What new skill in 2011?

[Bowwild]

Another thread caused me to come up with this.  

I like to keep learning to slow my rate of falling behind.  

In 2011 I'm going to promise myself to learn to  use my GPS unit to get out and back with confidence in new territory.

How about you?  What thing do you want to learn or get better at?

[Bowwild]

Sorry, another thought.  Wouldn't it be cool if there was a Trad Gang get together where experts at various "skills" could share with others.  

We'd call it the TRAD GANG Skill Fair.

[Bjorn]

I took a GPS class at REI but that was just basics.............so I am interested in more. My son and I are scheduled to do a Bowhunter safety class this spring. Learning lots of new skills and perfecting existing ones got tons more to learn all the time.

[Spinealigner]

I want to spend more time with topographic maps.  Compare them with ariel views and hone in on some overlooked areas.

[Dick in Seattle]

my new skill is going to be making arrows starting from boards.  Just starting to work on it and nothing shootable yet, but I'll get there.  My club has a special category for folks who are using all equipment they made themselves and I have everything covered but the arrows.  (And no, making from bought shafts doesn't count.)  Oh, and maybe shooting well enough to qualify once I've made the shafts!  8^)

[Mike Bolin]

Land Navigation with topo map and compass. I had a very basic course years ago with my Bowhunter Education Course, but most of that has slipped away from me. Bought a book on it this morning! Mike

[Mike Mecredy]

I like to hone a different skill each year myself. One year i learned to build bows, another to flint knap, another some leather working, etc. This year I'm going to restore/customize a motorcycle.

[Canyon]

Along the orientation lines I want to refresh my night navigation skills. Our Search&Rescue Unit puts on a great class during which you must navigate point to point by the stars and a topo map. It is a perishable skill that you need to practice to stay competant.

Looking to improve my confidence in going deep into the wilderness for extended stays with minimal supplies. A map and compass will not be one of the things I take off the must have list though.

[fatman]

Wilderness navigation w/ map & compass  

[Clint B.]

Bowwild, is this like a New Year's resolution or are you going to hold me to it?    Anyway, I'd like to take some time to learn my trees and plants better, especially the ones on the whitetail & turkey menus. This is important because agricultural crops aren't readily available in some of my hunting areas. For example, I have a habit of identifying the various white & black oak species only by the shape of the leaf. I don't pay enough attention to the acorns or to the trees themselves when the leaves are off. Clint

[bretto]

Making a selfbow is number 1 and a little knapping might be next.

[McDave]

Learning to shoot the bow left-handed.

[Sixby]

I've always wanted to learn to foot arrows. I have a bunch of nice exotic wood from off the edges of boards. Zebrawood, purpleheart, some ebony. tigerwood, Ipe that ought to work real good for some heavy , hard foots. feet, whatever multiples of a footed arrow are. Grin

God bless you all , Steve

[bigbadjon]

I want to learn more about tanning hides. I always feel bad that I can't do more with my deer hides.

[bad arrow]

Learning to set different snares. Get into trapping. Start a fire using the bow method....Phil

[Stiks-n-Strings]

I'm going to get into some more primitive living skills and learn how to break some rock and knapp some knives and heads.

 Stiks

[Bowwild]

Yes, after I posted this topic I thought, I'm probably a month and a few days early for "resolutions".    I realized there are some things I've been saying, "I'm not good at that" and I ought to set about fixing it.  Some good ones above.   Like I learned in a moonlighting job 20 years ago, when you find out you have a hole in your pocket, fix it.

[carpenter]

I picked up a Osage stave this summer at Mo-Jam,so I am going to start learning to chase a ring this winter.

[Blackstick]

I have way too many things that need done and/or fixed, but I’m reading The Traditional Bowyer’s Bible – Vol. 1. I think making a selfbow would be cool and I am slowly headed in that direction.

[greyghost]

Hopefully learning to enjoy full retirement.

Then trying to remember things I have forgot over the years.

Couple good things already mentioned I may even look into.