George Block

After 36 years as an outdoors columnist for the Observer-Reporter, this writer decides to call it a career.

I have been thinking about taking that ride down to the wildflowers again.

There was a lot of news this week as the Washington County Sportsmen’s and Conservation League had its monthly meeting.

Back into time we go. As I get older, I reminisce a lot. I was thinking about the sport that used to be of rabbit hunting.

It was a beautiful night with a warm, full moon the first time I saw the owl in my backyard. She was hunting, swooping down into the short grass along the edge of the yard.

The problem with opening day is usually the number of people out on the trout stream. I solved that problem some time ago by going crappie fishing on the first weekend. That way everyone else is trout fishing and I get to go fishing and catch crappie.

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

The weather is finally becoming nice. This week, I got out of the house and went to the club with a good friend. I was surprised to find it a bit crowded. With cartridges still hard to find, I was not sure how many people would be there.

Red wings, vultures and coltsfoot, too.

Things are starting to return to a bit more normal around the area now that our Covid numbers are low. This got me to wondering how long until a return to normalcy in the gun industry.

It was trout season, and I was out fishing with a few friends. The spring air was delightful and the water was very cold. My friend, John, was wading a bit out into the creek to get a place to cast into a particularly good hole. He flicked his bait out and lost his footing, slipping down int…

Trout season is fast approaching. I was thinking back to a day when my whole family was out fishing the small-but-beautiful stream of Colgrove.

This week I have been thinking about all that ice outside. The ice of course leads me to think about ice fishing.

There is not a lot to do right now. But one interesting thing that happens every year across the state is the annual coyote hunt.

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…