Unfortunately, Michigan has its very own oil spill. Apparently, a pipeline that carries oil from Indiana to Ontario malfunctioned and pumped 840,000 gallons of oil into Talmadge Creek, which runs directly into the Kalamazoo river – a prominent river in the southern portion of the state – and local residents now not only get to [...]
Go to Unfortunately, Michigan has an oil spill of its ownAuthor Archive
July 27th, 2010
Standing on Hallowed Ground
For many, visiting a battlefield is a passive experience – a means to visit the battlefield and to maybe read a few plaques and such along the way. For me, though, it’s much different. As I stood in front of Spangler’s Woods, and stared across the field where Pickett’s Charge took place, I could hear [...]
Go to Standing on Hallowed GroundJuly 24th, 2010
Vacation Lag
I really can’t call it jet lag, because we traveled by car, but I still definitely feel a bit of vacation lag at the moment. There is just something about riding in a car for 11 hours or more – it really starts to wear on ya. Last week my wife, Abby, some of the [...]
Go to Vacation LagJuly 21st, 2010
Lack of Respect
With the new day breaking, I walked the bank of the Pere Marquette, looking for my first honey hole of the morning. It was beautiful – the sun’s rays bouncing off the banks, bringing new life to the early spring forage – but, as I walked along, something on the trail ahead caught my eye. [...]
Go to Lack of RespectJuly 19th, 2010
Another Mounted Buck for Justin
Our SimplyOutdoor Pro Staffer, Justin, had a great deer season last year. And if you need to be reminded as to how “great” it was, you can click here. But, even though all of us completely remember how great his season was, and because Justin is the complete jerk that he is, he likes to [...]
Go to Another Mounted Buck for JustinJuly 14th, 2010
Primal Thoughts
The corn is shoulder high, farmers are harvesting their wheat crop already, tomorrow it is supposed to be ninety degrees, and yet all I can think about is fall. It’s always interesting to see what triggers the senses and summons that primal hunting urge within. The corn stalks glistening in the morning sun caught my [...]
Go to Primal ThoughtsJuly 12th, 2010
Role Reversal
After stumbling across this picture, I’m starting to get a little concerned. I know that bears inhabit many of the woods around us, and while their population may be small in my area of Michigan, if they are starting to get this smart I might need to be careful when scouting, hunting, or simply heading [...]
Go to Role ReversalJuly 8th, 2010
Fishing, firsts, and another loss
New fishing spots are always difficult to fish, and Houghton Lake was no exception. Okay, so maybe this was the second time we had fished this particular lake, but, considering the first time only lasted about an hour, and since ice fishing the lake back in February doesn’t count, this still felt like fishing the [...]
Go to Fishing, firsts, and another lossJuly 5th, 2010
Regulations: A Hinderance to New Hunters?
I was sifting through our local fishing regulations the other night, hunting for a particular piece of information about bowfishing, and getting more irritated by the minute. I’m not sure who designs the local fishing/hunting guides, but sometimes I feel as though you need a law degree in order to actually understand the laws and [...]
Go to Regulations: A Hinderance to New Hunters?July 1st, 2010
Work, work, work – and then some play.
Between my actual job, and a home project we’ve been working on, I feel like there isn’t much time to do anything – especially write a well thought-out blog post. In the meantime, I hope everyone enjoys their holiday weekend, because we all deserve to celebrate our nation’s independence to the fullest. I have a [...]
Go to Work, work, work – and then some play.June 27th, 2010
Pike….errr..Walleye in the boat
After a week of nonstop work, I checked the weather radar Saturday morning, and what I saw didn’t look very promising – a strong line of thunderstorms was making its way towards Michigan. Being the optimists we all are, though, we headed out in the hopes that they would dissipate before they reached us, or [...]
Go to Pike….errr..Walleye in the boatJune 24th, 2010
Cougars? Okay. Carp? Not Okay.
I’m fine with the whole concept of having cougars in Michigan. After all the hype about them for the last couple of years, it was good to finally see some proof that vindicated many people’s claims, and proved beyond a shadow of a doubt that they knew what they were talking about. I know they [...]
Go to Cougars? Okay. Carp? Not Okay.June 23rd, 2010
Cougars……..are here!
I’m swamped at work, and in the middle of a huge new floor project at home……so the posts have been few and far between this week, and that might continue for a few more days. In the meantime, though, check out this trailcam picture – it’s proof that cougars do exist in Michigan, although our [...]
Go to Cougars……..are here!June 20th, 2010
As I Get Older, I Think My Fortunes Have Changed
As I get older, I think my outdoor fortunes are changing – for the good and for the bad. There used to be a time when I could step in a boat, put a few hours in with rod and reel in hand, and actually land a few fish. And there also was a time [...]
Go to As I Get Older, I Think My Fortunes Have ChangedJune 17th, 2010
The Cute-and-Cuddly Factor
“Dolphin Safe Tuna” – I’ve always had a problem with that particular phrase. I mean, isn’t it weird that nobody cares about the tuna, only that the dolphins are safe? I think dolphins are cool too, and very intelligent, but why isn’t anyone concerned about the tuna? And when was the last time you heard [...]
