Nutrition for the Total Outdoorsman, can't live without it, literally :)

NUTRITION FOR THE TOTAL OUTDOORSMAN

WHEN I FOUND OUT HOW OUT OF SHAPE I WAS
Not too long ago I believed all you needed to stay healthy was water, some good farm produce, and home grown beef!  While that is still true to some degree my thought process has changed dramatically.  

What really opened my eyes to looking into proper nutrition and staying fit was when I was at my previous job, sitting at a bank desk staring at tootsie rolls all day and not doing a lot of physical activity.  I've always been passionate about hunting and fishing and for the little over two years I was a banker could never seem to get time off to go much.  Growing up on the farm I had always been really fit even when I wasn't trying so when I got a day off from my desk job I thought it would be no different.  

Brayden and I took Grandpa's razor up in the Big Hole's early one fall morning on the lookout for deer and elk.  We both could only afford to take a day off from work and try to hit it hard.  The horses got sold when we both moved from Driggs a few years ago so we drove up to a lookout peak and then were on foot hiking pretty much straight up and down the mountain sides.  For the first hour or so I didn't feel too bad but felt really winded and couldn't seem to keep up with Brayden as good.  Throughout the rest of the day though I felt drained all day and had too many frequent stops to catch my breath.  My muscles were out of shape and it didn't take very long and my legs would get to shaking from hiking up and down the mountain side and even became difficult for me to keep my balance with my legs giving out. I couldn't wait for the hunt to be over. I was dripping sweat and could not for the life of me regain energy and stamina after resting. 

That had never happened to me before and honestly scared me into realizing I needed some muscle back, to get in shape, and better nutrition.  

Over the past couple years since that experience I've been a lot more in tune with how the body works and what it needs.  

VITAMINS AND MINERAL SUPPLEMENTS
Wether you're an outdoorsman or not, one of the main things I really believe in is vitamins and mineral supplements. Your body needs these to function properly and the lack of them will lead to many health issues now and especially down the road.  In my opinion vitamins are the most important things for you to take to be proactive about your health.  Our bodies cannot replenish lacking vitamins and minerals on it's own.  The truth is that it is almost impossible for our bodies to get all the vitamins, nutrients, and minerals it needs by eating fresh foods and so called healthy foods.  Due to the way our food is grown and processed now.  The way food is farmed now with intense farming practices, essential trace minerals found in soils have been highly depleted so the foods you eat are lacking in those as well.  Processing also robs precious nutrients from the foods you eat.  

I'll be honest, most of the vitamins and minerals on the market don't actually work and do more harm than good.  Why?  They might have everything your body needs but your body cannot actually absorb them so they crystalize in your small intestines and you have an expensive bathroom experience.  On top of that because your body is not absorbing those they trigger free radicals which attack your body doing more harm than good.  

Good news though is that there are vitamin supplements out there proven to absorb into your body and actually benefit you.  I have noticed a huge difference since I've been regularly taking Vitamin supplements clinically proven to absorb and work. Although I'm healthy as far as I know, I've noticed a dramatic increase in energy, focus, recovery, and improved immune system.  

Do your research and find out the absorption rates of your vitamin supplements. You'll be surprised at the lack of information with vitamin companies because they are well aware of the fact that most of them don't work and absorb.  

When you're in the back country and exposed to all kinds of fluctuating temperatures it's easy to catch a cold or fevers among other things and ruin a good extended hunting trip. A good multivitamin and other supplements will surely increase your odds of avoiding sitting back at camp not feeling good.

Fly fishing the Henry's Fork

HYDRATION DRINKS OR JUST WATER
I love water and since the days of high school wrestling hardly drink pop anymore.  What I realized in my studies though is when you're sweating or working out, your body is losing electrolytes and other important things that need to be replenished.  Water can't replenish those electrolytes which keep you hydrated and help keep your body going so in enters energy drinks like Gatorade and Powerade.  What I found was that although Gatorade had two electrolytes it also contained a lot of sugar.  I have since switched from using Gatorade and Powerade and use a drink mix I pour in my water bottle or Camel Back hydration system which has twice the electrolytes, 1/5 the sugar, and I personally think it tastes better.  My point being that there are alternatives to Gatorade and Powerade that work better and are healthier.  I have been amazed at the difference I feel in being hydrated when I'm hunting by not drinking strictly just straight water.  I really have felt more longevity and energy.  Once you get on a good electrolyte replacement drink if you aren't staying active when you're drinking it you will notice how much more hydrated you are by the more bathroom visits you take and less headaches you have.  

FITNESS BARS
Never thought I'd be saying this but I really believe in a good fitness bar to keep you going on an all day hunt as well as the other things I've mentioned.  Granted most of them are expensive and I'm sure a lot of you have your favorites for one reason or another. The main reason I take one before and during a hunting or fishing trip is that I've found one that has made a huge difference in helping me recover after a long hike or packing out an animal. It also has made a huge difference in
helping prevent the sore muscles afterwards by blocking the adenosine in your body which creates lactic acid causing the sore muscles.  Along with the recovery abilities, it adds some protein, a nice snack, and on those cold days the particular one I use burns fat to use as energy increasing my core temperature rather than burning muscle to use as energy.  There's no way I'm going to pay five bucks a protein bar so make sure you find one that tastes good to you and gives you the results you want.  

