My "Backyard"

Why is it that the hunting expeditions on my "to do list" tend to bring me to some foreign land in order to cross off a particular hunt on my list? Could it be that the old adage of the grass is always greener on the other side also applies to hunting? There are many species I have yet to fill a tag on that live right here in my home state of Colorado, such as... Big Horn Ram, Moose, and Mule Deer. So, I guess the question is: Why do I still want to jump on a plane and head to some foreign land to go on a hunting adventure? I guess it boils down to that one little word: ADVENTURE.

There is a thrill in the thought of hunting caribou on the tundra and having to fly on a single-engine-puddle-jumper-whatever-you-call-it little plane that lands on the water. I think I will need a shot of whiskey or something to get the nerve to fly in one of those things. But would it be worth it? You bet! I want the adventure.

There is also the New Zealand hunt that I would LOVE to go on. I think it is partially an excuse to visit this country, but if I can include a hunt with the trip that is an added bonus. It would be a trip of a lifetime.

However, before any of these hunting dreams become reality, I think I need to be satisfied with all of the wonderful hunting opportunities right out my back door. I still have a lot of hunting to do right here in Colorado. The next on my list... High Altitude Mule Deer. We are already planning this hunt for next summer. I'm sure that you will be hearing all about it in the upcoming months. I need to be mentally and physically prepared for this hunt; so, the physical preparation will begin very soon. Stay tuned!

A few of My Favorite Things

In the spirit of being thankful this week, I thought I would take a few moments to make a list of things I'm thankful for. Here are a few of my random favorites in no particular order:

• Mountain sunsets
• Slobbery dog kisses
• Family - my sweet husband, dad, mom, brother, sister, grandparents, father-in-law, mother-in-law, etc. (ALL of my family) ;)
• God
• Earthworms
• Chapstick
• Foot rubs
• The smell right after it rains
• Friends
• Being able to run
• Freedom
• Rangefinders
• Campfires
• My badlands backpack
• A good cup of coffee
• The sound of wind through pine trees
• Hugs
• Toe nail polish
• Laughter
• Lightning storms - from a distance
• Riding lawnmowers
• And lastly... those who serve unselfishly

Just a few of my favorite things. Now it is your turn.

What are you thankful for?

Finding My Anchor Point

At archery league last week my husband was giving me pointers, as usual. These unsolicited pointers usually occur because I am doing something incorrectly. I think I have pretty good form. However, I am not consistent in a few things when shooting, one of them being - my anchor point. What is an anchor point some may ask? It is the reference points chosen uniquely by only you that leads to reliable accuracy each time an arrow is released at full draw. It is always touching the bowstring to the tip of your nose at that exact same spot. Or pressing your thumb on the same spot on your check each and every time. Consistency. Consistency. Consistency. The key is to find your rhythm and not change the tune one bit. To stray even just slightly from your anchor point will cause your mark to be missed, the song to be off-tune, the dance to skip a step.

If you watch experienced archers, you can clearly see that they have a rhythm. Their pattern doesn't change at all. They do the same exact thing each time they pull their bow back. It is the same song, same dance that somehow never seems to get old. In fact, the rhythm of it all captures you and invites you to come and learn your own song and dance to be performed over and over.

Webster defines the word "anchor" several ways. One definition includes: "a person or thing that can be relied on for support, stability, or security; mainstay: Hope was his only anchor." Another definition: "To fix or fasten: affix firmly". Combine this with the word "point" and waala, you are affixing firmly to a point. The idea is that the more you consistently anchor to the same point, eventually it becomes a habit and you no longer have to tell your brain to concentrate and find that sweet spot.

I actually started this post on Thursday evening after archery league but just couldn't seem to compile my random thoughts into something that made sense. So, I let it sit uncompleted in order to digest it a bit. On Friday morning I had the privilege of listening to Kerry Hasenbalg tell her story of how God carried her through a difficult time in her life. A 37 week pregnancy had come abruptly to an end and her child was delivered stillborn. She told of her struggle to heal the pain and used the illustration of needing an anchor in her life that she could cling to during this time.

There needs to be a place in life that is consistent and true. In a world filled with moral relativism, clinging to ultimate truth becomes a necessary anchor. The swells of life have a way of consuming and inviting us to be swallowed up. An anchor is needed.

Here is the tangible illustration... Apparently, during a hurricane the boats unable to be removed from the sea have the best chance of surviving the storm if they have a sturdy anchor that runs deep and holds strong. But there is more to it than just that. The boats that survive must have a strong anchor, but also be cross tied to another strong object. I love that. Do you get the illustration? We not only need an anchor, but we need each other. Oh, and one more thing... you have to position your boat with it's bow in the direction of the prevailing winds. Face in the wind, friends. Chin up. Knowing your anchor will hold.

