Looking Ahead to 2026: Goals for My First Full Year Outdoors
My first year going from business and weekend warrior to full-time outdoors was a lot rougher than I thought. I still had old-life stuff to clean up, and it was challenging mentally and physically.
Working outside all the time is hard on a body that isn't used to it. I lost about 20 pounds last year without going near a gym, just from working outdoors, but you wake up sore a lot of the time.
I got frustrated watching decisions being made about this country that I have zero say in. So I decided I can only control what I can control: my decisions and my actions. My priorities are God, my family and my lifestyle. Not staring at bad news on my phone has been so good for me.
My most memorable outdoor experience of 2025 was the fall moose hunt: eight days out with my kid and a couple of friends, mostly good weather, and a really good visit. We also did an ocean trip on the west coast.
My goals for 2026
Half my time in the bush, Lord willing, with the seasons: trapping, fishing, hunting and foraging.
More foraging. There's so much out there in season, even in north-central BC, and it's good exercise.
Maybe some guided fishing off the coast. I've never guided, but I've been out plenty.
A few revenue streams. I believe the outdoor life needs more than one.
Keep creating: this podcast, Lyman's Wild Ways on YouTube, and my writing.
Break a few bad habits that are still hanging around.
The plan for the season: trap for the next two months, then spring beaver when the days get long, maybe some bear hunting, then into fishing and foraging.
On grizzlies
BC closed the grizzly hunt in 2017. In my view that was a political decision, not a scientific one. There were a lot of grizzly attacks in BC last year, and I'd like to see common sense and real numbers bring back a regulated, sustainable hunt, with draws for resident hunters and guided clients.
This year a grizzly walked right into our camp. The wind was bad and it wasn't paying attention to us yelling, so we fired a warning shot. It gave us a wide berth, which is exactly what we wanted. It was probably a three or four-year-old bear, and we never saw it again.
New episodes drop every Tuesday on the Wild Ways Podcast. Want the story from the trapline every week? The Trapline Report is one email a week from the bush.
Comments