26 Great Lakes Outdoor Lessons From a 26-Year-Old Great Lakes Outdoorsman

By Rex Meikle

For my 26th birthday, I wanted to share something (like an excited 4th grader bringing in a treat for the class). My passion in life is spending time outdoors in our beautiful region of the Great Lakes. Here are 26 lessons I've learned in the woods and on the water. I hope they help you get more out of your time spent outside. Cheers!

What’s Important

1. Respect the land and water. Pack out, tread lightly, and leave it better than you found it.

2. Conservation is part of the deal. If you take, you give back. Buy the patron license, donate to conservation groups, and mentor new hunters.

3. The best memories aren’t the harvests. Sometimes it’s a sunrise or a quiet moment you can’t explain.

4. Rituals matter. Finding those places you love, creating traditions with friends and family, and sacrificing time to be there — it matters.

5. Each season teaches you something new. Winter grit, spring optimism, summer joy, fall reflection. Be present in the season you’re in.

6. Unpredictability is part of the magic. Storms roll in, animals bust you, and rods snap. Adapt and laugh as you go.

Mindset

7. You don’t need all the answers to start. Stop planning and start doing.

8. Nature doesn’t care about your plans. Use the natural forces to your advantage instead of fighting against them. 

9. Being outdoors alone is medicine. You’re not out there to scroll on your phone. Spend your time intentionally in the presence of nature. Be still. Focus on your breathing.

10. Talking about your passion is important. Don’t hide it. Being open creates connections and helps others understand the lifestyle.

11. The woods humble you. For every high, there’s a hunt or trip where nothing goes right. Learn from both. Remember to keep your head and stay positive through it all.

12. Tradition is great, but so is trying something new. Sometimes old-school works; sometimes new tactics surprise you.

13. Patience is a skill. You don’t start out with it, you must practice and stay consistent with it. 

Hunting Lessons

14. Hunt where animals are, not where you wish they were. Don’t romanticize a spot just because you like it. If you’re not seeing animals in daylight, move on.

15. Wind direction is everything. If you ignore the wind, you won't see any mature or intelligent animals.

16. Early beats rushed every single time. It’s better to lose an hour of sleep than to sweat your way in late.

17. Good spots don’t last forever. Clearcuts that were dynamite for three years can be useless once saplings choke them out. Find the next honeyhole once your favorite one dries up.

18. Don’t wait for friends. Some of my best hunts were solo. I quit waiting for other people’s schedules to line up years ago and wish I hadn't waited so long. 

19. Cool down your game quickly. Respect the animal and get the meat cooled and cleaned right away. Your taste buds will appreciate it later. 

20. Learn to sharpen a knife. A good blade, sharpened by hand, changes everything. Spend some money on a blade that will hold an edge and last for decades.

21. Failure teaches faster than success. Missing, bumping deer, losing fish — it’s all tuition you pay for learning.

Fishing Lessons

22. Bleed your fish immediately. Cooled down meat = better tasting meals.

23. Patience catches more than fancy gear. Some days it’s not about the lure, it’s about staying out there, changing up offering, cadence, or colors, and not quitting.

24. Move when the bite is dead. Don’t cling to a dead hole just because it used to produce.

25. E-scouting helps, but water time matters more. The real lessons come when the line is wet. Better yet, get the fins and snorkel on and actually see what is down there and where the fish set up. 

Gear & Comfort

26. Invest in your outerwear first. Windproof, waterproof layers are worth every penny. Base layers matter more than you think. Merino wool is worth its weight in gold. Wool sweaters from thrift shops still beat half the fancy camo. One solid backpack beats five junky ones. Cheap gear costs you more in misery, and being outside is a lot more fun when you’re comfortable and warm.