Author: theoutdoorsguy

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Wiarton Willie has darker shadow looming…

Well, according to our furry four-legged prognosticator, we are in store for another 6 weeks of winter.

 

But that’s the least of our worries..

 

The problem Wiarton Willie faces now is not weather he saw his shadow or not, it’s losing his job for good – as a result of automation!

 

Little Willie probably never imagined he’d be phased out by a robot, but that’s exactly what the animal right’s group PETA is suggesting.

 

I suppose it is the same feeling for anyone who’s been a ‘causality of progress’ in an ever-growing society of quicker and easier answers. I wonder what the expected accuracy of this new robot ground hog would be. And are they completely random when it comes to shadow watching? I really wonder?

 

Anyhow, I’d like to wish all affiliated Ground Hog Day groundhogs across Canada & the US good luck on retaining their Feb 2nd responsibilities. Because if PETA has their way, we’ll be seeing a much greater number of out-of-work gophers around. Alcohol and drug use among rodents will undoubtedly run rampant!

 

Yup, it’s a sad day indeed when animal rights people start to cost wildlife their livelihood.

 

But if I were a groundhog, I wouldnt take it lying down!

 

Here’s to keeping our Feb 2nd tradition alive and fighting the ‘new wave’ of insurgent robot groundhogs!

 

 

Outdoorsguy

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Owner Of Escaped Wild Boars Fined $1,000

A Russell County man has just been fined $1,000 for failing to notify the Ministry of Natural Resources of 16 escaped wild boars.

 

The court heard that on August 12, 2008, a conservation officer visited a property near Embrun where numerous wild boars were being kept. 

 

An investigation revealed that 16 wild boars had escaped that spring. The animals were all eventually killed by vehicle collision, predator or hunters with the owner’s consent.

 

According to the MNR, escaped animals such as wild boars can cause tremendous ecological damage to native ecosystems because of competition for habitat, food and the possibility they might introduce disease into native wildlife populations.

 

The fine is very unfortunate for the boar-farmer, but evidently the Ministry takes these sorts of things seriously.

 

Outdoorguy

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400-pound buck a hoax?

Has anyone seen those photos of a whitetail buck that supposedly weighs 400 pounds, and sports one giant set of antlers?

 

See, that is the only problem with the Internet, it makes you begin to doubt everything you see!

 

The first time I received the news of this gargantuan, the caption said ‘400-pound buck from Maine’, and then it was from New Brunswick, and so on…

I suppose that’s the problem with Internet email campaigns, someone always changes the facts.

 

Here is the buck in question, judge for yourself:

 

400pound

 

Drop me a line if you have any information to either confirm or deny this rumour?

 

Outdoorsguy

Here is that image Chessy is referring to:

400pound2

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Weird Facts about fishing

As my first book, Weird Facts about fishing, enters the final stage of the production process, I would like to take this opportunity to do a bit of shameless self-promotion.

 

For those of you who have always wondered what the most dangerous fish in the world was, or simply enjoy strange and dangerous fish stories, Weird Facts is the book for you!

 

I may be a tad biased here, but I have a feeling this latest instalment of the Weird Facts book series will be gang-busters, well, for avid fishermen at least! You may have already seen, Weird facts about hockey or Weird facts about Canadian Football.

 

Just so you know, I do not profit in any way from the actual sale of the book, I am hoping it is a success for a couple of reasons. Obviously there is pride involved, but my thinking is that should the book become a hit, the door will be wide open for the next logical instalment:  Weird Facts about Hunting!

 

I’d like to send out a huge note of appreciation to Faye Boer and Tracey Comeau of Folklore Publishing, J Alexander Poulton of Overtime Books and my Editor Heather MacDonald.

 

Weird Facts about fishing hit stands across North America the beginning of April and can also be ‘pre-ordered’ from Chapters-Indigo:

 

 http://www.chapters.indigo.ca/books/35/search?sc=Jeff%20Morrison&sf=Author

 

Outdoorsguy

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Reminder to register your ice hut

It is customary at this time of year for the Ministry of Natural Resources to remind all ice-fishermen that registering their hut is a requirement under Ontario law.

Here is the release straight from the MNR – Kemptville District:

 

Ice Hut Registration Required On Area Lakes 

  

Safety Of Anglers And Boaters

 

To protect the environment and ensure safety, anglers must register new or previously unregistered ice fishing huts on area lakes.

