- TV Nature Shows are great, but Backyard Nature Shows are Incredible
- Birds, Rabbits, Squirrels, Butterflies, Deer, and so much more…PEACE.
- Sunrise and Sunset are the best times to Sip a Coffee on a Quiet Chair in your Backyard.
By Larry Whiteley
For some of you, your only experience with nature is watching shows on PBS, National Geographic, Discovery, and others in the comfort of your home. I also love watching nature shows. However, they are much better when I watch them out the windows of my home rather than on television, my tablet, or my smartphone.
I am entertained more through those windows than my recliner watching TV nature shows. At home, I see colorful birds coming to our feeders. Bright red male Cardinals. Iridescent blue Indigo Buntings, yellow and black Finches, gray Mourning Doves, and blue Bluejays. Woodpeckers and other birds of all colors and sizes join them, along with the tiny Hummingbirds. Colorful Baltimore Orioles and Rose-breasted Grosbeaks add even more color to the bird show during springtime.
Our squirrel population is also part of the nature show out our windows. I watch young squirrels play tag and wrestle. I have even seen squirrels do the same thing with rabbits. In the fall, adults gather acorns for the winter and build nests high in the trees. In spring, birds dive-bomb squirrels that get too close to their nest. During summer’s hot days, I watch squirrels spread their bodies and lay flat in the shade. They are trying to cool off and are doing what is called splooting. Squirrel tracks are everywhere in winter snow.
I am also blessed, at times, to see Deer, Turkey, Red-Tailed Hawks, lots of Crows, Great Horned Owls, and sometimes even an Eagle. All the butterflies are another special treat. There is always a nature show going on every season of the year. But it is like watching nature TV shows on my 
devices with muted sounds if I stay inside. To enjoy nature shows even better, I open the door and go outside with my binoculars. That way, I can take in all the sights and sounds of the nature shows. I take pictures and record all the sounds with my smartphone. They will bring me many hours of enjoyment later.
I try not to make noise while I am there. If I am successful, the wildlife tolerate me being in their world. They continue to do what they do. Geese honk, Crows caw. Birds will sing and feed. Squirrels will chatter and run around everywhere. Both will scatter and hide if they hear the sound of a red-tailed Hawk flying around looking for a meal.
I go outdoors any time during the day to watch and listen to nature shows. I love to be there as the sun rises, a cup of coffee in hand. The wildlife wake up and start their day. They don’t even know I am there with them as I watch and listen. Bird songs start, turkeys gobble, a breeze blows through the trees, and crows begin talking to each other. I might also see a chipmunk scurrying around or a turtle slowly walking while exploring my yard. A lizard or two is usually somewhere. Movement under a bush is probably a snake looking for his next meal. Sunrises are always beautiful. I can never take enough pictures of them or the rainbows after a rain. It is much better than watching the morning news on TV and getting all depressed before the day even starts.
Sunsets are also a favorite time for me. They are beautiful. Deer move around looking for a place to bed down for the night. As it gets darker, owls hoot and coyotes howl. Bats begin to dive for bugs. Summer nights also mean a light show performance by thousands of tiny fireflies. I can also record or enjoy the sounds of frogs, crickets, cicadas, and katydids. A little thunder and lightning only add to the night. Pull up a chair and enjoy the show.
You probably think I live in the country to enjoy nature like that. When we built our house fifty years ago, it was in the country. There were few neighbors. Today, I not only see nature shows out every window, but I also see other homes out every window. Most people probably don’t even realize a live nature show is happening outside near their homes. I hear their barking dogs, their mowers, and weed eaters. Their cars and trucks drive down the road. Most of you can probably hear and see all that, too. But even with all that, I bet there are nature shows right outside your window if you take the time to look and listen.
Now, why would you bother to do that? First of all, we should all be mindful of the different types of media we consume on a regular basis and how it impacts our mind. That includes TV, movies, books, magazines, news, and social media. Everything we choose to consume daily has an effect on our thoughts, feelings, and perspectives in some way. There are lots of studies that show how spending more time in nature is good for you.
One study showed nature can reduce symptoms of depression. Another study showed that bird-watching around your home can reduce stress and anxiety. Another study found that just listening to the sounds of nature can put us into a more relaxed and comfortable state. Other studies have shown experiencing nature can lower blood pressure, reduce nervous system arousal, enhance immune system function, increase self-esteem, reduce anxiety, and improve our mood. Do you need any other reasons to start getting involved in watching and listening to nature shows out your windows and outdoors?
After learning to enjoy the nature shows around your home, I encourage you to take the next step. Go camping, even if starting off, it is in your own backyard. Hopefully, you will take the next step and go camping outdoors at places away from man-made noises and artificial lights.
Get on your computer or smartphone and find places to go hike. Enjoy nature along the way, and when you reach the top, look out over the valley below and be amazed. Find a river or lake and catch a fish or relax in or on the water. Learn to enjoy wildflowers in the spring, snow in the woods during winter, colorful leaves in the fall, and a star-filled sky on a summer night. Discover how incredible nature is.
