Category: Hunting

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Moose season coming but are there any left?

With the annual moose season just around the corner, hunters like our pal ‘Iggy’ (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 those enthusiasts who still hunt moose in Northern 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 pops. in the north are in rough shape. Even the QC side has seen its share of decline in some areas, from reports 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, my father and members of 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 do join the gang on the first weekend of the season(Oct 2), put up some trail cams for deer and try out a few calls with the boys. Of course this fall, the QC Government will be slashing our bush all to hell with a ‘selective harvest’ planned for the entire mountain beside our camp.

There goes the country for a few years…but I digress

For those who still make the effort to hunt moose each fall, the reward can be as little as enjoying the sights and sounds of the northwoods during early fall, while for others it may be as successful as one, or even two, moose harvested in camp. Either way you look at it, pursuing moose is a special and longstanding tradition enjoyed (sadly) by less and less people these days.

For those about to moose hunt – we salute you!!

Outdoorsguy

 

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Ontario beards & spurs on the way!

With only 10 days left until Ontario’s 2015 spring wild turkey season gets under way, its a time that many hunters have been waiting for with baited breath!

Although I’ve been promising myself(& Keebler) that this year would be my year for turkey hunting, it didn’t quite happen, but next year for sure..I did take my turkey seminar almost 25 years ago, so I guess I’m due!

Every morning and evening I am taunted by ‘gobbler talk’ all over the place! I predict some good calling conditions ahead if this spring-like weather continues into late April.

What are your plans for turkey season and where are you headed?

For more on the 2015 wild turkey season, check out my Outdoors Guy column in this week’s Pembroke Daily Observer!

Gobble gobble!!

 

Outdoorsguy

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Another Magical Kenauk Deer Hunt

November’s Outdoors Guy column is now out in print in the Pembroke Daily Observer, or available online for folks who dont live up the valley. Congratulations again to Jordan Durocher, winner of this year’s Great Outdoors Trivia Contest:

 http://www.thedailyobserver.ca/2014/11/24/another-magical-deer-hunt-in-montebello-que

 

Another magical deer hunt in Montebello, Que.

Deer hunting season may be deemed successful for a variety of reasons, ranging from a sagging meat pole to no meat pole at all.

My annual deer hunt to Kenauk Nature always brings with it a lot of emotion. The famous Montebello, Que. deer woods which was recently sold by Fairmont Hotels, is a hunter’s paradise with rolling hills, rugged terrain and majestic old growth forests. Climbing the peaks each autumn with my hunt gang in pursuit of a whitetail buck is always exciting, and this year was no exception. On one hand, I am in a paradise living a hunter’s dream of chasing whitetails in one of the most scenic woods in the region. Then on the other hand, my Kenauk trip marks the last kick at the hunting can for the year. Thank goodness for a lot of great trail cam images this fall as, sadly, most of antlers I saw were travelling at night after legal shooting hours.

Harvest’less hunt part of conservation

This deer season, unlike some previous ones, I was not presented with the opportunity to harvest a mature buck and that’s fine with me. It is why they call it hunting after all. Like last fall, however, I did have an opportunity of looking through my scope at a fat four-point buck which, as nice a deer as it is, was still shy of Kenauk’s six-point minimum. Not that I would have taken this young buck anyway and I trust other hunters also keep conservation in mind these days. The idea of allowing lessor bucks the chance the mature and disseminate their progeny is a ‘growing’ trend; especially as deer herds continues to rebuild in Western Quebec and Eastern Ontario. I do not personally need freezer meat so badly that I would pluck a smaller animal from the gene pool before its prime. Perhaps next year I will have the opportunity to harvest a nice whitetail but until then, I am left with the satisfaction of another fulfilling hunt. Thanks to Bill Nowell, Lynda Melanson and Celyne Fortin of Kenauk Nature for facilitating yet another trip to this little slice of heaven. To experience wilderness at its best with top notch accommodations, check out: http://kenauk.com/ For more information on deer hunting across the river a short drive from the Valley, contact Quebec’s Ministry of Tourism at 1-877-266-56871-877-266-5687.

Safety first

This time of year with some hunters still on the go, outdoor enthusiasts are reminded to be vigilant and take the necessary safety precautions. Remember that hunter orange of a minimum 400 square inches is required and for Ontario residents, a hunter orange cap as well. Be sure to keep your firearms and ammunition separated and locked away when not in use and never shoot unless absolutely sure of your target and beyond. It is illegal to shoot from a vehicle or carry a loaded firearm in or on a vehicle, and remember that any hunter who harvests a deer must immediately attach the game seal. A safe hunt is a happy hunt and a careless accident can turn a wonderful day in the woods into tragedy.