STAYING FIT
This is my biggest struggle.  I broke down and got a gym membership this year and haven't been super good at all about going regularly.  My goal this year is to be ready to do some hard hunting this year without the wobbly legs and getting winded all the time so really need to buckle down and get to work.  I'm a big advocate of regular exercise because I've seen what a big difference it makes when you have been lacking in that department and get into the high elevations when it can become a life or death situation.  Since high school the best shape I've ever been in was the year before I got married and didn't have a girlfriend so went hunting everyday. Haha.  I was an animal and felt like I could hike anything and it paid off being able to call in and stick an arrow in a rutting bull elk.  Those are the thoughts that drive me into being healthy along with the high cost of health care now days.  

I'm always curious to learn more about nutrition for the outdoorsmen and women.   Shoot me an email or something and I'm happy to share more info on what I've personally found.

What have you found to improve your nutrition and fitness in the outdoors?

 Brayden's bull shot in the bottom of the deepest ravine. Haha.

The Log Hollow bull 

MY QUEST FOR TROPHY TROUT

About a year ago I became so frustrated with my fly fishing.  I never had a problem catching fish but I couldn't seem to keep the 12-14 inchers and the white fish of my line.  Not always a bad problem to have right?!  I decided I needed to step up my game and start a quest for some large trophy trout!

My Dad introduced me to fly fishing when I was young and I couldn't wait to someday get my own fly rod.  As the years progressed I started tying some of my own flies and educating myself more from books, video's, and the local legends around Teton Valley about fly fishing and how to be successful.  It has become an addiction that has become fulfilling and aggravating at times as I have progressed.

When I realized that I needed to change up my game and that I was consistently not catching larger fish I started to watch every fly fishing video I could find on youtube and vimeo trying to see what I was missing.  I did countless google searches about catching larger fish and my wife will attest to that when I get my mind on something I'm stuck on that until I figure it out.  I came across many people and resources willing to help fulfill my quest for a 25" + trout on the South Fork or the Henry's Fork! I'm still working towards that and closing in.

The selection and style of streamers I've been chucking lately, can you tell which one's I tied?

This is what I have learned so far.  Trophy Trout are trophies for a reason.  If you want to catch them you have to stop worrying about how many fish you catch during the day and start thinking about the quality of the fish you are catching.  Don't be discouraged when you see another angler catching twice as many fish as you twice as small and giving you the look like you're an idiot for not catching the same amount.

You've gotta cover more water to find those few and far between larger fish. When trout get to be a certain size the primary source of their diet becomes meat instead of insects and they are turned into a predator preying on other fish and larger meals.  A big fish won't normally spend all of it's energy going after little meals and begins to take in some bigger meals to keep up with it's nutritional needs.  Big trout often feed at night or in darker conditions.  As a hunter of big game when the moon is out so are the animals and it is no different for the fish. A lot of big fish that I've seen were caught after dark legally and in the late evening hours or early morning hours.  During the day big trout will find slower water that they can hold in and rest and these are often the best place to find them during the daytime hours.

I've heard it said that just before, during, and just after a low pressure system such as storms, will cause fish to go on a feeding frenzy. So the next time it's raining out don't pack up your gear and head home unless you're in a lighting storm.

During the day from what I've learned, and I believe it, big fish aren't as active but can be enticed or aggravated to attack a large fly that spooks or scares them even though it may not be hungry.  I've also heard that the same fish that a large trout will feed on in the evenings or early hours will often times allow it's minnow or smaller fish meals to swim around by it during the day time hours with no harm.

Articulated Streamers are quickly becoming, if not already the most popular weapon for enticing these big trout but I'm not so convinced yet they are the go to style of streamer.  Streamers imitate that larger meal the big trout are looking for and I know you can catch big trout on chironomids, nymphs, and dries but I've become addicted to throwing a streamer.  As I've been fishing streamers I really have cut out those littler fish than what I used to catch and am starting to see the size of fish I'm catching grow.  When concerned which color streamer to fish, a good rule of thumb is "Dark skies, dark flies, bright skies, bright flies."

Zoo Cougar and Sex Dungeon Articulated Streamers

While faithfully fishing large articulated streamers I'll admit that I haven't had a whole lot of luck and am not so sure at this point in my fishing that they are my go to for big trout.  I have caught fish on them but honestly I've fished a lot of hours with them in some nice waters and haven't had the success I hoped or worked for.  Now I think I am going to go back to fishing #4 Wooly Buggers and streamers more often and see if that produces any more strikes with bigger fish. A good friend and fisherman I look up to told me this was his opinion as well and that even a #2 hook size was too big for what he's noticed. I have to say I have had better luck with the smaller streamers and have seen some of the hogs he's pulled out with them and am definitely leaning to his way of thinking.  The largest fish I've caught out of the river yet was I'd say 22"-23" or so (never actually measured it) and was on the Henry's Fork during spring on a yellow #4 Wooly Bugger streamer.  I'm not professing to know anything about fishing big trout because my wife is getting used to me coming home without a good fish story as I've been on this quest making mistakes.  I've fished weighted streamers on a floating line and am now fishing a sinking line with both weighted and non weighted streamers depending on current and depth.

