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Hunting, fishing and the outdoors have many health benefits

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Wading up a stream and against a constant current, breathing fresh air and being in a beautiful and quiet spot help a person physically, mentally and emotionally. (Photo by Len Harris)

 

By Ted Pennekamp

 

The Driftless Region of Southwest Wisconsin offers excellent opportunities for hunting, fishing and other outdoor activities. Hunting and fishing are not often discussed when people talk about activities that are good for one’s health, but, they probably should be.

In fact, hunting and fishing offer many benefits for one’s physical, mental and spiritual health.

“Southwest Wisconsin offers some of the best opportunities for the outdoors enthusiast that one can find, with miles of outdoor trails that are both scenic and physically challenging, one can just be outside, listen to the abundant bird life and leave his plugged in world behind,” said James Hunt, master outfitter with Cabela’s of Prairie du Chien. “I’ve enjoyed hunting and fishing all over the world, and to be able to relive these experiences by simply closing one’s eyes is priceless. I can remember kudus floating through the African bush, the defining birds coming to water at dawn, the call of a leopard tom at night, then being surrounded by total darkness and having millions of stars in the sky to look at. Plus, we have the river with miles of water to fish, shore birds, predatory birds, and the unexpected sightings of osprey or snowy owls. All of this is healthier than the couch, and will make you a better person to spend some time with yourself.”

Hunting and fishing are good for you, for your physical health as well as your sanity. Pride in your skill set, the camaraderie of friends and family, the satisfaction and the solitude, all lead to a healthier mind, body and soul.

Solitude and being in a beautiful place, whether hunting, fishing, hiking, canoeing, bird watching or a like activity, can be quite relaxing and sometimes awe inspiring, such as when you view a great sunset on the river, a bald eagle plunging down and picking a fish out of the water, a hummingbird, a whitetail deer, or the fall colors of the bluffs. As soon as you get out in the natural world for a few minutes, all problems and stresses seem to evaporate.

Avid area trout angler, author and outdoor photographer, Len Harris, touts the spiritual and emotional benefits. In the last five years Len said he had knee and back problems and his weight increased, so he was unable to do the kind of trout fishing he wanted. Many streams were impassable due to his knees. Len went on a diet and now almost all of those streams are within his reach once again. 

“My mood and general well being have skyrocketed,” said Len. “I would be lost without fishing. Many people go to church to feel spiritual and be in touch with the universe. I go into the outdoors to cleanse my soul. All the things in life that bother me are melted away about a hundred yards from the truck. The fish are only a bonus in the whole scheme of things.”

Walking to your favorite hunting or fishing spot increases your heart rate. Breathing fresh air is also good. Certain fishing types, like big northern pike, catfish or muskie fishing, can offer a rather strenuous workout. Most hunting and fishing activities keep your body in constant motion, which is a good cardio-vascular workout.

Wading up several miles of a trout stream, for example, walking over the rough terrain of jagged rocks, slippery rocks, sand, logs and mud, all against a steady 5 to 6 mph current for a few hours, offers quite an excellent workout. Fly fishing or spin fishing from a boat which is designed for the angler to stand up all day is also very beneficial to the leg muscles and overall fitness. Standing on a boat in a brisk, or even heavy wind can produce excellent fishing results, and it also forces the angler to constantly adjust his or her stance as four-foot waves continually rock the boat. After eight or nine hours of using your “sea legs” and continually casting, one is generally quite tired at the end of the day in a very satisfied kind of way. The same is true of standing all day while drifting down a river casting for muskies or smallmouth bass.

Fishing and hunting also allow a person to get away from the daily stresses of life and get recharged. Studies have proven that people who spend time in the natural world have lower resting pulse rates, blood pressure, and cortisol rates than people who spend most of their time indoors or in a city.

The fresh air that you breathe is high in oxygen and low in pollution, which is great for your lungs as well as your body.

It is smart to use proper sunscreen or sunblock but sun light gives you a higher level of Vitamin D, which provides your body with excellent results.

Fishing, hunting or other outdoor activities also take you and your children away from hours of just sitting and watching television or staring at your smartphone. Actively pursuing an outdoor sport helps prevent obesity, heart disease, and even bone diseases.

In addition to being tasty, fish is a low-fat, healthy protein that can help you reduce your waistline. Also, some species are among the best dietary sources of vitamin D.

A fishing or hunting adventure lasts far longer than just the length of the trip, and you will feel a sense of calm and satisfaction after returning home and reflecting upon the experience every so often.

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