Our Outdoors: That One Gun
Our Outdoors: That One GunBy Nick SimonsonFor an uplander, there’s nothing more reassuring than a trusted shotgun. For me, it remains a super light 20 gauge that shoulders easily, swings smoothly, and more often than not, connects with my target. The familiar crook between trigger guard and checkered wood grip where my hand tenses up as a bird rises and the smooth section which cradles my cheek to the stock on the mount feels as natural as my face hitting the pillow after a long day. Familiarity with a firearm coming from time on the range and many seasons afield […]
Our Outdoors: Problems with Plastic
Our Outdoors: Problems With PlasticBy Nick Simonson I’ve come to despise plastic. I guess not all plastic, just the plastic that gets in the way of enjoying the outdoors and the aesthetics of being in places where plastic shouldn’t be. Like all things in this life, it’s a harsh duality and a battle of rationalization along a fine line at times. That’s because plastic is so versatile, arguably the foundation of our current society, and probably a big part of a successful trip in the outdoors as well, whether fishing, hunting, hiking or camping. Ultra-safe and environmentally friendlier modern cars, packaging […]
Our Outdoors: The Hope in Habitat
Our Outdoors: The Hope in HabitatBy Nick Simonson When it comes to hunting, where you find habitat, you find your quarry. While fields of corn and soybeans will draw pheasants, deer and waterfowl to their edges to feed, the other 95 percent of their lives are spent loafing, staying warm, remaining hidden and raising their young in places kept away from prying eyes under the cover of thick vegetation and tangled reeds and branches. Sloughs, tree claims, creek hollows, river bottoms and other such stretches of habitat, including those that were once natural and now restored – such as second-generation […]
Our Outdoors: The Sprint
Our Outdoors: The SprintBy Nick Simonson They say summer moves fast, and it’s true, but by far, fall goes by the quickest of all the seasons; especially for those of us of a hunting mindset, and specifically in this particular autumn we’re experiencing. It always feels as if the next three months will be subject to the wills of the weather and the winds of change, as autumn so often is hemmed in by the first strong snowfall. However, this fall, summer has spilled into the front half, making morning outings in the field with my lab short and limited by […]
Our Outdoors: Ready for the Return
Our Outdoors: Ready for the ReturnBy Nick Simonson The recent mornings have at least brought a taste of cool autumn air mixed with the above-average summerlike afternoon temperatures the region has experienced at the start of the season. In those chilly stretches around dawn, whether walking around the block with the dogs or running along the edge of town, I can sense the approaching pheasant season and the onset of October, despite the mercury later in the day getting into the 70s, 80s and even 90s, making for sweaty evening bow hunts and afternoons too warm for my oversized (but […]
Our Outdoors: Running Into Fall
Our Outdoors: Running Into FallBy Nick Simonson This Saturday was the second of two back-to-back weekend road races which capped off the most amazing summer of running for me. It was blissfully cool in the morning ahead of the two-day warm-up which, once again in this summer’s style, timed out perfectly for an enjoyable weekend. With the major milestones of dove, deer archery and grouse opener behind me, the off weekend allowed for a chance to close out what has been an excellent summer for many things, including time on the trail.I can’t recall a warm weather season where I […]
Our Outdoors: Hot Dogs
Our Outdoors: Hot DogsBy Nick Simonson In what has been an historically hot summer across much of the country, and certainly the upper Midwest, it’s easy to assume those temperatures will stick around into fall. As the old saying goes, when in a drought, don’t predict rain. But even in those average years over the past few decades, September and October have not been without their surges into the upper 80- and low 90-degree range, making many afternoons more suitable for backyard football games in shorts and t-shirts, following a morning chasing birds in the field. When it comes to […]
Our Outdoors: First Watch
Our Outdoors: First WatchBy Nick Simonson Opening day of North Dakota’s bow season sits in that stretch of time where summer and fall mix together. Cool dewy mornings of Labor Day weekend melt into warm afternoons, and despite the fact that deer are in their warm weather patterns and most often present themselves with a reserve limited to those habits from previous months, the start of the season remains a big draw for me. Heading out into the dark countryside, where the glow of town’s lights is muted by a rise in the hills and the 30-minute drive down interstate, […]
Our Outdoors: The Need for Nets
Our Outdoors: The Need for NetsBy Nick Simonson The things you own end up owning you. It’s a statement I say every so often in life, as mechanical things break down, technology freezes up, and the piles of day-to-day stuff mount in the corner of the basement storage area. I uttered it at least once this weekend as a summer’s worth of clutter which accumulated between the end of school, road trips, holidays and other adventures was purged from our house and garage or boxed and stashed to be dealt with more permanently somewhere down the road. While finishing up […]
