Hunt Camp season is upon us!

I’m heading back up to the hunt camp for the deer season, anyone else going?

This week, I had a nice chat on CHEZ 106 FM with my pals Doc, Woody & Randall, all about hunt camp and what it means to hunters (& guests) They asked me about the most luxurious hunt camp I’d ever visited and, truth be told, I’ve never really been to a super fancy one.

Rustic is just fine with me!

One person’s hunt camp could be as basic as a  4-man tent, while for someone else it might be a summer cottage transformed into a makeshift hunt camp when autumn arrives.

Others might be members of a private hunt club or an organized lodge, while some might even choose to go with an outfitter, rent a chalet or a small cabin. You could convert a fishing or trapping camp into a hunt camp in the fall and you know what, it doesn’t really matter. 

Regardless of what four-walls make-up your hunt camp, tis the season to celebrate the sport we all know and love in your private little domain.  Sharing the experience with friends and hunting companions only serve to enrich the experience. 

The hunt camp experience is something only a true hunter has ever known and will ever really understand. Sorry to all animal rights people, environmentalists and other ‘non-hunters’ out there, you simply cannot relate and this post will mean absolutely nothing to you. 

Yup, it is a time of year when many other things in our busy lives will take a backseat to this special place.  We will dream about it at night and long for that glorious day when we first arrive.

After nearly 40 years of this tradition, I realize the hunt camp experience is over in the blink of an eye..so enjoy your time to the fullest and for goodness sake, let it all soak in. You just never know when it could be your last!

This year is a transitional one for us with several new members joining for the first time, and my dad no longer hunting. It will certainly be different but we hope to create a new tradition, to carry-on the old…

Hey, anyone else ready for hunting season…I know I am!

Outdoorsguy

Maple Syrup season, a sure sign of spring!

I have spent more years than I can recall working the sugar bush, times etched clearly in my memory..not easy work, mind you, but extremely rewarding and downright tasty!

Running the sap lines, repairing breaks, tapping, watching the evaporator, taking-off syrup and running the old creaky canner. The whole operation was a hoot right down to the moment when that first batch of syrup comes off…man, it tastes the best when its warm!

There is a real science involved in any maple syrup operation from understanding the sap’s sugar content at various times of the year, knowing the colour, taste and density of different grades of syrup, to skills like understanding how to build and maintain the perfect fire to keep your evaporator going steady.

Old school syrup producers have never used modern gauges and I’m sure never worried about it either. They can read more in the webbing off their ladle than a thousand sophisticated gauges could ever read..now that is science in itself.

The final product is a thing of beauty and there is really nothing in the world that compares to the taste of fresh maple syrup or taffy on snow.

Now get out there and enjoy some pure Canadian goodness!!

The forecast looks good for sap to run over the next week or so and lets hope favorable temperatures remain long enough for a great season!

 

Outdoorsguy

Turkey and trout just around the corner

Although we are still a few weeks off with plenty of snow left to melt, sportsmen (& women) at this time of year generally fall into two categories.

1) Turkey

Imacdonturkey1

 

 

2) trout

 Beatenpathtrout4Beat

Which one do you choose?

Send me your spring plans and I will feature you (and all your secrets) in my next Ottawa SUN Outdoors Column. There’s no money involved, in case you’re wondering…

Outdoorsguy

 

Maple Syrup better late than never

sapcan

I was speaking with my father yesterday- who lives the heart of sugar bush country – and it looks like syrup producers are poised and ready for take-off this weekend!

At long last!!

Ah, there is nothing like the maple syrup time of year, if you ask me, and I have spent more years than I can recall working the sugar bush. Times I will never forget..not easy work, I might add, but extremely rewarding!

What a blast it was – running lines, repairing breaks, tapping, watching the evaporator, taking the syrup off and even canning. The whole operation is a hoot right down to the moment when that first batch of syrup comes off…man it tastes great when its warm.

There is a definite science involved in any maple syrup operation; from understanding the sap’s sugar content at various times of the year, knowing the colour, taste and density of grade ‘A’ syrup, to skills like understanding how to build and maintain the perfect fire to keep your evaporator going steady.

Then there’s moment when the ‘webbing starts’ at precisely 7 degrees above boiling point of water, and your pure maple syrup is ripe for the picking, or pouring I should say.

Old school syrup producers have never used modern gauges and I’m sure never worried about it either. They can read more in the webbing off their ladle than a thousand sophisticated gauges could ever read..now that is science in itself.

sugarshack

The final product, well, it is a thing of beauty and there is really nothing in the world that compares to the taste of fresh maple syrup, or taffy on snow.

Canada produces 90% of the world’s supply of maple syrup(majority coming from QC) – a statistic we should be extremely proud of.  It is a big part of our heritage just like hunting, fishing or the fur industry.

Now get out there and enjoy some pure Canadian goodness!! (The forecast this weekend looks like -3 to -5 at night with a daily high around 4 -5 degrees C, and all of next week looks the same.)

Outdoorsguy

 

Ministry's Paperless Approach going over like lead balloon

MNRregs

Both the Ontario and Quebec Ministry of Natural Resources have, in recent years, been moving towards making their offices modern and ‘paperless’.

