trax
01-16-2009, 02:03 PM
Between the threads on what locals know and little known facts I got to thinking about "then and now". It's kind of discouraging.
When I was a kid and lived a lot farther north than I do now, and I've talked about this often here, I could grab my rifle and a few supplies and head off into the bush whenever I felt like it. If I put down a few muskrat sets, or shot a rabbit or grouse, or caught a few fish, I knew I could cook up and eat whatever I had, or take it back home for my Mom. I made coffee from local creeks and springs or drank from them directly with no fear of what was in the water.
Now, I'm trying to get it together to take a few clients of my organization out on a trapping trip, mostly youth just to teach them the basics. There's a major river that runs right past this town....should be easy right? Instead, I have to think about everything else that river runs past. I doubt if anything that comes out of it would be fit to eat. So, I take a look around at some smaller creeks, further back that drain into that river, but like the Conservation Officer I got the trapping license from said "you really gotta think about what the farms around here are contributing to the watershed". He has a point.
Of course, any youth that come with me have to bring a note signed by Mommy. I was doing this stuff since before puberty, there wasn't a note from Mommy, there wasn't anyone to give the note to. There's an old couple that live a couple miles out of town that use the organization's services quite a bit. He's 70 and she's in her late 50's, they asked me this morning if I wouldn't mind giving them a hand hauling firewood this weekend. I said I'd be happy to, they usually do it all by themselves. He always wants to come along with me when I'm planning these trips.He's usually the first one ready. The guy has been doing this stuff since before I was born, I'd love to take him with me, what an education it'd be for me! Unfortunately, he also doesn't believe in things like licenses and gun registration. When I'm doing this from the office, I have to think about our liability. It sucks.
When I was a kid and lived a lot farther north than I do now, and I've talked about this often here, I could grab my rifle and a few supplies and head off into the bush whenever I felt like it. If I put down a few muskrat sets, or shot a rabbit or grouse, or caught a few fish, I knew I could cook up and eat whatever I had, or take it back home for my Mom. I made coffee from local creeks and springs or drank from them directly with no fear of what was in the water.
Now, I'm trying to get it together to take a few clients of my organization out on a trapping trip, mostly youth just to teach them the basics. There's a major river that runs right past this town....should be easy right? Instead, I have to think about everything else that river runs past. I doubt if anything that comes out of it would be fit to eat. So, I take a look around at some smaller creeks, further back that drain into that river, but like the Conservation Officer I got the trapping license from said "you really gotta think about what the farms around here are contributing to the watershed". He has a point.
Of course, any youth that come with me have to bring a note signed by Mommy. I was doing this stuff since before puberty, there wasn't a note from Mommy, there wasn't anyone to give the note to. There's an old couple that live a couple miles out of town that use the organization's services quite a bit. He's 70 and she's in her late 50's, they asked me this morning if I wouldn't mind giving them a hand hauling firewood this weekend. I said I'd be happy to, they usually do it all by themselves. He always wants to come along with me when I'm planning these trips.He's usually the first one ready. The guy has been doing this stuff since before I was born, I'd love to take him with me, what an education it'd be for me! Unfortunately, he also doesn't believe in things like licenses and gun registration. When I'm doing this from the office, I have to think about our liability. It sucks.