What is the single most important thing you will do in 2025 to enjoy your time outside more?

I am taking advantage of the flexibility in my current job and will be working much less during hunting season. I’m going to work 10 nights a month (probably in a row) from July-january(?). Less money but you can’t take it with you in the end 😎

I believe it was Shane Smith who opined "When you're gone, what do you have but the song you sang?"
 
The singular most important thing for me to do is to adjust my mindset.

You can’t change the weather, animal behavior, other hunters behavior, animal populations, or a myriad of other things that can have an impact on your experience.

You can decide to be happy with what you’ve got, where you’re at with the time allocated. I am going to be happy outdoors, even if it’s just in the backyard watching songbirds.
 
Fish more. I just bought a fishing kayak for solo fishing. I also have an aluminum boat for when my son, grandson, and I want to fish together.

More days in the field with the dogs during bird season.

Both of these will probably cut down on my trap shooting some, but i am still going to shoot trap. I think overall it will be a net gain on time outdoors.
 
#1) Have to have my relationship with Him always the priority. Everything flows from that insight.

#1) Learning: Getting the three-year old granddaughter acclimated to learning to farm. I've got her three huge raised beds, got them set up last year, oak in the bottom, fresh soil, sand.

#1) Wife: Spend as much time as we can at the beach condo, lake house or in the Keys, just as long as it doesn't interfere with keeping the grandbaby. Wife's my #2 priority, right after my relationship with Him. There isn't much else that matters if those two aren't at the top of the priority list.
 
Health.

2024 was the wake-up call and realization things are different at this age. Haven’t had sugar or alcohol in 2025 (see gout thread) and have not had a sign of gout and don’t miss either of them poisons one bit. Between that simple change and moderate working out a couple times a week, down nearly 15 lbs in 2025. Better than taking some pill to manage it! Realistically will probably lose another 5-10 and then plateau without really working out more. But that gets me very close to under “overweight” on what seems like an impossible BMI scale.

Our youngest is out of diapers and at the age we can start skipping naps for adventure. Excited for a very active summer 2025 with the family!
 
I'm trying to break up the monotony of work, work, work, work, take a week to hunt, work work work.

I have a 'remote' shed hunting trip planned to PA elk country in March, I'm trying to pull together a 'cast and blast' spring turkey and trout fishing trip in May.

I've opened up some new areas to hunt so I'm trying to use them.
 
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