WOW! Although I have not been through the pain of loosing a child, I still felt as if God was speaking directly to me saying, "Let me be your anchor for your storms, whatever they may be." My hope is that you've found your anchor point in life. A place where you can consistently come back to time and time again; and that ultimately, you can dance.

Oh, and I've been hearing about my archery anchor point from my husband for quite sometime now. Maybe it is about time I start listening.

Target Practice from Emily on Vimeo.

(This video was recorded last year about this time. Yes, we shoot out our backdoor).

Hunting Blues

As the deer are beginning to rut (or maybe already are), I'm sitting here feeling like I'm in a rut. I don't have a tag in my pocket. The freezer is void of game meat. The sun is no longer shinning as I drive home from work. Deer eyeballs peer at me through the darkness from the side of the road. A pope and young record wanna be stuck his tongue out at me the other night. I need a hair cut. I need a tan. I think I need a beach and a corona in my hand. Woe Woe Woe is me.

The deer are taunting me:

Hit Me - Deer Blues from Emily on Vimeo.

I'll be okay. Really. Just needed to vent a little.

Lessons Learned in the Woods

I'm tired tonight and my brain cells have all been used up at work today. So, I'm afraid that all I can leave you with this evening is some random thoughts regarding lessons learned or observations from spending time in the woods, mountains, back country, etc...

• Bears like raisins
• You can't chase a turkey up the side of the mountain - but it is fun to try
• You can see the fingerprints of God all around on the top of a mountain ridge - soak it in
• Speaking of soaking it in - dry undies is a beautiful thing. Don't forget your rain gear.
• Bears really do shit in the woods - watch your step
• Logs are slippery after it rains
• Don't lean up against a dead tree
• Don't name the raccoon that frequents your camp. How can you shoot "Ricky"?
• Porcupines look funny when mad
• Stay in the ruts! (If it is raining and the side of the road drops off to what seems like a 1,00 feet or more and there are not chains for the truck, I would rather walk. Thank you very much.)
• After steeling all the food, sneaking in the tent and leaving footprints all over the cooler, the hunt for Ricky is on! Ricky is dead.
• And lastly... Sasquatch really is alive and well...

Wait. I think that is just Big Al.

Final lesson - don't get in the way of my camera or you may end up with your mug on my blog.

More Deer Mischief

I think this is why all those with deer tags

are having problems this year:

Surgical Tube Sling Shots

I have a mischievous side. I'm usually the silent one in the group. (That is until you get to know me.) I've heard that it is the silent ones that you should usually beware of. So they say. There must be an inkling of truth to the saying. I once bit my baby brother's toe just to see what he would do. My sister got spanked. While I'm confessing, let me tell you about the time we treed our neighbors yard. Yep - treed it.

When I lived in Minnesota, you could dispose of your Christmas tree the week after Christmas by leaving it next to your garbage for the Waste Management companies to pick up. Naturally, this provided a great opportunity for a car full of teenage girls to conveniently load up Christmas trees in the trunk and top of their car in order to "plant" them in someones yard. By December in MN the amount of snow in yards allowed our little tree collection of 20 some trees to be lined up in perfect rows. Some even had their handmade ornaments and popcorn garland still nestled in the pine branches. Our prank wasn't complete until the trees were covered in toilet paper garland. After the once treeless yard was decorated with Christmas trees and white flowing paper, we watched from across the street as the homeowners arrived back home from their hockey game. Of course, we had to see the reaction to our lovely display...

The wife, "Look honey - someone t-pd our yard."

The husband, "Where the HELL did all of those trees come from!"

(It is a good thing we didn't freeze the trees in front of the garage as some suggested.)

The Hunter's Wife aka Jody recently revealed that she is now packing heat. Her weapon of choice: deer slingy balls. After seeing this nifty sling shot, I was reminded of the time that my dad brought home surgical tubing to make homemade water balloon sling shots. Man did that thing work good! Let me just say... the boats cruising by on the Mississippi River never had a chance. You drive, float, canoe, jet ski behind our house and there is a chance of a water balloon launching in your general direction from our backyard. I would love to have that sling shot again. I'm dying to see what it would be like to launch a water balloon from the top of a canyon or mountain hillside. It is the evil, mischievous side of me. I can't help it.

Mountain Mornings

We just returned from a weekend in the mountains.

Mornings waking up to this view never gets old:

A few deer made an appearance...

I think they knew we didn't have a deer tag.

Heart Snag

Something has been bothering me since my post regarding snagging salmon. It is more than just the controversy over whether or not a fish should be snagged. Something is snagging my heart. I may loose a few readers after this and have debated whether or not this is even the platform for these ramblings. But they are my ramblings. My thoughts. This is who I am.

So, please bear with me as I take a minor detour from the hunting theme of this blog and give you a glimpse into my soul. A glimpse into one of my heart cries.

