The key's the thing....

As if misplacing your keys at home isn't frustrating enough, losing them on a fishing or hunting trip can be downright maddening.

Over the years, I'm not proud to say I've "lost" my keys more times than I care to remember.

One of the worst, was when I left my truck keys in the truck, after telling the shuttle driver to lock my spare in the cab.

We finished our float on the Missouri River just before dark and when my son-in-law asked why I wasn't backing the trailer to the ramp, he was met with my best, "Oh, crap, I'm pretty sure both sets of keys are locked in the truck" stare.

Not to worry, I'd hidden a key.  But I couldn't remember where!

On a Bighorn River trip, I felt keys in my pocket as I walked to where I hoped my truck had been shuttled.

When I couldn't find my truck, I realized I didn't leave keys with the shuttle service!

One late night my truck needed gas in Missoula, when a friend and I were returning from a Madison River trip.

But my key wouldn't unlock the gas cap, so we camped out at Taco John's, waiting for someone to help us in the morning.

After trying many times, I couldn't believe why that key wouldn't unlock the gas cap - until I realized I'd been using the key to the topper!

My hunting buddy put his keys in one of the front side pockets of his orange hoody when we started crawling for antelope.

We never found those keys, but we did meet a rancher on our hike several miles down the road and learned how expensive a tow costs 40 miles from Shelby.

My brother's ice fishing buddy leaned over the hole and, you guessed it, his truck keys went for a swim!

It may look nerdy but now I put my keys and licenses in a waterproof pouch that hangs around my neck.

Now, what'd I do with that pouch?