As I was canoeing across the lake earlier this week, a moment of silence so nicely settled that I didn’t even notice it.
The breeze blew completely across the bow. Only the sound of small waves crashing under the hull and water dripping from the paddles could be heard. The feeling of gliding was so easy, almost weightless.
At that moment, I felt a sense of unity between the canoe and the water. Everything else in life has melted away.
It made me realize how simple yet rare it is to experience such sensations with the noise and distractions of our “advanced” modern life.
Then I went back to shore.
I got a message from my father. He sent the latest notable photo from his trail camera, this time of a bear during the day.
Those were pretty good shots of bears, but my appreciation was spoiled by the jarring juxtaposition of different ways to experience the natural world.
There seems to be no escape from the technology we develop to enhance your outdoor experience. From trail cameras to cutting-edge materials to over-engineered lures, there is no shortage of innovations designed to increase efficiency and help you achieve better results.
As a technology owner, I am well-positioned to observe that spending hundreds (or thousands) of dollars can be the easiest way to ruin a person’s outdoor achievements. I feel there is.
For example, consider the prevalent long-range shooting course. All you need to do is buy their expensive fine-tuned rifle and scope and learn how to use it. can poke
Gone is the idea of stalking a deer or elk. There is little chance of being rolled up, seen or heard. Without tracking, the fairness scale seems smaller and smaller to me.
I cannot say that there is a sense of accomplishment or satisfaction there.
The shooter shoots. hunter hunts.
One thing I’ve noticed is that it’s hard to define in law what is fair between humans and beasts. We’re not sure if any states are considering addressing long-range shooting in their regulations, but some states are keen on trail cameras.
Some people stay away from services that allow you to send photo and video data to your phone over the cellular network. They decided the fair pursuit was on the low-tech side of the divide.
My understanding is that Montana, Utah, and a few other states prohibit their use for hunting purposes.
Earlier this year, Arizona banned all trail cameras for hunting.
Some sneer and say that moral boundaries change at state borders. But clearly, the potential for trail camera abuse is very high.
A person can easily stray from the fair realm.
Personally, I have no problem playing with the house rules, but they read. doing.
Just because “it’s done over there” doesn’t make it any better or worse.
For example, Wisconsin can store two fishing rods. There is no double the fun when you are fishing over there.
But one of the concerns of anglers (and fisheries managers) everywhere is side scan sonar. Looking straight down into the water just isn’t enough for some people.
Having the ability to see sideways underwater is attractive to those who can put up with that price tag.
I’ve heard a lot of concern expressed about this, especially when anglers are trying to keep their catch. The potential for consuming an unreasonable amount of fish from a particular system is a logical conclusion — if you follow the marketing message.
Someone I know who is heavily involved in the professional/commercial part of the fishery acknowledged this to me. has never been before.”
I accept.
It’s easy to imagine how devastating this kind of efficiency would be for lakes. For example, if you have a bountiful crop of crappie in your hundred acres (100 acres) of heaven (which is not there now), there isn’t much room to hide from the benefits of that seed.
If rumors spread and people can no longer control themselves, it’s not unreasonable to think that a fishery that took nearly a decade to build could be gone in a week.
Will the fried fish be sweeter? I don’t think so.
I don’t blame you if you’re wondering what my point is in all of this.
Our outdoor culture has become obsessed with “success,” and the wider culture’s obsession with technology naturally intersects with it. Some technology, such as outboards and rifle he scopes, is old history when compared to the latest and greatest technology that comes out every model year.
But it’s all technology and something to improve.
what comes next? Hard to say. There are people who are always looking for new ways to make money.
Does it shave off what we consider fair pursuit?
perhaps. It can be difficult to identify after the fact and the law will always have to catch up.
Here’s what I know: We are collectively losing track of our outdoor experience, and technology is often becoming more of a distraction than an improvement.
Fair pursuits are sometimes traded through gadgets for bragging rights and photos for social media. Intangibles like simplicity and satisfaction are too often thrown by the wayside.
With hunting season fast approaching and ice fishing not far behind, consider what you’re looking for as you pack up and drive to your favorite destination.
Is it friendship, meat, or antlers?
Do you want to spend precious time with your kids or want to clean the fish?
Need more woods time and exercise than bending your index finger?
Sometimes you can check all the boxes and that’s a good thing.
However, this may not always be the case.
Never lose sight of which boxes are just the icing on the cake.
For me, deer hunting this year is about guiding my daughter through her first season. Success is largely measured by a smile.
Maybe a month after that, I’ll hit the ice with a 22-year-old inferior sonar. Definitely expect hand-to-hand combat and tip up.
Jigglesticks may appear just for fun. I probably go home without fish most of the time, but I always feel calm and renewed.
I can’t think of a better success.
Roy Heilman is an outdoorsman, author, musician, and Minnesotan. His adventures take him all over the map, but he’s always at neveragoosechase.com.
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