Shooters & Outdoorsey Types

[BerettaNut92]

A poll, a little of an offshoot of that 'other hobbies' thread.

I'm catching up with lost childhood. My parents let me do all sorts of indoor activities like fix computers, model airplanes, piano lessons, etc.. I'm surprised we skiied and my dad even put me through flying lessons, but as far as camping, fishing, shooting, Boy Scouts, backpacking, etc. etc. etc., my parents thought I was going to get raped by gypsy mountainlions if I spent a night out under the stars.

I'm curious as to what other shooters do or grew up doing as far as outdoor activities, I think there's a lot of overlap and wondered what THR does.

I put little to no outdoorsey stuff, but that is going to change this year.

 

[TarpleyG]

I pretty much got to do most all of it. Although we lived in a suburb, there were areas close enough by that I could get out into the wooded areas frequently. Top that off with the fact that my grandfather and all my uncles are hunters/fishermen/campers I spent my fair share of time doing something outside. My little brother (now 13) is growing up a lot like you did. Not sure if it is his decision or my parents'. They live about 20 miles north of Waco. If you aren't familair with Texas Hill Country, it's called "country" for a reason. He has plenty of opportunity to get out and be with nature. Wish they would have lived there when I was growing up but no, I had to get a top notch education from one of the best school districts in the state instead.

GT

 

[Ktulu]

I spent lots of time indoors when I was a kid as well. My dad did take me hunting, fishing, and camping but because we lived in a city (and other reasons I’m sure) that was only a few times a year. When I got a little older I didn't want to hang out with my parents much anymore so I got away from all that stuff.

Now days I still live in the city but I get crazy if I'm inside too much. I hunt, camp, and shoot as much as possible. Nothing much stops me from going outside. Last Saturday I shot an IDPA practice and it was 5 Deg. F when I left the house. I'll be shooting again next Saturday morning no matter what the weather decides to do.

Unless you have no arms and legs, I highly recommend everyone get outside as much as possible. Even then, have someone roll you outside. I really had no idea what I was missing when I was younger.

 

[Smoke]

I grew up outside. I grew up on the ranch that has been in my family since 1856. I grew up roaming every inch of this place on horse back and later on motorcycles and or Jeeps. Fishing in the creek, swimming, hunting etc.

Never was much of a camper. If there is a real bed within driving distance thats where you'll find me. But I'm outside during most of the waking hours. (Except when confined to this damned office:banghead: )

Smoke

 

[Brian Williams]

I did most of your poll but now I live in the city and do not get as much as I want. Also back problems prevent a lot of climbing and rock stuff, I am losing the feeling in my toes cause of spinal stenosis. I still canoe, hike when I can, hunt, ride mt bike, love to shoot.

 

[mtnbkr]

Until my mid teens, I spent most of my waking hours outside unless I was at school. I kept a dark tan all year round.

Chris

 

[sm]

Oh I did everything outdoors, and mean everything.

Guns, girls, shooting, hunt, fish, rafting, canoeing, climbing the small mountains, walking farms, swimming creeks and farm ponds ( sharing with the snakes and fish), wore out bicycles, raced dirtbikes, go carts, muscle cars, scouts, competed in shooting sports, baseball, cross country track, drive- in movies, golf, horseback riding...everything.

Time and schedules interfere with some now...but been known to head off with firearms, fishing stuff and disappear.

 

[Thumper]

Skunk, I imagine a lot of us would appreciate a "most or all of the above" option in the poll. I enjoy every activity listed, 'cept my Boy Scout days have been over for awhile.

 

[Eskimo Jim]

hobbies then and now

Skunk,
It sounds like we had similar upbringings.

When I was in junior high, I took karate lessons. I enjoyed that very much. My family vacationed at the beach and went to baseball games in the summer. I didn't participate in many outdoor activities. My family thought that roughing it was only one bathroom.

My wife camped a lot when she was growing up.

Now my hobbies include camping, shooting sports and several others. I'm probably going to take up snow shoeing this winter. This winter I'll rent snowshoes, next fall I might buy my own. This summer I'm planning on taking up hiking again.

I try to spend more time outdoors now. I also like to go for day trips or a ride in the country.

-Jim

 

[Sylvilagus Aquaticus]

I grew up outdoors, too. Living in the Piney Woods in east Texas, you just did. I spent a lot of time at the farm and up on the Sabine River in the swamps and camped out a LOT...hunted, fished, took up bowfishing and made a pretty good bit of pocket change selling carp to the fish market on the bad side of town.

In college I could have majored in kayaking, as I had 24 hours in it. The joys of a liberal arts education!

I still do a bit of camping these days, but I've had to slow down because of my health lately. I can't take a lot of the air pollution here in the city, but when I can get away to the boonies I do feel a lot better in more ways than one. I'm not a shut-in by any means, though.

Regards,
Rabbit.

 

[BerettaNut92]

I wish I knew the difference between 'priviledged' and just having money as a kid.

Better late than never I guess. I have a credit card and a car now. To infinity...and beyond!!!

 

[Dave R]

Skunk, you are definitely underpriveleged if you did not spend a lot of time in the outdoors as a kid.