#4 Wooly Buggers in Yellow and Olive

The Brown I caught spring of 2013 on the Yellow Wooly Bugger above (Henry's Fork)                             

Some of my weaknesses as I'm looking for the 25"+ trout are that I don't cover enough water as I am limited to where I fish since I don't have a boat, and that I don't always go out when the big fish are feeding actively.  If I'm going to step up my fishing game I think these are definitely two things I'm lacking among many others I'm sure :)

The Line I'm currently fishing.

For those of you who like to follow good fisherman that can get it done this is a list of some of my favorites that I like to follow.

  Randy Berry- Check out Teton Valley Lodge youtube video's
  Brian Berry- Check out the Teton Valley Lodge youtube video's to see the man in action
  Beau Price- Check out Mountain Made Media and the Obsession video he's in
  Jake Forsline- Look him up with the Loop Army and on Vimeo
  Kelly Galloup- Got some great instructional videos on how trophy trout habits are
  Mike Lawson- He's got the history and the Legends to back up whatever he says

I'm always open to add to this list and see what you've learned and done!

WHAT I LEARNED AS A BOY SCOUT!

My earliest memory of scouting was as a kid tagging along with my Dad before I was even of scouting age to different activities and visiting him while he was a scoutmaster on campouts.  I've been wanting to do a post about my love for scouting for a few weeks now and this is the perfect timing with my Dad soon to be awarded the Silver Beaver award for his commitment and dedication to scouting all these years!  He's changed many lives because of scouting and has taught my brother, myself, and countless others many knots, values, skills, and life lessons through scouting!  He definitely deserves the great recognition and award!

Not only have I been able to be a scout but I've been able to participate as a scout leader and watch boys become men through the help of the scouting program.  

Not a day goes by that I don't use something I learned from scouting.  My true love of the outdoors was developed through scouting and I often recollect many scout trips and burnt marshmallows.  As a scout I learned how to tie the Bowline Knot, make a wilderness camp, start a fire with a magnifying glass, to do a good turn daily, and to always be prepared!  Through countless merit badges I developed many skills and opportunities to be exposed to different situations that prepared me for life.  Through awkward years as a teenager scouting taught me most about what I was capable of, what I loved, and gave me the confidence to stand up for what is right.  

Some of my favorite campouts were going to Packsaddle Lake, Treasure Mountain Scout Camp, The Big Eddie, Hebdgen Lake, Green Canyon, and Palisades Lake.  I still remember sleeping under a tarp in the middle of winter at Mike Harris Campground waking up to frozen boots in the middle of a blizzard.  Another time at the Big Eddie getting eaten alive by mosquitos and sneezing my guts out from allergies.  Fishing at Packsaddle Lake and almost watching a forest fire get started there in a wind storm.  Jumping off the rope swing in 40 degree water and talking in the tent all hours of the night about the most random stuff.  Winning the Battle of the Tetons at scout camp numerous years with Troop 89 and lugging the daily ration of food from the mess hall in a milk crate up a narrow and windy trail back to camp.  

Countless volunteer hours were put in by many parents and scout leaders that understood the value of a scout to his country and community and made my scouting experiences some of the fondest times of my life.  Some of the leaders and volunteers I remember among many are my Dad (Kerry Buxton), my Mom (Kathy Buxton), Mark Wade, Troy Harris, Randy Berry, Syd Thompson, Greer Jones, Harold Robison, Dave Richardson, Randy Burnside and many many others.

As a scout is where I learned to develop leadership skills and how to always leave things better than you found them.  We learned by memory that a scout is trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean, and reverent. We learned how to be self sufficient and to be an asset to our communities as we always were taught to look for opportunities to serve and give.  One of my most favorite things I learned as a scout among tying knots and how to camp was dutch oven cooking.  Even the nastiest food tasted good on a campout and our leaders were brave enough to let us cook and teach us how. 

What a great experience to be able to camp with my Dad and Brother while developing life long friendships with my fellow scouts and leaders.  

I carry with me in my wallet everyday my Eagle Scout card reminding me that once a scout always a scout and it is one of my most prized possessions.  Reach out and get involved in scouting in your community and make sure to take your kids to scouts especially when they don't want to!!!  They'll thank you later and you won't have to worry about your kids wandering the streets when they're sitting around a campfire or playing night games in the woods!  If the scouting program in your area isn't what you'd like it to be, step in and make it what it can be.

DO A GOOD TURN DAILY

ALWAYS BE PREPARED

What have you learned as a scout or what do you remember?