I've been married for 10 plus years and have yet to have children. This is where the computer monitor becomes a bit blurry as tears begin to build. I long to have children. So far, for whatever reason my womb is empty. However, one thing I'm sure of - the longing for a child has grown deeper. For this reason I believe God is up to something. What it is, I'm not sure. There are still doctor visits to go through with, which I keep procrastinating on for some reason. Last time I went, they said my thyroid was off and wanted to give me drugs. I'm just not sure about all of that yet.

One thing I know is there are many children out there that need a good home. Children longing for someone to call Mommy and Daddy. The husband and I have had several conversations over whether or not adoption is an option for us. Whatever door that opens, I want to be ready to walk through it. So we are having the conversation, although we are not ready to commit to it quite yet. This weekend is Orphan Care Sunday - A little conviction in my heart is going on.

So, you may be asking..."what in the world does this have to do with snagging salmon?" Given this personal longing for children, what tore me up on way home from work the other day as I was thinking on all of this was one simple thought: Our nation is literally allowing us women to snag the life of our children from our wombs. How can this be when there are hearts like mine LONGING for children? We turn a blind eye and call it a choice. How can we get so worked up about whether or not it is right to "catch" a fish via a snell hook vs a snagging hook, yet allow are children to be ripped from their first breath? I think we have our priorities mixed up a bit. I think we've been deceived under the label of choice. The legality of something does not always make it right. So, my heart grieves for women who have made this choice.

The question haunting my heart - if I can feel so strongly about choice vs life options, I must be willing to do something about those who are given the chance at life and then left to be abandoned for whatever reason. Ultimately, the child deserves life. I believe it is their choice to live. To run. To play. Now, it is my choice on how I help to solve this problem. My heart weeps for the orphan. My heart wants to jump out of my chest and tell them I will care for you. Bring me the unwanted. So, in a small way this is me speaking out for the ones that do not yet have a voice. And for those that have been given their voice and simply want a Mommy and Daddy, those faces are calling to me... I know there is a longing that needs to be filled.

Orphan Sunday from Christian Alliance for Orphans on Vimeo.

"They need me. I need them more."

What a crazy crazy world we live in.

P.s. I'm done snagging salmon.

Extreme at Heart

There was a recent opportunity offered by Tahoe Films for women to enter an "Extreme Huntress Contest". Although, I was skeptical if I truly embodied an "extreme huntress", I was hopeful that I may have a chance of making the cut. So, I wrote a quick essay the night before the contest closed and sent my email off with a quick prayer - if it is meant to be, it is meant to be. It wasn't meant to be.

Honestly, I would be lying if I said I wasn't a little disappointed when I looked up the Tahoe website this morning to check the names of the finalists. My name was not on the list. However, I quickly realized as I scanned the essays submitted that there are some truly amazing women that did make the cut. There is even an 86 year old lady that is one of the finalists!! I'll be reading over their essay's and casting my vote. I would encourage you to check out some of the great women hunters on this list and pick one to support.

I realized something today. Even though I may not have participated in as many hardcore hunting trips (yet) as some, and even though I am not an Extreme Huntress finalist, there is one thing I know I am: "Extreme at Heart."

I will continue to pursue my passion for the outdoors. I am encouraged to be better today than yesterday. To dream bigger. As I've said before... Live out your dreams. Chase your goals. Or should it be "Chase your dreams and live out your goals"? Either way - I say run. Live. Be extreme.

Spawn Song - the Snagging Controversy

As many of you know, I'm new to the fishing world and am just beginning to develop a love for the sport. I've always considered myself an ethical person and want to carry this through all aspects of my life... which includes hunting and now fishing.

In Colorado, our Division of Wildlife (DOW) allows fishermen to snag up to 10 salmon a day beginning in September (depending on location) until December. However, I've recently noticed that the method of taking salmon via snagging is illegal in many states and deemed unethical by many anglers. I agree that if you are snagging for the sole purpose of stealing the salmon eggs and no other reason, then I have a problem with this. However, if the salmon on your dinner plate was taken by a snag hook vs a hook with a worm, is this also unethical? Does a fish feel more pain from a hook in the side vs a hook in the mouth? Granted if you are catch and release fishing, the chance of harming the gills is probably less if caught in the mouth.

Or here is another question... What if a dip net is used, during the allowed season in Alaska? Is this also unethical? I have good friends in Alaska that fill their freezer with fresh salmon for their family as a result of dip netting.

I'm still undecided on this for now, and will be thinking on it for the next few days. I did notice that our DOW is also giving away free kokanee salmon to anyone with a valid Colorado fishing license. So, I may have to put my name in for that since the fish on the end of my line are nonexistent right now. I would really love to break out the marinade and try some of these great-tasting fish.

I know there are probably some strong opinions out there, and I'm not sure exactly where I've landed on the issue of snagging. So, please leave me your thoughts. I would love to know what my blogging friends with fish wisdom out there think...