Getting Back To "OLD SCHOOL" Thinking and Living

Before getting into the topic too much, I will say this is selective "Old School" thinking for me. I dig my Ipad and Iphone; both simplify my life professionally and I think they're amazing. However, both end up on the window sill every evening when I get home. 

I enjoy all sports so I think I'll keep my DirecTV package and television.

And music keeps my home "thumping" so when the time comes, I will be upgrading to the next great Bose system. 

Other than that, the system goes like this; If I haven't touched it for the year...Craigslist, garage sale, donate, trash. It will fall into one or all the categories and everything will be filtered. I'm just tired of all the ****. You have to live in this neighborhood, your house has to be this big, your kids have to go to this school, your vehicle has to look this way, AND you have to shoot this bow, you have to have that gun, you have to wear this camo, and use that scent block. Can't keep this post all serious. 

Anyways, my mentality shift got me thinking of hunting and how it used to be. I love all these vintage hunting photographs and noticed no camo, no scopes, no cam systems, just keeping it simple. Crazy how they all still filled their tag...go figure.

Now I just hope my wife sticks around for the ride.  

300" - 400" B & C Class Whitetail

I did a little work for a Fort Worth family a couple years ago and after getting to know them, I found they own the 4M Ranch. From their website, "The 4M Ranch is located near Paluxy, Texas in eastern Erath county. Considered plateau country in the northern part of the Texas Hill Country, the ranch is just a short drive from the DFW Metroplex." The 1,800 acre ranch offers both Texas whitetail hunts and Texas exotic hunts and after taking a quick peek at their website, I got extremely excited. I thought "I'd better get to know this family a LOT better". Then I looked a little closer and my eyes about popped out of my head. The title said "Texas Whitetail Breeding" and if you take a look at what combining superior whitetail genetics looks like, it will leave you scratching your head.

Now, I don't want to get into a debate, (I'm a little tired of dealing with the whole gun ban), but I will make several points.

1. This was a wonderful family.
2. They run a first-class operation.
3. They produce 300"- 400" B & C class whitetail...not a typing error.
4. It's a BIG business.

Take a look at what genetic manipulation can create. WOW!

Now, since this is my blog, I will express several of my own personal beliefs.

1. I don't believe in genetic manipulation for the purpose of sport. Just isn't for me.
2. I don't believe in high fences.
3. I don't believe shooting deer with a rifle to be hunting...sporting yes, but not what I define as "hunting".
4. I believe we need tougher gun laws and better enforcement.
5. I'm not smart enough to know what that should look like.
6. I am a gun owner.
7. I think too many idiots are speaking out on behalf of gun owners. 
8. I think most of those idiots should not own a gun.
9. Owning a gun does not make me feel any more or less safe.
10. I think Lee Harvey Oswald acted alone. Are you still reading?

I could keep going, but that should suffice for now. Have a wonderful weekend.

Carhartt Supports Grass-roots Anglers

Bass club competitors, known for working hard and fishing harder, now have a perfect opportunity to be dressed for it: Carhartt, America's premium work wear brand since 1889, has extended its sponsorship of the Bassmaster Tournament Trail to include the grass-roots B.A.S.S. Nation events.

The new multiyear deal expanded Carhartt's roles of Supporting Sponsor and Official Apparel Provider to include six regional Cabela's B.A.S.S. Nation Divisionals, as well as the annual championship. With the B.A.S.S. Nation events addition, Carhartt lends its support across the Bassmaster board: the Bassmaster Classic, Bassmaster Elite Series and the nine-event Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Opens Series, plus the collegiate circuit to which Carhartt lends its name, the Carhartt Bassmaster College Series.

"Our first year of partnership with B.A.S.S., especially as title sponsor of the Carhartt Bassmaster College Series and as the Official Apparel Provider of the Elite Series, was a great success," said Tim Humes, senior brand marketing manager at Carhartt, which is based in Detroit, Mich. "What better way to expand our partnership than to support B.A.S.S. Nation? These anglers are working hard at their day jobs during the week but always with an eye toward the weekend and their favorite fishing hole. At Carhartt, we understand working hard to play hard."

Added Bruce Akin, CEO of B.A.S.S.: "Last season, when this leader in outdoor apparel first became a B.A.S.S. sponsor, it wasn't long before Carhartt brand awareness took off within the fishing community. Now, with the addition of B.A.S.S. Nation events to the already wide scope of Carhartt's support of the Bassmaster Tournament Trail, even more B.A.S.S. members and fans will have the chance to discover the apparel."

The new deal means anglers who compete in B.A.S.S. Nation events can look forward to a new challenge: winning the Carhartt Big Bass bonus. For bringing the largest bass to the scales during a divisional event, a B.A.S.S. Nation competitor who was wearing either Carhartt pants or shorts at the time of the catch will win a $500 bonus. In the annual B.A.S.S. Nation Championship, the Carhartt Big Bass bonus also will be $500.

To win a bonus, a B.A.S.S. Nation angler will have to master the big bass in one of America's best tournament waters. The first divisional of the season will be on California's Clear Lake, April 8-12. Other lakes on the schedule are Tennessee's Douglas Lake; Sam Rayburn in Texas; Lake Erie out of Erie, Pa.; South Dakota's Lake Francis Case; and Sebago Lake in Maine. A full schedule and more information about B.A.S.S. Nation are available at Bassmaster.com.

In other Bassmaster circuits, Carhartt Big Bass awards will again be offered in 2013 to anglers wearing Carhartt pants or shorts when the qualifying catch was made. The first award of the season will be at the Bassmaster Classic presented by Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tulsa, Feb. 22-24, on Grand Lake O' the Cherokees out of Tulsa, Okla. The biggest bass brought to the scales over three days of Classic competition could be worth a $2,500 bonus.

