Family-Outdoors

Image by flemming. d5000 via Flickr This still image is the kind of scene that creates in me the need to experience the outdoors.  This is not a particularly deep message, but one I just currently feel like expressing. You know, I think we often convince ourselves that our outdoor excursions need to be massive expeditions to realize the benefits of natures tranquilizing effects.  At least for me, and I thank God for this, nothing could be further from the truth. A walk around the lake area where we live, for fifteen or twenty minutes, quickly deflates much of the day's silliness, and brings me back to a place where life seems more normal to me.  Often these walks are taken with my wife.  They seem to bring us closer together. I love taking big trips - whether that means a weekend trip to the Current River or a month or longer trip to Montana.  But, you know what?  This weekend that won't be happening, and I will get all that I need from the nature t...

Image via Wikipedia The issue of time is a hard one to get around sometimes.  I must admit that almost all of the lulls in my "outdoor life" have occurred at times where I just got too busy.  When it comes to getting outdoors with my family, I have been fortunate that both of my boys pretty much always wanted to hunt and fish, and my wife is one of those people who really always wants to have some trip or event scheduled out on the horizon. If it were only up to me, I would like to think that I would have the self-discipline to get out regularly, but I don't know.  Or, what if I had kids who were resistant to the idea?  Again, I am just not certain. So my advice on what to do might be seen as coming from someone who has no first-hand experience.  I admit this is true, but I am able to convey knowledge I have gathered on the subject. According to Maller, Townsend, St Leger, Henderson-Wilson, Pryor, Prosser, and Moore (2010), "... modern society, by its ver...

Recently we spent some time together in the woods as a family.  It was pretty awesome.  David and Daniel are two pretty awesome young men.  Not too long after we were at this spot, they decided they'd run for awhile through the woods.  They hid from us and then tailed us.  We pretended not to know where they were.  Daniel and David "help" their mom stay on top of the log they are sitting upon. Here we are as a family.  I am glad the bear was willing to take a moment and snap a photo for us.

Image by ~Prescott via Flickr Missouri's excellent Department of Conservation has a program in place called " Nature Families."  It is an effort to help families get involved with nature in a multitude of capacities and in an array of environments. "Discover Nature Families programs are designed to help adults and children explore nature and master outdoor skills together." There are many excellent resources for you and your family at:  Discover Nature Families Also, visit Family-Outdoors for information on Fishing , Hunting , Camping and other outdoors information for families.        

Regardless of where you are at in your whitetail deer hunting career, there are a few basic steps that you should know or perhaps review, prior to your hunting endeavors this year. If you are new to this sport, these ideas may be new to you. If you are experienced, perhaps reviewing these will be of benefit to you. 1. Scent Control While this can be taken to any level of extremes, I guess you really cannot be too careful with regard to this matter. Some basic steps you can take include the following things. • Do not wear the clothes you will be in while hunting until you are heading into field. • Consider keeping your clothes in some form of scent proof bags until you get out of your vehicle (or camper, tent, cabin, etc.) and then slip them on just as you are ready to head out. Don’t get up and cook breakfast for example and then wear these clothes to the field. • Remember this for sure; do not wear the boots you will wear in the field until heading out in the field. On that point...