George Block

Walking through the quiet snow-filled woods, I was heading back out after a day’s scouting mission. I hadn’t seen any deer moving about and decided it was time to go in and warm up.

Go take a hike.

I can watch the bird feeder from my gunroom window.

Its January and snow is starting to fall softly on the back porch. The celebration of New Year’s Day is over and thinking of the past is inevitable. Time to reflect on the past five years.

New years resolutions, so easy to make so hard to keep. This year, I have vowed not to make one I can’t keep. Now if I can just figure out what that will be.

I remember tossing and turning that Christmas eve and wondering what I would get for Christmas.

January is not far off. With Christmas just around the corner, it is time to think of a great present for the outdoorsperson in your family.

It’s nearing Christmas and smack dab in the middle of hunting season. Who thought this was a good idea?

It was hot, too hot.

Last week, my article contained a little boo-boo. Well at least that’s what I’m calling it. Chet called me to say the George Block Conservation Scholarship applications are available by calling him at 724-986-5250.

The anticipation of another deer season is upon us. You would think, “Well, George is too old to get all worked up and excited about deer season being two weeks out.”

Elk, mule deer and prairie dogs are plentiful on the other end of the U.S.

Patience and perseverance are more important in my mind than tracking, shooting ability and prescouting.

The sun shining through those red and golden autumn leaves, the crisp nights and blue sky.

Have you ever wondered what percentage of rifles taken to the woods are correctly sighted in?

This week has reminded me that the leaves are starting to change. It is a bit early, but forecasters are predicting earlier than usual bright but short-lasting color. The birds are also packing it in and flying south. Snowbirds we call them. The snowbirds, without the flight feathers, are al…

Last week I told the story of how we set our kids in a pile of apples to try to mask our scent in the field. That made me think of another related tale. ... or maybe tail.

These cool evenings are reminding me that deer season approaches.

We who are elderly have a hard time keeping the visiting great grandchildren busy as we are limited in what we can and cannot do.

I was out in a deep snowfall in winter hunting with my late wife, Eileen. The snow had fallen all night and was deep and heavy, making walking a struggle.

I’ve always thought of September as the prelude to things to come.

I was thinking about the importance of binoculars today. I am used to people borrowing my binoculars by now, so I didn’t even comment when Jim said let me use your binoculars to scan that cave above us on that hillside.

Its early but already I am starting to see large numbers of deer.

Have you read the funnies lately?

After hunting, reloading and such for 60 years, you get a feel for what works and what sells. Some people’s differences of opinion are based on fact while others are based on hype.

George Block writes a weekly outdoors column for the Observer-Reporter.

Eileen and I waved as we passed our farmer friend, who had told us to go ahead, up his hill to hunt groundhogs. He told us he was taking care of a problem with a groundhog in his melon patch. This fellow has been such a good friend and we had been to his beautiful farm many times, so this wa…

It’s a beautiful day in summer and I’m sitting here just daydreaming about the last hunt I took with my good friend Monte Hunnel of Jefferson and my son-in-law Mike. It was late fall two years ago when Mike, Monte and I arrived at Macon County Outfitters in northern Missouri.

Let’s talk fishing.

My daughter likes to tell the story of the time she came home from work went downstairs to her big upright freezer to get a pack of something for dinner. She opened the fridge and there was a large garbage bag in there. Now this bag was pretty big, and she didn’t remember putting it there, s…

With the summerlike weather heading our way, who can’t start to think about groundhog season. The farmers are all out planting fields and the young groundhogs born this spring are starting to emerge from their burrows. Soon it will be time to become the sniper. I suspect I am not the only fa…

It was a beautiful early May spring morning. The light was just coming up in the woods. Eileen and I were hunting turkey up on top of a hill in our camo gear. I was perking at the edge of the field and Eileen had her shotgun, which we had painted with camo colors the night before.

Typically, in this space, I’d lead with something regarding the Steelers and their schedule or rookie mini-camp taking place this weekend. And we will get to those later.

April showers are over now, and May flowers are upon us. Trout season is still in full swing and crappie are hitting.

Let’s face it, when entering a pumpkin-growing contest big is better. Much the same can be said about growing roses and sumo wrestlers.

I guess that everyone over the age of 50 tends to look back and people under 50 tend to look forward. Its just the way it works. When I was a young writer, all my stories were things I was doing or going to do. Someone asked me my favorite hunting story this week. After all, I have quite a f…

We all have heroes. Last week, I told you about me playing baseball. So, you know I do love baseball and I do have some heroes there.

Like most adults, I have often thought what it would be like to play baseball for a major league team.

Well, here we are, a week past Easter, and the opening of trout season the day before.

It has probably one of the largest memberships of any sportspersons club in Washington County and is one of the best-kept trout fishing spots for opening day. I should know for I have been a member there since 1960. I am usually found on the grounds at least once a week all year long.

Well, here we go again.

Here’s the latest information I have on the gun show at the Arden Fairgrounds: it will be held April 10 and 11.

Occasionally, I discover an article in the Observer-Reporter that attracts special attention. Last week, one such article jumped out at me. It was the article that stated commissioners Diane Irey Vaughan and Nick Sherman were involved in the passage of a bill that would make Washington Count…

This afternoon I was sitting in the kitchen browsing through my Observer-Reporter newspaper when my son-in-law, Mike, walked through. He was on his way to his part time job as caretaker at Camp Agape, the beautiful church camp in Hickory. That’s when he said something that brought joy to my …