really vote based primarily on one issue or simply for the person they think is most like them, without any more thought than that? If that is the way people vote, it is a sad day for democracy.

I guess what I’m really wondering is if votes really come tied up in a neat little bundle like that. Put a woman on your ticket, and hey here come all the female votes tied in a nice little packet. Run an African-American for President, and all the African-American votes will be delivered to you in nice neat stacks. Add someone to your ticket who hunts or fishes and all the hunters and anglers will fall into line and vote for you. Is it really that easy?

I support hunting and fishing and the outdoors. I certainly want to see legislation that will protect and conserve our outdoor resources. I’d like to see legislation that increases hunting and fishing opportunities and which supports more land for hunting and fishing. I’m sure a lot of my outdoor blogging friends would like to see the same things. That is not, however, the only issue which I will be considering this election season.

Personally, I find it a little offensive to read that a lot of political experts assume that adding a woman to the ticket or nominating an African-American for president will automatically ensure that all the voters from that demographic group will fall into line. I would hope that American voters are savvier and more aware than that. It should also be plainly evident that just because someone is one thing or does one thing that doesn’t mean that they believe the same things that you do. Actions speak louder than words. They always have.

Am I the only one who feels this way?

Technorati Tags [2008 election, hunters and voting, outdoor legislation

This Friday marks the start of the last long weekend of the Summer. Many people will be getting out enjoying the warm weather this weekend and will hopefully be participating in a lot of outdoor activities. If you’re going to be celebrating the holiday with an outdoor event this weekend, here are some tips to remember.

Avoid getting bitten by mosquitoes: West Nile Virus infections can reach their peak in September, so now is the time to avoid being bitten. Mosquitoes are most active dusk through dawn, so you may want to avoid outdoor activities during those hours. When you are outside, make sure you wear bug repellent.

Food Safety for Picnics: Picnics can be a fun part of a holiday weekend, but they can also be a problem if food isn’t handled safely. You should always make sure that:

Foods that need to be cool are refrigerated if they aren’t being served right away

Meat and poultry are cooked thoroughly.

Food, like potato salad, that has been sitting out longer than two hours gets thrown away

Your cooler is packed with 75% food and 25% ice or ice packs. Coolers that are packed full stay cooler longer

Sun Exposure - Feeling the sun on your skin during a summer day is terrific, but too much sun can do a lot of damage. Make sure you always wear sunscreen and that you apply it often, particularly if you’re swimming or if you’re sweating a lot.

Drive Safely - Even though gas is still expensive, a lot of people will be driving on this Labor Day weekend. If you’re going to be driving as well, please remember the following safety tips:

Plan enough time to get to your destination. Drivers in a hurry often make mistakes

Make sure you are well rested when you drive. Sleepy drivers make mistakes.

Make sure your car is in good running order.

Drive defensively and keep alert. Even though you’re driving safely, others on the road may not be.

If boating is part of your Labor Day plan, there are a few rules you should follow to stay safe.

Always wear a life jacket. Nine out of ten people who drown did not have a life jacket on when they went into the water. Life jackets are especially important for children.

Just like a car, no one should operate a boat while drinking or if they have been drinking.

Don’t overload the boat. Taking a bunch of people out for a ride sounds like fun, but too much weight could cause your boat to sink or malfunction.

Make sure you understand the “rules of the water”. Knowing and following these rules can help boats share the water safely.

I hope everyone has a wonderful Labor Day Weekend. Stay safe and have fun.

Technorati Tags [Safety Friday, Labor Day Safety, Labor Day Safety tips]

Posted by kristine at 10:10 AM. Filed under: Safety Friday

3 comments • Permalink

I really hate bad customer service. I probably hate it more than most people because part of what I do is manage customer service for our companies. I know how hard good customer service can be, but I also think it is worth the time and effort it takes. What is sad is that many people have become accustomed to bad or indifferent customer service, and just put up with it. Of course, sometimes, the company is so big it doesn’t really matter if you protest. The only thing you can do is take your business elsewhere.

Earlier in the week I wrote about my e-mail issue with Charter Communications. That was finally resolved after three days and three separate phone calls. E-mail and Internet service seem to be working now, and I just had one more nagging problem and then everything would be fine.

