8 Ways To Rekindle Your Flame For The Outdoors

Photo: Chris Carson

This morning while I was working on tuning my bow, I had a few random thoughts that are worth exploring. I'm sure I have touched on this subject before, but as I continue to age and consider these things, I find different perspectives.  

To me, hunting and fishing is a passion. I love the outdoors and have enjoyed horseback riding, canoeing, hiking, swimming, camping, even flying, and just about anything else you can imagine doing in the outdoors.  Since the days when I was a kid and we would roam the neighborhoods, alleys, and fields that were close by, I have always enjoyed the adventure. Hunting and fishing though, seem to be the activities I enjoy most.  

Photo: Cole Carson

Early on, it was anywhere I went with my brother.  Fishing or hunting, it didn't matter!  I believe this shaped my desire to hunt and fish.  In high school, my buddy James and I did alot of fishing... So much so, that I almost didn't graduate.  Once I did graduate, it was off to school in Breham, TX where we spent more time hunting and fishing with our new found freedom away at college. 

Since then I began hunting with another buddy from high school. We paid for leases, put in lots of work, traveled to and from together.  One of those leases was in East Texas.  A 5 hour drive from home and we had some adventures along the way. Now I'm on the lease with both of those guys and it's a stroke of luck to be able to hunt together. Usually the times that we do ride together are spent discussing business or racing there and back because we all have other commitments. A little over a year ago, I had the pleasure of hog hunting with a buddy that just moved down from Iowa and killed his first hog.  The experience was a refreshing change from the normal grind that has become my hunting experience. 

Photo: James Plant

Getting to the point here, I've caught many fish over the years, killed my share of varmints, deer,
quail, hogs, dove, javalina, etc. and it's always the pursuit that is memorable.  I remember more details of hunts where I was not successful than I do of hunts where I tagged an animal.  This is not to say that the enjoyment of success is not memorable either.  But, sometimes I think the success of the hunt clouds the work it took to pull it off. 

The last several years I have found myself hunting and fishing by myself or quick little afternoon hunts with a few friends at the lease.  This seems more methodical in nature, more like I'm just putting meat on the table and nothing more.  The fact that I don't have anyone there with me to share success and failure with seems to take the fun out of these endeavors.  Over the years, I have heard oldtimers tell me that they don't hunt anymore.  On the occasions I have asked why, invariably they tell me "I'm just not that mad at them anymore." and laugh it off.  

Photo: Chuck Crowsey

To me, it has never been about the animal, as much as adventure.  All the little things that go wrong along the way that must be overcome to be successful are what makes the trip an adventure. I think what these oldtimers are really saying is that they find no adventure in it anymore.  

Drilling down further, the question becomes how do we turn monotony into adventure?  Off the top of my head, here are a few suggestions:

• Go with people you don't usually go with.
• Pursue a new species.
• Try a different means of hunting (i.e bowhunting) or fishing (fly fishing).
• Try a different method like spot and stalk or sight fishing.
• Switch up your hunting areas or find a new honey hole.
• Lease a new property to hunt or start fishing rivers instead of lakes, or deep pot holes instead of flats or mangroves.
• Hunt Public Lands, Plan a trip to fish new lakes you have never fished.
• Hunt or fish out of state.  Make a vacation of it.

Photo Chuck Crowsey

I don't think I've ever been "mad" at an animal or fish.  I know that response is a humorous way to shrug off the real answer.  Maybe the answer is different for different people, but I have been struggling with balancing work, family, and hobbies.  It takes a toll on my outdoor activities and I have recently been thinking "Maybe I'm just not mad at them anymore!" LOL!

The good news, is I have 3 kiddos that have never shot any animal with any means. So, here is hoping that one or all of them will be my new outdoor adventure buddy! Maybe each in different ways!

By the way, in case you were wondering, the old Bear Crux is doing great!  On the other hand I may need glasses.

 

46 Outdoors Mission: Put Down The Electronics... Get Outdoors

What is 46 Outdoors all about?  Short and simple,our mission is to get kids outdoors.  

I grew up roaming my neighborhood in San Antonio, TX which had some open fields and a creek nearby.  My buddies and I caught crawdads and played in the creeks and ditches and got in a ton of trouble.  

We had these clunky electronic devices that you could play football or baseball on... sort of.  They were basically a series of LCD dots and lines that represented players.  Very rudimentary.  But, this was a step up from molded plastic player dancing around a loud vibrating piece of sheet metal that was painted like a football field. Electronic games and devices were in their infancy.

The older I got, the more I roamed.  The alleys behind our home were a battlefield of sorts where we built clubhouses and forts against the neighbor's fences with whatever we could find.  When someone trimmed their trees, we lived in the brush piles for a week or two before they got hauled away.  

My 11 year old son loves to hear these stories.  It's no wonder that he seems to be enamored with these events.  Now, we live in a subdivision on a cul-de-sac probably a 1/4 mile from a major highway.  We never let them play outside on their own until they were about 8-10 years old.  There were very few kids living in the neighborhood at the time either.  Like many other parents during this day and age, we were weary of allowing our kids to roam the neighborhood.  There is a small greenbelt  next to our neighborhood that I know for a fact is inhabited by homeless people.  We have heard of strange cars parking near the ditches and older kids heading back there for what I'm sure amounts to nefarious reasons at best.

Recently, we have had an influx of kids their age move into the neighborhood and they have started doing some of the things that I did as a kid (probably to the dismay of the neighbors).  It was very difficult to resist the temptation of putting them in front of the TV or getting them computers or iPads or iPods or any number of other devices.  We finally broke down and bought a Wii a few years ago, but for the most part, our kids have grown up outdoors.  Whether it was playing at the park, team sports, hunting, fishing, boating, or riding our bikes; I made it a point to get them outside and move.  Even in inclement weather they have fun outdoors!

