New Year's Toast to 2013

Dog on point 12/27/2013 - Finishing the year strong!!  Photo By Elizabeth Holland.
Check out the upland gear I endorse on my Bass Pro Shops blog

I Can't Complain about the year of 2013. I chose to step up my game as an outdoor communicator and I was fortunate to have opportunities that allowed me to execute that plan. HOORAY!! This final blog entry for 2013 closes the books on an amazing five-year run of stories on LowcountryOutdoors.com and in a variety of print publications. I am thankful for the additional 43 blog followers that chose to join up in 2013, bringing the total up to 189 folks keeping tabs on my writings, photography and field notes. The mission statement from 2009 on my home page states that I hope to show hunting and fishing are honorable traditions by providing positive examples to the general public. Of course, I could not execute that mission without the help of my friends and fellow outdoor enthusiasts who seek me out to share their accomplishments. My BIG buck blogs are always a favorite and anyone can surf through all five years of them by starting with the 2013 Donnelly WMA buck. Building relationships that are forged in a common love for the outdoors makes me hopeful that these partnerships will continue for many years to come! Honor, integrity and loyalty are important to me!! I receive lots of queries from those that are new to the Lowcountry, wishing to draw on my lifetime of experience about how best to proceed with their outdoor endeavors, and I am glad to help them. Sometimes this includes wild game cleaning and preparation tips, and you can find several recipe links on this year-end food blog. As a lifelong saltwater angler, the lure of the spartina marsh and its tributaries will always be a component of my character, so look for my Lowcountry Saltwater Fishing Reports to continue, along with tournament coverage fishing tips and catches of note. In 2013 I was able to saltwater fish in North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Louisiana and Texas; and fished for mountain trout in Bristol, Tennessee. I will continue to use my talents and convictions in 2014 to share similar experiences with each of you along the way. Conservation in the outdoors will always be a component of my writings, with an eye towards history and milestones of the past. A special salute goes out to those at SCDNR who do their best to serve the general public where it concerns biology, management and rules and regulations. I wouldn't want to overlook other groups like CCA which do a great job of advocating and educating for the sake of recreational anglers and for marine habitat. I look forward to working hard in 2014, with each new outdoor foray an opportunity to experience a bit more of the wonders of the Lowcountry Outdoors. HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

I was humbled to accept two accolades in 2013 that highlight my resolve and dedication to my work.
First, the 2013 Special Recognition Award from the S.C. Governor's Cup Billfish Series.
Second, Top Three recognition in the 2013 Realtree Website Contest through the SE Outdoor Press.

To view past blog entries with my New Year's Eve toast click 2012, 2011, 2010, and 2009.