August Outdoor World Tips from Larry Whiteley
HOT WEATHER HIKING
If you plan on hiking in hot weather, freeze your water bottles the night before. In addition to hydration, the cold bottles held against your skin can help cool you down.
Sunscreen is a necessity – don’t forget to apply it on your neck and ears. A floppy, wide brim hat protects the neck & ears much better than a baseball cap. Sunglasses are great for protecting your eyes from the sun.
Bring cooling towels to put around your neck and keep them wet. It’s very refreshing to wipe your face, arms and legs with them when you start getting too hot.
Hot weather hiking takes a lot of energy and strength, so bring extra food. Don’t be in a hurry. Take lots of breaks. Relax, have a sip of water or some food. Dip your feet in a creek or even take a swim.
Your feet might sweat more when it’s hot. Wear a light pair of socks that wick away moisture and wear a pair of hiking socks on top.
It’s always good in hot weather to take someone with you hiking and let others know where you are going and when you plan on returning in case of an emergency.
FISHING GEAR FOR KIDS
When you teach a kid to fish, try to avoid using adult tackle. Instead, use the best quality kid’s gear you can find because it is usually designed for their hands and is more user-friendly.
Adult ultra-light spin casting combos are a good, durable choice for young anglers. They are easy for kids to hold and are relatively tangle free. Best of all, they make even a small perch feel like a whopper to a kid.
Go with a combo with a soft tip which will be easier to cast. Make sure the reel handles 4-pound test line well and has a smooth drag. Start a kid right with decent, functional tackle – anything less performs poorly and invites discouragement.
When using a bobber for kids, keep in mind that for best results you want the bait to hang about halfway between the surface and the bottom. If you’re not sure how deep the spot is, set the bobber for 4 feet. If the bobber rests on its side, the bait is on the bottom. Shorten the distance between the hook and the bobber.
ALWAYS BE READY TO GO CAMPING
You can always be ready to go camping if you stay prepared. Grab three large plastic storage bins from a local store. Keep air mattresses, pumps, pillows and tarps in one bin. In the second bin, pack up stoves, pots, pans, lanterns, hatchets, rope, saws and other camp tools.
Keep the third bin stocked with items you’d need for camp and kitchen, like a small bag of favorite spices, toilet paper, paper towels, camp soap, spare rope, a first aid kit and anything else you think you might need. Store a tent and sleeping bags in large plastic bags.
Label each bin with its contents. Keep these bins in the garage or storage shed so you’ll always have your gear waiting when you’re ready to go camping.
Have each family member fill a small backpack with essential clothing, and have them include some warmer items for cooler nights and mornings. Make sure everyone has packed rain gear. The weather can be incredibly unpredictable at times.
With this preparation, you can easily go make family memories without all the stress and frustration of trying to find everything when you are ready to go camping.
BEGINNER BOW HUNTING TIPS
There are a few steps you can take to improve your skills as a beginner bow hunter. The first is to practice. Take some time to shoot at least a few quivers of arrows a week, every week, year around. Practice builds skill and confidence that you are taking an appropriate shot and can make the shot that you take.
Step two is to go into the woods with a plan that you believe and trust. Nothing is worse than moving from one location to another and jumping deer. Scout the area that you are going to hunt, pick stand locations that you feel will put you in a good place to succeed and stick with them.
The third way to improve your bow hunting skills is to hunt. While good information can be gathered from practicing, scouting, reading magazines and web articles, watching YouTube videos and talking to others, there is no substitute for the skills that hunting will provide you over time. The only way to learn to really learn is from the actual mistakes that you will make.
Larry Whiteley is the host of the award-winning Outdoor World Radio show. Each weekly tip offers practical advice to improve your outdoor skills or learn something you might not have known.