 

Registration is free and helps prevent anglers from abandoning their huts.  Abandoned huts can end up in waterways when the ice thaws.

 

▪        Huts must be registered in Fishery Management Zones 12, 18 and 20 in Kemptville District.  To register your ice hut in these areas, call the local ministry office [613-258-8204].  Generally, this may be done over the telephone.  Once registered, an ice fishing hut can be used anywhere in Ontario.

 

▪        Anglers must remove ice huts from the waters of Zone 20 (St. Lawrence River) by March 1, 2010.  Huts in Zone 18 and in Zone 12 (Ottawa River below Lake Timiskaming Dam), must be removed by March 15, 2010. 

 

▪        It’s a good idea to place huts on 15 cm (six-inch) high wooden blocks to make it easier to remove them at the end of the season.  Ice hut owners must keep the area around their huts clear of garbage.

 

▪        Registration numbers on ice huts must be at least 6.3 centimetres (2.5 inches) in height and clearly displayed on the outside of the hut.

 

▪        Tent-style ice huts made of cloth or synthetic fabric that have a base area of seven square metres (75.4 square feet) or less when erected do not need to be registered.

 

▪        It is an offence under the Public Lands Act to leave an ice hut out after ice break up regardless of whether registration and removal dates apply.

 

Learn More

▪        For ice hut registration in other districts, refer to the 2010 Recreational Fishing Regulations Summary available from licence issuers, ServiceOntario/ Government Information Centres, or on the ministry’s website at ontario.ca/fishing.  

 

▪        For more information on ice hut registration and requirements, contact your local ministry office.

 

Steve Aubry, Kemptville District(613) 258-8404

ontario.ca/natural-resources-news

Disponible en français
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PETA Pie another sorry attempt

During her presentation in support of the Seal Hunt, DFO Minister Gail Shea was administered one ‘tofu pie’ to the face, courtesy of yet one more loser PETA member.

 

“It did certainly strengthen my resolve to defend Canadian sealers, the Canadian seal hunt and Canadian coastal families that depend on it,” Shea commented at the Canada Centre for Inland Waters.

 

More and more, I witness the once Not-for-Profit organization pulling childish stunts like this and it makes me chuckle. Surely anyone who needs to pie someone in the face, or spray a fur coat with red paint to garner attention, has nothing at all useful to say.

 

It made me chuckle even more the day – a few years back – when PETA was stripped of their Not-for-Profit status, when it was determined they had, in fact, been pocketing poor ‘misguided’ member donations. Yeah, that was a knee-slapper if I ever heard one!

 

I am glad to see that Gail Shea took the pie in stride, though, showing no apparent sign of weakness or lack of resolve. That is true strength of character, if you ask me.

 

So long as the ‘People for the unethical treatment of humans’ (PUTH) pull their childish pranks, the further into the ridiculous and sublime they spiral. 

 

The armpit organization of the world needs to take a long hard look at themselves for what they truly are – a bunch of ignorant, childlike do-gooders with too much time on their hands, and clueless as to how to run a fair fight.

 

Each pie or can of spray paint only serves as confirmation to the general public that these people have no merit what-so-ever, and evidently no taste either!

 

Who the hell eats Tofu pie?

 

Outdoorsguy

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Fur Harvesters Auction Results a positive sign

Scanning through the recent fur auction results from North Bay, it would appear that things may be on the rebuild for the Fur Industry.

 

As some of you may, or may not know the bottom had fallen out of the fur industry several years ago in many areas. Fisher, Otter, Beaver, Mink and other furs were hit hard by poor demand and bitterly low average prices.

 

According the January 9th Auction results, however, it would appear that the market is headed for a slight rebuild. The Beaver average is up to $18.30 for the eastern section, with encouraging 100% sold. Although not huge compared to $60 averages in the beaver hay days, it is still a far cry from an early season average of around $8.

 

Fisher and Otter are still seeing relatively low averages ($33.50 & $40 respectively) yet are a slight improvement over previous sale.

 

So, what does this mean to the layman on the street?