When they installed the cable box I specifically asked the technician if it would work with my VCR and if I would be able to record programs. I know, a VCR is stunningly low tech in this day and age, but it has always worked before, and it is cheaper than buying or renting a DVR. The technician told me all I would have to do is hook up two cables and all would be well. Sadly, that wasn’t the case.

I got the box on Saturday. I couldn’t even get it to work with the television until Sunday afternoon. It won’t work with the VCR at all. I can hook the VCR up and play tapes, but I can’t record anything from the television. I also can’t change channels on the box using the number keys on the remote. I need to flip down or up channel by channel until I get to the channel I want to view. It’s not terribly convenient.

So, last night I called Charter. The first lady I spoke to was somewhat helpful, although she seemed a bit bewildered. She said she would send a signal which would reset my box. I was told the process would take up to an hour. I waited an hour and a half and the re-set did not appear to happen. So, like an idiot, I called the company back.

The end result of the second conversation basically translated into “so sorry, it sucks to be you”. Even though the person on the phone admitted that it sounded as though there was something wrong with my cable box, she said that technicians didn’t handle VCRs and there would be a charge for them to come and help me diagnose the problem. I could change the box out at my local cable office, if I liked, but that was qbout the extent of the help I was going to get.

Now I will admit I’m not the most technologically savvy person on the planet, but I’ve successfully hooked up the VCR, cable and television before without an issue. This time I needed a bit more help, and Charter completely failed to provide it. Sadly, it appears I’m not the only one who has had less than stellar service. A lot of these people are frustrated as well.

For future reference Charter, good customer service means going above and beyond. It means helping the customer out even it isn’t specifically in your job description. It certainly means sympathizing with frustrations and doing what you can to make the situation better. Nowhere in the definition of customer service does it say “charge ever increasing fees and don’t offer the customer any help at all”. That’s not customer service, that’s just arrogance.

I’m not sure what my next move will be. I have to check the condo association bylaws and see if I can have a satellite dish. If that’s a possibility, I’m guessing that’s what I’ll do. Anybody have a satellite service they can recommend?


Technorati Tags [Charter Communications, bad customer service, Charter Communications problems]

You Must Read This!
Terry Scoville from the Women’s Hunting Journal was just interviewed by The Bend Bulletin. It’s a terrific, positive article about hunting and women who hunt and Terry is a great representative for both. Way to spread the positive message Terry! Terrific job!

Bloggers as Journalists
While I’ve been taking a break from writing for the OBS, Matt has been putting out some great material. His latest post discusses whether bloggers are journalists and asks if there should be a blogging code of ethics. It’s an interesting question, so please take a moment to add to the discussion.

A Great Dog Story
Jeff at Low Country Hunting shares a guest post written by Gillian Casstevens. It’s a great story about a loyal dog and the hunter (and his family) who loved him. If Gillian doesn’t have a blog, she should certainly start one. She writes very well and if you’ve ever had a dog who was part of the family, this post will resonate with you.

Trust Your Gut
Dave Richey is one of the premiere outdoor writers in Michigan, if not the United States. He has a great post on his blog about trusting your gut and getting out of situations that seem dangerous. It’s a good reminder for everyone who hunts and fishes. If the situation feels wrong, it’s probably best to back away.

Welcome the Newest Little Hunter
Travis at Addicted to Hunting welcomed his son, appropriately named Hunter, last week. The pictures of the baby and his older daughter are priceless. Stop over and congratulation Travis on his future hunting partners. They’re adorable.

Unfortunately Not In Michigan
A few years ago a proposal about dove hunting made it on the ballot in Michigan. It was defeated and dove hunting was banned. Those of you who can still dove hunt, however, may enjoy the posts about dove hunting at Catfish Gumbo. One is a practical post about how to dove hunt. The other is called “10 Reasons I Love Dove Hunting”.

Fishing and Boating Round-Up
SF Boater reviews The Practical Mariners Book and offers tips for fishing by boat. Tom at The Ultimate Fishing Blog wants to know what the strangest bait you ever used was (mine was hotdogs). Othmar tells the tale about playing fishing guide for his wife in Merritt.

Technorati Tags [Community Wednesday, outdoor blogs, outdoor blog posts]

Last year, almost exactly a year ago, I wrote a post about a bad customer service experience I had with my cable company. When they made amends for their bad customer service, I wrote about that too. Sadly, for Charter Communications, after their services are installed they seem to work very well. It is the installation part and the handling of any problems immediately after the installation that seems to be a problem.

