Competitive shooters can fire with rifles, pistols, and shotguns to test different skills. Discover three different types of competitive shooting here.
Shooting competitions can test the shooter’s accuracy, speed, and decision-making. Join a competition to improve your firearm skills in a fun and challenging environment. Learn about three different types of competitive shooting and consider getting into this activity.
You don’t always need to go abroad to see gorgeous scenery. The United States has plenty of hidden gems that nature lovers won’t want to miss. Here are a few.
One of the most rewarding aspects of traveling is getting the opportunity to experience scenery you’ve never seen before. From oceans to vineyards, enjoy the gorgeous landscapes that America has to offer. Here are a few of the best travel destinations in the U.S. for nature lovers.
It’s important to spend your free time doing something worthwhile for you. Here are some outdoor activities to consider as a hobby this season.
While it isn’t the end of the world to be stuck indoors, most people prefer doing something progressive with their time instead of sitting around. Whether it’s an indoor or outdoor hobby, there are several things to consider with varying degrees of difficulty, depending on your preference. Check out these outdoor activities to consider as a hobby to help find your next passion.
Geocaching
If you love exploring in the style of a treasure hunt, then geocaching is worth trying out. All over the world, people have marked little packages in hidden areas while pinging them through a global positioning system. Participants then search for those caches to keep for themselves. While the prizes are often little knickknacks, this is a fun way to use your free time and have some fun.
Packrafting
Going out and enjoying watersports is great for pushing your body to the limit while exploring what nature offers. Packrafting is a full-body workout in terms of what it puts you through as you meander your way through different rivers with varying difficulties. From unpredictable currents to hidden obstacles, it’s worth knowing how to get in shape for packrafting before you start practicing.
Orienteering
Some people haven’t heard about orienteering, but it is a lot of fun, and it’s worth trying at least once. For those confident in their navigational skills, orienteering involves using a special map and compass to navigate your way to specified locations. Unlike geocaching, you are typically on unfamiliar terrain and are expected to move at a certain pace to get to the location on time.
Going out and testing your capabilities is half the fun of finding a new passion you’re trying for the first time. Depending on how challenging you want it to be, there is likely something to accommodate your needs. These outdoor activities to consider as a hobby are a great place to start when looking for something new to take up your time.
There are plenty of relaxing hobbies in nature, but you may want to consider these extreme options for those aiming for something a little more exciting.
There are a lot of great hobbies for those looking for a serene experience. Camping, fishing, or bowling are great for those quiet afternoons. However, if you want to really feel like an adrenaline junkie, here are five of the best hobbies for thrill seekers. These activities are sure to get the blood pumping and spice up any afternoon.
1. Skydiving
Skydiving is a classic extreme sport. You hop in a plane and fly into the sky, only to don your parachute or wingsuit and leap out to meet the ground head-on. For many, just the rush of the dive is exciting enough, but additional challenges like trying to land on a target or perform certain tricks in the air add to the thrill.
2. Bull Riding
If you’re looking for one of the best hobbies for thrill seekers in the state of Texas, you’ve gotta get yourself onto the back of a bull. Saddle up and see how long you can stay on the back of one of these bucking beasts. Rodeos and fairs are excellent opportunities to give this one a go.
3. Racecar Driving
If you’re an auto enthusiast, there are plenty of reasons to get your car on the track. Auto-racing is a fast-paced hobby where you need to make quick decisions and test the bonds between yourself and your vehicle.
4. Kayaking
Kayaking, canoeing, or any aquatic activity that gets you and your friends roaring down the river rapids are all great ways to stay active and bond with your buddies. This sport is one to avoid if you don’t like getting wet, but if you’re ready to challenge the water, kayaking may be the extreme sport you’ve been looking for.
5. Dirt Bike Racing
Dirt bike racing is another extreme competition where you must control speed, balance, and control. Revving up your bike to fly over steep hills and sandy dunes makes it an unforgettable experience and a fun time for anyone looking to prove that they’re the best.
Portland Marine officially opened at the end of 1967 with a new building, which was quite an improvement over the rented three car garage which served as headquarters for the oilfield and charter boat service operated by Liz and Glen Coker for 11 years. The new 1200 sq. ft. building was split equally between showroom and shop and Portland Marine employed one full time and one part-time employee. The business was located at 500 Moore Avenue next door to the Portland Volunteer Fire Department.
Family legend has it that one day Glen came home and informed his wife, “Liz, I just signed with Chrysler, we are in the boat business!”
Glen Coker Master Boat Mechanic
All was well until 1970 when Hurricane Celia destroyed all buildings and stock. While rebuilding, a 1400 sq. ft. shop was added and a storage lot purchased across the alley (next door to Royal Foodtown which was owned by Buddy Ganem).
Original Portland Marine abandoned circa 2015 (after Richard Foley moved to new location)
In 1972 a new 5000 sq. ft. air conditioned showroom was purchased along with the city block it was situated on. The old quarters were converted into the South’s most modern shop including the first full-size drive-in test tank for testing motors under power. By the late ’70s, Portland Marine employed seven full-time and five part-time employees (including myself).
Portland Marine showroom circa 1978
Along the way, Liz and Glen won many national sales contests. Their hard work resulted in Portland Marine being recognized as one of the premier dealerships in the country and they earned international reward trips to such exciting destinations as England, Ireland, Jamaica, and the Canary Islands.
