For those hunters gearing-up for whitetail rifle season, just a reminder that its that time of year when pre-season scouting is definitely in order. I was up at our hunt camp recently checking on my deer woods to see what’s been going-on since last fall.
While there, I put out some trail cameras and investigated a few of the old runways for activity.
I must admit I was a tad concerned about entering the deer woods this year following a couple of meagre years in a row but, thankfully, it looks as though things may be on the rebound!
Fingers crossed!
I don’t care who you are, just setting one foot into your hunting territory at this time of year is exciting.
And when you see deer tracks around, I don’t know about you, but my hearts gets going like a little hummingbird! Running to the trailcams is always the first order of business upon arriving at deer camp. Scrolling through the images I feel like a kid at Christmas time!
Happy hunting one and all. Be safe and have fun with family and friends! Be sure to share your stories on my previous “Favourite Hunt” post.
A mature whitetail buck tends to a doe as she approaches estrus.
With the familiar scent of white-tailed deer season in the air, sportsmen everywhere are gearing up for the most anticipated time of year.
Deer enthusiasts of Eastern Ontario and west Quebec are chomping at the bit with the ‘pre-rut’ period now upon us. This special time of preparation and anticipation in the deer world is followed by the whitetail rut in early to mid-November. Ungulates like deer and moose are polygamous by nature with males hoping to breed copious females over the next month or so. During this pre-rut, bucks will alter their daily routine in preparation for the active few weeks that follow. As does enter estrus, bucks usually stop feeding completely to focus on the task at hand. In the autumn deer woods, love always comes before lunch.
Each year around this time a hunter’s thoughts transcend regular consciousness to become one with nature, one with the deer woods. It is difficult to put into words what the whitetail season means to those who participate, year after year. It is our hunting heritage after all and we must keep the tradition alive. As I celebrate my 37th year at deer camp with my aging 87-year-old dad and a dwindling number of hunting companions, I am reminded of some truly cherished memories from the past nearly four decades. Enjoy each deer season to its fullest and help preserve hunting for future generations, you never know when it could be your last.
Deer hunting in Quebec
One deer trip I look forward to greatly is at Quebec’s Kenauk Nature. The famous Montebello-area hunting preserve is a historic paradise with rugged terrain and majestic old-growth forests. I have been fortunate to take some magnificent bucks at Kenauk over the years but, as most deer hunters know, it’s not all about the harvest. Getting out in the crisp fall air coming together as a group, strategizing and pouring over topographic maps with hopes of positioning yourself for a chance at a trophy, is what it’s all about. If a memorable whitetail hunt is what you’re after, keep Kenauk, or one of the many other great Quebec Outfitters, in mind. For more information on Kenauk Nature: http://kenauk.com/activities/hunting/
I invite all hunting and fishing enthusiasts who have not done so already, to visit my new website; The Outdoors Guy. Check out my ‘New Blog’ page and share your favourite deer hunting story for a chance at a great prize package. Each person who contributes a brief story (approximately 100 words) will be entered into a draw for a Tinks Hunting Scent package ($100 value) which includes cover scents, #69 doe-in-rut buck lure, natural and synthetic lures and other assorted goodies. Drop by my new website for a peak and watch for a Blog Post entitled “Favourite Deer Hunt”. The winning story will be awarded by random draw and announced in early December. Visit: https://www.theoutdoorsguy.ca/ for more information.
Safety first
Although serious accidents are rare during the hunting season the occasional mishap does occur. Perhaps our greatest concern as hunters, apart from falling asleep in the tree stand, would be muscle strain and body fatigue. After trekking eight kilometres or more up over hill and dale each day, aches and pains are part of the deal and injury a possibility. Simple stretching exercises in the morning will help get the old body loosened up and ready for an enjoyable day in the backwoods. There’s a reason why your dog stretches before they get up in the morning. Good luck and be safe out there.
When it comes to deer season, every hunter has their favourite story or most memorable hunt. It may not necessarily be the largest deer you ever harvested that stands out. Perhaps it was your first-ever hunting season or maybe that year it snowed 6″ on opening morning. Whatever the case, everyone has a least one particular hunt which reins supreme above all the rest.
Please comment and share a few details on YOUR most memorable deer hunt (year, general location, hunters involved etc) and you’ll automatically be entered to win a Tinks Scent Prize Package valued at $100!!
I look forward to reading your deer stories, in the meantime here is my most memorable hunt from 1996, the story of Ol’ Toothless.
