Category: Outdoors

 

With my father, brother-in-laws and I set to embark on our 21st Annual trip north on Friday morning, in search of the wily brook trout, I’d say I’m about giddy as a school girl right now.. 

Keeping a tradition alive for 21 years – especially a fishing one – isn’t always an easy task. Even when you’ve found a great spot and have spent a dozen or so years going there, things do have a way of changing over the years. 

The key is learning to adapt and making all decisions as ‘a group’. So long as we continue to catch a few fish, have a nice spot to camp, enjoy a friendly game or two of horse-shoes and have a good time, then all is right with the world.

Sure, we went through years when the fish weren’t biting and years when they were practically jumping in the boat! Other times when the flies were bad and things would go awry, and then times when everything was a smooth as butter.

I think the important thing is just getting out there and doing it! By calling it a ‘tradition’ – as much a cliché as it is – I find you do your utmost to keep things alive.  In today’s day and age, it is important to have the few days each year to unwind and relax in the splendour that is the Great Outdoors. 

For all of you out there who do it, you’ll know what I mean. There’s just something special about being outdoors with family and friends in the magical time of rebirth. 

I’d have to say, though, if the flies’ do turn out not to be bad, the fish are hitting big time, and the Habs are still on the radio, that would ok too..

Outdoorsguy

  Ok, I know I’m opening up a proverbial hornets nest by doing this, but what do you really think about the cancellation of Ontario’s spring bear hunt?

It’s springtime, right? Shouldn’t Ontario hunters be allowed to pursue black bears in spring – at a time when they are meant to be hunted, and are more easily managed?

 Quebec does it, in fact, their spring hunt gets under way next weekend. Does that province have so many MORE bears than Ontario; they can justify both a fall and spring hunt?

 Sadly, it seems that Ontario bears are being managed now on a ‘nuisance’ basis..as has been pointed out by many on the Outdoors Guy Blog.

 Do we really need to have disaster hit close to home, or another year with half a dozen or more deaths from bear maulings, before something is done about it?

I have seen animal right’s groups spew out stats on how the closure of the spring hunt has had little effect on the black bear population in Ontario, and black bear-related encounters. We all know that is BS!

 And we all know what effect the closure has really had, and I think it’s high time we lobby towards getting things back to the way they were in 1998 – before the spring hunt was shut down!

Ok, here’s a question to all:  If reinstating the Ontario Spring Bear Hunt meant some modification to the fall bear season (as in QC) would you support it?

Please drop me a line with your thoughts. It is that time of year, after all, when this topic is on everyone’s mind.

Outdoorsguy

The MNR would like to remind everyone that, since spring is here, black bears are now out of hibernation. At this time of year it’s important to take simple precautions to help prevent attracting

Black bears to your community.

The potential for human-bear conflicts increases when there is little natural food for bears. If this happens, black bears will search for other food sources, such as garbage and bird feed, which can attract bears to populated areas.

To minimize the chances of attracting black bears:

– Store garbage in waste containers with tight-fitting lids.

– Put out garbage only on the morning of pick-up.

– Put away bird feeders. Seed, suet and nectar put out for birds also attract bears.

– Clean outdoor grills after each use, including the grease trap underneath. Bears will be drawn   by smells from great distances, including grease and food residue on grills.

People who have problems with bears can call the toll-free bear reporting line anytime at 1-866-514-2327. In a life-threatening emergency, call 911 or your local police.

Learn more about what you can do to keep bears out of your neighbourhood at ontario.ca/bearwise.

FACTS

• Since 2004, Ontario’s Bear Wise Program has been educating people about bears, how to avoid attracting bears and how to prevent human-bear conflicts.

• In North America in 2005 alone, bears claimed the lives of 6 people, half of whom were killed by black bears!

 

Ok folks, let’s take a little break from the turkey and trout action, shall we, and talk about one of my favourite spring-time delicacies. 

You’ve heard about nature’s perfect fish, well here is nature’s perfect food…Wild Garlic baby!!!!!!!!!! 

If you’ve never tried wild garlic, or wild leaks and Ail de Bois to some..then you just haven’t lived! 

I would like to thank trout enthusiast and my new best friend Grant for the awesome garlic gift bag this am..but whatever you do, don’t ask where he found it! 

Even though I grew up in the heart of wild garlic country, I was never lucky enough to actually find that magical garlic patch. 

As you may know, they are a special and fragile plant so if you do stumble upon a patch for God’s sake, do not over-pick! You need to leave some behind.

I tell you, when I pass-on I’d like to be buried in a glorious field of wild garlic, just like the one below..I know it sounds weird, but that’s how strongly I feel about them. 

The only slight downside to eating this magnificent natural food is the way you smell afterwards.  Trust me, though, that is the only drawback to one of the best eating natural foods there is.

You can pickle them or eat it fresh. Try them in an egg salad sandwich or throw them in a 1 to 3 ratio vinegar and water mix. 

Here are some neat pickling techniques I found online:

http://www.seasonalchef.com/recipe0507b.htm

Man, I can’t wait to get home… 

Do you know where your gobbler is??

With Monday’s kick-off to the province’s annual gobbler season, it is ‘turkey time’ throughout Ontario for both novice hunters and gobbler gurus alike. 

For thousands of wild turkey enthusiasts, April 26th marks the beginning of what should be another exciting gobbler season. An incredible 9, 252 birds were harvested last spring, and I wouldn’t be surprised if even more are taken this year. 

