January 24th, 2008
By Arthur

I wrote the Step Up or Shut Up post a few days back and I am proud to announce that I made my first effort to make the general idea in that post a reality.

A few weeks back I wrote a post about Clinton Township here in Michigan and how the DNR overrode a decision by the township to ban bowhunting on private land within the township.  I considered this a victory for the good guys until I found out recently that the township decided to take another step towards their ultimate goal of banning bowhunting entirely by banning bowhunting in the township’s public parks.

To be honest the old Arthur would have just sat back and said “I don’t live in Clinton Township so no big deal”.  Not this time.  I did a little research and read quite a few articles from the Detroit Free Press as well as from a few other sources and it finally made the light bulb come on.

Then I found the Clinton Township site on the web and decided I would write a well articulated email, via their website, to the township supervisor.  Mr. Bob Cannon is the supervisor and this is the email that I sent to him today to voice my displeasure of their bowhunting ban:

Dear Mr Cannon,

I just wanted to voice my displeasure about your recent decision to ban bowhunting in your township parks.  I am extremely disappointed that you and the township would go against the DNR’s decision to not prevent bowhunting in your area, and go against the facts, or lack thereof, and still decide to ban bowhunting, thus preventing citizens from being able to participate in a ritual that they love and that has continued for years.

Bowhunting is not a dangerous sport and does not pose any sort of threat to anyone in the township.  This point is backed up by the simple fact that there have been no reported bowhunting accidents or incidents in the last ten years.  It is also backed up by the fact that there were not many citizens in attendance to voice their displeasure in township meetings.

I hope that you and the members of your council will reconsider their decision to ban bowhunting in the township parks and let your citizens continue to participate in a safe, respectable tradition.

Sincerely,

Arthur Summer
http://www.simplyoutdoors.net

I tried to keep the email short and to the point while also backing my points with a few facts.  I know it seems like such a small thing for one person to send an email, but for me it at least makes me feel like I did something.  It only takes one voice to start the ball rolling and hopefully my email will at least make them stop for a second and think.  I can’t wait to see what kind of response I get.

I encourage all of you to not sit back any longer, and even if you do something as simple as write a letter, at least you are doing something.  So many of people sit back and let everything crumble around them without making their feelings and opinions known and for me those days are over.

I will let everyone know if and when I get a response.  Hopefully Mr. Cannon does send a reply. If any of you are interested in contacting Mr. Cannon about this issue you can do so here.

Popularity: 22% [?]

January 22nd, 2008
By Arthur

Rex over at the Deer Camp Blog was nice enough to award us, along with a few other blogs, the prestigous Excellent Blog Award.

I have to say that I am flattered and completely shocked by this award.  I’m not giving it back though so nobody try and take it either:)  We are completely grateful that Rex thinks this much of our blog and I truly appreciate his thoughts and praise.

I think I’m suppose to send this on to 10 people, but I’m not sure exactly how it works.  I think if you check my blogroll you will find that every one of them on the list deserves this award and I would hate to single certain ones out anyway.

So again thank you Rex and I look forward to meeting you and everyone else next year in St. Louis.  It should be a great time 

Popularity: 17% [?]

January 18th, 2008
By Arthur

That title should be an attention getter for people reading the blog, but really it was meant more for myself. It is a reminder that I need to stop talking and start doing. I know it sounds harsh to say that to myself, but in reality it is so true and definitely needs to be followed through on.

Despite having an outdoor blog, and writing posts for the entire world to see, I really tend to be an introvert. I have this tendency to not really venture outside my comfort zone. I always want to get out and meet some more people and do some more things, but I tend to keep away from things and places that I don’t know well or I’m not comfortable with. That needs to stop now.

I have been talking on this blog for months about promoting the outdoors, and putting hunters in a positive light, but I feel that I need to do more. I have done a few things here and there and have helped get kids into the outdoors, but I need to get out and make some more connections to help promote hunters and get all of our voices heard. This has to happen, not only amongst the hunting community, but also outside of the community where there are certainly plenty of people on the fence that just need a few solid facts to come over to our side.

First on my list is to attend a wild game dinner at one of our local churches here in town. I have been helping a friend moderate his website forum, and great Michigan outdoor resource, and one of the partners to the site is sponsoring this dinner. COMPASS Outdoors is the local organization and I am looking forward to meeting a couple of the gentleman who founded this organization at the dinner. You have to bring a wild game dish to pass, so I have to figure out exactly what I’m going to bring. It should provide a good place to share some hunting stories, meet some new friends, and get to try some great tasting outdoor recipes.

Second on my list is to attend Big Buck Night that is being held at another local church here in town. I thought this would be another excellent way to to meet some new people, while enjoying some food and getting to see some monster bucks that were shot in the area. The event features coverage and a special presentation from Michigan Out-of-Doors Television. Hopefully it will give me an opportunity to meet Tony Hansen. The editor of the Michigan Out-of-Doors Magazine and a featured person in an article I wrote about the MUCC. It definitely will be a great way to promote my blog as well. I’m looking forward to it.

Third is a very important goal. I felt terrible about this years Outdoor Bloggers Summit getting cancelled, but I just could not work it into the schedule for the year. That being said I think all of us who are members need to make an extraordinary effort to make it to the Summit next year. I have to be honest and say I was a little leary at first, but after a few more months blogging, and the welcome that I have received, I think that heading to St. Louis and getting a chance to meet Rex, Jeff, Mike, Rick, Kristine, Jody, Othmar, Matt, Bryan, Darrell, Phillip, and everyone else who is a member is a great idea. What a wonderful way to promote our blogs, learn some new things, and get a chance to meet a few friends and be able to put a face with a name.

Now that I have put this challenge out there to myself, I challenge all of you to do the same. Step out of your comfort zone and do something that helps promote our love of the outdoors while also making it a little easier to meet a few new friends. In the long run it will help our passion to continue through future generations.

Popularity: 32% [?]

December 28th, 2007
By Arthur

I had a friend alert to this little video in an email.  I wish I knew the particulars on it, but I don’t.  So if anyone does please feel free to post them in the comments.

I do hope that someone manged to get him freed.  My mind has been racing as to how exactly he would have gotten caught in the swing in the first place.  Hmmm.  Animals, you just never know what they’re gonna do.

[coolplayer width=”480″ height=”380″ autoplay=”0″ loop=”0″ charset=”utf-8″ download=”1″ mediatype=”"]
Buck Swing
[/coolplayer]

Popularity: 34% [?]

November 30th, 2007
By Arthur

Kevin, over at Huntinglife.com, got permission to re-print an article on his site that I think is the best piece of writing I have seen that deals with hunting and why people hunt.

This piece was written by Randall L. Eaton, Ph.D., and is a true masterpiece. I immediately connected with the article and I wanted to share it with everyone who reads this site. It is a genuine piece of work, and if you hunt you will feel an instant connection to the article. If you don’t hunt, it will give you the best perspective I have read on why we hunt and the feelings and learning experiences associated with it.

Read this article and pass it on. Very good stuff!

Popularity: 20% [?]