The other day, I overheard a conversation at football practice about kids not wanting to get outside or put down the electronics. This is what 46 Outdoors is about at it's core. Even my kids, who weren't involved in all that, but now have phones and tablets and need to use computers to do homework find it hard to put them down at times.


I went to Camp Stewart on the Guadalupe River headwaters where I rode horses, climbed the NRA Riflery rankings, learned to canoe, shot my bow, hiked, camped out, swam and a host of other activities including team sports clinics.  I loved it!  If memory serves, the camp session was 34 days... 34 days of all those activities and more...  I was in heaven!  It was tough being away from my parents for that long, but it was well worth it.  I wouldn't change a minute of it.  

I would love to send my kids to that camp or one like it, but truth be told, we can't afford it especially for three kids.   In fact, my parents had help in sending me.  But, I know the boys would love it, and probably benefit and grow a little independence.  So, with that being out of the realm of possibility, we are left with the task of teaching these lessons and giving them this experience on our own.

In the process of doing this, I realized that there are those out there that for whatever the reason or circumstance, don't know how or are in some way unable to impart these experiences.  So, I do my best to live a life steeped in the outdoors and fan the flames of this passion among my own kids and their friends.  The purpose of 46 Outdoors is to encourage others to provide their families with the same sort of experiences by opening a window into our experience and providing tips and advice.

Please comment below or contact us on Facebook if I can help you and/or your family get connected outdoors.

Product Review: Cowboy's Wild Game Washer

Before and after dove on the left fish on the right.
Photo: Cowboy's Wild Game Washer

If you haven't seen Cowboy's Wild Game Washer yet, you need to... This thing is quite useful.  We had the pleasure of having the booth across from Cowboy at last year's Texas Trophy Hunter's Extravaganza. Along with being an avid outdoorsman, Tim "Cowboy" McDonald has come up with a time saving easy to use idea!

To start with, it is a great place to sit as it's a 5 gallon bucket.  As a volunteer baseball coach, I can't think of a better place to sit than on a bucket.  Add a swivel seat to that with a little bit of padding for an afternoon dove hunt, and I am in Heaven!  But it's usefulness just keeps on giving.

The unique swirling action
 cleans and flushes all sorts
of wild game.
Photo: Cowboy's Wild Game Washer

The bucket is a great place to toss your dove when you are stationary keeping you from sitting on them and your bags from getting too heavy or infested with ants. I can't tell you how many times I've piled up birds under my seat or beside the log I'm using for cover only to find them infested with fire ants like 12 seconds later.  In fact, usually it's my getting bit that alerts me to the fact that my birds are under attack.  Cowboy's Wild Game Washer keeps the ants out and the birds from becoming ant infested.

Then, there is the purpose for which this ingenious idea was conceived. Washing game... Having had one for almost a year now, I have personally used it for all sorts of game.  When I get back from the lake, I hook the water hose to it and it starts that swirling action.  I fillet my fish and toss them in Cowboy's Wild Game Washer and let them spin.  It flushes all the blood, scales and any other debris from them while I grab the gallon bags or vacuum packer.

After a dove hunt, All the feathers and debris float to the top.  I have even found a few pellets in the bottom when I was finished.  That means it rinsed out pellets I would have consumed (or attempted to) at some point.  Dentist approved!

It even comes in handy at the skinning shed.  When it's time to quarter those deer and hogs, I dip the quarters in Cowboy's Wild Game Washer to rinse the hair, blood, bone fragments, etc. off before putting them on ice.

At a retail value of $59.99 it come with the swivel seat.  Newer models run $49.99 without the seat.   If it keeps blood, guts, and feathers out of Mamma's sink, it's well wort the money and I'm willing to bet she will think so too.  I've even heard of gardeners using the product for washing veggies.

Check out the video here and stop by Twisted Oak to pick Cowboy's Wild Game Washer.  Dove season is right around the corner and don't go on another fishing trip without one.  You won't be disappointed!

Huntin' Fishin' and Lovin' Everyday? I Wish!!!

Huntin', fishin', and lovin' everyday.  I must say that I have not been the biggest fan of the last 10 or 15 years or so of country music.  I heard this song awhile back.  Probably when it was new and thought "Hey, I actually like that song!" and that IS "THE PRAYER that this country boy (from the city) prays."  But, not really being into today's country, I wasn't listening to stations or playlists to hear that song, so I never heard it again until recently.

Before I left for my Port Mansfield trip, I took a little afternoon of kayaking with the kids.  For the hour or so that it takes to get there, I started a Pandora station based on the song Chicken Fried by Zac Brown Band.  It was a song I thought of that was fairly recent that
I liked. The purpose of this station was that it was music we could all stand to listen to.  While we were listening to that station, Huntin',  Fishin, and Lovin' Everyday came on.  I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Now, I'm not saying I am now a fan of today's country.  Still way too many references to smoking pot for me.  I'm sure that makes me prudish or an old fart or something along those lines, but hey at least I have my principles.  However, I may be slipping into becoming somewhat of a Luke Bryan fan.  How can I not when he puts out songs like Huntin', Fishin' and Lovin' Everyday?

I have been singing it in my head for the last several weeks like that song that you just can't get out of your head.  You know, like the fly that keeps buzzing around that you keep swatting at but it keeps coming back?!?  Yeah that one.  Except I actually WANT to sing this one... I guess you could say that it takes me to my "happy place".

Then the other day, I Googled the video.  The imagery in the video, the message of the song, and everything about it embodies the life I only wish I could live.  Only in my dreams.  From offshore fishing (bucket list) to a deer I would love to see, to family time outdoors, fly fishing (bucket list) a tree stand, a deer blind a Peacock Bass and family time around the campfire. Notice family time was in there twice? Just plain old FUN... OUTDOORS.  I can't imagine a better life. Huntin' Fishin' & Lovin' Everyday!

