Being prepared and having the tools needed for any situation is essential for the outdoors person. Your pocket or fixed blade knife is one of the most important tools you will carry everyday on your person. Knives will be handy in many situations ranging from emergency applications to cutting that loose thread on your favorite shirt.

     A lot of my fondest memories as a child were formed catfishing rivers with my grandpa. Whether it was in Hunting Creek or the Patuxent River in Maryland to the Muscatatuck and Ohio rivers in Indiana. If I wasn’t in school, we were on the river somewhere. As a child there was no better feeling then seeing your rod tip twitch a couple times, and Bam, the rod bends over and the drag begins to scream. My grandpa would start yelling “Fish! Fish!” while I scrambled and slid in the mud towards the pole. A few moments later with my forearms burning, we’d land the catfish and be ready to cast back out. To this day, catfish are still one of my favorite fish to target, especially if my daughters want to catch “big fish” or the freezer needs filling.

Knowing how to Identify tree’s that grow in your region, and their uses will grant substantial benefits for the outdoorsman/woman. Knowing an animal’s favorite food, shelter, or resting area will benefit the hunter. Certain trees will attract more insects than others, or home particular caterpillars that are fantastic bait for anglers. Many common trees provide food for the foragers or contain medicinal properties that are used in modern medicines today.  

     As a morel mushroom hunter, knowing how to identify a few certain tree types can greatly improve your harvest. Morels can grow almost anywhere it seems, but some areas offer better growing conditions due to the mushroom’s interactions with certain tree roots. The mycelium of the fungi and roots of these trees exchange nutrients increasing the mushroom’s ability to grow. Knowing how to spot these trees will help you search the best areas in the forest you are in. For further information on morel mushrooms in general, you can click this link (More Mushroom Guide.)  

     As outdoor enthusiasts finding artifacts such as arrowheads can be an astonishing feeling. The curiosities and wonderment will begin to swirl around in your mind. An item so simple could have been the difference in a life-or-death scenario. Was it used while hunting or in a battle long ago? Did it find its mark or fly astray? Did a great warrior make it, maybe a young brave? Some of the arrowhead’s mysteries will stay unknown, but we can collect and preserve these stones of secrets.

     Crappie fishing is a fun and enjoyable way to spend time outdoors. Crappie are one of North Americas most popular gamefish for sport and food. The meat offers a sweet, mild, and delicate taste that easily flakes, and paired with fresh morels (Access Morel Mushroom Guide Here) makes a mouth watering meal.

Foraging your own food offers multiple health benefits. The plants you will harvest are normally only found in high priced specialty food stores or in processed pill form as a dietary supplement. Yet, lots of these plants can be found all over, including your backyard!  Foraging offers the experiences to hone multiple skills from self-reliance to attention to detail. It is also a fun way to spend time with friends, family, and children exploring everything nature has to offer.

     Modern camping is an amazing activity that can be enjoyed solo or with friends and family. It's a perfect opportunity to forge new skills, and offers both physical and mental health benefits. When not fully prepared though, it can be distressing. 

Teaching a child to hunt is a great way to instill a lot of positive traits like patience, confidence, control, and self-reliance. The skills and traits I learned, many years back, while hunting with my grandpa still help me today

     When it comes to selecting the correct lure for largemouth bass, it can be quite overwhelming with all the different options that are available these days. There are different types, sizes, colors, and shapes, for every category of lure! Some of these lures are better than others, but there is no 

Hiking is a great outdoor activity for many people. It can be therapeutic and relaxing while stimulating muscles and conditioning the body. It provokes a greater appreciation of nature, and the outdoors. 

True Morels (Morchella genus) What are they? True Morels are one of natures finest delicacies (Morels must be cooked thoroughly to be safely consumed) and can be found all over North America, Central America, Europe, and Asia. These fungi are very distinct in their appearance due to the honeycomb look of their caps.