Our hunt camp is nestled in the woods two hours north of Montreal in Argenteuil County, Quebec. It has been a hunting and fishing camp in my family for close to 50 years and the saying, “knowing the woods like the back of your hand” would be an apt expression for our hunting gang.
Even though it is situated on public land and host to many other southern Quebec deer hunters each fall, we are still quite successful in our deer hunting endeavors. Our strategy of finding “quiet corners” to pursue whitetails has really paid off for us, as we have been rewarded with some nice bucks over the years. It seems Quebec’s increase in deer herd since the early 1990s also have helped our success. Most mature bucks harvested, albeit very few, are usually found on private land with the private landowner getting first dibs. This is why the story of “Ol’ Toothless” is even more surprising.
Alarm number 1 shatters the silence at 5 a.m. on that fateful morning. Since I was assigned the job as catalyst for the gang, I dragged myself from my bunk and began preparing my “last breakfast” for the boys, while pondering our morning destination. It being my last morning to hunt for the 1996 season and last chance at a buck, I was eager to get to the bush.
I thought maybe starting with a small chase closer to camp would be wise. This drive formed a natural funnel between two lakes, flanked by a stream on the east side. We also have taken deer on this drive, but have not pushed it recently due to the amount of hunters frequenting the area.
As the drive began, I made my way along the creek bottom and back up on the ridge, slowly moving through the funnel. Approaching the middle with a lake on either side of me, shots started sounding off across the lake. Bang! Bang! Bang! They echoed off the lake. Then two more shots followed. Sounds like the old man’s .30-.06, I thought to myself. Something told me to run to the lake’s edge to cut off any escaping deer.
Making my way to the lakeshore I ran full out, clearing spruce and balsam branches from my face. That last shot seemed a lot closer for some reason, I thought, just as I broke into the open lake edge. Wondering if my father got one, I could not believe my eyes when I arrived!
At the lake shore I watched in disbelief as the largest racked deer I had ever seen was swimming across the end of the lake, at about 80 yards. Staring for a moment in disbelief, I saw a shot hit the water about 30 feet behind the deer. I thought I had better nail him or he will be up on the other side and gone in a second. A well-placed shot in the back of his neck and the big boy was down instantly.
I sprinted my way around the end of the lake and across an old beaver dam, like a mink jumping from log to log. The buck was lying in a few inches of water when I yanked him up on the bank, just as my father arrived. Neither of us could believe the size and beauty of this buck’s crown. He was a heavy 13-pointer with long tines and sweeping beams. As we hugged and shook hands all we could say was, “I can’t believe it!”
The rest of the guys finally made their way to where we were with the buck. None of them could believe a deer this size existed up here. After we field dressed the deer, I examined him more closely. Having recently finished the Fish & Wildlife Biology program at SSFC, I was interested in determining the big fellow’s age. To my great surprise, I found that he had no front teeth whatsoever, and his molars and pre-molars were extremely worn. “An Ol’ Toothless One!” we thought and chuckled.
I estimated the old boy with his sunken face to be approx. 8.5 – 9.5 years old, based on dental condition. We measured the main beams at just fewer than 26 inches each, the outside spread of 23.5 inches and both G2s between 11-12 inches.
I subsequently had the head caped out and mounted, but it was not until I scored it myself that I knew it could be a new provincial record for the Buckmasters Trophy Records. Under the BTR system, the inside spread measurement is not included as it is deemed to be a measure of air not antler. The Late Great Rick ‘Whitetail Guru’ Poulin of Barrhaven scored Ol’ Toothless officially at 141 4/8 inches BTR in the typical category and discovered that it was the new Typical Provincial Record whitetail for the Province of Quebec.
It was a day I wouldn’t soon forget and I was thankful to have shared it with my Dad.
OK folks, its that time of year when men are men and bears, moose and deer are extremely nervous.
If you’ve enjoyed a successful big-game hunt this fall, I invite you to share your story and photos right here at the Outdoors Guy Blog.
As someone once said, its time to show ’em if you got ’em..and also feel free to send-in last year’s prowess if you’d like. I will post your stories right here!
Please keep in mind that all photos submitted should be in a small file format. Usually less than 1/2 GB is fine.
With the annual moose season just around the corner, guys like our pal “Doug” (shown in the above photo) are chomping at the bit to get back to nature for the annual pursuit of the beloved swamp donkey known as Bullwinkle.
For enthusiasts who still hunt moose in Ontario, it will be interesting to see how this fall turns-out given recent changes set forth by the MNRF, following the announcement that moose in the north are in rough shape.
