Jeff initially came up with the idea, created a Myspace page (remember Myspace? Oh how times have changed), and that is where SimplyOutdoors initially started. 

After I took a look at the Myspace page, however, and noticed how weird some of the layouts looked, I started looking into creating a new site.

And that is where SimplyOutdoors began.

At first, it was just a means to share a few pictures, to share some stories about our love of the outdoors, and see where it took us.  And as the years passed, I discovered that I really loved to write – and that was really the main focus of the site for a few years.

Underneath the blog, however, was Jeff’s passion for hunting.  And, though it took a little while for it to reach the surface, Jeff’s true goal of having an outdoor website – to share our love of hunting, fishing, and all around being outdoors -has really taken shape in the form of SimplyOutdoors TV.

The last four and half years have been a blast, and we’ve loved sharing our outdoor pursuits with all of you.  And now, being able to share even more of those experiences through your television, and through this new site, is just another dream come true.

SimplyOutdoors.net has definitely morphed throughout the years, and, as you can see with the new site, is definitely more focused on our new approach to sharing our hunting lifestyle with everyone:  through motion picture. 

But the blog is still there, too, the passion for the outdoors is still there, the passion for getting kids involved in the outdoors is still there, and we’re still the same guys who started this site back in 2007.

We can’t wait to share all our upcoming hunts with all of you – in whichever way you choose to enjoy them – and we’re looking forward to everything that is in store for the SimplyOutdoors crew.

We thank each and every one of you for coming along for the ride.

So, without further ado we present the new SimplyOutdoors.net as well as the brand spanking new SimplyOutdoors TV.

Jeff has had this video production dream for quite some time, and we figured now was as good a time as ever to bring it into existence.  We are hoping that you enjoy the down-to-earth, real, outdoor TV experience that we are trying to portray, because I know we’re looking forward to providing it.

We hope all of you visit the new video site, and that you take a peek around the new SimplyOutdoors.net too.  Please also check us out on Facebook, and make sure that you follow us on Twitter.

We’re excited about this new adventure, and we hope that all of you enjoy it as much as we are going to enjoy providing it.  And, if we get anything out of this whole adventure, we’ll at least have a sweet outdoor video library that all of us can look back on.

We are still intent on being the same down-to-earth site that all of you have grown used to…….with a slight botox injection!!  And you can still count on Arthur, and the rest of the guys, posting regularly on the blog.  We just wanted to start a new chapter, and that is what lead us to the new look.

Please let us know in the comments what you think of the new and improved site, and please take a minute to visit SimplyOutdoors TV as well.  There is one sweet teaser over there, as well as a brand new right-out-of-the-box video.

Enjoy!

Note: Our email address has also changed.  The address is now info@simplyoutdoors.net.  Please update your address book!!!

We have some new, exciting things in the works, and a few things that I need to update everyone about.  But, for now, all you get is this measly little post.

Stay tuned for those announcements and updates.  And hopefully next week we’ll share some great posts about sledding, ice fishing, and riding quads in the foot of snow that got dumped on us this week.

I promise to share the new events soon.  I can make no promises as to when it will be, though.  As you all know, great things take time.

Stay tuned!

Since then, though, the blog has morphed into something I never imagined it would be.  It has become a platform for me to address outdoor-related news items I deem worthy; and a platform where I can share my opinions and feelings about hunting, fishing, and anything outdoor-related.  It has even, at times, become a means for me to share my political views on certain subjects having to do with the outdoors.

The blog has certainly changed since its early days, and has become something I’m very proud of.  The thing I struggle with lately, though, is that I feel I need to showcase certain newsworthy items, especially pertaining to my home state, but find them quite boring……..or repetitive.  I feel I need to be a source for my fellow outdoorsmen and women, but at the same time I like to keep a balance; I like to keep the blog personal.  I think that is what makes blogs so great.

And that is what this blog is about.  It’s about many things, and I will highlight my feelings on some issues related to Michigan’s outdoor-enriched lifestyle, but most importantly this blog is about me.  I figure all of us get enough news in one day, and I don’t want this blog to become strictly about newsworthy items; it needs to have a personal touch.  I think that makes it more interesting.  And who doesn’t get sick of hearing about the same ole, same ole in the news.  I know I’m more drawn to the personalized blogs, and that is what I hope draws people to this blog as well.

So if I don’t cover a certain highly controversial issue that is happening in the nation or the state,  it’s not because I don’t think it’s important, it’s simply because I didn’t want to.  I get tired of hearing about the same news stories over and over.

And I don’t want that to be the way anyone feels about this blog.

I love every comment left on the site.  I appreciate every one of you who stop by. I am especially grateful to those of you who take the time out of your lives to comment on something I’ve written; it keeps a person writing; it keeps them motivated to know that someone is actually reading what you took the time to write…….or type for that matter.

And just because I don’t always find the time to respond to your comments doesn’t mean that I don’t value every one of them.  All that it means is that I’m strapped for time.

Please keep stopping by and leaving your thoughts – we love it!  And from this point forward I promise to try and do a better job of responding to everyone who takes time out of their busy day to leave their thoughts.

After all, without all of you, this blog wouldn’t even exist.

