Hot Fun In The Summertime by Melissa Bachman

Summer is a wonderful time. Make sure to get outdoors and enjoy some time with your family and friends.

5 Family Fun Activities for Spending Your Summer Outdoors – one of my favorite (yours too, presumably) times of the year is summer. As a hunter and one who alwys looks forward to the fall, I try to find ways to enjoy summer as much as I possibly can.  Here are a few things I do that you may also enjoy:

1. Fun Run’s- I recently competed in a Wipeout 5k Run where it was a huge obstacle course that definitely made running way more fun! Plus, it helps test your core strength, speed, and coordination. Many of these runs aren’t necessarily designed for the people to take off running the entire time. Plenty of people walked the 5K and were able to participate in the obstacles. I’ve never been big on just running, but doing events like this make it way more fun! There are also many other races and events throughout the country all summer that you can look into.
2. Bowfishing- Ever since I was a young kid growing up in central Minnesota we spent many long days down in the river bow fishing Sure it’s way easier if you have a boat and the entire setup, but it can be done just by wading the river or standing on shore. It’s a great way to build up your strength for the coming season, enjoy the outdoors, and help keep the huge population of rough fish in check across the country.

3. Bike Trails/State Parks- My family was always big into biking trips and we all really enjoyed traveling to state parks across Minnesota camping, biking, and fishing in many destinations. This is something very inexpensive that families can participate in together and it helps keep everyone physically fit while enjoying the summer weather and beautiful parks in your area.

4. Shooting Trap/Clay Pigeons- One option is to take the entire family to a local range to shoot or spend the day together, but it can also be done right at home depending where you live. My parents had an old clay pigeon thrower fixed to a big stump out our back door and we used it all the time. Of course you need a safe and secure location, but this is a great option to improve your shooting and have an afternoon of fun together!

5. Prairie Dog Hunting- I didn’t live in an area with prairie dogs, but my dad and brother went on countless trips to South Dakota in search of only one thing – the prairie dog. One of the great things about this is getting access is usually a snap. Prairie dogs are a nuisance to most ranchers, and they’re thrilled to have responsible hunters come in and help control the population. You will also find these ranchers are some of the nicest people you will ever meet and you never know when you may end up with not only a prairie dog hunting location, but maybe deer and ducks as well!