Moving into the 2013 Bassmaster Elite Series, a Carhartt award of $1,500 will be offered in each of the eight regular-season events. In the 2013 Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Opens, the bonus will be $500 for each of the nine events. In the Carhartt Bassmaster College Series, merchandise awards will be offered in the six collegiate competitions slated for 2013.

In 1889, Carhartt Inc. was established in Detroit by Hamilton Carhartt. Today, the company remains privately held by the Carhartt family to ensure its founder's mission is carried through in every garment it produces. For more than 120 years, Carhartt has been delivering best-in-class enduring apparel that respects the hard-earned dollars of America's hard-working men and women. Standing for rugged construction, innovative design and exceptional standards of quality, durability and comfort, Carhartt work wear has become a legend among America's skilled tradesmen and craftsmen. The product line is available globally through its ecommerce site,www.carhartt.com, and at retail locations across the United States and Canada.

About B.A.S.S.
For more than 40 years, B.A.S.S. has served as the authority on bass fishing. The organization advances the sport through advocacy, outreach and an expansive tournament structure while connecting directly with the passionate community of bass anglers through its Bassmaster media vehicles.

The Bassmaster brand and its multimedia platforms are guided by a mission to serve all fishing fans. Through its industry-leading publications - Bassmaster Magazine and B.A.S.S. Times - comprehensive website Bassmaster.com and ESPN2 and Outdoor Channel television programming, Bassmaster provides rich, leading-edge content true to the lifestyle.

The Bassmaster Tournament Trail includes the Bassmaster Elite Series, Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Open Series, Carhartt Bassmaster College Series, Cabela's B.A.S.S. Nation events and the ultimate celebration of competitive fishing, the Bassmaster Classic.

B.A.S.S. offers an array of services to its more than 500,000 members and remains focused on issues related to conservation and water access. The organization is headquartered in Birmingham, Ala.

Press Release found at the Outdoor Wire

Anglers spend the big bucks helping save the U.S. Economy

Recreational fishing is more than just a pleasant getaway for millions of Americans. As an industry, it provides a living for countless people in businesses ranging from fishing tackle and boating manufacturing to travel and hospitality to publications, magazines and much more. As reported in Sportfishing in America: An Economic Force for Conservation, a new fishing statistics report produced by the American Sportfishing Association (ASA), the trade association that represents the sportfishing industry, the number of anglers increased 11 percent over the past five years and fishing tackle sales grew more than 16 percent. When expenditures are multiplied by our nation's 60 million anglers, their dollars have a significant impact on our nation's economy.

Sportfishing in America: An Economic Force for Conservation highlights how recreational fishing not only endures as an activity that permeates all social and economic aspects of Americans' lives, but also plays a significant role in the country's most successful fisheries conservation efforts.

"As an industry, we are keenly aware of the impact that sportfishing has on this nation's economy," said ASA President and CEO Mike Nussman. "Just by enjoying a day on the water, men, women and children across the United States pump billions of dollars into this country's economy."

Nussman further said, "And it's not just the economy. In many ways, America's anglers are the nation's most powerful force for conserving our nation's fisheries and waters, investing more than $1 billion dollars each year in fisheries management and conservation through taxes on fishing equipment and state fishing license sales."

According to the new study, America's nearly 60 million anglers are estimated to spend $48 billion per year on fishing equipment, transportation, lodging and other expenses associated with their sport. With a total annual economic impact of $115 billion, fishing supports more than 828,000 jobs and generates $35 billion in wages and $15 billion in federal and state taxes. Despite the economic difficulties facing the U.S. economy over the past five years; the total amount spent on sportfishing, which encompasses tackle, travel and other equipment, grew five percent.

A number of reports strongly indicate that fishing is identified by American families as one of the best ways to spend quality time together. According to the National Sporting Goods Association, fishing as a leisure-time activity ranks higher than playing basketball or softball, skateboarding, jogging or hiking.

"Despite the uncertain economic conditions that beset all Americas, or because of it, anglers continue to fish and spend even more time outdoors," said ASA Vice President Gordon Robertson. "A growing interest in the outdoors helped fuel the growth in angler numbers which we believe will create even more momentum in fishing participation and sales in 2013 and beyond."

Substantially more than any other groups, anglers support the nation's conservation efforts through the Sport Fish Restoration and Boating Trust Fund Program. Special taxes on fishing gear and motorboat fuel channel more than $1 billion of anglers' dollars to state fish and wildlife conservation and recreation programs each year.

ASA's new analysis is based on data from the 2011 National Survey of Fishing, Hunting and Wildlife-Associated Recreation, conducted every five years on behalf of the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies by the Census Bureau and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Sportfishing in America was compiled for ASA by Southwick Associates, Fernandina Beach, Fla.

Facts about Recreational Fishing

• There are approximately 60 million anglers in the U.S. of which 46 million are estimated to fish in a given year.

• One of every four anglers fishes in saltwater.

• Fishing tackle sales grew over 16 percent in the past five years.

• Since 2006, angler numbers grew 11 percent.

• More Americans fish than play golf (21 million) and tennis (13 million) combined.

• If fishing were a company, the amount spent by anglers to support fishing-related retail sales would rank number 51 on the Fortune 500™ list.

• Fishing generated more revenue ($48 billion) than Lockheed Martin ($47 billion), Intel ($44 billion), Chrysler ($42 billion) or Google ($38 billion).

• The economic activity generated by sportfishing is greater than the economy, measured in Gross State Product, of 17 states.

• At more than 46 million anglers, more than twice the number of people fished in 2011 than attended every NFL game combined.

Press release found at the Outdoor Wire