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.

 

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.