Im a Woodsbum...

[truckermike]

There, I shamelesly admitt it. My Grandfather taught me how to be a Woodsbum at age 5. Strapping on his Colts Woodsman and off we'd go with a couple of his dogs following along. Wandering over the woods and fields of his farm and even down to his swamp. But the greatest Woodsbum Ive ever known was a pal of Gramps from Montreal I only knew as Frenchy. Frenchy was the real deal-he made a profession out of being a Woodsbum. Hunting, fishing, trapping and guiding well-to-do Sportsmen from Syracuse,Albany and NYC. Frenchy took a bath every Spring wether he needed it or not.
Ive Woodsbummed for the past 48 years. Some Woodsbums I know combine it with a metal detector therby justifying what their wives would consider goofing off.
You dont need a lot in the way of equipmnet to be a Woodsbum. I handgun, compass and a good Dog will do. If you dont have a dog-borrow one. Dogs love to Woodsbum. So get up off that couch and get to Woodsbummin.

 

[fat tom]

That description would have fit me for about 25 years of my life. I'm too old to do it right anymore.
f.t.

p.s. Nothin' shameful about it! I've seen a lot of stuff that most humans haven't. Unless it was on the Discovery Channel!

f.t.

 

[truckemup97]

That's how I grew up. I didn't have anyone to teach me how, but I "wandered over all God's creation", as my Grandmother would have said. I still enjoy a hike when I can.

 

[teesur]

How I grew up also, with my dad's Colt Woodsman(still have it), and my faithful dog(s).
Teesur.

 

[Centenniel]

Guilty as charged! I'm a lifelong woodsbum and couldn't be happier that when I'm in the woods with my dog Ruthie, an Australian Blue Heeler. I do wish I had a Colt Woodsman, but the Ruger MkII will do.

 

[USAF385]

Sounds like how I spent my day today. Except my faithful pooch is no longer with me.

My brother and I have 100+ acres here in north east PA. We even have a small hand made "cabin" for those nights we're far out and don't feel like coming home.

 

[ragman]

I still have to be all over my farm several times a week or I go crazy. My dog Belle told me that she was retired and did not want to go any longer. Well now it's just me and mouse my ever faithful Chihuahua. Damn,62 years old and reduced to spending all day in the woods with a chihuahua. An't life grand.

 

[Sven]

I have a couple regrets. One is that I didn't take my son out into the woods more, although we often went for hikes as a family. Cut and split firewood as a family, too. The other is that I didn't buy 40+ acres of woods 30+ years ago. But with a young family, new job, etc., money was tight. Plus there are thousands of acres of public land in the county, too -- federal, state and county. Plus thousands more of paper mill land open tot he public.

I am looking forward to taking the grandsons out, though! At 3 years old, they're a bit young for too much, but we're starting!