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Online Forums Are Outdoor Lover’s Gold

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online-forums

Photo Credit: www1.recreation.rutgers.edu

By now, unless you’ve been living like Richard Proenneke, you know just how awesome the internet is. Who would have thunk it? From its humble beginnings in the mid-90s to the mind-bending repository of knowledge that it is today, the ways the net are empowering and connecting people are nearly innumerable. Almost all of us have “Googled It” at one time or another. And where would we be without online maps and driving directions (at least before TomTom) or without our Facebook conversations or our ability to buy classic video games on Ebay?

The internet has evolved to become a mandatory part of our lives, and for good reason. It’s not all good. Bullying and harassment and other crimes occur online. And what about hackers and those annoying spam emails? However, generally, the internet is a “net” win for us all. And there are all kinds of resources for outdoor lovers on the internet as well, but there’s one aspect which seems to rise above the rest when it comes to the benefits we get, and that is the online outdoor forum.

What is an Online Forum?
Again, you would have to be a hermit to not know what an internet forum is, but for those who need a quick introduction, they are “online discussion sites where people can hold conversations in the form of posted messages.” That’s the Wikipedia definition, and it’s good, but it doesn’t capture the real essence of exactly what a form does and how it benefits its users. For that analysis, read on…

Wealth of Knowledge
Pick a topic, any topic and there is no doubt you can find reams and reams of information about it on the web. The internet in and of itself is a wealth of knowledge. An online forum is like a microcosm of the internet, where people can get really nerdy about stuff. You want to know if bubblegum slim senkos work with steelhead? Want to learn what’s better, an Aqua Lung Legend LX or a ScubaPro mk25/s600? Want to know the difference between a blind set and a pocket set? You will find it in a forum. Whatever catches your adventure fancy, there’s an online community for you.

A Place to Socialize
Sometimes you just need to vent. Some moron put his deer stand in the same tree as yours. Some jerk swiped your crap trap. You spent a frigid day on the ocean and got skunked. There will always be someone in the online forum with a similar story, someone who will give you that much-needed company for your misery.

Or maybe you want to gloat. You finally tracked down that 12 point buck. Or your quest for that fall King finally ended in success. Or you found a rare lure at a garage sale. Whatever it is you want to discuss, even if it’s so obscure you can’t find a “live” person who knows what the heck you are talking about, it’s virtually guaranteed someone on the web will want to listen. The online forum is a place to meet new friends, people with the same interests as you, people from all over the world.

A Place for Inspiration
Sometimes we just need a pick-me-up, some wise words or sage advice. Sometimes we need someone to make us see a horizon we may not have noticed otherwise. Sometimes we need inspiration, and online outdoor forums are incredible sources. Whether it’s the encouragement to try a new technique or to travel to a new locale, there are those times when we need that extra shove, that little push that gives us the confidence we were missing. It seems no matter how much you know about something, there will be that old timer who puts you to shame. Not in a bad way, but in such a way that motivates, that stirs up those juices for learning and experiencing. When we learn, we are inspired, and that’s one of the most satisfying aspects of online forums.

A Place for Activism
How many times have you seen something egregious and felt powerless to change it? Whether it’s an unfair law or an unjust action taken by an agency or maybe it was the blatant abuse of power by an official in a position of authority. A lone individual, unless you are a billionaire, really can’t do much to affect change, but the power of an online forum really kicks in where the rubber meets the political road.

Let’s face it. Not everyone out there is in love with the idea of hunting and fishing. Those people form powerful political action groups and pressure lawmakers for stiffer regulations on our favorite sports. We need to have the same sort of influence on our side, and an online forum is the perfect place to start a grassroots movement that would be a force to reckon with.

If you haven’t joined an online forum yet, what are you waiting for? Here are a few of our favorite:
Ifish.net, Trapperman.com, Scubaboard.com, Salmoncrazy.com, Refugeforums.com, Duckhuntingchat.com, Oregonfishingforum.com

USIA Waders: The First Rule of Dressing Yourself

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USIA manufacturers boot foot bag waders. We don’t make a whole lot of breathable waders. In a recent blog post, I outlined some of the reasons why we at USIA believe our bag waders are superior to breathables (more on that later). And although our customers are supremely impressed and satisfied with our product, some people might still be reluctant to pull the trigger on a pair of bag waders. It seems ‘breathable’ has become an industry buzzword, synonymous with overall comfort. But bag waders do not have to be uncomfortably hot and clammy. They don’t have to make you sweat buckets if you know how to choose the proper base layer. Even in warm weather, the right undergarment choice can make the difference between feeling like you’re walking around in a sauna or feeling cool and refreshed on your hike into the backcountry.

First Rule of Dressing Yourself

Capt. Kujo likes to say the first rule of “dressing yourself” is that cotton is forbidden. You might have heard the old saying, Cotton Kills. Well, there is a good reason for that. Never wear cotton next to your skin in an environmentally closed system. Fact is you will sweat; it is your job to scientifically direct moisture in that system. That starts by identifying fabrics that moisture likes and dislikes. Moisture loves cotton and hates fleeces. So wear fleece next to your skin and moisture will wick away from you as it will be attracted to the “urethane coating” of your USIA waders. If you wear cotton against your skin, it will soak up sweat and stay there, giving you that moist and clammy feeling.

