New Year’s resolutions for outdoors lovers

It’s that time again. Time to make a few well meaning, but not whole hearted resolutions to make yourself “better” this year.

Well instead of resolving to lose weight, or stop smoking (both of which are fine in their own right) how about making a resolution to get outside or help wildlife, things that are much more fun, and might actually be achievable.

Here are 10 ideas that you might incorporate into this year’s resolution list:

1. Put up a bird feeder – there are lots of sizes and shapes of feeders that can be purchased at local stores, but sometimes the best are ones that are made, or repurposed by you and the kids. It doesn’t have to be fancy, just sturdy enough to hold some seed. Take an old pine cone, slather on some peanut butter, and roll in sunflower seeds. Hang in a tree, and wait for the birds to find it!

2. Recycle that old Christmas tree – After the holidays, you need to do something with that old tree, so turn it into something that will help wildlife. Dead trees, called snags, are great habitat for small birds and other critter to hide in, so placing that tree in the back of your property, will give some protection. Or if you have access to a pond or lake, tie a cement block to the tree and sink it. Fish love brush for the same reason that birds like it, it provides cover.

3. Go on a hike – we live close to one of the best wildlife refuges in the country, The Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge, and it’s a shame how little we actually use it. Pick up a map at the entrance or the visitors center and enjoy some great hiking, wildlife watching etc. If you have hiked out the Refuge, or just need a little different scenery, Travel Oklahoma (travelok.com) has 8 reccomended hikes in Western Oklahoma, and lots more scattered across the state.

4. Shoot a hog – studies show that feral hogs cause $1.5 billion in agricultural damage annually in the U.S. The population is growing in Oklahoma and with it, so does the damage caused by these introduced animals. Great news is that the season is open year round and many landowners will gladly allow hunting. Go to the Noble Foundations website for info on hogs and hog hunting in Oklahoma www.noble.org.

5. Fish the Loop – Travel Oklahoma has a SW fishing loop on its website. Make a plan to visit each of the 8 lakes on that loop. All are different and feature different species. For example – catch a smallmouth at Lawtonka, or saugeye at Ft. Cobb. Be sure to document your stops on social media.

6. Be a bird watcher – it might sound boring, but bird watching is the fastest growing outdoor activity in the US, with more than 51 million Americans participating in the hobby. Pick up a bird field guide and a set of binoculars and get started. Take those with you next time you go to the lake or mountains, and you might just get hooked! Bonus- take a day trip to Hackberry Flat, near Frederick, or Salt Plains Wildlife Refuge, in NW Oklahoma.

7. Go Fish – speaking of getting hooked, make it a point to take the kids fishing this year. Keep it simple, a couple of rods and reels, a box of worms and bobbers, and head to a pond or lake (make sure you have the proper licenses) and just have fun! Pack a lunch, throw rocks, search for bugs, just enjoy the time outdoors with the kids!

8. Make a bug collection – or leaf collection or flower collection – whatever, just do some research on line, find a good field guide and get going. You might be amazed at how many insects or wild flowers you can find in your neighborhood! Learn how to preserve your finds by pressing flowers or pinning insects. Your kids will love it!

9. Put up a wildlife camera – deer hunters rely on scouting cameras to see what is visiting their feeders, but the most interesting thing for me is to see what other types of wildlife is coming around. Find a good spot and bait the area with corn, or better yet, try some cat food in a can, the smellier the better. I use the small individual cans, crack the lid open and see what gets attracted!

10. Go shoot – I’m a firm believer that if you introduce your kids to shooting (bb guns, bows, pistols) whatever, they will have less reason to investigate while you are not around. Take the family to the range and shoot some tin cans with a pellet rifle, or 22 caliber. Wear ear and eye protection and make it fun. We set up clay targets at different distances and make a competition out of it. Teach and preach safety at all times! Tell them about respecting firearms and how they are to be properly used.

Well, hopefully one of these ideas will spark your interest in turning this year into a year of outdoor adventure. It’s important that we get up off the sofa and get moving, and if possible to get outdoors!