Even the QC side has seen its share of decline in some areas, from what I’ve heard.
All this to say that the status of the herd and moose numbers will not deter those who enjoy it…
In recent years, our deer gang have taken-up hunting moose with crossbow during the brief ‘bull only’ season which runs for little over 1 week in the Quebec Laurentians, around our deer camp. Although I haven’t taken-up crossbow hunting yet, I join the gang to put up some trail cams and try out a few calls.
With limited tags and numbers dwindling up north, guys from the Blog like “Tim” are contemplating a moose hunt closer to home where numbers seem to be more prevalent.
For those who still make the effort to hunt moose each fall, the reward may be nothing more than the sights and sounds of the great outdoors in the early fall, while for the other chosen few it may be successful moose-wise. Either way you look at it, pursuing moose is a special and longstanding tradition (sadly) enjoyed by less and less people these days.
For those about to moose hunt – we salute you. Please drop me a line with your moose hunting plans for this year?
Whilst sitting around a toasty campfire this fall, do yourself a favour and try a couple of my favourite wilderness breakfast recipes; excerpted from my latest book Campfire Cooking, published by Practical Gourmet:
Mmmmmm, I can almost taste it now…
As the fog lifts off the lake and you hear the distant call of the loon, your first campfire of the day crackles with anticipation. Getting breakfast started in the Fall before anyone is awake is a secret passion, but I don’t often admit that because people would think I’m nuts. Whether it’s traditional eggs and bacon or these fun breakfast kebabs, there is something special about preparing breakfast with the cool morning air in your lungs. And there is no better way to build a strong appetite! You could prepare the sauce in advance at home to make things a little easier at the campsite.
Breakfast Kababs
Makes 6 skewers
3 Baby potatoes, unpeeled, cut in half
6 Cherry tomatoes
6 Pineapple cubes (1 inch)
6 Bacon slices
1 Red pepper, cut in 1 inch pieces
1 Green pepper, cut in 1 inch pieces
1 Yellow pepper, cut in 1 inch pieces
6 Mushrooms
6 Strawberries, ends trimmed
Ketchup 1/4 cup
Balamic vinegar 2 tbsp
Soy sauce 1 tbsp.
Dijon mustard 1 tbsp
Honey 1 tbsp
Worcestershire sauce 1 tsp
Cayenne pepper 1/2 tsp
Lemon juice 1 tsp
Fill a medium saucepan with enough water to cover potatoes. Cook on a grid placed about 2 inches over hot coals until potatoes are almost tender, about 10 minutes. Drain and set aside to cool. Arrange ingredients on skewers in the following order: potato half, cherry tomato, pineapple, bacon, red pepper, green pepper, yellow pepper, mushroom and strawberry.
For sauce, combine remaining 8 ingredients in a small bowl. Brush skewers with sauce and cook until heated through, turning and brushing with sauce several times.
Rugged Cast Iron Breakfast Potatoes
Although cumbersome, the cast iron skillet should be part of any campfire cooking trip. The number of meals you can make in this trusty skillet is limitless. Quality used cast iron cookware is readily found at many thrift stores and is an economical way to build your campfire cookware inventory. When shopping for a good cast iron skillet, examine the cooking surface closely and avoid pans with deep scratches, rusting or pitting. A well-maintained cast iron skillet will appear smooth and be a rich black colour.
Makes 4 servings
Olive oil 2 tbsp
Butter 2 tbsp
1 Medium onion, chopped
6 Medium potatoes, cubed
1 Medium green pepper, diced
1 Jalapeño pepper, chopped
Olive oil 2 tbsp
Water 1/4 cup
Garlic powder 2 tsp
Paprika 1 tsp
Salt 2 tsp
Pepper 1 tsp
Heat first amount olive oil and butter in a cast iron skillet or frying pan on grill over campfire. Add onion and cook until softened. Add potato, green pepper, jalapeño pepper and remaining 2 tbsp oil, and cook, stirring frequently, until potatoes start to brown. Add water and cook, covered, for about 5 minutes so potatoes can steam. Add remaining 4 ingredients and cook, stirring frequently, until potatoes have browned and are tender.