The outdoor world is simply miraculous compared to the indoor world.

And with modern clothing and fibers and bug repellants, it is never necessary to be uncomfortable outdoors, other than working up a good, honest sweat. (And given your slender build, you prolly don't even sweat much.)

The more time you spend outdoors, the happier you'll be. Somebody correct me if I'm wrong here....

Have you ever been outdoors at night with no moon at high altitude? You would not believe how many stars there are. (And how many satellites...) Starlight is bright enough to cast a shadow (John Denver was not kidding.)

The wildlife. The plant life. Even the rocks are wonderful.

I feel so incredibly sorry for kids who are raised in the inner city and thing outdoors is an asphalt basketball court, or the trees you see on the parkway. They have no idea what the world is.

 

[berto]

Grew up shooting,hiker,MTB biker,former hunter...love the outdoors.

 

[Carlos Cabeza]

I have experienced all of the outdoor interests you listed. I grew up having to entertain myself so I did it outside. It helps to have a friend with similar interests until you become comfortable with being alone on a hike / camp trip. You'll truly enjoy yourself and Cali. has lots to "soak up" .

P.S. You should add skydiving to your list of "to do's", It's a real hoot !

 

[Kharn]

Eagle Scout, 'nuff said.

Kharn

 

[BerettaNut92]

P.S. You should add skydiving to your list of "to do's", It's a real hoot !

I draw the line there; I have no intentions of jumping out of a plane unless there's smoke coming out and/or one of the control surfaces are missing....

 

[jfh]

my first hunting experience

was when I was about ten months old; my mother put me in her backpack when she went duck hunting. She told me I quickly learned to squirm around to where I was behind her LEFT shoulder.

My father and cousin started me on .22s when I was five. Outside; targets. Then some squirrel hunting.

In 1955, when I was ten, I would walk the six blocks to the NG Armory for the weekly range time for children. Alone, with a 22 cased up.

In the summers after that, at Scout Camp. Then on the rifle team in high school.

 

[Baba Louie]

As a general rule, Doin' it outdoors is always better than doin' it indoors no matter what it may be. (There may be exceptions... like having your teeth drilled or extracted)

Horses. You forgot horseback riding. (Hard to do indoors anyway) One of the great experiences of life.

 

[jamz]

I grew up with a lot of camping, canoeing and stuff like that. In high shcool I got into rock climbing, and mountain biking. Now, later in life, I got back into that stuff in a much bigger way, and added ice climbing to the list. Then fishing. Now shooting again.

I love the outdoors, it's like a second home.

-James

 

[BenW]

I was able to check every activity except for rockclimbing (the exception being a really stupid stunt on a pig hunt once, which falls more into the category of outdoor idiocy).

edited for spelin

 

[Dave Markowitz]

I grew up shooting, but mostly at the range. I grew up in suburbia.

I did get to do a bit of camping when I was in Civil Air Patrol, since my unit did ground search & rescue. Also did some hunting, fishing, and cycling.

Nowadays I don't get to spend as much time outdoors as I'd like, except when it's yard work.

 

[Stickjockey]

Grew up on a ranch. Hunting, shooting, horseback riding, camping, fishing, the works. DOn't get to do nearly as much now as I'd like, but the wee one's growing very quickly and I'm anticipating many weekends spent in the great outdoors!

 

[Stevie-Ray]

Grew up in the outdoors about a half-mile from my house where the local creek ran through a huge field with hills and trails throughout. A Sting-Ray bike owner's paradise. My mom had trouble getting me to come home for dinner. Those times were the greatest of my life. As I got older, came the great outdoors of Michigan's Upper Peninsula, and shooting with my older brother-in-law. I credit him for encouraging my love for guns that was started by seeing my father's Colt .32 ACP. (Now mine) Now I have many guns, make several trips to the range each year, still walk the woods up north, still with a strapped on gun, and best of all, the field and creek area of my youth has been transformed into the most beautiful park in the area. Running, biking, rollerblading, etc. Now I can go there and relive my past. All those memories come back as I park my bike on Council Point, after several laps, and stare at the fork of the Ecorse Creek as it runs down to the Detroit River.

 

[Stealth101]

Skunk....
I call the outdoors a tuning fork! If ever you feel out of sinc with yourself, spend a few days in the backcountry, with mother nature and she'll help you get in proper tune! I did it all...my Dad took all of us hunting and camping from a young age,,,,,I was a Boy Scout (Eagle) and I try to keep the tradition going with my boys....It is so much fun I cant get enough of it.I took my youngest(5) elk hunting this year .....he loved it and so did I!

 

[sm]

Re: Skydiving

Actually I want to do this, I might even try try wing-walking.

I've always said I would skydive when I turned 50. I'll be 49 this April, I may just go ahead during this spring semester break and skydive. Dunno, just because, and I do have an instructor that said if "extinuating circumstances"should happen we would be excused from one Exam and Lab Practical.

I may opt for the old "middle age crazy" excuse...think it will fly...err work?

Should I wear the Molon Labe hat or "If it flies - it dies" shirt?