Go to The Cute-and-Cuddly FactorJune 15th, 2010
A Michigan Icon Stays
I know this has nothing to do with the outdoors, and I really have a great idea bouncing around in my head for a post, but I can only say one thing right now: He’s staying! And all of us Michiganders couldn’t be more happy! And all of you other college basketball programs should be [...]
Go to A Michigan Icon StaysJune 12th, 2010
SOTV: Two New Videos
It’s been way too long since we posted a new video for everyone to enjoy. So, without making anyone wait another minute here are two new videos for everyone.
Pick your poison: You can watch kids catching night crawlers, and then a father/son duo using those worms to catch some nice bluegills. Or you can watch [...]
June 9th, 2010
Ground Hog Day: More Evidence for the Non/Anti Hunter?
I watched the brown, chunky furball scurry across the road in front of me, and proceed to make his way from one farmer’s field to another. A part of me wanted to punch the gas, and take the fat little chunker off the map. But my family’s safety was far more important than doing my [...]
Go to Ground Hog Day: More Evidence for the Non/Anti Hunter?June 3rd, 2010
Hunters: Nature’s Anomaly
I slowly pulled the trigger on the release, and watched the arrow hit exactly where I intended it to – right behind the shoulder of the lead doe. She wheeled 180 degrees, went on a dead run for 40yds or so, stopped, and fell to the ground. I figured death would soon follow. But then, [...]
Go to Hunters: Nature’s AnomalyJune 1st, 2010
Fawn
This time of year is always one of my favorites, simply because it’s the time of year when many “new” animals are running around. You are bound to run across some type of new offspring this time of year - baby ducks, goslings, turkey poults, and, of course, little guys/gals like this one that Justin [...]
Go to FawnMay 30th, 2010
Memorial Day 2010
As we all celebrate Memorial Day 2010, may we not forget the reason for the holiday.
We at SimplyOutdoors thank those of you who have served, or are currently serving this great country of ours. Without all of our men and women in uniform, we wouldn’t have the opportunity to celebrate.
We thank all of you from [...]
May 25th, 2010
Wife’s Last Turkey Hunt of the Season
With the recent rain and humidity, it seemed as though the leaves were melting. Drops of water were falling all around us, and the wetness in the air made it feel as though we were hunting in the Everglades, rather than in Southern Michigan. I’m sure, if I would have tried, I could have taken [...]
Go to Wife’s Last Turkey Hunt of the SeasonMay 22nd, 2010
A Different Perspective from SimplyOutdoors
As all of you know, SimplyOutdoors is Michigan-based. Every person on the SimplyOutdoors’ Pro Staff was born and raised in Michigan – and we’re proud of it, I might add. We all are very fond of Michigan’s woodlots and wetlands, and we have immersed ourselves in Michigan’s out-of-doors our entire lives.
But, if we want to [...]
May 20th, 2010
Time Stands Still
Only minutes before, I was contemplating my next move. I had gone through a million different scenarios in my head – if he comes through here, I’ll put the barrel out this window; if he walks that way, I’ll call to bring him in closer – and promptly threw them all out the window once [...]
Go to Time Stands StillMay 19th, 2010
We’re on a Roll
The SimplyOutdoors’ crew is on a roll this year. First it started with Tyler’s bird, then Jeff’s, and then mine. Then, just this morning, Justin, one of the SimplyOutdoors’ crew, put another longbeard in the freezer – and, so far, it was the biggest bird of the year.
Apparently this big boy was roosted very close [...]
May 16th, 2010
……..And More Turkey Success.
Jeff missed out on this hunt, and the opportunity to get it on video, because he and his wife welcomed their new little one on Saturday afternoon – an 8lb, 5 0z little girl. Congrats to both of you. She’s adorable, and she and mom are both doing great!
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Heal to toe. Heal to toe. I [...]
May 13th, 2010
Friday Video Treat: Two Turkeys on Film
Since it’s almost Friday, I figured I would provide a little treat for all of our readers.
First, you can sit back, relax and watch Jeff’s stepson bag his first thunder chicken.
Second, if you have more time, you can kick back, relax and watch Jeff put his 2010 bird on the ground. This video proves that [...]
May 12th, 2010
A Loss of a Fellow Hunter
Yesterday, all of us lost a fellow hunter.
Her parents and my parents have known each other for years, but, sadly, I never got the chance to really get to know her. Her older sister would babysit us kids when we were little, and we lived in the same town, but I still didn’t know her [...]
May 10th, 2010
More Turkey Success
The weather forecast for Saturday was grim – 25mph sustained winds, with up to 40mph gusts, 30 degree temps, and rain. The wife and I awoke at 4:30 that morning to hear the wind howling outside the window. It sounded absolutely nasty outside, and with that we went back to bed.
Jeff didn’t though.
Jeff took Matt [...]
May 6th, 2010
Spring Bowfishing
Last weekend, while most of us were focused on shooting a turkey or helping someone to kill a turkey, Justin was putting a hurting on our local carp population.
Our inland lake bowfishing season started on May 1st – last weekend – and Justin took full advantage of it. He managed to put two really nice [...]