This time of year in Ohio, it’s easier to refer to hunting season in terms of the one recently passed, rather than the next one which is still a good ways down the road. But certainly, there are a couple of cases in which you may indeed be thinking ahead. Scounting, for example, is something you ought to be doing year-round.

Photo courtesy of N.L. Heineke

And if this is a “new firearm purchase” year for you, this is the time you should be thinking about what you want and where you’re going to get it from.

in some cases, a purchase started now may not be ready for this fall’s hunting. Take, for example, the ultra-high-end artwork from gunsmiths like Wyoming-based N.L. Heineke. Purchase one of these heirloom pieces, and you’ll need to plan a year or so between pulling the financial trigger and pulling the actual trigger. On the other end of the spectrum, companies like Volquartsen can turn-around custom work for DIY super-rimfire projects in a few business days. A much shorter wait time, for certain, but it’s certainly an apples-to-oranges comparison that shows the wide range of gunsmithing and custom firearm projects an ambitious hunter could undertake in the off-season.

Before you dive into that super-accurized 10/22 or the once-in-a-lifetime custom field piece, spend some time making sure you know what you really want out of the project. Are you looking for a firearm to fulfill a very specific purpose? Are you interested in getting your hands dirty, or would you rather put your effort into communicating exactly what you want to a craftsman? Do you know your budget, and will it cover what your heart’s set on? Answer these questions before you crack open the catalogs or start surfing web sites. Otherwise, you run the risk of a disappointing, over-budget custom job or worse, a half finished, useless project sitting in your workshop collecting dust.

Like in the field, preparation is half the game. Spend time on that this summer (preferably while waiting for something to take the hook at your favorite fishing hole), and you’ll be on your way to a successfully completed project this fall or winter.

Those of you living in Southwest Ohio can appreciate the title, I suspect. The moderate warmth of Spring vanished like a spooked rabbit this weekend, leaving bright, unexpectedly hot weather in its wake. The heat’s not a bad thing if you’re prepped for it.

I wasn’t prepped for it this time around.

Let my experience Sunday be a lesson to you – when you think you have enough water, pack a little more. I rode in a bike race in a beautiful rural area in Indiana, just off I-74. It was sunny and hot – darn hot, especially if you’re cranking on the pedals at 110 percent in a pack of like-minded racers.

I filled my standard two water bottles before the race, and made sure to drink a lot during my warm-up. But it wasn’t enough. Just past the half-way mark I hit a hill and my legs cramped solid. Almost fell off the bike, it hit so fast and hurt so bad. It was all I could do to drop into my lowest gear and spin back to the start/finish line and declare myself out of the race. Embarrassing, and rather uncomfortable for the next 24 hours.

Had I carried an extra water bottle in my jersey pocket, I might have been ok to continue. It wouldn’t have been a fast ride, but I would have at least finished with some shred of dignity.

Even if your outdoor activities aren’t as intense as competitive cycling, you need to pay attention to what the heat and sun can do to your body. Crack out the sunscreen, and remember to reapply throughout the day if you’re on a longer adventure. Lip balm with sunscreen in it isn’t a bad idea either; ever had sunburned lips? It’s not an experience you’d want to have twice. And for heaven’s sake, drink water; yes, there may be situations where it’s ok to consume a favorite beverage while enjoying the outdoors, but be sure to get in some water before, during and after such imbibing – your body will thank you for it.

And if you forget the water or (like the genius writing this thing) forget to hydrate as often as you should, recovery often involves lots of rest in a cool, dark place. My method of choice is to rent a DVD, sprawl out on the bed with the windows open and doze off while watching the movie. Hopefully, if we all pay more attention to hydration needs, none of use will have to take that route this summer.

When you’re out on the water this summer, especially in the boat, do you have a landing net with you? If not, consider getting one.

It goes without saying that fishing is stressful on the fish. Wrapping up a hard fight on the line by jerking the critter skyward by the hook is a rather undignified way to end the battle, not to mention it being potentially very harmful to larger species, or those with more delicate mouths.

A landing net relieves a lot of the stress on the animal, both physically (lots more to support the fish out of the water) and from a humane-fishing standpoint.

Picking the right net is as simple as knowing how far you’ll probably have to reach, and the size of the quarry you’re going for. Long-handled or short, giant hoop or hip-hanging folder, there’s a net to fit every species and every budget.

So think about that next time you’re buying gear. The extra purchase might net you a discount at the check-out line (never know when BassPro’s going to have a sale), and it’ll certainly net you friends with those concerned about preserving healthy, vigorous fish in the waters we enjoy.

Would it make sense to base traffic laws on the performance of a horseless carriage? Would it make sense to schedule air travel assuming the aircraft aren’t changed from the Jennys and Ford Trimotors of the early days of aviation?

Of course not.

Then why base mining access decisions on laws drafted before the turn of the century – the turn of the LAST century?

That’s what’s going on now on many of our public lands. The Mining Law of 1872 regulates land use in regards to mineral extraction. Mining technology has changed since then – a great deal, if you consider what’s happened in industries like coal – so doesn’t it make sense that the regulations should too?

Yeah, it’s a political topic. But it affects public lands wherever you are – there are minerals to be found under the hills and plains across this nation. A group called Sportsmen United for Mining Reform is focusing on this issue, and I’d suggest at least checking out their site. They may not have all the answers (this is a political issue, after all), but at least you’ll have an appreciation for the issue at hand, and what’s at stake if we don’t properly manage mining access on public lands.

OK, rant over. Now get out and fish, hike and generally enjoy the summer!

The ODNR and other state wildlife agencies regulate hunting for a reason. There are a lot of us who want to pursue wild game, and – bottom line – it takes resources to keep us safe and the game herds and flocks healthy and viable from year to year.

That’s why it really irks me when I hear about someone poaching a trophy animal. For crying out loud, that massive buck or gobbler likely got that way through the intervention of ODNR or a land owner who put in extra work to give that animal the space, food and environment it needed to grow to grand size.

Where in the Constitution – or the rules of common sense – does it become fair for someone to waltz in and take that animal from the flock or herd without giving something back?

The ODNR recently cited a Minford man, a repeat poacher, for taking a massive trophy buck. I’m glad they caught him, and felt even better when I learned that he’s now on the hook for $23,000 in fines and restitution.

Quit flaunting the laws. If we don’t manage the herds, we won’t have any quality animals to hunt during the proper seasons, and then where will we be. I agree that seasons sometimes feel a little short, oddly planned or restrictive. But the state game management system only works if we all do our part, and poaching isn’t fair play.

I receive a number of newsletters and such from around the outdoor and conservation worlds, and one that came in today caught my eye. The Sportsmen’s Alliance for Alaska reports that more than 30 jewelers have endorsed protection measures at Bristol Bay, Alaska, where a proposed gold-and-copper mine could threaten salmon spawning grounds.

There are stories about the issue here and here. Read on, and think about something: what areas are threatened where you live, hunt and fish? Are you doing anything to protect them?

Perhaps your outdoor playground isn’t as grand as Alaska (I know mine’s not), but as outdoorsmen, we owe it to our natural areas to protect them – this includes watching out for intrusion by those who would take profit over environment. It’s something to think about. Maybe you’ll be the one who saves a precious area from overdevelopment, pollution, or worse.