(Brian Houle of Stittsville poses proudly with the giant bull moose he harvested in the North Bay-area during bow season)
Things certainly have changed in the moose woods of Ontario and Quebec, but that does not mean hunters have thrown in the towel. The pursuit of the elusive moose remains an activity for the highly motivated regardless of where you are. It is a special hunt indeed requiring patience, skill and a thorough knowledge of your hunt territory. Moose hunters immerse themselves fully in the north woods often portaging great distances to access prime moose country; with the goal (tag permitting) of enticing a large bull through vocalization and use of scents. During the peak of the rut many dominant bull moose are hesitant to present themselves for a quality harvest opportunity. Hunters heading north this month and early into October are praying for cool weather and light winds; to lay the groundwork for one of the most exciting time of year. Even though restrictions have tightened greatly in this province, hunters still find a way to make it out, somewhere. Ontario moose enthusiasts are feeling the pinch of late, especially in areas to the north and many Ottawa Valley sportsmen are considering Quebec for hunting Bullwinkle this fall. Moose hunters aren’t just highly-dedicated; they are also on the lookout for new and exciting locales to pursue the Canadian icon known as the majestic moose.
Although the province of Ontario still boasts good moose opportunities in many regions, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry’s announcement on the status of moose in recent years has left more than a few hunters with growing concern. The tag system has nearly grinded to a halt with so few tags available, it’s become nearly impossible for hunt camps to function. On the Quebec-side with its alternating harvest years and standard two non-resident tags per animal does look enticing. Access to Crown Land for a non-resident, however, is quite difficult and I would suggest retaining the services of one the many moose outfitters. For more information; https://www.pourvoiries.com/en/
Launch of official Outdoors Guy website It has taken over 20 years to ‘get with the times’ but I am proud to finally announce the launch of my new site: The Outdoors Guy–Official Website of Jeff Morrison. Having a central hub which readers may peruse and use as a launching pad is so very important these days and, courtesy of Mrs. Outdoors Guy’s ingenuity, I now have that hub up and-running! Perhaps the most exciting thing about my new website is the re-boot of the popular Outdoors Guy Blog, which started back in 2009 after my Ottawa SUN column was put to rest. So, I invite all hunting and fishing fanatics of the Ottawa Valley to visit my new website and please subscribe so you’ll stay connected. I will be running some interesting contests (with prizes) in the coming weeks and would hate for anyone to miss out. Also check-out other website features such as books, published works, press reviews, photo gallery and my sponsors and support page. My latest blog post looks at the annual hunt camp phenomenon. Hope to see you there: https://www.theoutdoorsguy.ca
Valley waterfowl salute Each September I send out a tip of the hat to waterfowl hunters just so they won’t feel left out. There are hundreds of duck and goose enthusiasts out there each fall, rain or shine, crouched motionless behind a camouflaged boat or camo duck blind. The age-old tradition of calling and decoying is an art that rarely makes the pages of any hunting journal, let alone the local paper, and with migratory bird season soon under way, we pay tribute to those die-hard duck and goose hunters. Not everyone has the drive or ambition to do it, but those who do are rewarded with the sights, sounds and smells of Ontario hinterland during early fall. For information on waterfowl season and opening dates, log onto: http://www.ec.gc.ca/rcom-mbhr/?lang=en&n=99FDEC59-1
First things first – WELCOME BACK EVERYONE!! Hope to see a lot of old familiar names and new ones as well. Surely there are lots more avid hunters and conservationists out there?
Tis that time of year again folks; hunting season and that trip back to the hallowed hunt camp.
Your hunt camp could be a 4-man tent, while for else might use their summer cottage transformed into a makeshift hunt camp as the leaves start to fall.
Others might be members of a private hunt club or an organized lodge, while some might even rent chalets, cabins or quinsy huts. You might convert a fishing or trapping camp into a hunt camp in the fall and really who cares, it doesn’t really matter.
Regardless of what four-walls become your hunt camp, its a time to celebrate the sport we all know and love. Sharing the experience with friends and hunting companions only serves to enrich the experience.
Although it may come off sounding snooty, the hunt camp mentality is something only a true hunter has experienced and will ever really understand. Sorry to all animal rights people, environmentalists and other ‘non-hunters’ out there, you simply cannot comprehend and this post will, therefore, mean absolutely nothing to you.
It is a time of year when, like or not, many other things in our busy lives must take a backseat to this special place. We dream about it at night and long for that glorious day when we first arrive.
After more than 35-years of doing this, the hunt camp experience is still over in the blink of an eye..so enjoy your time this year to the fullest. Soak it in to make the memories last all year. You just never know when it could be your last trip.
I used to ask this question every year but what does hunt camp mean to you? To me it means everything and more.