Thousands of those new to the sport and a growing number of seasoned veterans will be hitting the woods in search of the province’s favourite new fowl. 

The wild gobbler is, without a doubt, our biggest wildlife success story, and thanks to many ‘turkey transplanting’ programs and conservation initiatives in the past, turkey numbers have been expanding exponentially. 

For more information on the Ontario wild turkey season, including the latest rules and regulations, and even diagrams for those of you who can’t tell a Hen from a Tom:  

http://www.mnr.gov.on.ca/239847.pdf  

I invite all you Gobbler Guru’s out there to send me your best ‘turkey success story’. I will feature your story and photos right here on the Outdoors Guy Blog…and a prize package will be awarded to the person with the best story.

Although I cannot offer any turkey garb, I do have a selection of the latest Tinks deer and moose hunting lures and scents up for grabs.

Now, ladies and gentleman, go get those turkeys and may the best Tom (story) win! 

Oh yeah and Happy Earth Day!!

Outdoorsguy

After a long, brutal winter the coveted trout season is finally within reach…ok, it wasn’t that long or brutal.

Speaking of brutal, check out this bad boy:

OK, I have no logical explanation as to why I adore trout so much; there is just a certain ‘Je ne sais quoi’ that makes them an appealing sport fish. 

I have logged so many hours in pursuit of these little beauties over the years, it’s actually a bit embarrassing. And now with trout season mere days away, I’m feeling as giddy as a kid on Christmas morning. 

Anyone bitten by the trout bug will go great lengths to find water with trout in it, and I have stumbled over hill and dale more times than I can recall, doing my best impression of Mr. Canoe Head. 

Trout fishing, for some, is more of a part-time career than it is a sport – a career that rewards you with personal gratification and the prettiest little creatures you’ve ever seen. 

During springtime, this annual love affair blossoms with nature’s perfect fish, and for me it’s something you just can’t put a price on!

Anyone else got a springtime love affair?

Outdoorsguy

 

For those of you who live in the Brockville-area, the popular tackle shop Dad’s Gone Fishing was  a fixture in the community.

This past Sunday, Brockville-are tackle shop Dad’s Gone Fishing went up in flames in a blaze that officials are calling ‘suspicious’.

Owner Paul Rice has already made it clear he hasn’t given, despite the fire destroying $10, 000 of his own tackle, and over $100, 000 in equipment, he does plan to rebuild ASAP!

“I’m not out of business. I’ll be back,” Rice told the Recorder & Times, after sifting through the ruins of the two-storey wood building in a mostly vain effort to find items to salvage.

Those of you, who followed my Ottawa SUN Outdoors Column from 2002 to 2009, will recall Dad’s Gone Fishing from a fishing tournament they sponsored each June on Charleston Lake.  All the proceeds went to CHEO.

Sadly, it is the people and lives closely associated with such a disaster that are most effected. In the case of Dad’s Gone Fishing, a little slice of heaven has disappeared for now…but not forever!

Thanks to Larry Allison for sharing this sad news with me..and let’s hope for a quick rebuild!

Outdoorsguy

 

Ok, I realize I’m stuck on this topic, but I’m interested to see what other folks think. 

I would like everyone to indicate, in the comment section, weather they believe in the existence of Big Foot/Sasquatch, and why. 

We at the Outdoors Guy Blog are not here to judge, so feel free to spill your guts. Let er rip! Have at it! Give it to me straight!! 

I will tally the numbers in a week or so…in the meantime, check out the story of Jacobs trail cam photos from Pennsylvania in 2007.(Not intended to sway your opinion in any way)

http://www.bfro.net/avevid/jacobs/jacobs_photos.asp

Outdoorsguy

 

I, for one, am a firm believer that the Big Foot does exist in the wild. I have always believed so. With such compelling evidence out there, how can you not believe in the possibility of living Gigantopithecus? 

This clip from the 1967 Patterson film of a ‘she big foot’, along with a handful of other footage and hundreds of eye-witness accounts, remain as solid proof that large ape-like creatures do exist in North America. And not just in the Pacific Northwest, evidence of the Sasquatch has even been discovered in Northern Ontario.

Each year, footprints and further evidence on the Big Foot is gathered and compiled. Even those Scientists who had hoped to ‘debunk’ the Big Foot myth have been unable to do so unequivocally. 

The old ‘man-in-a-costume’ theory has been shot down over and over again. In fact, the best costume designers in the world attempted to recreate the Big Foot costume and were unable to do so

If you’re into this sort of thing and you get a chance, check out the Sasquatch Big Foot – Legend Meets Science. It’s a 5-part series on Youtube from the Discovery Channel, which has looked at every aspect of the Big Foot, including gate analysis, footprint casts and a closer examination of several pieces of footage, some as recent as 2007.
I don’t know about you, but just the thought that such a creature could exist in the wild is amazing!

Outdoorsguy

I thought I would soften things up a tad by sharing some beautiful images I took last spring behind my house.

Everyone knows that spring is a time of rebirth and rejuvenation, and nowhere is this more evident than in nature.

Last spring I was fortunate enough to capture some images of a newborn fawn and his mother. My daughter Grace and I had actually discovered the birthing site a few days earlier, so I know this little guy is only a few days old.

 

His wobbly legs sort of give it away!

I do consider myself lucky to have witnessed something that most people will never see. You see, does are very shy and secretive the weeks following birth, and most folks rarely get to see them out in the open.

Now, who ever said hunters didn’t have a soft side??

Outdoorsguy