Another year. Another chance.

Don’t blow it. As a rule most of us promise ourselves the best for a new year, then renege within a week or month. Running every day at 5 AM is too much of a challenge. Resisting those chocolate chip cookies is impossible. But getting outdoors more often? Going hunting and fishing and photographing in our wide wide world? Now that’s easy. But it still takes commitment. One of the easiest ways to actually achieve some of your lifetime, outdoors goals is to draw up that bucket list. Eventually you’ll want to prioritize, but initially just write down everything you remotely think you want to accomplish. Then discuss with your family and friends and rearrange the order as necessary, allowing for fate, luck and a change in the weather. Why make that long anticipated mule deer hunt to eastern Montana if winter snows wiped out half the herd? This might be the year to concentrate on prairie chickens in Kansas. Instead of wasting time watching reruns of reruns of bad movies, spend a few evenings pouring over Fish & Game websites, DU and Pheasant Forever and Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation websites. Peruse outfitter websites and even websites like this in order to keep abreast of what’s happening in the world of outdoor adventure. Then go where the action is hot. If money is an issue (duh!) make a serious plan to scrimp and save for the things you really want to do. Establish an account for that Dall’s sheep hunt or African safari. Ordinary truckers and bakers and apple pie makers have earned and saved enough for safaris many, many times. I meet them in camps and airports all the time. The really disciplined ones manage a special trip every few years. It can be done. This might mean you cut back on or give up the soda pops and expensive chips, the smokes and chews and beers, the latest hit tune or electronic game. You know the drill. Don’t sucker for every hot trend. Keep your eye on the prize. When you get to the part where you’re bouncing grandkids on your knee, you’ll be telling them about the time you got fogged in on a moose mountain in B.C., not the time you programmed a new smart phone. # # #