Would you add anything?  Would you give all you have to live this life?  A new friend of mine who is a baseball coach at a much higher level than I will ever be just told me today that if given the choice to give up hunting or baseball, he would give up baseball.  What would you give up? Leave a comment here or on the Facebook page.

Defining Success Outdoors MONSTER TROUT? MONSTER REDFISH?

This morning was a slow start to my Monday.  Cole and I just returned home from our semi-annual Port Mansfield fishing trip.  We did well, but the drive home started off a little dicey.  After a couple hours worth of delays for some truck repairs, we made it home by 12:30 am.  Needless to say, I'm tired!

When I did finally roll out of bed this morning, I fed the youngest kid some Fruit Loops and took him to summer camp and came back home to cook breakfast.  The wife/mom headed off to work because the bills just won't go away and the (almost) teenager (11 days to go) was less than thrilled at the prospect that her brother was home. I sent Cole to knock on her door and let her know that I was cooking and he was forced to make a hasty retreat.  So, it was just me and Cole sitting down to breakfast, still half asleep and trying to wake up.  Cole asked "Dad, what was your favorite part of the trip?" to which I responded "I don't know, I'd have to think about that."

As I sat there pondering what the best moment of the trip may have been, I realized that he was probably wanting me to ask him the same question, so I asked.  He said "Probably when I caught that MONSTER TROUT!" I kind of chuckled a bit and asked "Why?"  He said "I don't know probably because of the way Uncle Chuck said I was ASLEEP!  Either that or the MONSTER REDFISH!"

We laughed about it and I began thinking about my favorite moment again.  Even as I sit here thinking about it, I can't come up with a single moment that blew all the others away.  It was a great trip.  We had all sorts of fun, from checking out the deer when we first got there to sight casting reds, wading for trout, sunrises on the water, and all the moments in between where we were fishing and catching!

I can identify a few highlights and catching a 26" red ranks right up there.  Last year, it was pretty easy,  My personal best 31" red followed immediately by my new and current personal best 41" red.  I was excited this year at the possibility of adding a couple new species to my list, but that was not in the cards for me.  I was also excited about the possibility of catching while sight casting.  While I can't say this is a new technique for me, I can say that I only try it once a year or so and relatively speaking, I haven't done a whole lot of saltwater fishing.  Wade fishing is another means that until this weekend has never produced for me.

I find it interesting that success or favorites can mean so many different things to different people.  I feel like even though I wasn't successful at sight casting, I learned a few things, which is success in the making.  In my new kayak endeavor, I hope to be able to perfect these techniques. Here are a few things I learned this weekend.

• When sight casting previously, I threw at mullet jumping and things that broke the surface in the hope that whatever was chasing them would chase my lure too.  I knew in my heart that this was not the right course of action, but never really knew what else to do.
• The key is patience.  Look for dark spots.  I think I have always thought these were just rocks or grass clumps. Sometimes they appear and re-appear. 
• Don't get too distracted by movement. Look for those dark spots, then zero in on weather or not it moves or seems to float forward and back or side to side.  If the water is clear enough, you can make them out plain as day.
• Accurate casting is a must.  I am much more accurate with a baitcaster, but we were using spinning gear.  I can however usually get a better presentation out of spinning gear, but that didn't seem to make a difference.  I drug an Unfair Shrimp over the back of a +/-24" Redfish.  I was surprised I didn't foul hook it.  As soon as it flopped over, the big red swirled and headed for deeper water. 
• Even when you have a better understanding of how this works and what to look for, it's not an easy process.  The fish has to want to eat, and it has to want to eat what you throw at it.  

The first redfish I caught was a tailing red.  Chuck pointed it out and said throw your bait up in front of it.  I did and caught it.  To this day, I don't know if I hooked him or he hooked me.  It was about 10 years before I saw another tailing redfish, though there were many reds caught in between.  My brother and I found a bunch of tailing reds one morning a few years ago.  I threw everything in my tackle box at them, but not one bite.  I have come to the belief that if they have found a good food source, they aren't going to be distracted by anything else.

Most kids measure success by results and only results.  Learning through failure is a tough pill to swallow, but for a kid it seems to be even tougher.  Cole didn't have any fun while we were sight casting.  He spent most of his time trolling off the back of the boat or just sitting there watching and asking can we go somewhere else? On the other hand, I can't wait to do it again.  I can taste it, like blood in the water!  I know I'm close.

So, I guess I will continue to mull it over.  There will be more details to come on this trip later in the week in 46 Outdoors Adventure Files, like why was Cole asleep when he caught his MONSTER TROUT and for that matter, was it a MONSTER TROUT or just a trout.

For now, I guess the 26" red, breaking the ice on wading, and some lessons learned while sight casting (that brings about the feeling that I am closer to sight CATCHING) are the best parts of the trip.  Then again, maybe as a parent, the best moments for me are those spent with him living his best moments... Who knows if I will settle on a favorite? I'm okay with it if I don't!

Any tips for sight casting? Comment below or on Facebook and let us know!

Grumpy Old Men: Retirement or Bucket List

When I was a kid, I would wait with excitement for Christmas break to come.  I'm sure my anticipation to get away from school was mostly for that... getting away from school and the presents of course.  However, this also usually brought to town a different cast of characters in my life.  My brother's return from college for a few weeks was always exciting.  Just the fact that he was around was excitement enough, but he would also take me hunting.  These were my first experiences hunting when I was about 12 years old.

Another usual arrival about the time I got out of school, was my aunt and uncle who would come in from places like Alaska and Minnesota.  My uncle usually had quite a few tales to tell, none of which I can really remember at this point other than fragments of stories that usually had to do with planes or bears or both!  As a descendant of the likes of Kit Carson and Daniel Boone, and other men not as well known but every bit as adventurous, sometimes I feel a little like a droopy branch on our family tree.