Many different manufacturers make and sell some very high-tech, modern fabric blend base layer undergarments that will work wonderfully, giving you both comfort and protection from too much humidity. We hate to toot the horn of any competitor, but Patagonia seems to excel quite nicely in this category. They offer four undergarment thicknesses, ranging from thin products to be worn in the hot summer months all the way to much denser material to be worn during your more hard-core wintertime outdoor activities.

One more word on breathables from Captain Kujo:

“What a crock! The fact is breathable don’t breathe when submerged. How many ‘breathable’ diving dry suits are out there? None. Why? Because breathable fabric was made for raincoats and that’s about all it’s good for. W.L. Gore has milked you guys out of millions with bogus 20th century technology. There is a reason for your ‘breathable’ waders not lasting more than a year (and a year is 365 days). You should be talking a season, then define that: 30 days? 60 days? How many days do you actually wear them in a year?”

We hope this helps you maximize your dry days in your USIA waders.

 

Government Overreach in Outdoor Sports

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Sights like this would have been a memory.

Sights like this would have been a memory.

Most hunters, fishermen, trappers, and other outdoor sports enthusiasts understand that regulations are needed to keep wildlife populations healthy and natural habitats thriving. Most laws on the books make sense and we follow them accordingly. But there are some instances where government goes too far, oversteps its boundaries, and enacts regulations that defy logic or restrict our rights egregiously. Here are just a few examples.

The Cumberland River: In a recent article, we highlighted the 5 most pressing concerns for fishermen today, and one of them is access to water. It’s essential and it’s often seen as a right not a privilege. For the 900,000 Tennesseans who carry fishing licenses, that right was threatened in a big way when in late 2012 the Army Corps of Engineers announced plans to cut off access to 688 miles of waterways below 10 dams on the Cumberland River with concrete barriers. It took a massive public outcry and a “fish in” to shame local leaders, and then ultimately President Obama, into drafting and signing the “Freedom to Fish Act.”

Wisconsin DNR Tells Feds to “Go Hunt Itself” During the latest federal governmental shutdown (seems to be a lot of them, doesn’t it?), there was an overabundance of stories concerning the closure of “Federal Lands.” There was the infamous story of several dozen vacation travelers stranded in the snow in a small town just outside the Yellowstone Park’s boundaries as park officials were instructed to keep them out. It was a common sentiment that these types of tactics had nothing to do with a lack of funding and everything to do with intimidating and, in effect, punishing the public. During that same time period, there was another, lesser-known standoff happening in Wisconsin. The National Park Service issued a directive demanding that the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources close several state-owned properties, jointly run by federal and state agencies, to bear hunters. The DNR basically said no to the Feds, because most of the money to run the park lands comes from Wisconsin taxpayers. They also cited one important rule: Never tick off a bear hunter.

Doggie Life Jackets?!? Some of the laws on the books around this country can be quite humorous. It’s illegal to walk across a street on your hands in Connecticut. Women must obtain written permission from their husbands to wear false teeth In Vermont. The list of stupid laws is endless, but this one in Colorado might just take the doggie biscuit. A recent proposal would make it legally mandatory for dogs to wear a life jacket at any pool-equipped daycare or boarding facility. At least it doesn’t require them to wear the jackets while on the rivers and lakes, but still, what a silly and completely unnecessary law if enacted. As one blogger put it, Dogs can swim, you idiots!

What do you think? Have any laws, regulations, or examples of government overreach regarding the outdoors that you want to tell us about? Leave a comment and let us know!

Sources:

http://www.fieldandstream.com | http://blogs.knoxnews.com | http://watchdog.org | http://www.americanhunter.org | http://list25.com

 

Captain’s Blog: Saltwater Sportsman Show a HUGE success!!

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We didn't take pics, but our customers did. Courtesy of Richard Pyeatt

We didn’t take pics, but our customers did. Courtesy of Richard Pyeatt

Thank You! Yeah, you. We can’t express how much we appreciate our customers for making Saturday at the show the single most successful day in USIA sales history.

Let me set the scene: When Lana and I got there in the morning, there was a line around the block. Literally, there were hundreds of people streaming past our USIA booth and we were busy measuring people and taking their orders all day long. We were so swamped none of us had any time to catch our breaths, let alone step back to take any pictures. So unfortunately we have no images to post to prove just how amazing it was. You’ll have to take my word for it.

A huge shoutout to my buddy at OUTDOOR GPS, Owin Hays. He runs a quality show over there on ComcastNW and has been a tremendous help in getting the word out about our USIA Waders, Deck Jackets, Diver & Fishing Armor, plus other products of ours. I can’t tell you how many times we heard, “I saw you on Outdoor GPS…” Lana started rolling her eyes she heard it so many times. It wasn’t that she didn’t appreciate it, she was just like, ‘OK, I get it!’

Point is, you helped a smalltown, locally owned business who employs American workers manufacturing quality American Made products. It doesn’t get any better than that. We at USIA are going to be busy filling orders over the next few weeks, and that’s the way we like it around here. Because at USIA, we always say, ‘It’s not just equipment, it’s a lifestyle!’

-Captain ‘Joc’ Kujo