Liz and Glen Coker in Jamaica 1974
Portland Marine was one of the first Yamaha Outboard dealers in the USA. The Yamaha 200 was revolutionary and simply outclassed the domestic makes. At the time, Portland Marine had strong sales of both Chrysler and Evinrude. It soon became a fact that those boaters who could afford it always picked the Yamaha. It was superior in every way.
Throughout his life, Glen had a deep hatred for those black Mercury motors. He strongly believed that they were heavy, slow to spin up, overly complicated, and did not survive in the harsh salt water climate.
Liz Coker in center. The Butt family (HEB) were customers of Portland Marine
Glen was President of the South Texas Boat Dealers Association. He fought to protect the interests of recreational fishermen – at times putting him at odds with his commercial fishermen customers – and made many trips to Austin to lobby against gill nets and trot lines.
Glen (far right) fishing in Mexico
Our number one selling rig was a Robalo 21′ with a Yamaha 200 horsepower outboard. Boats have grown tremendously in size (and price) over the years but at the time this was considered an ideal boat to run down to Baffin Bay or to take 30 miles offshore. Outfitted with a T-Top, and sometimes a 20hp “kicker” for safety, it was an awesome boat to troll for kingfish in the open Gulf. From personal knowledge, it had the performance and quality construction to jump Gulf swells – clearing the prop always produced a distinctive scream combining excitement and terror. Glen ran full-throttle. In rough water he would shout, “Get her on top!” as he put the hammer down.
Ronnie Hubbell started working at Portland Marine part-time while in high school. Turns out that Ronnie is a master mechanic and quickly rose in rank to service manager. Ronnie eventually left Portland Marine to start his own dealership in Aransas Pass. Ronnie’s Marine grew into three locations – the original store in Aransas Pass, a second location in Corpus Christi, and a third dealership outside of San Antonio. Ronnie and Glen were two of a kind.
Ronnie Hubbell
Thinking of Glen, Ronnie recently commented, “the most important thing I think I still remember day to day, was if you’re gonna do something, try like hell to do it right.”
Glen was always trying to bring value to his customers. He designed and constructed at least three different boats to offer performance at a lower price point than the name-brand boats. The Apollo was a 19′ center console that was an alternative to the much more expensive Robalo. The Salty was similar but featured a square bow. The Apollo and Salty were both manufactured in Florida. The Critter was a simple fishing boat designed by Glen and built by Johnny Majek (yes, that Majek).
Critter, designed by Glen Coker built by John MajekPortland Marine Boat Show Special
Sample pricing from 1977-1978:
Chrysler 30 hp outboard $695
16′ Commerical Polarkraft $553
18′ Richline aluminum boat, 30 hp Chrysler, and trailer $1495
Starcraft 15′ with 75 hp Chrysler $2795
Manatee 18′ bow rider with 130 hp Volvo I/O $5466
Salty 19′, 135 hp Chrysler, EZ Loader trailer, fully loaded $5995
Glen Coker and Portland Marine were actively involved in racing boats and sponsoring races down at Sunset Lake. With ace driver Ronnie Hubbell on the throttle they won numerous state and national races.
Glen Coker and Mike Coker with Race Boat 1968Ronnie Hubbell accepting winning trophy as Glen proudly looks on
In 1978 the dealership was sold to Mr. Justice. Quite frankly, he drove the business into the ground.
Richard Foley soon stepped in and bought Portland Marine in 1980. Richard steadily restored Portland Marine to its position today as a top boat dealership in the Coastal Bend. Richard had been the service manager in the shop earlier and was the right man to carry on the tradition. The dealership was relocated into the old Jeff’s Auto Parts building on 7th Street. Sadly, Richard passed away in 2008. Today, Portland Marine is owned and operated by Carol Foley. Stop in, they will treat you right.
Although it has been 41 years since my family sold Portland Marine, the values I learned while working there still guide me to this day.
Another awesome show at the Dallas Safari Club! Tons of cool gear, lots of guides and outfitters to setup hunts with and a massive amount of spectacular taxidermy !
Definitely worth checking out next year. We shot a few product videos as well as a bunch of pictures.. enjoy!
Holy smokes! As a first time attendee of SHOT I will tell you it is massive. It is literally overwhelming with the number of vendors. 2016 is going to be a very exciting year for us here at TON. We have plenty of activities planned and some of the best people in the industry are going to be going with us.
SHOT Show Press Conference – January 19, 2016 – Las Vegas
Brian Lisankie, President of Aimpoint, opened the press conference by referencing the deep hunting roots of Aimpoint. Hunting would be a theme throughout the presentation.
Brittney Stalvey was introduced as the new Marketing Manager, Professional Products. Dory Schoby has been promoted to Marketing Manager, Hunting. Continue reading “Aimpoint Hunter”
RGAS15 (The Remington Great Americans Shoot), “The Most Money Ever Raised with Guns,” returns to Rosharon, TX September 26th to benefit the Special Forces Charitable Trust and other Special Ops non profits.
TPWD News Release — April 15, 2015. The following items are compiled from recent Texas Parks and Wildlife Department law enforcement reports.
All Play and No Work. Near the end of duck season, a Henderson County game warden received a call from the owner of a local gas station. The caller said a black car had pulled up to one of their dumpsters and left a trash bag full of ducks inside. When the warden arrived at the gas station, he saw footage from the station’s cameras that showed the individual entering the gas station and paying for several items using a “speed pass.” The warden tracked down the individual using information secured from a warrant for the speed pass user’s credentials. The out-of-state hunter admitted to dumping the ducks in the dumpster because he did not want to clean them. Continue reading “Game Warden Field Notes”