As most of you already know, I moved last weekend. Part of that move involved switching my Charter services from the old place to the new. I was apprehensive about the switch, mostly because I was afraid the technician wouldn’t show or I’d miss him somehow and not have my services installed. Luckily, the technician arrived and the actual installation of my services seemed pretty straightforward. The technician wasn’t terribly helpful or friendly, but he did get the job done, which was all that I asked.

The problems began later that night when I couldn’t access my e-mail. I called Charter and told them the problem. There was an issue importing my e-mail address from my old account to my new account (why I had a new account has never been explained), but it would be fixed by Sunday. Unfortunately, Sunday came and went and the e-mail wasn’t fixed. I called again. “Gee this usually takes five minutes” I was told, but the company that sells communication services was having phone system problems and they couldn’t call any of the supervisors who would have to make the necessary change. Don’t worry though, they’ll get the phones fixed on Monday and my e-mail will be fixed as well.

Monday came and still no e-mail. I finally called last night and got the change made. It’s still never been explained to me why this was even a problem in the first place. It has also never been explained why it took three separate calls on three separate days to get the problem fixed. They also could not retrieve the e-mails that I received during the three days my e-mail address was down. All I got for my inconvenience was a “so sorry”. As you might imagine, that doesn’t mean much.

From a customer service standpoint there is a lot that can be learned from this experience. Things like:

Don’t promise things you aren’t sure you can deliver

Have some empathy for people with problems

Show some urgency or concern about solving the problem

Offer something to make up for the inconvenience

Don’t say “This is usually so easy” or “This never happens”. It doesn’t matter how things usually go, in this case they went wrong.

I think, for me, this might be the last straw. I’m going to do some research and see what other services are available. I’d hoped, after last time, that Charter might have actually learned something and improved their service. It doesn’t seem that is the case. For now I will keep my Charter services, with the exception of my e-mail. I think I’ll be turning to Gmail for that.


Technorati Tags [Charter Communications, bad customer service, Charter Communications problems]

Holly at NorCal Cazadora has an interesting post on her blog about a group called the American Hunter and Shooters Association. Apparently, this group is touting itself as an alternative to the NRA, which they feel has not done enough to support conservation.

There are a lot of these sorts of groups out there. You’ve got the NRA. There’s the NSSF. There’s the U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance. There are also any number of conservation and special interest groups related to hunting and fishing, all claiming to help preserve your rights and protect your interests. After a while it becomes difficult to figure out who deserves your support.

There are a few ways you can make sure that your dollars and time are going to support groups that are protecting your interests and pursuing goals that you endorse. Before you donate, you can research the groups on sites like Charity Navigator or GuideStar. These sites will have ratings and reports on the organizations to which you may be thinking of donating.

You can also keep your money close to home. Volunteer your time with local groups so you can see the projects on which they are working first hand. You can also donate money and goods to resources in your state. Organizations like Hunters for the Hungry have chapters in several states. There are also many other local and state organizations that are always looking for funds and workers. If you help clean out some habitat or work at a hunting expo, you know where your time and money are going, and you also help control the message that is being sent.

You can also simply do a Google search to learn more about an organization that you are planning to support. Let’s look at a Google search for Ducks Unlimited. The first result is the organizations web site, which should be full of information. Other results include web sites for state chapters of DU, a Wikipedia entry on Ducks Unlimited and some archived news results. The nice thing about the Google results is they are created by an algorithm, so you can be sure that you’re getting a relatively unbiased representation of the information that’s out there. You still have to take responsibility for clicking the links and reading, but the information is there for you to find.

In today’s economy we all need to use our money wisely. With a little bit of research and some time, you can make sure your money is going to support the causes and organizations in which you believe. It may take you a bit longer to write that donation check but, when you do, you’ll be sure it’s going to support and protect your interests.

Technorati Tags [NorCal Cazadora, hunting organizations, information on hunting organizations]

As most of you probably know by now, if not from me constantly talking about it, then from my post on Tuesday, I am moving tomorrow. Since this is Safety Friday, I thought today might be a good time to post some tips on how to move safely. The subject might not have anything directly to do with hunting or fishing, but injuring yourself during a move could cut your season short. Given that, knowing how to move yourself and your possessions safely seems like a wise idea.