Lately, I have been watching Grumpy Old Men and Grumpier Old Men when I need something to watch while falling asleep.  I really can't pick a favorite among them, but something inside me seems to connect with the ruggedness of the setting.  As I'm sitting here thinking about this now, I also recall watching Northern Exposure episodes a few years ago when they were in reruns and dreaming of an Alaskan vacation.  I'm not sure why, but the north woods seem to be calling my name.

Last year, I watched an episode of Scott Martin Challenge on YouTube.  He was fishing Rainy Lake near International Falls, Minnesota.  Even more interesting to me, was the fact that they were towing their bass boats behind rented house boats.  That got me to thinking, "Why would you tow your bass boat around the lake?"  So, I Googled Rainy Lake.  I got several results from lodges and other places to stay and a Wikipedia result that basically outlined it as a large lake, used for hydroelectricty to power International Falls, MN and Fort Frances, Ontario.  All great information, but until I looked at it on Google Earth, I had no appreciation for the size of this lake. The lake is sort of "L" shaped, but is basically the size of Houston Metro area.  In fact I'd be willing to bet that Houston has as much road surface area as Rainy Lake has water surface area.

While a bass boat can easily blast back and forth across the lake much like we drive our cars across town.  It's much easier to have a "home base" that can move.  This way you can spend a few days in certain areas and a few days in others, allowing you to spend more time fishing without ever having to come off the water.  Then I thought "What about a kayak?".  That would be a great way to fish that lake by kayak for a week.  What an adventure that would be!

So, it has been added to my bucket list, along with fishing the Chandeleur Islands, Tarpon fishing in Florida, hunting Elk, Moose, Bear, and so many other species.  Then I thought "What about retirement in Minnesota?"  We could retire there and fish all summer in more temperate weather and head south to hunt and fish Texas, Florida, & Louisiana when it gets too cold.

The fact that these things keep getting added to a "bucket list", has opened my eyes to the fact that a bucket list really just amounts to a list of things you can't afford to do or don't have time to do.  But isn't it always that way?  I don't know how many times I have uttered the phrase "If I have the money, I don't have the time; and if I have the time, I don't have the money."  It gets frustrating!

This also led to this thought and the whole reason for this post... It occurs to me that adventure is what you make it.  It seems these days, that you can have just about any adventure you want to pay for: bungee jumping, sky diving, hunting, fishing, cliff diving, scuba diving, some are extreme, some are not.  We live in a society where most of the time, we have to go looking for adventure.  This isn't the wild west.  You don't step out the door and adventure awaits, or make a living by blazing trails from one side of the country to the other across mountains and deserts, or flying the mail or supplies in and out of hostile environments in planes that barely fly to begin with.

Our ancestors (not all that long ago) lived an adventure everyday.  They heard drum beats and worried about Indians, we wonder which car at the light has the sound system.  When we go hunting or fishing, we are looking for an adventure.  They were looking for dinner.  Sure, there are places in this world that are still wild, and still so remote that supplies must be flown in or dropped.  Would I enjoy that life?  I don't know.  Probably not, because I am accustomed to my way of life. But, I can see a part of me wanting to give up these things for a simpler life, on an island perhaps, fending for myself and my family. But then again, that wouldn't be an adventure now would it?  It would just be life again in a less hospitable environment.

But then I sit here and tell my son the stories of my youth: catching crawdads in the creek,  hunting and fishing in the creeks near our house, the Great Pecan Wars of 1979, running the alleys and ditches; and as we got older, 4 wheeling in those creeks and ditches. All I can think about is how I would be put in jail for allowing my kids to do these sorts of things now.  Or sued because little Tommy down the street fell out of a tree or got multiple contusions from being pummeled by pecans.

My childhood was pretty adventurous, but my adulthood seems to be more monotonous, which I suppose makes me a somewhat responsible adult, but it makes me sad for our kids and sad for future generations which will be even
more restricted.  Where does it stop?  We need a little adventure in our lives!  What on your Bucket List? Dream Hunt? Fishing trip of a lifetime?  Let us know in the comments below of on Facebook.

Adventure Files: Falcon Lake, Port Isabel, & Some Advice on Hooking Yourself

Earlier this week, I watched and episode of Kayak Bassin on YouTube where the Host, Chad Hoover used a pair of pliers to bury a treble hook in his thigh in order to demonstrate a hook removal technique. Check out the clip on the right.

This reminded me of a couple trips I took with my brother, Chuck.  The last of which was in 1989.  This was my "Happy Graduation" fishing trip to Falcon Lake.  He had taken me there once before when I was still in middle school and he was in college. 

On the first trip, we fished from an old wooden ski boat that Chuck converted to a bass boat by decking over the 2 bench seats that ran across the boat and served as a rib of sorts (I'm sure there is a marine term for this) for a rear deck.  He added a cooler that was hemmed in by 2x4's fastened to the decking and strapped down.  This would be our fish box.   

The boat probably looked something
like this at some point during it's life.
Photo: Pinterest

The bow of this boat was was nothing but a wood top that probably held a windshield and horns or something at some point, but was long gone by now.  It was now outfitted with a foot controlled trolling motor and a pedestal seat to fish from. A pedestal seat in the rear and a Lowrance dial type depthfinder finished off the early eighties fishing package the vessel had forced upon it in an attempt to convert it to a bass boat.  That gives new meaning to "fish 'n ski".  As I saw my friend Tod Johnson comment on a Facebook post the other day, "Whole lot of redneckery went into that there vessel..."  I can't think of a better way to say it!  (Tod you may have just coined a phrase... I know I'm stealing it.)

When we got there the first day, we fished the late afternoon and slept in the truck at the boat ramp.  Can you imagine doing that at Falcon Lake today... No thanks! (Not even I want to fish that bad.) When we woke up at day break, we headed to the boat which we had beached near the ramp and tied off the night before.  The boat was surrounded by what had to be 50-100 Water Moccasins.  They were all swimming around and striking at the boat.  It was one of the weirdest things I have ever seen.  To this day, I have no idea what that was all about.  They weren't there when we beached and tied off, that's for sure.  Just weird! 

