What are your 2026 Outdoor Plans

[rmyoung1]

I've got an interesting 2026 outdoor season coming up, if anyone's got some free time and is interested in an old timey style treasure hunt.

A good friend of mine's father passed away recently. In dealing with the estate, my friend has been discovering many, many secrets, including that his father was apparently a massive silver and gold hoarder. He has found gold and silver bars/coins (numbering in the dozens) all over his parents property stashed in weird places, including planter pots in the yard, tool boxes in the garage, and other oddball places.

Here's where it gets fun: My friend discovered that his dad secretly owned little parcels of undeveloped land out in the middle of bumfudge nowhere in the deserts of CA and AZ. He also found two high-end metal detectors, and is now thinking his dad buried more silver and gold off in these random places.

My friend is a certified city boy through and through, and does not want to spend a chunk of his summer hunting for treasure in CA and AZ. I, however, am absolutely champing at the bit to go out and see if I can't find something. One of my dreams of childhood that has stayed with me into adulthood is to go on a real actual treasure hunt.

My friend's a little iffy on the idea, as he doesn't have the whole estate situation sorted out yet and doesn't want things to get more complicated than they already are. But I bet over the next few months he'll settle down a bit and give me the addresses for these parcels and let me have a go at it.

If anyone here is good with a metal detector and wants to join in, let me know!

Wait a second… Did you just ask a bunch of random, gun-owning strangers to meet you at remote locations to help look for gold bars? You’re either really brave or seriously lacking an imagination

 

[WildWill]

I've got an interesting 2026 outdoor season coming up, if anyone's got some free time and is interested in an old timey style treasure hunt.

A good friend of mine's father passed away recently. In dealing with the estate, my friend has been discovering many, many secrets, including that his father was apparently a massive silver and gold hoarder. He has found gold and silver bars/coins (numbering in the dozens) all over his parents property stashed in weird places, including planter pots in the yard, tool boxes in the garage, and other oddball places.

Here's where it gets fun: My friend discovered that his dad secretly owned little parcels of undeveloped land out in the middle of bumfudge nowhere in the deserts of CA and AZ. He also found two high-end metal detectors, and is now thinking his dad buried more silver and gold off in these random places.

My friend is a certified city boy through and through, and does not want to spend a chunk of his summer hunting for treasure in CA and AZ. I, however, am absolutely champing at the bit to go out and see if I can't find something. One of my dreams of childhood that has stayed with me into adulthood is to go on a real actual treasure hunt.

My friend's a little iffy on the idea, as he doesn't have the whole estate situation sorted out yet and doesn't want things to get more complicated than they already are. But I bet over the next few months he'll settle down a bit and give me the addresses for these parcels and let me have a go at it.

If anyone here is good with a metal detector and wants to join in, let me know!

I'm out on the treasure hunting but saw on another thread you mentioned wanting to float the Devils River. On my bucket list and am a pretty proficient kayaker. Already started some planning but haven't committed to a date shoot me a PM if you'd be interested.

 

[Valley1320]

Depends on what I draw. Hopefully draw the pecos wilderness for archery elk. Be happy with anything I put in for.

 

[texwest44]

Wait a second… Did you just ask a bunch of random, gun-owning strangers to meet you at remote locations to help look for gold bars? You’re either really brave or seriously lacking an imagination

Well there might not be anything to steal. Could be a wild goose chase. Also, I'd like to think folks around here are smart enough not to rob someone after publicly accepting an offer to go on a treasure hunt. Odds of getting away with that have to be right around 0.

Buuuuuuut then again, I've seen some things here that make me wonder whether some of you need regular state-ordered supervision of some kind, so you might be on to something lol.

 

[texwest44]

I'm out on the treasure hunting but saw on another thread you mentioned wanting to float the Devils River. On my bucket list and am a pretty proficient kayaker. Already started some planning but haven't committed to a date shoot me a PM if you'd be interested.

Put me on the maybe list! My schedule for the summer right now is still TBD but let's keep it on the table!

