Thank God for the Great Outdoors

      I picked the title of this blog because I am Thankful for the outdoors.  Getting outdoors is one of the things that keeps me sane and gives me the chance to clear my head and get back to center.

     For the last few months now my youngest son has been battling with seizures. They come and go through out the day and only last about 5 seconds and he seems to not be getting harmed by them. The doctors don't seem to know right now what is causing them but  he seems to be responding to the medication. It is going to be a long road but it will be a journey that is going to make me and my family stronger.

    So with that said, this is how the outdoors fits into the equation. Ever since my wife has given birth to our sons the boys have turned what was a spark for the outdoors and turned it into a 4 alarm fire.  So because of that fire burning deep in my soul the boys have always loved hunting, fishing and the outdoors.

    The little town that my family and I live in has a river that runs through it so there is all kinds of birds and animals to see. With everything going on and the weather turning nice we  take the kids downtown to feed the ducks and see what other animals we can find.  The time with the kids outdoors also gives my wife and I the chance to recharge the batteries and lets us both get back to center.  It is nice when the kids are fussy all I have to say is let's go scout for turkeys or deer and everybody is ready to go. There is a bunch of state hunting land all around the house so it is nice to go for a drive and find animals in the fields and woods.  It also gives my wife and I time to talk and make sure we are on the same page on things.  Which is nice because with the issues with our son patients gets thrown out the window sometimes.

   These drives have done good things for my family. I get to share the outdoors with my wife and kids and I get to show my wife where I go on the weekends. Now maybe we will get out this coming season and hunt together.  Which is one of my family goals is to get my wife out hunting and to share with her what GOD has graced us with and that is the Great Outdoors.

    Thanks for stopping by.  Have a great day and make sure to share the great outdoors with everyone you meet.

Dead Down Wind - Its not just for hunting anymore

For the past few deer seasons I have used scent elimination products and sometimes I wasn't sure if they worked or not. Well last year I was at one of the anniversy campouts for the website Talk Hunting.com when I received a bottle of Dead Down Wind Elive Odor Terminator from Dead Down Wind prostaffer Mike Adams. On the bottle it said it was best used while fishing to get rid of the smell. So the bottle was in the trunk of my car for a few months and one day I was pumping gas into my car and some of the gas must have spilled on me because there was a gas smell and I had a meeting that day and had to do something. Well I seen the blaze orange bottle in the trunk and figured what the heck. So I sprayed down my shoes and hands and the smell was gone. So after that time it seemed to work I went to the Dead Down Wind website and started to read about all of the products that they offer.



So after using the Scent Prevent I always made sure it was in the car. My wife and I have two small children so right now we go through alot of diapers. We had to spend a few days away from home and so the garbage can had developed a smell. The wife wanted me to just put everything outside until garbage day but I didn't want the animals to get into the garbage. I told the wife let me try something first. Well I went to the trunk and pulled out the blaze orange and started to spray down everything that looked like a garbage bag. Well it was about five minutes later and my wife went to the garage for something and she yelled for me to come to the garage. Well I went to the garage figuring that I was going to get a told you that stuff wouldn't work but I didn't get that. What I got was what other things does the Dead Down Wind work on. She could tell by the smile on my face that I was happy to hear that. Anytime I can sell my wife on the positive aspects of any hunting product it is a good day. So now I have a bottle of Scent Prevent in the car, tackle box, garage, and diaper bag. We have even when as far and getting a bottle for some friends of ours that just had a baby. It is funny how a product that seems too forgotten in a hunting pack until hunting season turns into a regular household tool. Now I am working on selling my wife on the positive aspects of keeping bait in the fridge.



Thanks for stopping by Have a Great Day and Enjoy the Great Outdoors.

The Great Ice Out

I was able to make the Great Ice Out this year.  This by far was one of my best weekends spent outdoors. Literaly the whole weekend was spent outdoors. I got to sleep out on the ice in one of the shantys that we rented from Lymans on the Lake in Houghton Lake and boy was I in for a surprise.

 My plan was to either get a hotel room or crash on the floor in one of the cabins.  Well things worked out and I got to sleep out on the ice for the weekend. The first night sleeping was rough because I forgot my sleeping bag at home so all  I had was a blanket and many layers of clothes.  That next morning I made a mad dash to one of the department stores and picked up a heavy duty sleeping bag so the second night was a lot better.