We fished the morning and went back to the boat ramp and checked into a little motel at lunch time.  Then we headed out to fish the evening again.  We did well that trip.  This is where I began learning about points and structure and I remember seeing schools of White Bass erupting on the surface.  We fished our points and structure and chased schooling White Bass for a couple days.  I remember an old woman bank fishing with a tandem rig pulling in two fish at a time from those schools.  

A stringer of fish caught in the old wood boat.
Photo: Chuck Crowsey

As I was learning to fish a Texas rigged worm offshore in some deeper water, Chuck got a backlash and he
was doing his best to keep the boat in position and work out that backlash.  Being about 12 years old at the time, I had no idea what I was doing fishing a hump or something below the surface I couldn't see.  I just began casting and reeling and my "squirrel moments" were serving to do nothing but further frustrate Chuck who was already a little edgy from dealing with his backlash.  He kept telling me to fish "over there" and pointed to a spot in what seemed like the middle of the ocean.  As I looked out at a featureless body of water where there was nothing different within casting distance, I made a few more casts back where he told me to again.  A few "squirrel moments" later I was casting off the back of the boat again when I got a bite. I reeled this one in and it turned out to be a 4 or 5 lber.  The best fish of the trip so far.  We were about to head in for lunch, but Chuck had a renewed interest in catching fish now, so we stayed out a few more hours.

At some point, we went to Harlingen, TX to visit my brother's dad.  After a day of working on the motor, we took that old boat out to the causeway at Port Isabel at night.  I remember taking several trips to the coast and fishing with my family over the years.  I don't think I ever caught anything other than Hard Heads.  This trip must have been when I caught my first speck.  We got into them pretty good that night.  I remember catching a small fish of some sort, I left it hooked and threw it back out.  Neither Chuck nor I can remember how big it was, but it was another big fish.  I remember somebody caught a big ray too.

On the second trip, we did much of the same as it was the same time of year.  We had a much better boat this time as we were in a new Champion bass boat. A beautiful red and silver glitter rocket with a big motor.  I remember my brother saying "Tomorrow we'll go check out the other side of the lake.  The Mexico side."  As I had just graduated from high school and one of my second semester senior year "blow off" classes was Wildlife Management, I asked "Do we have a reciprocal license agreement with Mexico?"  His answer was "No, but we have a boat that will do 70."

We were pounding points and such with a fire tiger crankbait when I snagged a tree.  I started popping my line trying to knock it off.  It finally came shooting back at me like a rocket.  I stood up as high as I could and did my best imitation of a ballerina on her toes while also trying to spread my legs to let the projectile get through when it caught me.  As this was during the eighties and I was wearing my football shorts (much shorter than today's shorts, it got me about 3" below the crotch on the inside of my right thigh. An experience I would never forget.

The treble hook penetrated in and out without getting a whole lot of meat.  I looked at chuck who was otherwise occupied and said "Uhhhh, Chuck, I have a little problem here.  Do you have any wire cutters?"  He looked over and said "No, just rip it out!" and went back to doing what he was doing.  I think he was tying a knot or getting the boat back in position, but I knew he couldn't just drop what he was doing.  I thought about this for a moment and thought there had to be a better solution. I looked around and couldn't find anything to cut the hook.  My best chance was a pair of clippers, but I knew that wasn't likely to work.  

I decided that IF I was going to rip this lure out of my leg, I had better do it soon while it was still pretty numb from hitting me.  I gathered up the line and in my left hand and yanked.  Chuck didn't see me do this and to this day probably thinks I just gave it a little tug.  I assure you, I pulled hard and all it did was stretch my skin by about 6 inches.  At this point, Chuck was saying "Here, let me do it!"  My brother and I have never fought, but I assure you, there was no way he was going to get hold of that line at this point.  

Shortly after that, I looked down at the clippers again thinking about trying to cut the hook again.  I tried and all it did was scratch the surface.  Then I had a thought... I used the clippers to bend the barb down flush with the hook and backed it out.  This was the end of this ordeal, but I was a little tender in that spot for awhile.  

The rest of the trip went well. We caught fish and had a great time, though we did have a tire problem on the way home.  To this day, I won't set foot in a boat without a tool that will cut a hook.  The video above is a great technique for a hook embedded past the barb, but not in and out. Don't leave home without your wire cutters.

Interestingly, these two trips along with a few hunting trips when I was the same age probably set in motion this incredible journey I have taken in the outdoors.  I am lucky to say that it continues today. There is not a day that goes by that I don't think about killing and grilling my dinner.

46 Things To Do Within 46 Miles of Hwy. 46

There are many great things to do outdoors.  There is bound to be something on this list that will get you, your kids, and/or the whole family outdoors.  Below are 46 ideas of what to do outdoors.  I have not pulled up Google Earth and measured specific sites and such, but I'm willing to bet my paycheck that all of these can be accomplished to some degree within 46 miles of Hwy 46... In other words, right here in the Texas Hill Country!

