The Evolution of a Sportsmen

A self reflection of gear and opinions

I don’t know if the evolution of a sportsman is quite the right term to use. Still, I could certainly say that considering how I started hunting and fishing and what my garage and gun safe look like now, there have been some radical changes in how I view the tools and techniques I use when I’m outdoors.

I started fishing with the gear endemic to so many anglers. I drowned worms using a Zebco push-button for nearly everything. Around the age of eight or nine, I got my first spinning reel and practiced in the front yard nearly every day after school for many years. That Kmart special 5-foot combo spooled with 10-pound monofilament was all I used for freshwater. Now, several decades later, I have several spinning setups designed for slightly different presentations as well as bait casting gear, which I never expected to use. The bait caster, with its ability to be tuned to what I’m using as well as its robust ability to handle heavier lures and dragging fish out of cover, has made it one of my favorite setups to use. I am now strongly considering following in the trend of Texas and Louisiana saltwater anglers and using a bait caster for redfish and even striped bass

Young Cameron would have never believed that fly rods and fly shops would be in his angling future either. While my skill set with said gear is still significantly lacking, it is refreshing and humbling to be repeatedly reminded of my unfamiliarity with a technique.

When talking about hunting, I, as a very young boy, never expected that I would have any interest in hunting. Bird watcher Cameron, who asked for field guides and binoculars for his birthday. Might be surprised to know that adult Cameron also asks for these things for his birthday and sacrifices his hours of sleep and time off to chase birds in the woods and water.

I am fully aware that much of this has to do with the lack of exposure I had growing up, when my view of hunters was from Elmer Fudd. Working with and defending people who care so deeply about the conservation and science around wildlife, which ties into their enjoyment of hunting, left them an indelible mark that formed me into the hunter I am today. As far as gear is concerned, I have to admit my younger uninformed and ignorant perceptions shaped a lot of stupid ideas as to what I would be using during hunting season.

The first example is, I never expected an autoloading shotgun to be part of my hunting selection. However, much as I have loved my pump guns and side-by-side, the lack of abuse my shoulder feels after running a gas-operated 12 gauge is nice.

Regarding semi-automatic firearms. My rifles have also allowed me to eat humble pie. Growing up where I did and when I did, I also uttered the foolish words “you don’t hunt with an AR-15.” Well, A majority of the animals that I have harvested have been taken with an AR-15. In the time since saying that line and now I’ve owned about a dozen ARs too

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I also swore I’d carry a 1911 as my concealed carry gun. I don’t, I carry a Glock with twice the magazine capacity and half the weight. And I can open carry, so maybe a 1911 isn’t out of the question.

Don't worry, younger Cameron, I still have a traditional bow and wood arrows, our eldest daughter has one too. But between work and being a dumb college kid, you wrecked your shoulder. Your archery gear for deer season includes an old compound and a much newer, lighter, and still less abusive crossbow. Quite a change from splitting that ash log with dad all those years ago. But trust me, there’s a lot less string burns on our arms because of it.

Will me gear change again in the next couple decades? Probably. My hope is a can laugh about it the same way I have looking back on my first years as a sportsmen.