Contest winner

Congratulations to Jordan Durocher of Pembroke – winner of this year’s Great Outdoors Trivia Contest. Jordan was the first person to correctly answer all three trivia questions and will receive a generous hunting scent gift package courtesy of Terry Rohm of Tinks. Thanks to everyone who participated this year.

Next time

Check out next month’s Outdoors Guy column for another product field test, highlights from this year’s deer season and your Valley ice-fishing primer! Drop me a line anytime with your hunting and fishing news or stories: [email protected].

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Going Wild for whitetails!

My October column is now available in the Ottawa Valley’s foremost authority on the outdoors; the Pembroke Daily Observer.
 
Congratulations to Jordan Durocher of Pembroke, this year’s winner of the Great Outdoors Trivia Contest. Jordan takes home a nice Tinks Gift Package!:
 
 

Ottawa Valley hunters going wild for whitetails

Jeff Morrison, the Daily Observer's newest columnist, offers up his take on the great outdoors.

With the coveted white-tailed deer rifle season just around the corner, enthusiasts are gearing-up for the most anticipated week of the year.

Deer hunters of the Ottawa Valley are chomping at the bit with the whitetail ‘pre-rut’ posed for take off. This special time of preparation and anticipation will be followed closely by a full-blown rut in early to mid-November. Remember that ungulates like deer and moose are polygamous by nature with males’ breeding copious females throughout the fall. During pre-rut, bucks begin altering their daily routine in preparation for the active few weeks that follow. As does enter estrus, bucks usually stop feeding altogether to focus on dissemination of their progeny. Love always seems to come before lunch in the Great Outdoors.

Long-standing tradition

The whitetail rifle season is special and sentimental time I have enjoyed now for the past 34 years. From that very first season when my father invited me to deer camp with the men, I was hooked instantly. It was a tumultuous and exciting time for a young green-horn deer hunter. The joy of pursuing deer as an impressionable youth is like the bud of oak tree; not yet developed but primed and ready to go. I believe most hunters, young and old, share this childlike enthusiasm and really understand what it means to spend time afield. How many activities in life allow us to relive those magical carefree days of our youth?

Testing Testing

Looking back on some of the more interesting electronics I field-tested this summer, Magellan’s new Echo Watch was one of the most intriguing. I have tested almost every imaginable gadget over the years, but this particular unit was a first. The Echo is well-conceived wristwatch which allows users to ‘sync-up’ to a smartphone using Bluetooth technology, for monitoring such fitness metrics as heart rate from Magellan’s heart-rate monitor (sold separately), or to act as a remote control for fitness apps on your smartphone. The Echo watch caters to fitness buffs who own iPhones, and who are serious about staying in shape and keeping tabs on a variety of fitness parameters. This high-tech watch I found to be solid and waterproof with a clear and precise display. Although I am not a huge fitness buff myself, I can see there would be a real niche for such a gadget. For more information: http://www.magellangps.com/

Canadian Fly Fishing Championships in Montebello

Anyone who’s anyone in the fly fishing world will be out casting a line today at my favorite home-away-from-home, the beautiful Kenauk Nature in Montebello. The lakes, serving as venue, in this year’s big fly fisher bonanza are Mills, Tauntan, Sugarbush, Otter and Green. I have personally fished every one of those water bodies and trust me, they are spectacular! The competition runs until Sunday, Oct. 19. For more information on Kenauk: http://kenauk.com/ or for a schedule of events, check out: http://www.flyfishingcanada.net/uploads/Schedule_NFFC_12_Oct_2014.pdf

Safety first

Statistics show that serious accidents are quite rare during the hunting season, however, mishaps do occur. Perhaps our greatest concern, apart from falling asleep in the tree stand, would be muscle strain and body fatigue. For many of us the deer hunt can be one of most strenuous activities of the year. After trekking five miles or more up and down the mountains each day, aches and pains are part of the deal and injury more possibility. I find simple stretching exercises in the morning helps get the old body loosened up and ready for an enjoyable day in the woods. Good luck and be safe out there this fall!

Outdoor Trivia

Here is final question in this year’s Great Outdoors Trivia Contest. The first person to send me all three correct answers will receive a fabulous Tinks hunter’s scent package. mailto:[email protected] Question #3: Which of the following is NOT the title of a recent post in my Ottawa SUN Outdoors Guy Blog? A) Ontario wages war on feral hogs B) Hunters Bragging board C) Wildlife Speaker series this week, or D) Stand hunting for success. The winner will be announced in my November column!

 

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Hunters Bragging Board

OK folks, it is that time of year again…when men are men and the bears, moose and deer are nervous!