 

Well, the fur auction prices are, in my opinion, a good indicator of world climate and fur industry outlook. Prices reflect world demands for different Canadian fur, so when demand is down – for a multitude of reasons – Canadian trappers and the Fur Industry as a whole certainly feel the crunch.

 

According to Fur Harvesters of North Bay, January’s buying strength came from China and Greece, and they expect the market will continue to strengthen as most of Europe and Asia is experiencing very cold weather, combined with the growing Chinese economy which is also driving sales!

 

This is all positive news for the fur industry.

 

The next major auction offering of wild fur at Fur Harvesters is on February 19th, and I cross my fingers that prices and interest continues to see improvement!

 

Outdoorsguy

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Smiths Falls Game Club Shotgun Raffle

The Smiths Falls Fish & Game Club is holding a raffle for a 12 Gauge Mossberg model 835 Shotgun in Camo with Slug, Turkey & Waterfowl barrels.

The gun accepts 2 3/4 – 3 1/2 inch shells

Draw date: April 21, 2010 at 8 pm @ 354 Hwy. 15 , Smiths Falls , Ontario

Price: $2.00 each or 3 for $5.00
Raffle limited to 3000 tickets.

Winners have 1 year to get a PAL if they do not currently have one.

Proceeds go towards the Clubs Youth program and upgrades that the CFO has required the club make to stay in operation. Lotto License #: 644834

Please contact Dugald Souter – Director Smiths Falls Fish and Game Club:    [email protected]

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End Long Gun Registry once and for all!

Just when you thought the long gun registry was all but on the way out, it looks like citizens will need to chip-in to help place the final nail in the Registry’s coffin!

 

Please read the below letter from the Canadian Taxpayers Federation:

 

Dear Supporter:

When you told them to, they did. In November, opposition leaders let their MPs vote freely on Private Members Bill C-391 to end the long gun registry. Twelve NDP MPs and eight Liberals joined with Conservative MPs to pass the bill on second reading. But the process to make the bill law is far from over, and now a new twist means we need to speak up again.

Because Parliament was prorogued, the committee of MPs that must examine the bill has been dissolved. With your help, this can work to our advantage. Formerly, the Public Safety and National Security Committee was stacked with opposition MPs opposed to Bill C-391. But when Parliament resumes in March, party leaders can appoint new MPs to committees.

Our goal is to have the committee made up of a majority of MPs that support the bill so it can be passed back to Parliament for final reading in a timely and unfettered manner.

There are twelve seats on the committee, the Conservatives will appoint six; the Liberals, three; the NDP, one; and the Bloc Quebecois, two. If any opposition party appoints a single MP who supports C-391, the balance will tip towards the bill’s quick passage.

This is where you come in. CTF Federal Director Kevin Gaudet has written Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff and NDP Leader Jack Layton asking that they each appoint one MP who is in favor of C-391. We need you to do the same.

Email Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff at [email protected] and NDP Leader Jack Layton at [email protected]. Encourage each to appoint to the Public Safety and National Security Committee one MP who supports Bill C-391. More contact info is available here.

Pass on this e-mail along to others and regularly check our “End the Long Gun Registry” campaign page for updates.

–Kevin, Lee, Troy, and the rest of the CTF team

Want to support our work? The CTF is entirely funded by free-will, non-tax deductible donations — no large corporate, union, or government sources. Our small staff ensures that every donation goes a long way! Chip in here.

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Granddaddy Buck Before and After

Meet my backyard buddy, I call him Granddaddy – for obvious reasons.  It has been 7 weeks now since he first started coming to my feeder and the old boy has undergone some serious changes in that time.

It  is truly amazing to see how a big mature whitetail buck can
metamorphosize in a matter of weeks. Below you will
see how my Granddaddy appeared in late November/early Dec as a magnificant 220+ pound, 10-point giant with a huge rut-swollen neck!

before

 

 

 

Now here we are six weeks later, the same buck without his incredible 10-point crown, swollen neck and easily 20 pounds
lighter – and sporting a rather sheepish grin.

after

 

 

Needless to say, Ol Granddad has been feeding regularly since he
dropped those big antlers – no doubt hoping to rebuild a failing body after a fall of breeding and fighting! (Hopefully it was worth it!)

I live in West Carleton-Stittsville area if anybody’s wondering, and Granddaddy is safe and sound on posted land!

 

Outdoorsguy