When it comes to packing, lighter is better. The temptation is to pack big boxes full of items so you have fewer boxes to carry and move. The problem with that is that big boxes place more strain on you when you lift them and are more difficult to carry. Lighter boxes may mean a few more trips, but they will also mean less strain on your back and muscles.

Make sure you wear comfortable clothing and supportive shoes. Don’t wear clothing that has loose sleeves or excess material that can get caught in between boxes. You should also wear supportive shoes that protect your feet. Don’t wear sandals or shoes that have slippery bottoms.

If you have any flammable liquids be aware that movers cannot transport them. It is probably best to dispose of those types of substances before the move. If you do want to transport them, make sure that each chemical or flammable liquid is securely stored in an approved container and is packed in such a way that it cannot spill or leak.

Make sure any important documents like birth certificates, deeds to your new home, tax documents and bank account records are safely stored and transported. You may want to take such documents yourself, or store them in a safety deposit box until after the move is done.

If you are moving with pets the best bet is to get the pets out of the way on moving day. Book them at a kennel or have a friend keep them until the move has been accomplished. If the pet needs to accompany you on the move, secure them in a closed room or keep them in a crate until all items have been moved inside your new home. Open doors during a move are one of the prime reasons that pets go missing.

If you are moving appliances or computers, make sure they are secured for the move. Defrost and air out all refrigerators before you move and make sure all air conditioners are properly cleaned. Make sure all computers are properly packed and that all delicate parts are protected. Computers should also be protected from extreme temperature changes.

The biggest safety tip of all when it comes to moving is this: don’t overdo. Even though you may want to have everything unpacked in a single day, remember that it doesn’t all have to be done at once. You are better off taking it slowly and taking some time to relax and enjoy your new home.

Technorati Tags [Safety Friday, moving safety, moving safety tips]

Are Bloggers Journalists?
Matt has a great Writing Workshop Series going over at the OBS Blog. His latest question is this: Are Bloggers Journalists? Go over and let him know what you think.

I’m All For Chocolate Gravy
Blessed shares her husband’s grandmother’s recipe for biscuits and chocolate gravy. I love gravy, so chocolate gravy may be too much of a good thing. It sure sounds yummy.

Base Camp Legends Contest
Base Camp Legends is having a contest! Apparently it involves picking the winners of football games. If you’re interested in playing, stop by the Base Camp Legends Forum and leave your entry. The winner will receive their choice of an item from the Base Camp Legends Shop. I don’t know anything about football, but I’m thinking of entering.

Connecting with Other Hunters
If you’re looking to make connections with other hunters you might want to check out the latest post on the Desert Rat Blog. He points out some social networking sites devoted to hunting and the outdoors. Very useful information.

Funniest Post of the Week, Hands Down
A lot of you have probably seen this already, but I couldn’t let Community Wednesday go by without pointing it out. Jody at The Hunter’s Wife has written a terrific post that made me laugh so hard I cried. It’s all about her imagined first trip to a tree stand. If you haven’t seen it yet, take a moment to go and read. It will be worth it.

Othmar Says Slow Down and Enjoy the Ride
I’ve been guilty of rushing a lot in the last few weeks. Between packing and coordinating and trying to move, I’ve been a little stressed and a little harried. Today, on his blog, Othmar has a timely reminder that rushing doesn’t really save us time. If you’ve been rushing around, slow down and take a moment to read this post.

Rick Has a New Blog
Rick Kratzke who formerly wrote Tails and Trails has branched out and started his own blog. Please take a moment to visit Whitetail Woods and show Rick some love.

Technorati Tags [Community Wednesday, outdoor blogs, outdoor blog posts]

This morning my washer and dryer were delivered at my new house. As I stood waiting for the delivery guys to arrive I was looking out at my backyard when it dawned on me that I have a backyard! I own trees and grass and a deck and flowerbeds and a fountain. I also share the space with a group of black squirrels. I don’t claim to own them.

Some of you may already know this, heck most of you may already know this, but I’m particularly happy about it today, and thought I’d talk a little bit about buying my first house. I closed a couple weeks ago and I move in for good this Saturday. It’s an adorable little condo, in a really cute neighborhood. It’s more in the city than where I was living, but I still have my own backyard and the squirrels and birds to go with it. There may even be a bunny or two.