1. Whitetail Deer Hunting  This species is one of the easiest and hardest to hunt.  While being quite abundant and fairly easy to pattern, they will frustrate even the most seasoned hunter with their keen senses and ability to sense danger.  This is a great way to spend Thanksgiving weekends and Christmas holidays with friends and family.  The good times and stories produced in deer camp are legendary.
2. Turkey Hunting One of my all time favorite hunts.  If I had a place where turkey were consistently abundant, I would guide these hunts.  There is something about the interactive nature of this hunt that makes my pulse race.  The ability to call a turkey within 30 yards or so is an experience you won't soon forget, and it is best done with a partner to call while you hunt. That makes it a great opportunity for family and/or friends!
3.  Hog Hunting Over the years I have had the opportunity to hunt these creatures with a multitude of means and methods... rifle and bow, from a blind, a tree stand, a jeep, the back of a pick up truck, spot and stalk by moon light or during the day, trapping, with tracking dogs and attack dogs.  
4. Quail Hunting Another great hunting experience here in Texas.  Best done with dogs. This is alot of walking over all kinds of different terrain.  It's a great opportunity for exercise, but get a good pair of waterproof snake boots.
5. Small Game Hunting A great opportunity to get kids started hunting.  This can be a static endeavor sitting in a blind or a jeep or truck.  Or if you want more exercise, cover some ground!
6. Dove Hunting This is another great event for groups.  Bring the family AND the dogs.  A little campfire action after a good hunt and some fresh dove kabobs are hard to beat on a cool September night!
7. Shed Hunting An opportunity to get back into the deer woods and learn something about their habitat while looking for the antlers they shed in the Spring.
8. Scouting Start looking for patterns, scrapes, and rubs on those bucks in late summer and early fall.  Bow season is right around the corner. Don't just go sit in your blind, get a broader view so you can see the bigger picture.  
   
9. Camping Camping is an outstanding opportunity to get the family together and enjoy a campfire.  Sleeping bags, tents, s'mores, ghost stories.  Awesome fun under the stars!
10. Hiking Whether it's hiking into a camping spot or just a walk in the woods, this is a great way to enjoy many of nature's wonders, and the slow pace is great for teaching kids about nature.
11. Night Hikes Up for a little adventure? Take a flashlight and go for that hike after dark.  Many state parks have guided night hikes.
12. Trail Running A great way to change up that exercise routine.
13. Orienteering Basically a hike or run using a map and compass.  Off the beaten path using using specific points along the way for bearings.
14. Adventure Racing Usually combines running, orienteering, some sort of water sport like kayaking, and a mystery obstacle. 
15. Geo-Caching This activity is like a world wide scavenger hunt.  Find little trinkets and leave something for the next person to find it.
16. Cycling Another great opportunity to exercise.  Great scenery and all the hills you want to endure.
17. Mountain Biking Take those two wheels off road.  Many great places for this activities and trails for beginners and experts.
18. Horseback Riding A trail ride is a great way to enjoy the outdoors.  Again, many state parks offer equestrian trails, but bring your own horse.
19. Rock Climbing Whether it's a rock wall at the gym, or a bluff somewhere outdoors, or Enchanted Rock, you will get a great workout climbing. The views you are rewarded with are priceless.
20. Zip Lining This is a fun activity for just about anyone who doesn't have a heart problem.  Go sailing through the trees or across canyons and rivers.
21. Spelunkering (Caving) Take that rock climbing adventure underground and see the interesting things caves have waiting for you. Or, just take a cave tour.
22. Wildlife Safari Whether it's on a ranch somewhere, a commercial drive thru safari with african animals, or just a Sunday drive in the country, there are many beautiful things to see in nature. take the binoculars and look close. Scan the horizon and spy on a herd of deer.
23. Bird Watching If birds are your thing, head out to local lakes, ponds, parks and look around. Sometimes, the backyard can be a productive place for this activity.
24. Bat Watching Head out to one of our many area bat caves at Sunset and see the bats come out.  Forr you city dwellers, there are bridges and buildings where you can see this on a smaller scale.
25. Star Gazing Find a comfy place away from the city lights and relax while looking for constellations or shooting stars.
26. Outdoor Photography Many of these activities can be done with camera in hand.  get a good camera and start documenting your trips, the birds you are seeing, interesting flora & fauna, etc.
27. Picnicking A classic way to enjoy the outdoors.  
28. Archery Puchase a bow and start shooting.  Hunting, 3-D ranges, and competitions await you.
29. Canoing/KayakingGood old fashioned family fun on the water.  Take a trip on the river or a clm peaceful paddle on a lake.
30. Stand Up Paddle Boarding Great exercise and yet another way to enjoy the water.
31. Tubing A lazy float on the Guadalupe or Comal River may be just what the doctor ordered.  Get some Vitamin D!
32. Rafting When the river is up, we have some pretty aggressive rapids nearby.  Take the opportunity to live on the edge with a little white water rafting.
33. Paddle Boating Whether it's white water or just a lazy afternoon paddle, the scenic rivers and lakes offer great opportunities to experience the outdoor life.
34. Kayak Fishing Arguably the fastest growing segment of the fishing industry, fishing from a kayak
    
    offers a whole new set of skills and thrills.
35. Fishing (rod & reel) Fishing is probably one of the best ways to enjoy the outdoors.  It can provide a challenging experience and keep you guessing. Skills required are few to get started but there are endless techniques and strategies to learn.
36. Fly Fishing Maybe one of the most exciting ways to fish and enjoy the outdoors.  Some advanced skills required, but fun to learn and even more fun to catch.
37. Bow Fishing A great way to help manage invasive species as this method is not lawful for taking gamefish, but it sure is fun and will test even the most skilled bow hunter or angler. 
38. Boating An afternoon boat ride, weather it's to enjoy the wind in your face, or view the marine life, boating is a great way to enjoy the water. Stop and take a dip along the way.
39. Personal Water Craft Jet-Skis, Sea Doos, pick your poison... Get out there and have a blast on these funwater toys, but have some respect for other folks enjoying the same water you are!
40. Water Skiing A great way to spend a weekend on the water.  Take your turn! Slolom maybe?
41. Wakeboarding A close cousin of traditional water skiing.  Take it to the next level with tricks and jumps.
42. Wind SurfingA surfboard with a sail... what could go wrong? Worst case scenrio, you get wet... but isn't that why you are on the water anyway?
43. Sailing Can be a little work, but rewarding when you and mother nature work together to get you where you are going.
44. SCUBA Diving Explore the depths of area lakes.  There are two towns that were flooded when Canyon Lake was impounded.  
45. Swimming Why would you want to go to the pool when you have the beautiful rivers and lakes we have around here to enjoy a swim or just play in the water. Rope swing anyone?
46. Hammoking   Yes, I said "hammoking".  The art of napping in the shade while swinging peacefully between two trees. RELAX in the Texas Hill Country!                                                                                                                            

There are a ton of things to do int this area and wherever you might be.  Get out there and look for them.  Weather it's land based fun in the sun or a day on the water, all of these things provide a great opportunity to experience what nature has to offer.  Remember to pack sunscreen, life jackets and other safety items needed for your trip.

