As the Christmas spirit winds down and a New Year looms, the excitement of the holiday season cools as quickly as a January day. With each short, cold day and every long frigid night, many sportsmen develop the cold weather blahs, cabin fever, SAD or whatever seasonal affliction Aroostook folks endure. Just like extra Vitamin C and a flu shot, there are certain measures that help outdoorsmen endure and survive “snow season.”
Let me relate my own personal game plan: I put a strategy together between Christmas and New Year rather than make unreasonable resolutions every Dec. 31st. Perhaps some of my ideas, pastimes, hobbies and goals will spark your interest and help pass several long winter evenings. After all, there are only so many ice fishing trips and coyote or rabbits hunting outings a person can stand!
A few weeks ago I penned an article on possible gift ideas to please sportsmen on your list, as it happens my family and friends made some wonderful shopping selections to place under my tree. Many will play a big part in my 2016 winter survival plan to reach spring, green grass and open water. Hopefully some of these will spark an interest for my readers to start a new hobby or try a different diversion to shorten their snow and cold weather doldrums.
One trout fishing buddy gifted me with a dozen assorted dry flies and nymphs, so I’m going to spend a couple of nights going through my many boxes of flies. Add the new ones, put sizes and patterns in order, sharpen hooks, clean and repair much used specimens and discard those beyond saving. I’ll also enjoy a few random evenings at my fly bench concocting missing patterns of tandem streamers, wet flies, Atlantic salmon offerings and a few salt water patterns for striper, tarpon, and sailfish.
My wife and another friend refilled my dwindling book case with mystery novels, and my cousin Steve got me a large, well-illustrated tome on Atlantic salmon fishing that I can’t wait to read. At this time of year, if you can’t actually enjoy a sport you love, the next best thing is reading about it and immersing yourself with memories and imagination. Another outdoor buddy got me two books of cartoons about hunting, fishing and other outlandish outdoor activities to help me grin and laugh despite stormy conditions.
I got a waterproof, scent-proof camouflaged dry bag in which to transport hunting clothes so they won’t pick up unwanted odors, It’s a lot better than the ungainly green plastic garbage bag I’ve used for a couple of seasons. This gift allowed me to enjoy a few daydreams about the upcoming deer, bear, and moose seasons, for which it will be well used. I hosted and guided a long-time, non-hunting friend on his journey to achieve his first ever license and through a week of black bear season. He became quickly enthralled with the new outdoor endeavors and rather than wait for next fall, I’ve helped him book a Canadian spring bear hunt. He rewarded me with a new high-tech toy that’s going to make me a better sportsman.
The SEEK THERMAL company produces Reveal, a compact hand-held thermal imaging camera combined with a high-performance light. It is the ultimate unit for locating a downed game animal, especially in dusky or dark conditions and in thick brush or dense forest. I can’t wait to try it out next hunting season. My wife is refusing to hide in dark rooms or behind closet doors any more so I can try it out, and I got some funny looks tracking the radiant heated paw prints of the neighbor’s dog. If I just can’t hold out until deer season, maybe I’ll try it on a coyote hunt.
I also received a new set of loading dies for a unique pistol caliber, so I’ll be spending a few stormy days and bitter cold nights at my warm, comfy loading desk. It’s always fun to experiment and create an accurate cartridge load and far less expensive than retail. Since I got a few new Swedish Pimple lures and some colorful jigs, it seems only fair to venture out ice fishing on a clear, moderate temperature day or two. Maybe an evening of smelt and cusk handlining in a cozy, shanty is on tap as well.
Another useful package contained chemical hand and toe warmers for winter outings and there was a special trout and bird cleaning knife and sheath for the coming warm weather outings. A group of my karate students and black belts got together to present me with a Cabela’s gift certificate, and my better half bought my combination hunting and fishing license combo for 2016. Now those gifts offer something for most months of the upcoming year.
I hope every sportsman got some new gear or equipment that helps pass some time this winter and gives hope and desire for the upcoming cast and blast seasons. Christmas gifts that keep on giving sure help endure cold weather — make the best of yours.