 

The highlight of the weekend for me was not the fish that were caught but it was the friendships that were made and the friendships that were able to grow stronger. Sat. night was filled with great food and even better conversations and hunting stories. I try and learn atleast one new thing everyday and Sat night was a great learning experience for me.  I got to pick up a couple of tips from all of the hunting and fishing stories that  were told.  The biggest nugget of info from that night was don't be the first person to fall asleep around the team.  Well if I do make sure I am wearing a face mask.  The other thing  that was funny was  to see the reactions from the TalkHunting.com guys when they got out on the ice and into the shantys.  Because all of the these guys were from the southeren part of the USA where ice fishing is not an option and something you see on TV.

 

So if  the conditions are right and you get a chance to stay out over night on the ice make sure and take the opportunity because it will be a great story to tell around the campfire.  Thanks for stopping by.  Be safe and enjoy the Great Outdoors. 

The Ultimate Fishing show Part 2

So after the seminars and a stop to watch my oldest son play in the kids area I was off to the fly fishing area.

I started off at the Michigan Fly Fishing Club booth, again these guys were great.  I told them that I was new to fly tying and that I had questions.  They let me ask all of he questions that I could think of at that time and they took the time to answer every question.  For the questions that they couldnt answer they gave me ideas on where to go to get the answers.  After that I went over to the Colton Bay Outfitters booth.  With being new to the sport of fly fishing I have alot of questions.  Again these guys answers all of my questions and gave me ideas on more questions to ask.  I was able to go to their fly casting area and received some one on one instruction with one of the guys from thier shop.  All I have to say is that I will be a customer of thier's for a long time.  One of the nice things that I seen with both of these groups is the time they took with the kids.  It seemed like when ever there where kids around they made sure and anwser the kids questions bring them behind the booths and get them involved in one of the activities that the groups where doing.  After the fly fishing section I met up with the family and we walked around and gave the show one last go around to make sure we didn't miss anything.  It was a great show i will be comeing back next year.

The Ultimate Fishing show Part 1

I got a call from a buddy asking if I wanted a ticket for the fishing show down by Detroit.  Well turned out that I could go so loaded up the family and we were off to the Ultimate fishing show.  First booth we came to was the Metro West Steelheaders.   They made me and my family feel like we were one of the members.  They took us behind the table and showed us all of the great things they are doing for fishing and the outdoors.  Started off with the kids camp they hold every year then we talked about the conservation activities that the group is doing.  The nice thing I liked about these guys was the fact that they didn't push joining their group.  They gave me the info. told me a little about what the membership includes then we shared some fishing stories talked with the family and got a couple invites to go fishing this summer.

So after shaking hands and exchanging contact info. it was off to check out the rest of the show.  The wife and kids went to the exotic animals and I was off to the seminars.  The first seminar I watched was about jigging for Walleye.  Now I am not a huge walleye fisherman but after all of the seminars on walleye fishing I am ready to go catch some fish.  The highlight of the day was getting to see Michigan's own  B.A.S.S angler of the year Kevin Van Dam.  I ended up walking away with a lot good info that I hope to use on the water this year.

First Ice Trip of the season

So duck season is just getting over and ice is forming on the lakes and river around here in Michigan. It was a week before Christmas and my brother calls me and says there is 4 inches of ice on the Bay and they are catching perch just off shore. Well I can't pass up an opportunity to fish so I loaded up the ice fishing poles and bucket and we were off. The funny part of this is that my brother and I are complete opposites. So when we got to our destination he gets all of his equipment out and he looks like he could be on the cover of a ice fishing mag. I get all of my equipment out and I look like I just got done shopping at a garage sale. See I am more about function then fashion. It is site when we are together he has the latest in equipment and I have equipment that I like to say has experience. So here we are I got my blaze orange camo snow suit, my hunting bibs and and my floppy hat.

What made it all better is that I borrowed my sons sled that we use to go sledding. It is shaped like a big blue bird but it holds a 5 gallon buck just fine.




So we get all set up and we are fishing in about 4 foot of water and nothing. An hour goes by and sure enough I get one on the line. A nice perch about 6 inches or so not a keeper but it was a fish. So after that one I go and catch 3 more and my brother catches 1 in about 2 1/2 hours of fishing. No keepers but for the first ice fishing trip of the year it wasn't to bad. So until next time enjoy what God gives you and enjoy the Great Outdoors. See Ya out on the Ice.

Hello Everyone

Hi my name is Randy and as the title of the blog says I am a Everyday Sportsman. I don't have the most flashiest equipment or the newest but I get the job done. My plan with this blog is to share my stories of outdoor adventures and tips and tricks that work for me and maybe you. Thanks for stopping by and Have a Great Day.

Enjoy what God has given you and Enjoy the Great Outdoors,
Randy