ACTION HUB – NOVEMBER, 2025 Winter Wildlife SignsWinter Wildlife Signs Tom Watson If you think of the outdoors as one big, wonderful natural theatre, then the leaves across that landscape are like a partially-drawn, visibly-impenetrable curtain that hides so much of the overall action going on around you. Fortunately, once colder weather…
Tom Watson (Published in Fall 2025 issue of Whitetails Unlimited magazine)Tom Watson The term “survival” gets tossed around quite a bit in outdoor chat circles, most often centering around procedures that evolved from many of the extreme behind-the-lines enemy-evading tactics straight out of the U.S. Air Force survival manual. Hollywood’s contributions, as well as television…
I occasionally receive books on some aspect of the “outdoors” I like to introduce in this column – from memoirs that share personal experiences that both teach and entertain, to reference books that offer tips on various types of outdoor adventures and resources. Sometimes, in doing so, they remind us of the environment in which…
(Originally published in “Self Reliance In The Outdoors” /Tom Watson / Midwest Outdoors – June,2024) As part of my spring readiness rounds through my camping gear I always reach that fork in my mental “Do I really need this?” road. The most recurring question arises over whether or not I should bring an axe, a…
By Tom Watson, as Published in Big River magazine The plating of the entrée dish, with the brilliant reds and vivid oranges of the crawfish perched atop a sauce-covered fish fillet was even tastier that its eye appeal. Enough so that it took third place in a recent NOLA Navy Cook-off that paired NAVY and…
One of the lighter, but important aspects of being self reliant in the outdoors is the level to which you can bring your kitchen skills to the campfire. Whether it’s a casual car-camp weekend or a backcountry bivouac or spike camp, there’s no reason why you can’t enjoy some of the cooking creations you enjoy…
By: Tom Watson – Posted: April 2, 2024 on Action Hub Even in this tech age of global positioning devices and other cellphone-assessable electronic navigational software, the use of traditional maps and charts is still relevant, especially for those exploring major inland lakes, rivers and coastal shorelines by small, muscle-powered watercraft. Although it’s quite common to hear someone toss…
Every spring I remind myself to check my first aid kit for expired medications, reduced supplies that were used during the previous season – all part of a simple inventory of quantities and qualities of gear I anticipate using in the months to come. I also like to review treatment protocols and processes for administering…
One aspect of being self-reliant in the outdoors is simply working with a variety of resources in a variety of ways. It’s not always in conjunction with a life-threatening, emergency scenario, but simple a way to expand certain skill sets to enhance your outdoor experience. To that end, I decided to check out an aspect…
You don’t need sophisticated instruments to make fairly sound weather predictions – especially if you know a few basic principles – and can read the local skies (and other natural clues such as animal behavior and other physical signs). At least you should know when Mother Nature is waving her meteorological yellow flag! Let’s start…
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