Rob's Hunting Journal: Top 50 Hunting Blog Posts of 2009

Sunday, December 27, 2009

Top 50 Hunting Blog Posts of 2009

Sometimes I wonder who is actually reading the stuff I write on this blog. I originally started this blog as sort of an online scrapbook and a way for all my friends and family to see the results of my latest hunting trip. But none of my friends or family ever leave a comment on this blog, so I have no clue if they read it or not. (Yeah, I'm a little bitter about it.) I can make a new post and get a hundred hits on this site in a day's time and maybe have one or two comments to show for it, usually from people I've never met in my life. I think I've gotten hits on this site from every continent but Antarctica, so I'm always curious who my readers are.

A couple days ago I was reading a blog post by Rick Kratzke of the Whitetail Woods blog when I came across a pleasant surprise. His blog post mentioned that one of his blog entries had made the Top 50 Hunting Blog Posts of 2009. Rick mentioned that there were some other familiar bloggers on the list as well, so I thought I would check it out. I followed the link he provided to a website called Hunting Business Marketing, where the author of this site had listed "The Top 50 Hunting Blog Posts of 2009".

I scrolled down seeing names like Michael Waddell and David Blanton (both of Realtree Outdoors), Bowhunting.com, and Cabela's. Then there at the bottom of the list at number 50 was Rob's Hunting Journal. Apparently my "First Day of Fall Pheasant Wreath" post made the list. I thought that was pretty cool that somebody thought my blog was worthy enough to be included! If you get a chance, check out the link above to see the entire list.

11 comments:

Anonymous said...: Rob, I feel your frustration I really do. It took quite awhile to get other bloggers to feel comfortable with leaving me comments. I found the more I wrote and posted the more I enjoyed it and the more comments I started to get.
If they are at least reading your posts that is a good thing, then once they start commenting I would suggest answering every comment. It means a lot to people to know that their comments are being read just as it is important to know that you posts are being read, see where I'm going.

Any questions feel free to give me a shout and Congratulations.; December 27, 2009 at 7:22 AM
Rob said...: Rick, I know what you are saying - the more I comment on other blogs the more comments I will get on mine. I have noticed how that works myself. I really appreciate getting comments from anyone and everyone, but I'm talking about people I actually know personally who read my blog but don't have one of their own - like coworkers, relatives, and friends that I don't get to see that often. I mean how hard is it to say something like "That sounded like a great hunt"?; December 27, 2009 at 8:04 AM
Anonymous said...: Rob, I gotcha. I know a few people personally and they find it easier to ask how my blog is going than just clicking on it while they are already on the computer.

Your not alone!; December 27, 2009 at 1:55 PM
Rabid Outdoorsman said...: I feel your pain. My family never posts any comments even though I know they all read it!

Congrats on making the list!; December 27, 2009 at 3:22 PM
Anonymous said...: Rob, if it's any consolation to you, I too know where your coming from. It sucks when family and "friends" can't take a few seconds to tell you "congrats" or "way to go."

I read your blog all the time. In fact your blog was the first hunting blog I became a follower of. I was not suprised at all to see your blog in the top 50. You deserve it. Congrats and keep up the good work!; December 27, 2009 at 6:15 PM
Mark, Lindsey, Brynn & Paisley said...: I read it alllllll the time...you don't leave a comment on my page either...but on the other hand I haven't shot something magnificent thats worthy of a congrats...; December 27, 2009 at 8:03 PM
native said...: Definitely deserved Rob!
I have been dropping in to read your adventures for about a year now, or longer!

And really enjoy following your stories!

The very best to you!
TMR; December 27, 2009 at 8:37 PM
Rob said...: Thanks for the comments everybody! I appreciate it very much.; December 27, 2009 at 9:29 PM
Othmar Vohringer said...: You deserve to be entered in that list. Congratulations and a Happy New Year.

-ov-; December 28, 2009 at 9:05 AM
Dayne Shuda said...: I was glad to find your blog and include your post, Rob.

Happy New Year.

Keep the great posts coming in 2010. By the looks of these comments it appears you have a loyal following.; December 29, 2009 at 8:04 AM
Rob said...: Dayne - Thanks for checking out my blog and including me in the list! I really appreciate your comments as well. Feel free to stop by anytime.; December 29, 2009 at 8:19 AM

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My Hunting and Fishing Influences

These people, in no particular order, have each had a significant role influencing me when it comes to hunting, fishing, and the outdoors in general. To each of them, I am truly thankful.

Scott Jordan - Daddy started taking me hunting and fishing with him at about the age of 5 or 6. One of my earliest hunting memories is of opening day of dove season in about 1985. I was only 6 years old, not big enough to actually hunt, but I remember vividly that day being one for the ages. It was steadily raining all day, and we were hunting west of Gunter, Texas in a maize field that was full of round bales, and I got to retrieve the birds. My Dad and my Uncle Robert will still tell you to this day that there were more birds that day than they have ever seen.

