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Now More Than Ever, Get Off The Couch

With all that is going on in today’s world, it’s more important than ever — safely. of course. and within the guidelines — to get outdoors.

With today’s youth mostly staying hunkered down, any time they can get off the couch and outside is going to be a good thing. I share all this under pretense that you’ll follow the guidelines issued by state and national leaders.

While others see what is going on in today’s world a bad thing — yes, it’s terrible and unspeakable — I try to look at it as the glass is half full. We all are living in uncertain times, living daily lives like we have never experienced before and, for most, we’re not sure what tomorrow is going to bring.

I have the perfect stress relief for you — get outside. Not too long ago, a five-year study was done about how to relieve stress. While we all have our own ways of releasing stress — some may include quiet time with a book, a glass of wine, a bike ride or dozens of other ways — and hundreds of folks responded to the survey, the number one way to relieve stress was to spend time in the woods/taking walks. For those of us who spend hours in the woods each year, we do not find this a huge secret.

As sportsmen and sportswomen, we are often asked why we hunt. There are as many answers to this question as there are questions asked, but I’m sure the number one reason is being able to spend time in in the woods with family and friends. So again, somebody somewhere spent all this money on a survey just to confirm what the majority of folks already knew. Maybe this is one of the problems in today’s world, having a scientific study confirming what we already knew. It can be a waste of time and money.

As sportsmen, we are used to figuring stuff out on the fly and always having a plan. Spend any time out of your element and different stuff will happen. How about the time when you’re out on the lake fishing with your favorite fishing partner, you go to move to another hot spot and your motor won’t turn over. At first, there is a little bit of fear. Then reality sets in and you figure out the problem, fix it or put together a plan to get back to land. You never panic.

What about the time you are scouting/hunting a new piece of property and the unthinkable happens. It could be you get “crossed up”, fall or, as you’reworking your way across the shallow bog, you fall in. All these situations could happen each time we step off the road and into the woods. How we all handle these situations makes us a better woodsman and adult.

Stuff happens when we get out of our comfort zone, but isn’t that one of the reasons we enjoy what we do. It is a challenge. Years of experience, planning and thought will help prepare each of us for whatever fate throws our way.

Each day we all face different issues, but the hope is we can face them with the same level confidence and experience that we do when we are in the outdoors.

The Good Lord has blessed me with four children and eight grandchildren, a bit of knowledge of hunting and fishing and a joy of watching others when I take out get into game.

I have been blessed with the opportunity to spend hours hunting and fishing with all my children. I’ve also even been with them when they have taken deer and turkey and watch the smiles on their faces when they reel in fish. As many of you all know this, there is no feeling better than watching your children be successful in the outdoors, or in anything they do.

For me it has been fishing and hunting with children. For you, it may be walking to the store to get a slushy or walking in a park or just around the block, safely of course. It really doesn’t matter what we do when we are outdoors, just as long as we do something, anything.

Craig and Paul were not old enough to take advantage of the New York State Youth Spring Turkey Hunt, but both Matthew and Ashley killed their first gobblers during the Youth Weekend. I can remember like it was yesterday just like every moment of all the hunts I have spent with child.

Currently I’m looking forward to the time when I can take my grandchildren hunting. We already have done a little fishing. In the meantime, all my grandkids love the outdoors, running around the baseball diamond or soccer field, and strolling around woodlots. From finding turkey tracks to knowing the difference between an oak and pine tree, they are learning lifelong lessons. We all can do the same thing with young ones.

Introducing youth to fishing and hunting is not only exciting for them, but also for those who do the introducing. Over the years I have come up with a little game that helps make the outings more interesting.

There are several key points to this game, but the two that are at top of the list are: don’t put a time limit on these outings and make sure youth have fun. On more than one occasion, I have been told by both youth and adults alike about failed outdoor adventures.

We all have heard the old sayings, “You’re not going to skin it if you’re not in it,” or “You can’t fill a tag sitting on the couch.” Both these basically mean the same thing, that the more time you spend in the outdoors the more successful you will be. The problem with this is success should not always be gauged by a filled creel or filled tag.

When taking youth hunting or fishing it important that they have a good time and it’s your job to make sure they do. This can be done many ways, but none is more important than keeping them involved with the outing.

That could mean having them help drive the boat. Now I’m not suggesting that you let under-age or under-qualified youth drive a boat, but we can let them feel like they are in charge of the boat by having them sit on your lap as a driver at low speed or help run the trolling motor, with your hands-on guidance, of course.

Another way to keep youth involved is letting pick them the next spot to fish. This way they help you explain structure and how fish relate to it. Whether it’s by reading shoreline structure or electronics and bottom structure, the key is keeping them involved in outings.

Hunting trips can be exciting. Stories of past hunts can excite youth before they don camo by explaining to them why we all are sitting up in a particular spot. I prefer the use of pop-up style blinds on first outings. This allows some movement by your young hunter without spooking game.

I like to point out all the noises in the woods, from woodpeckers to footsteps and the different tracks/droppings from critters that roam the woods. These are all important small things that we have learned over the years but are very important to young/new hunters, including beginning to identify trees by their leaf shape and colors and then later on doing the same thing with bark and shape.

While on a stand or in a blind, make sure your young hunter is comfortable. Whatever it takes, their comfort is vital. If they aren’t comfortable, they will be moving about more, so always keep them warm and dry. If a blanket or enclosed blind is needed, use them. A comfortable hunter will hunt longer and enjoy the hunt more.

For those of us who to hunt in New York State, the Department of Environmental Conservation saw the importance of youth hunting many years ago and set aside special dates for youth-only hunts, including the youth waterfowl weekend before the regular season begins, the special youth big-game hunt on Columbus Day weekend and the spring youth turkey hunt. The importance of these dates cannot be stressed enough. Having spefic dates that are designed specially for youth gives them an opportunity to spend time with a parent/mentor while making the hunt all about them.

The spring youth turkey hunt is designed for New York State-licensed youth between the ages of 12-15, who have a current NYS small-game hunting license and turkey tags. For the 2020 season, the dates are April 25 and 26. The rules for the Youth Hunt are fairly simple. Each youth must have a licensed hunter, over the age of the 21 for 12- or 13-year olds. For youth14 or 15-year olds, they must be accompanied by an 18-year-old. The senior hunter must have a license to hunt spring turkeys. Check the NYS DEC website for more of the particulars. The senior hunter cannot carry a weapon or attempt to kill a turkey during the youth hunt, but may assist in calling and coaching the youth hunter. As always, make sure you check the laws before you head out on your hunt.

LAST CALL FOR YOUTH TURKEY ESSAY CONTEST

This contest is open for all youth in The Post-Journal coverage area who are 12-15 years of age and who have a New York State hunting license and proper tags.

The topic for the essay, which should not be more than 400 words, is entitled the “Best Hunting Story You’ve Ever Heard.” Each essay should include full name, age, email address and phone number. Essays should be emailed to me at crobbins60@gmail.com and be received no later than April 20.

The winner will receive a full-guided, spring turkey morning hunt with me, either April 25 or 26 (winner picks the day); breakfast; and an Oak Ridge game pod call; This hunt will be videoed for an upcoming TV show on Oakridge Outdoors TV.

The winner must have his or her 2019-20 small game hunting license and spring turkey stamp and be ready to get up early. The winner will contacted via email and/or phone.

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