Get away from the TV, computer, and smartphone. Escape all that is going on in your life and our broken world. Find the peace you seek. Restore your body and soul. I personally know Who created the outdoors, and He did a great job. Let Him and all the nature shows change your life for the better.
As Anne Frank said, “The best remedy for those who are afraid, lonely, or unhappy is to go outside, somewhere where they can be quiet, alone with the heavens, nature, and God. Because only then does one feel that all is as it should be and that God wishes to see people happy amidst the simple beauty of nature.”
Though true heroes were pointed out to us so we would see them.
I learned that heroes are people who give of themselves when required.
We have heroes today, but it seems we do not thank our heroes as much as we once did.
If it’s water you seek for your adventure, Otsego County has over 90 inland lakes and the headwaters to five major rivers start here. The sinkhole lakes in the Pigeon River Country State Forest is also something you have to experience to believe. If you’re a fisherman, this is truly paradise. You can catch tiger Muskie, northern pike, walleye, yellow perch, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, bluegill, rainbow trout, brown trout and brook trout just about any season of the year. Choose from open water, hard water or flowing water. Otsego Lake, the county’s largest lake, offers the opportunity to try and catch huge sturgeon which can grow to over 7-feet long and weigh up to 200-pounds. During winter Otsego Lake is known for its great ice fishing.
Come during the winter season and truly experience a winter wonderland. The trails now become fantastic for snowshoeing and cross country skiing. Snowmobiling is also a popular wintertime activity. If you come during the winter season you have to try rafting on the scenic Sturgeon River. It’s another adventure you do not want to miss. Your whole family would also love taking a sleigh ride. You can also enjoy downhill skiing, snowboarding and tubing at either Otsego Resort or Treetops Resort. Both also offer golf in the other seasons on renowned championship golf courses. There are 17 other golf courses in the county making it a mecca for golfers. If you enjoy camping there are lots of places to pitch a tent or park your RV. There’s also plenty of cabins, resorts, hotels, motels and even a dude ranch to choose from.
In some ways, Jake is just an average 15-year-old boy. Although his hunting and shooting abilities are comparable to an adult level of participation, he, like many 15-year-olds, thinks he is a “top dog”. I think it’s great when a youth has an outlet for his energy and takes an interest in the outdoors. Jake won’t see his 16th birthday. Jake won’t be out for the deer season, and we will never know what Jake may have been able to offer the youth of future generations.
Today’s fishermen are gearheads, no doubt about it. There are a myriad of specific rods, reels, lures, terminal tackle, and accessories to help them be successful in freshwater and saltwater, no matter the targeted species. Regardless, there are three tools all anglers should always have – pliers, scissors, and a hook remover. The Anglers’ Best Tool Kit conveniently combines all three, each of the highest quality designed to last a lifetime. All for under $45.
As he stood there looking out the kitchen window, sipping his coffee and staring at the cold, he watched birds coming into the feeders. The woodpeckers pecked at the frozen suet cakes. That’s no problem for a woodpecker. Other birds pecked around anywhere they could find a seed. They needed the food to warm their little bodies. Among the birds were more bluebirds than the man had ever seen at one time. Usually, he didn’t see them until spring, when they were ready to start nesting.
Suddenly all the birds scattered as a red-tailed hawk dove into the snow, trying to catch breakfast. He missed and flew away, probably thinking that catching a mouse would be easier. A friend had recently sent him a picture of a woodpecker frozen to a tree and another of a bluebird a friend of his had found frozen, but managed to nurse back to life. Winter is hard on those that have to live out in it every day.
He was amazed at all the tracks he saw. There were many bird tracks around the feeders as well as tracks and a body print of a hawk who missed. Rabbit tracks led into the tall bushy grass and also under a storage building. Squirrel tracks could be seen in the snow clinging to the sides of trees, then across the snow to another tree and another. Near their tracks were holes where they were looking for acorns. The tiny tracks were probably field mice. Deer tracks were on the hill behind the house near where the garden is in the spring. Dog or coyote tracks were there also. Raccoon tracks were on the dirt road behind. Tracks of little kids and sled tracks were nearby.
The classic Steelhead Outdoors Nomad series offers ceramic fire insulation rated to 2300 degrees and is non-moisture trapping. That means no dehumidifier is required (and will not release steam into the safe in the event of a fire). How cool is that?!
My mind travels back in time, and I see the horse in the picture standing in a stall. I see corn stalks stacked in another area. Maybe this was where they milked the old cow. Is that daylight coming through the cracks? It sounds like the storm has let up. I better get up in the loft.
By Larry Whiteley
He finally came up with the idea of building one with a forward-mounted wheel that would allow the paddle to be moved to both sides of the box. That way, it could be used on any of four sound rails, each made with different wood types to have four different tones. Thus came the name for his call, the 4-Play. He also found that since the wheel allowed the lid to be moved forward and backward, he could strike the sound rails in multiple locations, adding to his box call versatility. The 4-Play is a turkey box call like no other you have ever seen or used. 