It’s funny how your relationship to the land changes when it’s your land. I’ve lived in some beautiful spots, and admired their beauty, but the land was never mine. Now when I look out at my backyard, I’m looking at my trees. I, of course, think my trees are prettier than everyone else’s trees. I’m not even going to make a pretense of being impartial.

Buying a house was a big decision for me. I never was one for wanting to put down roots. In fact, I always liked the idea that I could pick up and go at any time. I generally didn’t choose to pick up and go, but I always knew that I could. Somehow that knowledge gave me a sense of freedom.

Strangely enough, buying a home has given me a sense of freedom in a different way. I now have a place, and it’s my place. No landlord can change it or sell it or take it away from me. Owning a house is a huge responsibility, but it is also an immense privilege. I know there are a lot of people for whom owning a home represents the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. I am fully aware of and am very grateful for my good fortune.

So, I guess this year has been a year of firsts for me. The woman who didn’t like the outdoors has started doing more in the outdoors. Now the lady who can’t hammer a nail straight is going to try and do some handyman projects around her new house. That should definitely be good for a story or two.

Those of you who have purchased a home probably know exactly how I’m feeling right now. Those of you who haven’t yet, I hope you get your chance soon. I highly recommend it.


Technorati Tags [home ownership, Northern Michigan, Life in Northern Michigan]

When I was a kid, my parents tried for many years to make me love exercise. They’d force me to go on walks and runs and bike rides. It wasn’t necessarily that I didn’t like doing those things; it was more that I wanted to do them on my own time and in my own way. Exercise was also never going to be my favorite form of recreation. If the choice was between going out in the hot sun and getting sweaty or sitting inside with a good book and a ice cold glass of water, guess which option I picked every time?

When I got older, I basically eschewed the outdoors for several years. It was too hot. It was too cold. There were bugs and snakes and it was dirty. I loved the beauty of the woods and the trees and the water, I just preferred to enjoy that beauty through a window of some kind. It didn’t help that back then I was really out of shape. Trekking through the woods isn’t a lot of fun when you get breathless ten minutes into the hike.

Then, almost three years ago, I got this job, and I started interacting with a lot of people who didn’t just love the outdoors and being in the outdoors, they were passionate about it. As I read blog post after blog post, and heard story after story, I started wondering if I was missing something. Did all those people who loved the outdoors so much know something I didn’t know?

Ask anyone who’s known me for a while and they’ll tell you I don’t like it when other people know something I don’t know. It was this trait that led me to teach myself to read at four. This same trait is now encouraging me to get outdoors and expand my skills. If there’s something fun happening in the woods or around the campfire I want to be in on it.

Don’t get me wrong, I will probably always be closer to The Hunter’s Wife than I will be to Othmar Vohringer or Mungo. I don’t forsee that I will ever be packing all my supplies on my back for a week long campout. I do want to learn to shoot a gun, but I’m not sure I could shoot it at anything other than clay targets. If the choice is between a four star hotel with room service and a foam pad and a sleeping bag on a hillside, I’m probably going to pick the hotel. I’m also probably never going to be happy walking around unshowered for a few days.

Still, I think I am different from the way I was. I am more likely to take a walk to appreciate the beauty of nature. I still want to learn to shoot a gun, even though I haven’t exactly figured out how to make that happen yet. I could probably even be persuaded to go camping, if I had a tent and a nice cushy pad and sleeping bag of my own. A campground shower would be nice too.

I guess the one constant is that people can and do change. Even if I never will be a person who wants to put a pack on my back and wander off into the wilderness for a week, I’m still more likely to want to enjoy the outdoors than I used to be. I’d say that’s a good thing.

Technorati Tags [outdoor bloggers, learning to love the outdoors, enjoying the outdoors]

Last week I wrote a post about the tragic shooting in Washington. In that post I asked who had responsibility for preventing the death of the hiker. Obviously, the hunter had responsibility for making sure he only took shots about which he was sure. The Park Service or whoever policed the trails had a responsibility to let hikers know that hunters were in the woods and to let hunters know that a hiking trail was nearby. The hunter also bore some responsibility, if only to wear blaze orange so that hunters would know what was on the trail was not an animal.

