I struggle to think of anything in my life that changed my priorities faster than having a child.
Not moving off to college or paying my bills for the first time. Even starting a new job or getting married pale in comparison to everything that comes with being responsible for a human life—the task of of shaping and building the very reality of another living thing.
Continue reading “On fatherhood and fishing”
Another year come and gone.
It’s time to get nerdy and put some numbers to my time in the outdoors in the past year.
I am sincerely delighted by how many of you check out this article each year. It makes me less conscious about my tedious number keeping.
For those of you who may be new to this tradition, I share this information to provide some context to the articles I post on this site each year. It is important to me that you know the depth of my experiences in the outdoors that my perspectives are rooted in.
Here is a look at how my 2024 shook out, by the numbers:
Continue reading “My 2024 outdoor adventures, by the numbers”
Throughout my life, I’ve spent a good deal of time in self-reflection.
This can be a difficult balancing act. Too much self-awareness can lead to an inflated sense of importance, overthinking, and general anxiety. Lack of it can lead to entitlement.
On either end of the spectrum, you can quickly lose perspective.
For better or worse, I have long been dedicated to taking stock of my logic and reasoning in my pursuit of living an intentional and purposeful existence.
Throughout my 20-plus-year deer hunting career, I’ve found this to be particularly true when I am sitting in my tree stand. Even the most engaging and active hunts generally offer adequate time for introspection.
Continue reading “Why I deer hunt”
Last week, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources released its preliminary harvest data for the 2025 Wisconsin 9-Day Gun Deer Season.
182,084 deer were harvested during the gun season, down 0.8% from last year.
As is often the case, these numbers were met with scoffs and grumbles from some whose basic retort can be summed up as, “ain’t no deer.”
Continue reading “A dive into Wisconsin Deer Hunting Data”
There is no shortage of anecdotal and scientific evidence that being outdoors is good for your mental health.
The ol’ “getting some fresh air” trick has done wonders for countless people, myself included.
Disconnecting from the day-to-day and experiencing the beauty of the natural world, even for a brief period has a way of re-charging our proverbial batteries and leveling us out, often bringing about feelings of peace, calm, and relaxation.
But as you spend more time alone in nature, you’ll find these experiences can offer up more complex emotions. Some that, on the surface, may not necessarily seem positive.
Continue reading “Unpacking the feelings”
Nathan Woelfel Outdoors 