Wayne Watson - Grandaddy's eyesight had started to fail by the time I was old enough to hunt, so we never actually got to hunt together. He is the one who taught me how to use open sights on a rifle. I remember him teaching me how to make the front sight sit right on top of the back sight, and to hold my breath while I squeezed the trigger. He always said that by squeezing the trigger instead of jerking, I wouldn't know exactly when the gun would fire, so I would be more accurate. Grandaddy passed away on January 1, 1997.

Robert Watson - I've always wanted to be able to shoot as good as Uncle Robert. He is the best wingshooter I know, and he shoots competitively in a skeet/trap league. Anytime someone compliments me on my shotgunning, I think, man, if they could only see my uncle shoot, they wouldn't think I was any good. He has given me lots of pointers and I always enjoy when I get to go to the skeet range with him. We have bird hunted together quite a bit over the years. When I was about 10 or 11, my Uncle took me and my Dad to his deer lease with him in central Texas. An incident happened on that trip that opened my eyes to the importance of firearm safety, and I will never forget it.

Dr. Tim Patton - This was one of my college professors and advisor at Southeastern Oklahoma State University. I learned more about wildlife and fisheries from his lectures and field trips than anywhere else. He encouraged me to apply for the summer Park Ranger position at Lake Texoma, which eventually led to my career with the Corps of Engineers. Some of my favorite college memories are of field trips with Dr. Patton to trap fish in some of the streams of southeastern Oklahoma.

Kenyon Wood - Mr. Wood was my Ag teacher in high school. During my Junior year he taught a wildlife management class, which is where I completed the Texas Hunter's Education Course and the Boater's Education Course. He took us on field trips to shoot skeet and archery equipment, to fish, and to the TPWD Wildlife Expo in Austin. Mr. Wood passed away during the summer between my Junior and Senior year of a heart defect. I couldn't bring myself to take Ag my Senior year without him there.

Steve Hollensed - Mr. Hollensed was my science teacher in high school. He also assisted Mr. Wood with the wildlife management class. Mr. Hollensed was an avid bass fisherman. He taught us how to make our own lures and to tie different kinds of fishing knots. He took us on a field trip to Lake Ray Roberts to watch the TPWD biologists electroshock fish to take sample data. That was probably the first time I realized I wanted to have a job involving the outdoors and wildlife. The last time I saw Mr. Hollensed I told him that I was a Park Ranger at Lavon Lake and I could tell that he was proud of what I had done and that he had impacted the life of one of his students.

Denny Somers - Denny is a longtime family friend who lives in northwest Iowa. My Dad and I have pheasant hunted with Denny every year since I was 16 years old. Denny and his wife Kathy are very generous people and are an integral part of a ministry that spreads the love of Jesus Christ to physically challenged youth by providing them a means to overcome their disability through hunting. Denny's place is a haven for wildlife and I enjoy the trip every year. He is also an avid deer hunter and harvested a deer in 2001 with his bow that scored in the high 170's.

Carl Davis - Carl was a member of our church growing up and he always gave my Dad and I an open invitation to hunt on his land. When I was 12 or 13 years old, he always made me feel like I was the best shot in the field by complimenting me in front of the rest of the group. It made a lasting impression on me, and I hope to be able to pass that on to another youngster some day. He also bought one of my showpigs my Freshman year, and then turned around and gave it right back to me. Carl was a hardworking painter and he passed away at a very young age when I was a Senior in high school.

Mark and Terry Drury - I've never actually met these guys, but they are brothers who have a hunting show called "Wildlife Obsession" on the Outdoor Channel. Their show, which happens to be my favorite, is more than just about shooting a deer. They are primarily bowhunters that explain the ins and outs of deer hunting and talk about different aspects of the sport that most people don't consider, like why they choose specific stand locations, how to effectively use food plots, and other informative tips. I've learned quite a bit about bowhunting from watching these guys. They also host another show called "Dream Season" where teams of amateur hunters compete by videoing their hunts in an effort to become part of the Drury Outdoors team.

Ben Jezek - Ben was a friend of mine growing up who had his own boat in high school. Neither one of us played football our Senior year and spent many hours on Lake Ray Roberts while our friends were at football practice. Ben taught me how to use a Carolina rig to fish for bass. On one trip with Ben to Ray Roberts, I caught a bass that weighed about 8 pounds. I got it mounted and still have it on my wall today. Ben knew Lake Ray Roberts like the back of his hand, especially where the humps and brushpiles were, and he could put you on fish just about every trip.

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Sunday, December 27, 2009

Top 50 Hunting Blog Posts of 2009

11 comments:

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