Since this is Safety Friday, I wanted to talk a bit today about how to successfully share the woods during hunting season. After all, everyone has the same right and privilege of using the woods but, not everyone takes the same responsibility for being safe. I’m certainly not trying to absolve hunters of their responsibility for gun safety and knowing their target, I believe anyone who holds a gun should take responsibility for how they use it. I’m just trying to add a little balance to the picture and also point out how those who share the woods with hunters can help increase their odds of staying safe, while also helping hunters be much surer about the targets at which they shoot.

If you are hiking during hunting season:

Wear blaze orange of other bright colors
Talk or sing while you hike. Make noise so you are easily identifiable as human
Know hunting seasons and when hunting is occurring
Don’t wear brown or white or black clothing

If you hunt around areas where people hike

Practice all the rules of gun safety
Always be sure of your target. If you’re not absolutely sure, don’t shoot
Help educate the general population about hunting season dates and how to be safe in the woods during hunting season
Always wear blaze orange clothing yourself, whether or not your state mandates it
Never drink or use any other substance that would impair your judgment

Fish and Game or DNR Offices Can Help By:

Making sure notices are posted during hunting season alerting hikers that it is hunting season
Working to educate hunters and hikers about how the two groups can share the woods

I would never absolve a hunter of the responsibility that comes with using a gun. A gun is a huge responsibility and if you can’t use one safely you shouldn’t use one at all. With that said, I also think that everyone who is in the woods, whether it is hunting season or not, should take responsibility for their own safety. If we all work together, tragic accidents like the one in Washington will be even rarer than they are now.

Technorati Tags [Safety Friday, hunting safety for hikers, hunters and hikers sharing the woods]

Good Wishes Still Needed
Deerslayer still has not recovered from his recent surgery. In fact it doesn’t sound like things are going well. Please take a moment to stop by and let him know you’re thinking of him and wish him well.

Base Camp Legends Unveils New Features
You’ve got to hand it to the guys over at Base Camp Legends. They’re always trying something new. Their latest ideas are video sharing, photo sharing and a forum. Stop by and see what’s new.

Some of Us Big Girls Need to Man Up
Hunt, Eat, Live has a great post about a family fishing expedition. What I love most about this post are the great pictures of the little blonde six year old who is holding her fish like a pro. In one photo she even looks like she’s puckering up to kiss the fish. I’m thinking some of us bigger girls need to man up. If a six year old can hold a fish, so can we.

Could You Make the Kill
Innstyle Montana has a great post up about an age old controversy for hunters and anglers, could you kill the meat you eat? In this post she talks mostly about chicken, but the question extends to any meat that goes on your plate. If someone handed you an axe and a chicken, could you get the chicken ready for the pot? It’s an interesting question and should inspire some interesting discussion.

The Great Perseids Meteor Show
Mungo over at Mungo Says Bah has written a lovely, lyrical post about watching the Perseids Meteor shower from his back garden. It sounds like a wonderful evening. Unfortunately his beagle, Monty, was more interested in the compost pile.

Buying Land for Hunting or Living
The Southern Land Exchange blog has a great post on what to look for when considering buying land. The post also covers a bit about zoning and laws and how to ensure the land you buy can be used for hunting. If you’re considering buying land, go read this post.

Kids and Hunting: What’s the Ideal Age
Terry at The Women’s Hunting Journal is considering the question of the age at which kids should be allowed to hunt. She maintains that 9 or 10 is probably the right age for firearm training to start. Do you agree with her?

A Good Week for Othmar and Artemis
Our favorite hunting couple from Merritt had a great week. Othmar passed his hunting instructor exam and can now teach hunter education in British Columbia. Artemis, who is a superb photographer, recently got offered a job covering the area in which they live for one of the biggest newspapers in Canada. Congratulations to both of them.

Must Have Fishing Equipment
If you’re a beginning angler, stop by SF Boater and read his post about must have fishing equipment. If you’re an experienced angler, take a moment to read the post and see if you agree with the recommendations.

Understanding Wives
Arthur over at Simply Outdoors has a great post up about the value of a wife who understands hunting. Although it’s much rarer I would bet there are also hunting wives who value their non-hunting husbands who understand their passion for the sport. If you have a wife (or husband) that understands you passion for hunting or fishing, go over and share your story.

A Poetical Post
John Martin over at Western Wanderer has taken a foray into poetry. He commemorates a trail ride, an overweight greenhorn and an unexpected bear. The drawing is great too.


Technorati Tags [Community Wednesday, outdoor blogs, outdoor blog posts]