DOUG LEIER ND Game Fish Department
Twenty years ago, I wrote a column about technology. This was inspired by a stroll through an early spring hunting and fishing fair. What I wrote then and what I think about forward-facing sonar and further evolution today hasn't really changed at all, has it?
Think about the last time you went outdoors with friends. Maybe someone brought a cell phone. Another buddy might be packing a handheld radio, and it wouldn't be surprising if someone mounted his GPS unit on the pickup dash or kept it in a tackle box or backpack.
As recently as 10 years ago, it was highly unlikely that a hunting, fishing, or camping trip would include all three of these devices. Fast forward to today, and for many outdoor enthusiasts, handheld devices rank second only to licenses, rods, and guns in terms of importance.
After perusing the latest innovations in 2004 at a sports show, I had this question in mind: “Where is this technology going?” And will it ever stop?
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We enjoy the outdoors in our own way and do anything that makes us smile. There are no defined standards, as long as the activity falls within the constraints of the law.
As I strolled through one outdoor show, I scratched my head in amazement as I saw the latest and greatest innovations. Ice fishing has come a long way from sitting in a 5-gallon bucket and using your pickup as a windbreak.
For example, consider a portable ice hut. These mobile homes with insulated floors, TVs and stoves will also help you convince your wife to spend a few hours fishing in hard water. It's the comfort of home, conveniently located within the fury of nature.
And such comfort is not limited to ice fishing shelters. Elsewhere on the sports show floor was a huge touring recreational vehicle that I like to call a “rambler on wheels.”
After a few hours, I concluded that as technology advances, we will increasingly seek home-like conveniences in the field. At least, that's what the people who make such things say.
last escape
The outdoors are people's last escape to get away from it all. But now we can easily carry our phones and televisions with us, which we once kept far away.
No, I don't live in a glass house. My cell phone appears to have been surgically attached to my hip. And when I'm out and about, I drag my laptop almost everywhere. That doesn't mean it's all wrong or bad. Cell phones aren't just a convenience; they can even save lives. Having this technology and choosing to leave it at home is pure ignorance. You can put your phone on silent or even turn it off, but be sure to carry it with you.
But where does it end? Even if your “campervan'' has air conditioning, a big screen TV, and a DVD player, is it really camping? What should I do to enjoy it?”
I freely admit that it bothers me. Some argue that this convenience has encouraged more people to get outdoors, but at what cost? , I certainly don't think it's music as I'm trying to sleep in a tent, snuggled next to it.
But maybe that's the point. While technology continues to advance, each of us enjoys the outdoors in our own unique way, and we can choose to buy and use the next convenience, or choose not to buy one.
In any case, make sure that what you are having fun with does not disturb others.
Doug Leier is a biologist with the North Dakota Game and Fish Department.