Outdoor Sports Advisor
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I got a phone call a year or so back. It was one of my readers (I do a weekly outdoor column in several newspapers). He started by saying, “I’ve been meaning to call you for some time, but was reluctant to do so.” When I asked him why, he said, “Well, you’re this outdoors expert, and I’m just a plain Joe-fishermen. I didn’t think you’d want to talk to me”

I stopped him right there. I am not any sort of expert. What I am is an outdoor journalist. My job is to ferret out information, and share it with my readers. And I’ll talk to anyone about the outdoors, at any time. Along the way I’ve learned an incredible amount about the outdoors, things I could never have picked up on my own in three lifetimes.

If I have any expertise, it isn’t so much as a hunter, fisherman, or backpacker. It’s in my ability to string words together in an interesting and educational way. That’s what I do for a living.

The fact is, though, we are all experts in one thing or another. Every outdoor sports enthusiast knows something that others do not. A certain way of holding a rifle, or a secret bait that really slays the catfish, or a method of filling a packbag for best balance. We know knots that nobody else knows; and deer-hunting methods that only a few others share; and ways of caring for our feet so they can carry us further.

But tips and techniques are only a part of who we are as outdoor enthusiasts. We are the sum of our experiences. We may not remember if we even caught a fish, but we do remember the chilling rain on opening day, and how good the fire felt, and the bliss of that first swallow of coffee. We may or may not have taken a deer that trip, but we remember seeing a bear, waist deep in a stream, doing his own hunting. Happened right there, by that rock. We forget, perhaps, the pain of that last, steep climb on a trail that was, itself, more strenuous than the guidebook said. But we remember the reds and golds of the sun setting through the surrounding peaks, and the hissing of the campstoves as supper cooked, and the incredible silence that followed when we turned the stove off and the night descended.

When we started The Outdoor Sports Advisor we had two goals in mind.

First, and foremost, it was a way of sharing with you the things I’ve learned as an outdoor journalist. I’ve learned a lot, through the years, from true experts and from just Joe fishermen, and hunters, and hikers. There have been guides and outfitters along the way. And there have been far more everyday outdoor enthusiasts who know a trick or three, or who just wanted to share their favorite stories.

We’ve done a pretty good job, so far, with that goal. I get emails all the time telling me how much you enjoy the site, and how much you’ve learned from it. So in that regard, The Outdoor Sports Advisor is already a success.

Our second goal was to provide a venue where you could talk about your own life as an outdoor enthusiast. A place where like-thinking folks can get together, to tell stories, and discuss methods, and share tips and techniques they’ve discovered for themselves.

So, that’s the purpose of this section. These are your pages. If you’ve got something to say about the outdoors, this is the place to do it. There are no restrictions as to topic. If it has to do with the outdoors, this is where you can discuss it.

We do have a few rules, however.

First, The Outdoor Sports Advisor is a family-oriented website. So watch your language. We will edit out any inappropriate language or images. And we have zero tolerance for flaming. If you have a different point of view about something that was posted, no problems. But keep it friendly if you respond to someone else’s post.

Speaking of responding to other postings, that includes my articles. If you’ve something to add, or have a different way of going it, don’t hesitate to say so. There are many ways of accomplishing a task, and I certainly have no corner on the market.

Second, no spam will be allowed! If the name of a product or guide is an integral part of your story, that’s fine. But if your submission is an obvious way of merely touting goods and services don’t even bother sending it in. It will not appear.

Third, all submissions must be signed. If you want it to appear only with a screen name, that’s OK. But you’re real name must be included when you send the email, so that we know there’s a real person involved.

Fourth, we reserve the right to edit submissions in any way we see fit. By submitting to us, you consent to this editing.

Finally, by submitting a piece to us, you consent to its publication on the pages of The Outdoor Sports Advisor.

Other than that, these are your pages. So let’s hear from you.

Once again, please email me all submissions at brook@the-outdoor-sports-advisor.com