Lately, while I have been enjoying some time in the outdoors, I have come across a few things that really turned me off. Although I consider myself a conservationist and avid outdoorsman, I wouldn’t go so far as to say I am one of those extremist or green people. Still, it does annoy me and a major of other sportsmen and women have voiced their opinions on some topics which we could all try and eliminate. That said lets delve into the issues!
First and foremost it is littering. After cleaning up a stretch of road out in the country recently, my family collected five trash bags full of junk people had tossed into the ditch. Some do it knowingly; others simply allow it to blow out of the back of their pickups or trailers. Regardless, it’s still littering and man is it ugly and rude. Nothing spoils a trip into the scenic countryside more than a bunch of trash alongside the road. Hey folks, it isn’t that hard to find a trash can.
Just this past weekend while fishing, I picked up a plastic grocery bag and a live bait container from the lake surface. Neither was mine, but it was ruining the experience for me so why not do the honorable thing and pick them up. An old saying comes to mind, ”leave it like you found it.” Well, sometimes in this world we have to be responsible enough to “leave it better than we found it”!
Lets make a pact to reduce the trash everywhere, especially in the outdoors. Hey, that fishing line isn’t beneficial to the lake and sure does snag up everyone’s lures. If you hook it, reel it up and haul it off please. Same thing goes for the plastic six pack rings. There are lots of pictures of birds with those around their necks. Fact is, they do not decompose! Aluminum cans, glass or plastic bottles sure are handy to carry to our favorite beverages in, but man do they make serious eye sores. Dang if you drink it – throw it away!
Don’t even get me started on the old tires, car batteries and refrigerators. Hey, God did not intend these to be part of the woods or any shoreline. You don’t see refrigerators growing in any forest that I know of! What about the good old redneck signature couch in the ditch or creek? Wow, nothing says cool like a ratty old recliner busted up along the gravel road. Get my drift yet?
Alright, enough of that junk (literally). Lets move on to the next thing; poor boat ramp behavior. It doesn’t matter if you fish Kansas, Missouri or Texas it’s always present. The people who really have no idea of how to handle themselves on a public boat ramp. You know the ones I mean… The guy(s) who blocks the ramp with his boat or truck while he loads or unloads his gear. Then he or she will goof around while several even dozens of folks wait to get their chance to launch or load their boat.
Holly cow dude! Pull into the parking lot and unhook your tie down straps, ice chest, life jacket, rods or skis and whatever else. Pull into the ramp line ONLY when you are actually ready to launch your boat.
Please parents, watch your kids while near the boat ramp! I don’t know how many times I have personally been backing up only to have a kid (or even adult) run behind the trailer or in between my truck and someone elses vehicle. I would hate to see a bad accident occur from something like that. Even careful drivers cannot see properly behind vehicles or trailers.
Practice does make perfect and some of us need practice backing up a trailer. Holiday weekends are not the time to learn. Actually, I don’t go to the lake on the big holiday weekends simply because of all the action. This is when everyone who has just bought or acquired a boat, jet ski or any other watercraft is out. Who cares if they have never tried backing a trailer down a ramp or out of a parking spot? Hey, don’t mind the other fifty rigs that are held in peril while you back, bump or barge your way into the boat ramp hall of fame. When in doubt, take your rig to a shopping mall lot and practice for a few evenings prior to hitting the lake for the first time. Hey, even ask a veteran boater for help if you need it. I have backed lots of folks in or out of a ramp gladly to save everyone time and headaches.
Most anglers don’t care if you fish near them, but boy nothing gets a fisherman’s hackles up more than someone who buzzes by them on a personal watercraft or boat. Sort of reminds me of that lake scene from Caddy Shack when dozens of boats, jet skis and such capsize the poor guy fishing. Hey, road rage isn’t cool on the road and it sure isn’t cool on the lake. It’s seriously annoying and that behavior is very dangerous, as well.
Let’s switch sides now and head into the hunting side. One of the biggest qualms is about trespassers. Hey, we have all done it, but that doesn’t make it right. Try and be aware of the property lines and don’t cross them unless you have permission. Current real estate prices make land owners very stern with trespassers and it’s not unusual any more for those violators to be arrested.
Even worse are those folks who trespass, poach animals and then leave the carcass there. What a bunch of slobs! These people will steal tree stands, destroy fences or implements, and dump trash. Not very endearing behavior from an “outdoorsman” in my opinion.
When hunting pick up spent shotgun shells whenever possible. Sure sometimes things happen and the fired hull gets ejected into some tall weeds making it impossible to find. Alright, it happens but how about when you are in open water hunting waterfowl and your shells eject right there where they are clearly visible? Why not bend over and pick them up? Same thing goes when hunting in crop fields. Farmers get annoyed when they disc, drill or bail up old rusty shotgun shells all the time. As they say in the Army, “police your brass”.
Controlling your dog is another critical part of hunting. Whether its deer hunting, bird hunting or whatever, no one likes to have an unknown dog that run wild and spoil their trip. I have heard of deer hunters who have even shot canines that repeatedly run near their stands scaring away deer time after time. I have actually been in the marsh duck hunting and had birds working in the decoys only to have them spooked by a loose dog from clear across the cove. It’s not a safe environment for wild, uncontrollable canines. They might be hit by cars, lost or drown, so keep them in sight.
Furthermore, if it’s not in range don’t shoot at it. This goes for game but especially waterfowl. I don’t know what it is but waterfowl hunters seem to have to shoot their guns regularly. Thus, if a flock of geese cruises over at high altitude its even money that somebody will fire a round or two at them. No chance in heck of dropping a bird, but still a shotgun blast to help them on their way. Well, that does nothing but make it tougher to decoy those birds and it also puts stray ammo into the air possibly creating a hazard to other hunters nearby. Hey, save your shells they are expensive!
Well, I am running out of time and paper. I had no intention of going on so long but if we don’t police ourselves, a few bad apples will ruin it for everyone. Face it there are fewer and fewer clean, quiet, unmolested spaces for us to take up our passions. Let’s try and protect what we have!
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