Thoughts about the new year

By DENNIS L. CLAY

Herald Columnist

This is a two-part series about 2019.

We have welcomed 2019 into our lives, so now what? My typical first column of a year, any year, is to discuss how a person, any person, can give back to the Great Outdoors. Certainly, this will be a part of this column, too.

Pick up trash

How does a person give back to the outdoors? Simply pick up a plastic or paper coffee cup, aluminum soda can or Styrofoam worm container. This act can be accomplished at a campsite, while on a hike, when hunting deer or while at the fishing hole.

It is amazing how much trash is tossed out a vehicle window or left at the fishing hole by inconsiderate people. Teach your children to pick up the candy wrappers left along the trail. If a youth is introduced to the pick-up-trash rule at an early age, doing so will become natural for the rest of their life.

There are a few guidelines about what to pick up. The items already mentioned are easy and should not cause any problems. However, there are some pieces of trash not welcome in my trash bag.

The first is a dirty diaper and the second is broken glass. These are better left to the trash experts. Don’t let the youngsters get near these objects.

Visiting with readers

Here is one of my dreams for this year: Contact the local sporting goods retailers and arrange a day at each where members of the local outdoor clubs show up and demonstrate the skills of the club.

The fly-fishing club could tie fishing flies and discuss fishing local lakes and streams. The walleye and bass club could pass along similar information.

Representatives from manufactures could be invited to show how to use their products, such as Camp Chef, Coleman and others. Perhaps CJ Buck the CEO of Buck Knives would attend and sign knives.

My role? Perhaps a demonstration of boning a trout or how to find and prepare walleye wings. After working out the details with the business owners and the state gambling commission, would like to somehow give away one etched Buck Knife as a reader appreciation offer at each event.

Some of the questions to be worked out include: This give-away will be free, with no charge for the tickets. Will readers younger than 18 be allowed to participate, if there is no charge for the tickets?

These gatherings should take place early in the year, otherwise the fishing clubs will be on the water. Stay tuned for more details.

Next week: More ways outdoor-minded people can give back to the Great Outdoors.