So many daily activities in our world can be completed online. Many of the experiences we imagine having can be experienced virtually.
COVID can be putting restrictions on some of the thing we love to do, especially in groups.
What is truly bringing joy to people鈥檚 lives? Are there some things that have not changed?
Scott Brimner of Manor shared his love of the outdoors that COVID cannot touch. At work and in the community, Brimner follows all the regulations, but out in the wild, he can let loose and enjoy nature in a powerful way.
Starting with fishing as a young boy, his father was instrumental in his life taking the time to share the skills and experience Brimner needed to get him going and then a desire to learn more has brought him to where he is today. He recalled, 鈥淥ur family would go camping at Moosomin Lake when I was young (around five) and I remember catching perch off the dock. I would have been under 10 when I was shooting gophers and getting rid of nuisance animals on the farm. Then I would come home every day after school and watch Realtree videos on VHS,鈥� Brimner chuckled as he explained how he would watch what they did and then go and try to duplicate it.
Throughout high school, Scott focused on sports and other things that teenage boys do and then took up fishing again after high school. His skills allowed him to shore fish successfully, but the costs of fishing equipment prohibited other formats, so he turned to hunting. For hunting, the costs were minimal but just required a lot of time, learning and trial and error.
Brimner shared the heart of the hunting experience for him. Respect for and enjoyment of the land, animals and landowners is a huge deal. 鈥淚t is so peaceful out there and you don鈥檛 have to think about anything but the hunt. You go out there and try your best. I spend so much time spotting, checking patterns and watching them. When they lose their velvet, their patterns start to change and that is when I put out trail cams. Watching them on the cameras tells me a lot.鈥�
Brimner explained that he only shoots bucks, preferably four years and older. He looks at the thousands of pictures on his trail cams every three to four days and can choose which ones to go after. When asked why he only shoots bucks, Brimner explained it only takes one buck to reproduce with many does but if you take out a bunch of does you can mess with the reproduction part of things.
鈥淓veryone is different and hunts for different reasons, but that is what I was taught.鈥�
Describing the process of hunting for him, he remembered how at first he used to just drive around until he saw a deer, jump out of the truck and follow it to get close and then shoot but how that just felt empty. 鈥淭here was no story, no work and nothing to it at all. That was a turning point for me,鈥� he said.
When asked if he just shoots for the trophy, he laughed. 鈥淣o, that is not the desired result. We get the meat processed into sausage.鈥�
Asking Brimner to share the emotions he experiences when hunting, he explained they are mixed.
鈥淵ou are killing an amazing animal, so there is that, but then you have a history with the deer. You are trying to outsmart their instinct, especially the older ones. They are smart. More times than not, their skill beats us hunters. But when you finally do win, the adrenaline and sadness can hit all at once.鈥�
Brimner tried to put into words the attachment you feel when you see that same buck year after year but just can鈥檛 get him. 鈥淭here is a story and a history between the two of you and when it finally comes together, that is where all the emotion comes in.鈥�
Although his family has an interest in hunting and fishing, no one has taken it on the way he has. He encourages young people wanting to try hunting or fishing to find someone willing to take you out and be super respectful to landowners, other hunters and others fishing around you.
An added bonus to the hunting is that his wife, Anna, enjoys it as well. This will be Anna鈥檚 fourth shoot this fall. Arley, their two-year-old daughter is a bit young to take out hunting and fishing but checking cams, shed hunting and walking the bush are all a family affair for the Brimners.
In this time, more than ever, make the time to do the things you love. Share that love with those close to you, if possible. Make memories and continue to learn and grow in all areas of life.聽