For generations, the pursuit of black bears has been a tradition enjoyed by many. The majestic bear has long been shroud in mystery and mystique, leaving a lasting impression on anyone who sees one. These animals are noble, intelligent and as tough as nails. Virtually every outdoorsman I know can recall in vivid detail, a graphic black bear encounter.
This may explain part of the bear’s allure. I have to admit I was one of those people so intrigued with these beasts that I just had to see what the hubbub was about. I had been an avid moose and deer hunter for 20 years at the time, but never attempted a black bear hunt.
It was year 2000, and I was excited for the prospect of my very first black bear hunt! It would offer a new hunting experience for me. Plans were laid and the trip was promptly booked with one of Quebec’s most well-established black bear outfitters; Domaine Shannon. Once all the formalities taken care of I was anxious for the excitement to begin.
Two evenings had passed with no bears in sight. As darkness approached like a slow moving cloud on my last evening of the hunt, I watched intently over my bait-site. “No sign of bear movement yet,” I thought to myself, while attempting to quietly swat away the pesky black-flies digging into my wrist. Here I was, perched high above the lush forest floor in an enclosed camouflaged tree stand, waiting for “ol blackie” to appear below me.
What a glorious place this was.
It took my guide’s intensive homework and planning to select the stand location for this final hunt. The distance to the bait was considerably shorter than with previous stands that week, with the goal of hopefully allowing my father (the photographer) to gather some footage of an approaching bear. At least that was the plan. After waiting patiently for three hours, and watching the odd raven pick at loose scraps around the bait site, I was beginning to grow doubtful of seeing a bear.
I checked my watch. It was 9 p.m., and still no sign of any bears. As I examined the hunt area more closely with my binoculars, a network of well-used bear trails converging at the bait was plainly visible. It appeared as though several animals had visited this location regularly but where were they all hiding?
Ten minutes later, a “swishing” sound emanated from the direction of the bait. I leaned over to my Dad, “there’s something down there!” my voice cracked. I had a gut feeling that a bear was finally approaching downwind. I continued to strain my eyes and ears hoping to catch a glimpse of any movement. All was silent.
Suddenly without warning, an ominous black figure moved across in front of the bait like a ghost, in complete silence. My guide had explained earlier that these bears are so familiar with their surroundings; they are able to approach the bait without so much as breaking a branch.
My dark visitor virtually blocked out the remaining light for a moment. “Oh my God, it’s a bear!” I thought to myself. My heart began to race and my palms were perspiring. I would have to act quickly if I wanted to take him. The black object mysteriously avoided the bait, and was more intent on scent-checking the area first.
“I think he is moving in our direction” my Dad whispered in my ear, sending chills down my spine. The dark creature then stopped and swiveled around to resume his course towards the bait. I held the sights behind the massive shoulder and slowly squeezed. In a matter of seconds it was all over. My body was trembling, as I climbed down the stand to collect my trophy. It was truly a magnificent and impressive animal and would be my very first black bear, a boar weighing 180 pounds with the prettiest coat I had ever laid eyes upon.
Such an awesome hunting experience with a bear outfitter is what draws sportsmen from all over to pursue these animals. Many top quality outfitters in Quebec and Ontario as well cater to hunters interested in pursuing these elusive beasts, and for good reason.
Black bears are a formidable adversary and quite plentiful. My outfitter, as with many of the province’s quality establishments, offers comprehensive bear hunting & fishing packages. They also have started providing a guaranteed bear hunt.
Thanks to sound management techniques by the province’s biologists and the outfitters themselves, Quebec’s bear population continues to flourish. The black bear is truly a provincial icon, and will continue to wander the northern bush for future generations to enjoy.
For those in search of the mysterious “black ghost,” one need not venture any farther than the province of Quebec. To book a bear hunt through one of Quebec’s many Outfitters, contact the Federation of Quebec Outfitters: https://www.pourvoiries.com/en/outfitters-list/
Yet another high profile celeb has caved to pressure by Animal Right’s fanatics! How powerful are these people anyway???
Bon Jovi’s new Hart N Dagger clothing line, launched last fall, includes a $275 pair of jeans with a miniscule leather patch on the waistband which has evidently ‘ruffled the features’ of the animal welfare crusaders; PETA.
According to reports, Jon Bon has now agreed to have the leather patch removed and replaced with ‘faux leather’. (Bravo Jon, save those cows!) PETA spokesperson Anne Brainard said the org is also ‘in talks’ with Lucky Brand, True Religion and Levi’s to make the switch with their patches.