Pick something on the list and go do it! 

Adventure Files: Did Someone Say Chupacabra?

Bergheim Pet Hospital & Clinic
Built By Chris Carson Contracting Co.
Photo: JM Photos

In what now almost seems like a previous life, I was a builder and remodeler.  I still dabble in that business from time to time, but nevertheless, it is safe to say that my career path has taken a detour.  In June of 2007, after a wet Spring, as I was in the process of building a vet clinic.  We were getting it “dried in” and my bricklayers were on site.  I had been discussing hunting with my masonry contractor, John, and he mentioned that he had never hunted hogs before.  He was born and raised in Midland, TX and lived in Central and South Texas for quite awhile.  How this man reached the age of 50 years old in Texas without ever hunting a hog was baffling, and I quickly decided that I would change that.

When I wrote him his check for the final payment of an outstanding job, I asked him if he was free the next weekend for a hog hunt and he was eager to go! We planned to go the following Friday evening.  We met at what was then the Super S Food Store in Castroville to pick up some snacks and drinks.  He was now working on some modifications on a tamale plant in San Antonio and brought some of the most delicious tamales I think I have ever had.

Suzuki Samurai Outfitted For Hunting
Photo: Chris Carson

We headed for my lease near Hondo, TX.  At the time, I had a Suzuki Samurai modeled outfitted much like the one in the photo.  The plan was pretty simple.  Corn the roads in specific places where I
knew hogs crossed and wait for them.  We also used some hog attractant and a pig call. 

After a few hours of prep work and showing John the lease, we headed over to one of the sites we corned, which was around a protein feeder that we had seen pictures of hogs trying to reach the feeder tubes.  We set up on the road about 50-60 yards downwind from the feeder.  We were slightly down hill and the weeds were very tall from all the rain we had been having.  I was a little concerned that a shot on a hog might be kind of tough because of the weed growth (even with the elevated rear seat), but we decided to stick it out and see what happened.

We settled into eating tamales and trading hunting stories.  If we weren’t fast friends yet, we were on our way.  He told me about bird hunting oil leases in West Texas and I told him about hunting hogs in East Texas.  Our whispered conversation was almost continuous.  About the time I thought that we didn’t have anything else to talk about, we would find another topic.

As sundown approached, we had a few deer come in to the protein feeder.  We watched as they milled around.  Most ate the corn.  I used this opportunity to judge where we did and didn’t have clear shots through the weeds. Surprisingly there were more clear shots than I thought, but they were doing a number on the corn.  I was glad to see them at the protein feeder though, because I could see a few inches of antler growth on every deer in this little bachelor group.

Corned Road Somewhere In South Texas
Photo: Chris Carson

As I was watching intently and looking at the antler growth on what seemed to be the dominant buck, I caught movement out of the corner of my eye.  I looked up unable to refocus quickly enough with the difference in light from my binoculars to actual daylight, but something crossed the road about 15 yards in front of us.  John leaned in and whispered “what was that?”.  About the time I leaned back to say “I think it was a deer.” All the deer at the feeder disappeared.

I sat back up tall and began to replay what I had seen in my head while listening and scanning the brush line.  This animal bounded in from the right.  Then it smoothly eased across the road and back into the brush.  It dawned on me that the color I saw looked like a lighter toned deer, but it didn’t move like a deer and there seemed to be something moving behind it.  I leaned back in toward John and whispered “I don’t think that was a deer.” He whispered back “me either.” 

By this time, the hair on the back of my neck was standing at attention! John leaned over and asked “What do you think it was?”  I knew what I thought it was, but I didn’t want to say it for fear of being that guy. You know, the one that always has an outlandish tale that doesn’t seem plausible.  Honestly, I didn’t REALLY see it, so I just shrugged him off.  Being from South Texas, I had to make the obligatory Chupacabra joke to lighten the mood.

Then I began thinking about the fact that just a few months prior, I hunted this property on foot because in our hasty move from our lease in Grapeland, TX, I didn’t have a chance to get everything set up because I was so busy trying to clear my backlog of jobs so I could start the vet clinic on time.  I made makeshift ground blinds out of whatever twigs and fencing were laying around.  Fallen trees, small bushes and just plain old laying on my belly had been my preferred method of hunting and quite honestly it was one of the best hunting seasons I had ever experienced. 

As if all of this weren’t unnerving enough, I realized that we were in the one area on that side of the lease
where there were large mesquite trees with horizontal limbs that were about a foot or more in diameter.  Yep, now I was pretty sure what I had seen was a Mountain Lion.  I could tell John was a little sketchy about this situation too.  His eyes were darting around and it was pretty much completely dark by this time.  I leaned in a told John “I think that was a cat.”  To which he replied “I think that was a BIG CAT!” I breathed a sigh of relief for a moment knowing that he had seen what I thought I had seen.

John's Hog
Photo: Chris Carson

We sat there for a few minutes squirming around and I pointed out the fact that the trees over our heads and behind us were large enough to support a Mountain Lion. so we mutually agreed that it was in our best interests that we move on.

We checked a few other spots and I finally put John on some hogs, but he missed.  I took him several times that summer and if memory serves, he missed a couple times.  We finally got him his hog one night in August.  We had a heck of an experience together.  One I will never forget.  I kept the Mountain Lion sighting to myself for a few months not wanting to be that guy.  I hoped that somebody would get a pic of it on a trail cam, but nothing definitive.  Lots of blurry images, and maybes.  You can see just about anything you think you want to in those photos sometimes.  Then one day, talking to the ranch owner, he told me that a neighbor had seen a Mountain Lion.  I sighed in relief again knowing I wasn’t crazy!  It was finally time to let the cat out of the bag so to speak.  