With that in mind I created a new page on our site.  The page is called MDNR Resources, and it is a page filled with common resources that people would be looking for on the Michigan DNR webpage.  The cool thing about this page, though, is that there is no hunting to find what you want; it is right there, right in front of you and contains direct links to the information you’re looking for; no obscurities, no hassle.

We encourage all of you Michigan outdoorsmen (and women) to head on over to our new resource page and check it out.  And please feel free to leave us comments, and let us know what we can do to improve it.  Also, if you think of something that people always need to find – and I don’t have it on the page yet, and you think it deserves a spot – don’t hesitate to let us know and we will add it to the site.

We think this new page is a great addition to our site, and we hope you do too.  Please check it out and let us know what you think.

Apparently, a human rat, Mark Osterholt, also known as Wayne Rommel, has been stealing from me as well as a few of my blogging friends.  Now I’ve had content stolen before, but since it had a link back to my site I figured no harm no foul.  This time, however, is much different.  My posts, as well as other OBS bloggers’ posts have managed to be posted on “Mr. Rats” websites without any inclination as to who they belong.

Thankfully, Albert, being the tenacious one he is is one the prowl and working to hunt this rat down.

I hope he ultimately gets a successful kill.

I could head down to the lowcountry and go after a few hogs.  I think they’re in season this time of year, although the heat and humidity might kill me; maybe Jeff could just teach us how to trap a few of those buggers – we might need that skill in a few years if our feral swine problem doesn’t get addressed.

I could take a trip out to California and get an update on the lead ban.  I’m sure Phillip would let us fling a few rounds of non-lead ammunition, and let us get a feel for how it shoots – especially since it’s only a matter of time before the lead ban starts effecting all of us.

While I’m in Cali maybe Holly could teach me a few things about wing shooting as well.  The only wing shooting I’ve ever done is hunting pheasant, and they’re a little slower and much bigger than the average mallard.  I’ve always wanted to duck hunt, and this would be the perfect opportunity.  Then, after that, maybe Holly and Phillip could take me to Native’s place and help me kill a hog; or even better, a ram.

If it’s too hot to hunt I could always visit Rick.  He could teach me to reload, then I could help him finish his puzzle.  Of course I’d have to take some antler art home with me as well, so hopefully he lets me have some.  And then I’d sucker him into building Abby a playground at our house.

After that I’d head on over to Tom’s place and help him with the new site; it’s been down for the last couple of days, and I have some expertise in that area, so maybe I could provide some help.  In return of course I would like a guided elk hunt, although I’m not sure when the season is out there – I might have to get a rain check.

I could visit a doctor, but I might have to wait until he’s settled into his new place back in Ohio.   Once there, though, maybe he would let me shoot his crossbow – I hope he still has it.

When I’m done with that I’m heading out to Kansas to see what happened to Elizabeth.  I want to hear the rest of the fishing story, since it’s been awhile since we heard anything from her.

I could learn how a rabbit operation works, and provide some help with that, or I could head on over and learn what it feels like to hunt like a girl.  I’m sure we could swap more stories that are just as funny as this one is.  I have a few in the memory banks that rank right up there with it.

I could head on over to Marian’s and find a look-a-like for her, and while we’re in the area we could stop by Rex’s place and have him allow camo to teach our dog all of her tricks.

If none of those work out, or even if they do, we could then head up to Canada and visit Othmar.  I’m sure he won’t mind us visiting his slice of heaven while he’s recuperating from an incident he had last week.  I haven’t fished much this year, and I’m sure I could find a few places close by that would provide that opportunity.

I could take the wife and visit Blessed.  We’ve already forgotten what it’s like to have a newborn, since Abby got so big so quick, and right now she could help us with that since her new arrival came last week.  And besides that, I’m sure she could use the help – those little buggers are a handful.

After that I could save a little money,  gas, and air travel costs by visiting my local blogging friends, Mike and Mike.  One could teach me how to build a new bowfishing platform for whenever I finally get a boat, and for the other one I’d do my impression of what a Sandhill Crane sounds like, since apparently he’s never had the privilege to hear one; they make the weirdest noise.

And if none of those work out, I will simply enjoy summer by spending it at the lake – fishing, not swimming.  Of course I will be sure to bring my sunscreen – I don’t want to end up looking like this.

I think, once all of those things were accomplished, that summer would be pretty much done, hunting seasons will be back in full swing, and people will actually be reading outdoor blogs again.  Man will that be nice.

Your per day site hits drop 50%.

It seems that summer is taking a toll on the blogosphere – causing reading to slow down, posts to slow down, and overall readership to slow down.  I can fully understand, though, because I’m just as guilty as everyone else; it’s hard to sit time aside to read blogs when it’s not dark until 10 o’ clock, and the weather is gorgeous outside.

I guess all of our blogs go through seasons, and come fall they will start to pick back up a bit.   I just think it is interesting how our blogs go through the same seasonal cycle from year to year.

Author’s note: I know many of us aren’t reading as many blogs as we normally do this time or year, and don’t have a lot of time to leave comments, but if you get a chance you should stop by A Blessed Crazy Life and congratulate Blessed on her new arrival.