 

[rmyoung1]

I'm out on the treasure hunting but saw on another thread you mentioned wanting to float the Devils River. On my bucket list and am a pretty proficient kayaker. Already started some planning but haven't committed to a date shoot me a PM if you'd be interested.

“Devils River”

 

[WildWill]

“Devils River”
View attachment 399960

Some amazing if unforgiving country.

 

[glass eye]

Can't decide: Waterfowl in the Arctic , Northeast Atlantic, Coastal Oregon, Alaska Peninsula, Aleutian Islands ?

Big Game if I can draw something in CA or AZ.

 

[SC Living Outdoors]

We will see what the draws hold for me, but I am going dall sheep hunting in Aug. I've had 4 dream hunts since I was in young: Red Stag, Ibex, Mtn Goat and Dall Sheep. The top of the top of the list has always been dall sheep. I wasn't sure if it would ever happen, but it's happening. If I'm successful it'll complete that list. Hopefully its awesome...then I can make a new list.

 

[Brad]

Backpacking... always backpacking.

 

[Sheltowee]

Wait a second… Did you just ask a bunch of random, gun-owning strangers to meet you at remote locations to help look for gold bars? You’re either really brave or seriously lacking an imagination

Well there might not be anything to steal. Could be a wild goose chase. Also, I'd like to think folks around here are smart enough not to rob someone after publicly accepting an offer to go on a treasure hunt. Odds of getting away with that have to be right around 0.

Buuuuuuut then again, I've seen some things here that make me wonder whether some of you need regular state-ordered supervision of some kind, so you might be on to something lol.

Buddy, this is how useful idiots end up buried in a shallow hole and featured in a Netflix series.

 

[texwest44]

Buddy, this is how useful idiots end up buried in a shallow hole and featured in a Netflix series.

Its also how they make lifelong friendships and get portrayed in a heartwarming film starring B-list actors and possibly even Tom Hanks.

 

[Dave N]

I could be tempted to spend some time in Arizona with a chance of a cut of anything found. Never used a metal detector before but my neighbor could teach me.

 

[Chama Grande]

The one thing I'm sure of is a monster truck rally hell yeah. We'll see how the draw goes after that

 

[WVmike]

WV Turkey Season in between baseball and softball games/tournaments. WV archery deer starting in Sep/WV rifle in Nov and this year will be my second trip to Colorado for elk in Oct/Nov. Also shooting for a goal of hiking over 150 miles this year not just hunting but hiking with family also.

 

[marshman]

2026 is my 50th year hunting, time to try something new.
Going to do some archery for Elk this year!

 

[texwest44]

I could be tempted to spend some time in Arizona with a chance of a cut of anything found.

I don't know that we'll be allowed to keep anything that is found (as the executor of the estate, my friend ultimately gets to decide what happens with everything). This is one of those "do it for the fun and stories" kinds of situations.

But who knows, considering how much my friend has found so far, we might come across something substantial and we can have a piece. Only time will tell!

 

[NewTroutBum]

Looking more and more so like I won't be putting in for Wyoming elk this year. Still building points.

Drew a region genenral tag last year on Wyoming deer, so I'm back to zero points. Still thinking about putting in for another region tag that has some chance in the random draw at zero points. This would be a region I have not hunted yet.

Continuing to build antelope points. The area I hunted in 2012, crept to 5 points by 2018 and is up to 7/8 points now. I'm wanting to return to the same unit I have already hunted twice so I am building points to do so.

On the homefront, I plan to get back to my traditional bow. Been working on sharpening broadheads and shooting more. It's been over 10 years since I've taken my recurve to the field and I'm wanting to get back into it.

Still continuing my trout fiy fishing adventures, may even look to go out west if I don't draw a deer tag.

So, the order as follows:
Spring: local turkey hunting and fishing
Summer: fishing, traditional bow prep, and possible fishing trip
Fall: deer hunting and possible western hunting trip

 

[WapitiBob]

Forgot about fishing,

 

[brownbear932008]

Pretty quite year here. I need that after the grandson and I drew 6 tags this year and have been on overload.
Planning on a wilderness Colorado elk hunt at high elevation, I will apply for NM probably and hope for some love, and as always try to burn my MT goat and sheep points.