About seven years later, I was deer hunting from a blind on the other side of the lease with my son Cole.  When it got to be prime time (that 20-30 minutes of gaslight when the sun goes down and the woods come alive), I thought I had seen something out the side window about 15-20 yards from the blind.  I had no idea what it was, but I was certain that a deer must have busted me took off in the brush.  Several minutes later, I shot a Bobcat.  We gave it the usual 10-15 minutes or so to let the nerves settle before we approached it.  I told Cole to open the door and start crawling down and as soon as he opened the door, he said "What's that?" I was still packing up and wasn't in a position to see what he was talking about. He said "Is that another Bobcat? It's huge!"  I said "Where?" and moved over to look out the window and Cole said "It's gone." I said which way did it go?" and he pointed north.  We quickly hopped in the truck and tried to follow, but what ever it was, was gone.

Bobcat From The Deer Blind

On the way home that night, I quizzed him about what he saw.  He was certain it was not a deer, and it was "way bigger than a bobcat".  When I got home, I showed him a picture of a Mountain Lion and he said "That's it!" He was 7 or 8 then.  I don't think he even knew what a Mountain Lion was until I explained it to him.  He has never been one to tell tall tales, so I tend to believe that (at the very least) he thinks he saw a Mountain Lion.  Chupacabra maybe?  Who knows?!?

Have you had any “hair raising” experiences outdoors?  Comment below or on the 46 Outdoors Facebook page and share them.  

Hunting or Fishing? Happy I Can't Decide!

Cole's First Fish
Photo: Mike Carden

I don’t remember catching my first fish, but thanks to a photo of the occasion, I can tell you who was there, about how old I was, and what I was wearing.  The species of fish was a little cloudy to me until recently when a friend and I found ourselves bored and the topic was raised. Thank goodness for Google.  I don’t think I have ever caught another fish that looked as ugly as that one! It is safe to say I have been fishing as long as I can remember.  If I am not mistaken, my first real hunting trip took place about age 12.

I owe my love of the outdoors to my older brother, Chuck.  In a recent trip taking my 10 year old son, Cole fishing, Chuck told him “your dad and I just drove around the state of Texas figuring it out”. Chuck was in high school and college and I was in elementary and middle school when that was happening.  I think it was more like he figured it out and showed me how to do it.  However, I did appreciate his including me in the credits there.

When I was a kid, I remember my grandpa referring to fishing as “drowning worms”, yet I'm told that he did enjoy hunting.  Unfortunately I never knew that side of him.  I have also known people who love to fish, but can’t stand to hunt.  I find humor in the fact that they complain about the same thing.  Drowning worms implies that fishing is boring.  People who aren’t excited about hunting are complaining that sitting in a deer blind for hours on end is boring.

Hondo Sunset & Hartcraft Broadheads
Photo: Chris Carson

Aquatic life or land loving mammals... It makes no difference to me.  I will stalk a redfish on the flats or deer in the woods. Also, as I have mentioned plenty of times before, there is something peaceful about sitting in a deer blind with no cell phone ringing or walking down a path with a pail of worms much like Opie on the way to a favorite fishing hole.  These are times to connect with our Maker and appreciate the abundance of beauty there is in this world whether it’s a beautiful green sea with a thin line of blue water on the horizon or a fiery sunset from the blind.  

I really don’t understand why some hunters don’t like to fish and some fishermen don’t like to hunt. Stalking and sight casting to a redfish in skinny water or a bass on the bed is no different than stalking a land animal.  Many hunters enjoy a good spot and stalk, and many fishermen enjoy sitting on a pier for hours on end.

I suppose the difference is that more often than not, when a hunter pulls the trigger or releases an arrow, the projectile finds it’s mark.  Many times a fisherman casts his bait into what seems like nothingness. Sometimes fish are finicky and don’t want the bait, color, or size you are throwing.  Fish can also be difficult to find if you don't have a boat with electronics.  "95% of the fish are in 5% of the water" is how I think the saying goes.  I would say that probably applies to wildlife and land too, but I guess it's easier to see them.  I do appreciate the challenge of "looking" (or HUNTING) for fish when you can't see them, but it can also be frustrating at times.  Sometimes you just have to grind it out.

Chris Castro of Next Level Fishing TV
Photo: Chris Castro

There will always be varying degrees of craziness associated with these endeavors.  Call it extreme if you will, but I must confess being somewhat drawn to them myself.  I have recently made friends with a group of guys, one of which is Chris Castro from Next Level Fishing TV.  Check out their YouTube channel in the link.  These guys go offshore kayak fishing for species one can find in the open waters and depths of the Gulf of Mexico.

Then you have folks like Cameron Hanes who puts it all on the line in the mountains of Alaska and other WILD places.  Check out his video here.  Whether close enough for a bow shot on a bear, or hanging on to a dall sheep that is mortally wounded and about to go over a ledge in the mountains of Alaska, he puts his life at risk in extreme conditions to to get the kill.

I too have dabbled in the extreme side of hunting. I can say that I have been swimming in the Trinity River with a hog while hunting with dogs trained to hunt hogs in some of the thickest briars and brambles East Texas has to offer.  A very strenuous and thrilling endeavor indeed.  I only wish I had a video of that!

Truth be told, I would take it any way it comes, fishing, hunting, or their extreme versions, it’s all the same to me.  I would like to be in much better shape than I currently find myself.  I’m not getting any younger, but then again… That’s a good reason to get myself back in shape.  My bucket list isn’t getting any shorter!

Have you had any extreme hunting or fishing experiences? Do you like one and not the other?  Share you comments with us here or on our facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/46outdoors/