Christmas is over and here we are, a week beyond New Year’s Day. That’s right folks, we’ve made it through and enjoyed another season of merry and bright, the ball has finally dropped propelling us into another New Year followed by a period of resolutions thrust upon us again — which is traditional, right?

It carries with it a long history that dates to 2000 B.C. when the Babylonians celebrated the New Year by holding a 12-day celebration called Akitu. That started another farming season off with a bang by planting new crops, crowning their kings, and making promises (resolutions) to pay their debts. Also to return any borrowed farm equipment from the previous year’s work, which makes perfect sense when you think about the fact that in those days, they probably lived their entire lives in agriculturally-based societies. History explains that the Babylonians celebrated the New Year by adopting the ancient Romans tradition of resolutions. Their timing eventually shifted with the Julian calendar which proclaimed Jan. 1 as the start of the New Year; at least that’s what history tells us. And to go a step further, it also tells us that January was named for the two-faced Roman god, Janus, who looked forward to new beginnings as well as backward reflection and, yes, resolutions. The Romans later offered sacrifices to Janus by making promises of better traits and behavior for the New Year ahead. Sound familiar?

Anyway, that’s all a little deep for this column, but it’s another story about how the celebration of the New Year came to be, and how resolutions began. Another great story about resolutions comes from the dairies of Anne Halkett in 1671. Anne, a writer and member of the Scottish gentry, has writings that contains several pledges taken from, what would appear to be, bible verses such as, “I will not offend any more” and “I will start to love my brother as myself.” She titled these pages “Resolutions.” And it’s said that she wrote them on Jan. 2 of that year. Could it be that this meant they were making resolutions in 1671, even though no references seem to be found indicating anything about New Year’s in that century? Who knows!

All I know is that it’s time to make a few resolutions. So, I’ll share some with you that might make you think a bit. Or, better yet, you might like them so much that you may even resolve to join me in my endeavors to remain true to my New Year’s resolutions for 2025. Here we go!

I resolve, to spend even more time outdoors than I already do. Spending time in nature has been one of the great joys of my life. I know at times it’s reduced my stress levels and helps me have a positive impact on my work and with my family, even in my worse moments. Now you might ask yourself, for someone who hunts as much as I do, how can I possibly clock more time outdoors than I already do? And my answer to that would be there’s more to me than just hunting. As much as I love doing it, I also love to explore and see new things. And with the number of places we have in New England to explore, like beaches, forests, wetlands, mountains, natural landscapes, and so many more, it shouldn’t be hard for me, or anyone else for that matter, to break out of our normal routine and explore some new places in 2025. Which is exactly what I intend to do.

I resolve, to become more of a wildlife ambassador. Now don’t misunderstand me on this one as I intend to hunt more in 2025 than I did in 2024 (that’s probably another resolution) as I continue to love the sport and believe that hunting, in a fair chase environment, is the best way to ensure sound management of our Massachusetts wildlife. What I’m saying is, wildlife, like raccoons, coyotes, black bears, even turkeys and deer, often get a bad reputation because of conflicts with people. Many of these conflicts occur because wild animals are attracted to areas they associate with food sources like bird seed, unsecured trash, and pet food. So let’s all make a resolution in 2025 to keep wildlife wild by removing food sources that attract them and prevent unnecessary conflicts with wildlife in your area, which more times than not, usually go bad for the wildlife.

Finally, I resolve, to continue supporting the Massachusetts Conservation Camp again this year for young people who love the outdoors and want to learn about it as well. Designed for girls and boys ages 13-17, the Massachusetts Junior Conservation Camp (MJCC) offers a hands-on curriculum focused on outdoor skills, conservation, and ethics. During the two-week overnight camp, teens can try new outdoor activities, improve their current skills, and meet like-minded individuals. In addition, campers can earn certifications in basic hunter education and boating safety. To learn more about this conservation camp, which is held in Russell at the Moses Scout Reservation from August 3-15, 2025, registration is now open. Tuition is $1,150, but most campers receive full scholarships from sporting clubs and conservation organizations across the state. Go to the MassWildife calendar to find out more about registration and scholarship opportunities.

Joe Judd is a lifelong hunter and sportsman. He is an outdoor writer, seminar speaker, member of the New England Outdoor Writers Association, and a 2019 inductee into the N.E. Turkey Hunting Hall of Fame. Joe is also on the Quaker Boy Game Calls and Bass Pro Shops/Cabela’s Pro-Staff. He can be reached at jjontheridge@comcast.net