If you’re back from the woods and have 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, it’s time to show ’em if you got ’em!

Please keep in mind that all photos (submitted by pm please) should be in a small file format. Usually less than 1/2 GB is fine.

I’m off to camp this weekend to follow the moose boys around with their crossbows, maybe do a few calls and put my deer cams up!

Good luck this fall –  to one and all!

Outdoorsguy

 

Our friend imacdon enjoyed an awesome hunting trip out west this fall. Here is the story and some incredible photos of his hunt! Congrats on your first Muley my friend!

“I was fortunate to be invited to hunt moose with my brother and one of his sons in the BC interior for 13 days. We where hunting at approximately 7000 feet. The group consisted at times of 5-10 friends of my brother. We harvested 3 bull moose on the first three days, and 2 mule deer. Out west they take the bark of the animal as soon as its hung. This is done with the ad of a winch on a ATV. Next the moose is quartered with a special chain saw…canola oil…synthetic fuel… and wrapped in cheese cloth. Beautiful scenery, lots of wildlife. Imacdon”

ImacD

ImacA

 

ImacB

 

ImacC

 

My pal Iggy also returned from a successful hunt this fall. He was pursuing moose up in Northwestern Ontario.

Have a cigar Iggs, you earned it!

Iggymoose2014

 

 

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Moose hunt is almost here!!

My September Outdoors Guy column is now out in print in the Pembroke Daily Observer, or available online for folks who dont live up the valley:

http://www.thedailyobserver.ca/2014/09/19/moose-hunting-not-for-faint-of-heart

 

Moose hunting not for faint of heart

Jeff Morrison, the Daily Observer's newest columnist, offers up his take on the great outdoors.

 
No other sporting activity requires as much finesse or is as steeped in history and tradition as moose hunting.

From the construction of traditional birch-bark horns to understanding a set of skilled calls, pursuing the elusive King of the Northwoods remains an activity for the highly motivated. It is a pursuit which requires patience and skill. Moose hunters immerse themselves deep into the North woods and portage great distances to access prime moose country; with the ultimate goal of enticing a large bull through vocalization and use of scents. Even during the peak of the rut, most dominant bull moose are hesitant to make an appearance let alone present themselves for a good 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 hunts of the year!

Kenauk Casting and Blasting

For trout enthusiasts who thought it was over for the year, Kenauk Nature located across the river in Montebello, is offering ‘brookie’ and ‘bow’ fishing until the end of October. This is a time when most other trout waters have closed for the year and most sportsmen are out hunting. Thanks to ongoing management efforts, Kenauk continues to provide great fishing opportunities longer than anywhere else. And with Quebec’s grouse season opening this weekend, sportsmen can enjoy some ‘casting and blasting’ at this famous Montebello reserve. For more late season fishing and hunting information call 819-423-5573

Valley waterfowl

Surreptitiously trudging the marshlands before dawn, migratory bird hunters are the unsung heroes of the outdoor world. There are hundreds of waterfowl enthusiasts out there each September rain or shine; crouched motionless behind a camouflaged boat or well-decorated duck blind. The age-old tradition of duck calling and decoying is an art that rarely makes the pages of any hunting journal, let along the local paper and with migratory bird season soon under way, we pay tribute to those die-hard folks. Not everyone has the cohones 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://tinyurl.com/mvbx8b7.

Testing, testing

It was a wet and damp day when I meandered through the backwoods testing the new fourth generation Danner Pronghorns. The Pronghorn has been a mainstay for Danner; now entering its fourth generation of tireless service to outdoor enthusiasts. Designers developed the fourth generation based on feedback from folks just like myself who love to hunt and fish! They softened up the collar and built the footbed of a new lightweight and more breathable material. Both are huge improvements. They also introduced pull loops and semi-locking laces on the new model for a more secure fit, and reintroduced their famous CamoHide leather. The new Danner Pronghorns performed beautifully afield, providing great support and traction on the rough terrain; and have somehow succeeded in improving an already proven hunting boot. Even with 1200 G Thinsulate, the new Pronghorns weigh-in at a scant 65 ounces per pair. The second week of the November deer season will be a breath of fresh air this year! For more information: http://www.danner.com/product/hunt/pronghorn/

Great Outdoors Trivia – Question #2

Here is question number two in this year’s Great Outdoors Trivia Contest. Keep track of your answers as the first person to correctly answer all three wins a prize package courtesy of Tinks Scents. Apart from the Alaskan moose (Alces Gigas), which of the following moose subspecies are found mainly in the United States? A) Alces Americana B) Alces Andersoni C) Alces Yankeola or D) Alces shirasi? Keep track of your answers and send them to me via email: [email protected]

Next Time

See you next time for the kick off to the coveted whitetail deer season and the final question in this year’s Great Outdoors Trivia Contest!

