Midwest Fishing & Hunting Bloggers Fall Rendezvous

Back in July I had this bright idea.   I was contacted by someone on Twitter who wanted me to come to the Oakdale Gun Club (NE St. Paul, MN) and blog about their newly renovated facility.   Sounded like a good idea.   But after doing a bit more thinking, I had a better idea.

Why not invite all bloggers to gather there and see the facility?   In fact, why not use this as an opportunity for bloggers in the Upper Midwest to do some networking face-to-face and finally meet each other?

Now, of course, over the years I have learned that trying to organize bloggers to participate in anything is akin to herding a group of cats (how’d you like that analogy, Michelle??!!).   Honestly, I’ve learned many outdoors bloggers are either a shy sort, or they are so damn busy they just don’t have time for rubbing elbows with other bloggers.MidwestLogo

Hey, I can understand that.   I can even appreciate it.   Truth is for most of us blogging takes a backseat to family life, our paying careers, you know…all the important stuff in life.

But I’m hoping that on September 22nd  if you’re an outdoors blogger and within reasonable driving distance of the Twin Cities you’ll consider joining us for a first-time meeting.   There will be some familiar faces there…and perhaps some not so recognizable.   Bottom line is if you want to take your blog to the next level you have to break free of your basement, your bedroom…or wherever it is you place pixels into cyberspace.

We want to see and meet you in the Twin Cities on Sept. 22nd.   I’m even planning to feed everyone who attends with some fabulous home-smoked #BBQ and sides.   That alone should be worth the FREE cost of admission.

Download this press release and check out the website today.   More importantly, let’s plan to meet about 10 days from now to establish a new friendship.   We’ll have some fun.   Like I said, there will be good food.   Perhaps best of all, we will be doing it at a fun new facility where we can shoot some guns and bows.   What more could a blogger ask for?   You need content for your blog…we’ll give you that.   Just show up with your camera and a sense of adventure.

Let me know if you have any questions.   Otherwise, please e-mail Michelle Scheuermann with your R.S.V.P. to secure your FREE hat (while quantities last).

Calling All Minnesota & Wisconsin Fishing/Hunting Bloggers

If there’s one thing many bloggers fail at it’s networking.   Now, I’m not talking about networking via social media, like Twitter and Facebook.   No, I’m talking about good old fashioned face-to-face meeting like they used to do it back in the old days.   In my opinion nothing solidifies a friendship quite like a firm handshake and a few stories passed back and forth.

During the past several years a small group of us bloggers have met during the SHOT Show in Vegas for a social hour.   Those times are always fun and it allows folks to get caught up on happenings.   Moreover, it builds a bond with other like-minded bloggers that helps to energize a person’s future creative output.

It has long been my hope to gather a regional group of bloggers together for a fun rendezvous here in the upper Midwest.  I’ve learned that is not always an easy task to accomplish due to the fact we all live busy lives, but important nonetheless.   So, if you blog about the outdoors and are within reasonable driving distance of the Twin Cities, I urge you to make plans now.

Announcing plans for a fall Day at the Range.   We’ll be doing some shooting, we’ll be doing some other outdoor activities, we’ll be eating fresh smoked BBQ, and most of all we’ll be getting to better know one another.

Here are the plans:


(Click on the link above for additional details)

If you have any questions please contact either Michelle Scheuermann, Chris Larsen or me.   If this goes over well maybe next summer we will plan a similar gathering at some lake to focus on a little fishing.   Hope to hear from you soon.

©2013 Jim Braaten. All Rights Reserved. No Reproduction without Prior Permission.

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Use Your Smartphone To Plot Sunrise/Sunset Angles

Just a quick blog post about a cool smartphone app I think you’ll want to consider.   Now, keep in mind this app was not designed for the hunter in mind per se, instead it was developed for landscape photogs who need to know precisely when and where the sun rises and sets each day.

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But let’s assume this spring you are building some permanent deer stands or blinds and you would like to know what angle the sun will rise and set come October.   This app will help you figure that out…and best of all it will do so showing any date you put in for the calculation overlayed over a real map.

Assume you expect deer to come down a certain trail and you want to avoid being “skylighted” by the horizon.   This app will help you calculate it…not only for today, but also for during hunting season when the sun will present itself at much different angles.

Maybe you’re a hunter trying to position trail cameras but you want to avoid direct sun into the camera lens.   You can stand in the spot of your choosing and it will show you precisely when and where the sun will rise and set.   This can also help you avoid those areas which might produce harsh shadows and poor pictures.

The potential application list goes on and on.   But I think you get the idea.

Much like a landscape photographer who might use this app to get stunning sunrise/sunset photos using nature to their advantage, the hunter can benefit in much the same manner.

I urge you to download THE PHOTOGRAPHER’S EPHEMERIS (for iOS $8.99 / for Android $4.99) to give you this edge and start learning how to use it.   I think you’ll be quite pleased with the results.

©2013 Jim Braaten. All Rights Reserved. No Reproduction without Prior Permission.