This old turkey hunter has never seen anything like it in all my years of turkey hunting, so I just had to have a 4-Play. I love it! I can’t believe all the sounds I can make with it. I’m clucking, purring, yelping, and even fly down cackling with it. I can’t wait until spring turkey season. My wife can’t either! Can you believe she banned me from the house and makes me take my 4-Play and practice out in the barn?
and stack it next to your shooting position for quick and easy access, the Ulfhednar UH110 Versatile Ammunition Folder is made from water-resistant Cordura nylon. It features a durable carrying strap and holds up to 40 rifle cartridges. It can be set up in a triangle and locked with Velcro. There’s also an exterior waterproof table pocket that can be removed and replaced with the four included cartridge strips, each holding 10 rounds each. Two and two cartridge strips can be mounted together so that you get two cartridge strips with 20 shots in each.
You also need a rifle case. Usually, a rifle case is a rifle case, but how about a gun case that doubles as a top-end shooting mat? That’s what you get with the Ulfhednar UH040 BASE CAMP. Sporting backpack straps on the underside in addition to a top carrying handle. The UH040 is easy to sling on a shoulder and tote to the range or into the field. Once there, the bag folds out to reveal a full-length shooting mat measuring 41 x 79 inches. While an integrated shooting mat is pretty useful on its own, Ulfhednar takes it to another level by utilizing a rubber material (like you’d see in car tires) on certain surfaces of the mat to add friction. The rubber is laid specifically on the mat to give shooters a little resistance while shooting, so shooters’ elbows and/or the firearm itself doesn’t slip when firing. The product also has a lot of storage pockets, Molle web for attaching extra pockets or other equipment, a zippered inner storage pocket, a channel for storing your cleaning/push rod, and a detachable pocket for tables, and it also comes with a two-foot extension lower leg mat and extended bipod mat. It’s made from Cordura nylon and features covered YKK zippers.
40-year champion shooter, Ulfhednar is producing a line of products that are incredibly innovative, durable, and exactly in time with the growing PRS market in the US. Long Range/PRS are the largest shooting sports in Norway boasting 6,000 registered competitors. 
Table Rock Lake has nearly 800 miles of shoreline and is one of Missouri’s top fishing destinations. Marina’s offer boat and equipment rentals, or bring your own, as there are multiple public and privately-owned locations to access the lake. Want to relax on the lake? Enjoy a lunch or dinner cruise and show aboard the Showboat Branson Belle or take a cruise on the Spirit of America catamaran.
GPO USA PASSION™ 8×42 ED Binocular Wins Best Birding Binocular Award – Best Binoculars Reviews (BBR) has awarded the GPO PASSION 8×42 ED binocular with its 2020 Best Birding Binocular. Now in its tenth year, BBR awards the very best binoculars they have fully tested and reviewed in the past 12 months in a range of categories.
BBR website publisher commented about the quality of the GPO 8×42 binocular: “For just about all uses, but especially important for birding, an image that is of excellent quality and true to life is a critical feature. This is because it not only ensures you can fully appreciate the beauty of the birds in all their glory but sometimes, tiny differences in plumage colorations can make the difference when trying to positively identify one sub-species from another.
One of the big hassles of hunting with a compound bow is figuring out how to securely and safely pack and carry it afield, yet keep it handy enough that you can immediately spring into action should an unforeseen opportunity arise. The solution is simple: Bow Spider — the quickest and easiest bow retrieval system on the market. Whether you are a backpack hunter, spend your time up a tree, or need both hands free when crossing a field while carrying decoys, blinds, and other accessories, Bow Spider is the answer you’ve been looking for.
The Bow Spider is available in green, tan, or black, and has a MSRP of $84.95. To see how it works, check out this short YouTube video quick access: 
Durable WOK with BIG KAHUNA Burner 
Every lady needs a good pair of boots. I bought my wife a pair of 
It was now March of 2020, I had no more Federal Champion .22LR 40-grain ammunition. Instead of taking the long drive to Cabelas, on the way to West Falls, I stopped in at The Valley Gun Shop in West Falls, NY. I had never been here, but I thought it was time to say hello, introduce myself, and to check it out. The gentlemen who owns the shop only carried CCI hollow-point 40-grain ammunition for .22 caliber rifles. I decided to purchase those and see how they shot. I figured they would probably not shoot the same as the Federal ammunition, but wanted to try them and compare anyway.
Testing the ammo types was educational and fun. While these ammo brands might perform differently in other rifle brands, I would have to conclude from live-fire testing that for my break-action, single-shot Rossi, the best (most accurate and repeatable) ammo out of these three brands was the Federal .22LR 40-Grain. Not only does the gun powder smell fresh (hard to describe), the crisp sound of the shot was consistent and the ammo performed consistently. Above that, I never had a misfire in those 200 Federal rounds fired.
Walleye are challenging to catch and delicious to eat, making them one of the most prized sportfish in New York. As the largest member of the perch family, adult walleye typically weigh 1-3 lbs., but they can get much larger. The state record is a remarkable 18 lb. 2 oz. giant caught from the St. Lawrence River in 2018. Walleye are found across the state and provide phenomenal fishing opportunities in select waters.
Effective turkey hunting takes a lot of work – scouting, judgment, execution in calling, as well as choosing the right set-up. Making sure that your pattern is extremely effective no longer has to be that much work. Trulock has put in the hours for you.