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The Reality of Outdoor Reality Television

I’m sure most of you out there watch some sort of reality television, I know I do.

Some of my favourite television shows are, in fact, Reality TV with an outdoor theme. Hunting and fishing reality TV such as; Mountain Men, Yukon Men, Life Below Zero, Kodiak, The Hunt, Wicked Tuna and so on…make-up much of my evening entertainment!

But I always try to keep things in perspective….

Not ALL of what I watch do I accept at face value. I realize that ‘dramatization’ is all part of reality television these days, but what are we to do?

Perhaps the most ‘real’ out there, or a television show that depicts a more true picture of life in the north is, Life Below Zero. Some find the images to be graphic, but subsistence living does involve fish and wildlife being harvested on a regular basis.

The true reality, for most shows of this nature, is to ‘tone down’ the more graphic images so as to appeal to a wider audience. Some shows will even ‘create’ a story that isn’t really there; simply for entertainment value.

Come on, you’ve all seen it!

Nature photography and programming has been dramatizing and creating ‘stories’ for viewers for centuries, and I’m cool with that, so long as you as a viewer keep things in perspective.

When I watch these shows with Mrs. Outdoors Guy, or my kids, I do feel it necessary to explain the ‘true reality’ of certain situations as we watch them. Those more experienced in the outdoors can see right through Network TV’s attempt to gently ‘pull the wool over viewers eyes’.

But again it’s all cool with me..I even follow some of them on Twitter!

I suppose we can’t be too picky about details when it comes to these TV shows, since there is still value and entertainment in watching them.

At least I think there is…

Speaking of which, I have two episodes of the new series The Hunt, sitting in the PVR I haven’t watched yet, although according to Chessy, this one is somewhat on the brutal side!

Outdoorsguy

 

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Premier Wynne approves 'experimental' spring bear hunt

Wonders never cease, the Liberal government has decided to go ahead with an experimental six-week spring bear hunt beginning on May 1st.

Premiere Wynne’s camp indicated this weekend that the government has concerns about “public safety and human-bear conflicts.”

This decision will undoubtedly stir animal rights groups who have always maintained that a spring bear hunt orphans far too many cubs.

I will be a guest this morning with my old pal Ed Hand on his radio show Talk to the Hand.

For those who missed my segment earlier this week, log onto 1310’s website:

http://www.1310news.com/2014/04/08/talk-to-the-hand-ontarios-spring-bear-hunt-returns/

Thanks again to Ed for opening-up discussion on this very important issue. Be sure to check out his show Talk to the Hand on 1310 News!


Outdoorsguy

 

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Ontario beards and spurs on the way!

(Imacdon with a nice looking Tom!)

With three weeks, or so, left until Ontario’s 2014 Spring wild turkey season, its a time that many hunters have been waiting for with baited breath!

Although I had promised myself that 2014 would be my year for turkey hunting, it didn’t quite happen but next year for sure..I mean, I took my turkey seminar over 20 years ago so I’m due!

Every morning on way into work I am taunted by gobblers all over the place! I predict some good calling conditions ahead if this spring-like weather continues into late April.

What are your plans for turkey season and where are you headed? By the way, next issue of Bounder coming-out in the next week or two.

Gobble gobble!!

 

Outdoorsguy

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A farewell to Duke…

Frequent Blog contributor, avid hunter and dog enthusiast Ian MacDonald had an extremely difficult weekend…

We was forced to put down his favourite hunting dog Duke – a decision our friend Ian came-to, no doubt, with heavy heart.

Here is Ian’s story…

 

Put my old dog down today, that was tough.

I’ve been a dog guy since I was 15 years old. Every dog I’ve had has been a good one. They say you only get a good dog once in your life.

Duke was the best.

There was not a ground hog or racoon he could tolerate. He did not have much respect for coyotes either. He was unbelievable on pheasant and ducks. I went pheasant hunting one time with a fellow who said he had a good dog. There were 3 of us and we had 12 pheasants put out, Duke flushed all 12 and retrieved all 12.

I ‘ve seen him chase a duck 3/4 of a mile across the lake get out on the other side of the lake and bring the duck back.

We used him for chasing deer the few years we did not have a hound. I always knew when there was a deer around.

My new dog has big feet to fill…”

 

Ian’s old pal Duke was also the star of his own story in a Blog article from October, 2012, entitled My Favourite Hunting Companion:

http://blogs.canoe.com/outdoorsguy/hunting/my-favourite-hunting-companion/

 

Outdoorsguy