But at what cost?

Sure, having all the rules and regulations available online is a real benefit to those with access to a computer. I’m not sure what I would do without the internet and all my online tools, but what about someone like my father who’s never owned a PC in his life?  What about anyone without access to a computer or the Internet?

Back in the good ol days, you could purchase a deer or moose license and grab a copy of the regs on your way out. But not anymore!

Guys like my hunting pal Ken for example who lives in Quebec’s, Laurentians without access to a computer. Last Fall, he purchased his deer permit at the local Depanneur, as he has for almost 35 years, but when he went to grab his copy of the 2012 Hunting Regulations they were nowhere to be seen!

After calling me and doing a bit of research, we discovered that the booklet is only available now on ‘special order’, and if he wanted one would have to call the 1 (800) which he did. The lady on the line explained that the information he wanted was ‘readily available online’, until Ken explained to her that he doesn’t own a computer.

Over on this side of the river it is much the same thing.

Avid angler Herman Baguss just wanted a copy of the Fishing Regs for 2013 and was told, when he when called the MNR, that they no longer handing them out.

When he asked someone in the know, he was ordered to go online “Download them and print them”..which thoroughly ticked him off!

I’m sure Herman is not the first person to be ticked-off at our government’s move towards a paperless office.

It would seem that both Quebec and Ontario are moving in that direction.

Call me oldschool, but what is really wrong with paper anyway? I suppose it all boils down to dollars and cents. Sadly, with an aging Canadian population, more and more of our older hunting and fishing enthusiasts will start to feel abandoned in a world of high tech. I can’t blame them really.

Hey, can we not just print a token amount of hunting and fishing regs for those who can’t get them online, and make them available?

As much as I enjoy all the modern high tech conveniences, there is still something special about holding a ‘hard copy’ booklet in my hand, but I suppose that luxury has gone by way of the dodo bird.

Outdoorsguy

Ontario non-native hunters face troubling times

Hotelbuck1959

If the recent land claim with Algonquin’s of Ontario goes through, a large parcel of eastern Ontario will be handed over to the aboriginal community.

In a nutshell,  the deal would see the transfer of 117,000 acres of Ontario Crown land to 10 different Algonquin communities. Although no private property is said to be expropriated, there is also a cash component to the deal of $300 million.

It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out that any non-native hunting (or trapping) camps located within these 117, 000 acres would be adversely affected. Anyone who currently hunts in this region can expect there to be issues and concerns, although what they might be has yet to be determined.

The aboriginal land claim dispute has been a hotbed issue for many years, and now that this pustule pimple has finally come to a head, non-native hunters are fearing the worst.

Without even knowing all the details, it is a fair assumption to say that sparks are about to fly. I am sure glad that my hunt camp isn’t located in the area in question.

Stay tuned for a lot more on this issue…

 

Outdoorsguy

Bill tabled to end Canadian seal hunt

 fur-institute-logo

(Fur Institute of Canada Logo)

 

A private members Bill is threatening the future of Canada’s seal hunt!!

 

Representatives of Canada’s sealing community have responded to this legislation; introduced in the Senate this week by Mac Harb to end the commercial seal hunt in Canada.

 

“Mr. Harb’s claims are unfounded.  The Canadian sealing industry is very much alive and well,” said Dion Dakins, Chair of the Seals and Sealing Network. “Consumer demand remains strong.  And with positive results at the WTO and the European General Court, we feel there will be a level trading field for seal products.”

 

Exports between 2005 and 2011 were over $70 million (US) and seal products were exported to 35 different countries. The price for seal pelts has increased from 2009 levels at $15 a pelt to $20 – $25 a pelt in 2010 and 2011 and $32 in 2012.  

 

“The Canadian sealing industry is crucial to the economies of Quebec, the Maritimes, and Canada’s Inuit populations,” added Rob Cahill, director of the Fur Institute of Canada and a leading actor in international relations for the Canadian seal industry.  The seasonal source of income can account for up to 35 per cent of a sealer’s annual income, and is available during a time of year when other rural employment opportunities are virtually non-existent.”

 

Estimates from the Department of Fisheries and Oceans and the province of Newfoundland and Labrador estimate that between 5,000 – 6,000 people acquire an income from the seal hunt for their families, communities and businesses. This amount is approximately one per cent of the total provincial population, and two per cent of its labour force.

 

“To put these statistics into context, this is similar to other locally-important industries such as crop production or forestry that each account for less than one per cent of Canadian GDP, but their local economic importance is undisputable,” said Cahill.

 

Denis Longuépée, a sealer from the Magdalen Islands added, “The animal rights groups are harming our communities and this bill is just another attempt to crush a viable industry. The facts don’t support their claim that our industry is disappearing.” “The animal rights groups and Senator Harb do not understand the people in these communities.”  Longuépée added, “Seal products harvested in our province and in parts of Atlantic Canada provide significant economic benefit to the regions, as well as other parts of the world. “With continued market demand for Omega-3 oils and emerging markets for the use of other seal products in research and development, as well as the traditional uses in furs and leather, we expect the market demand to keep growing.”

 

Should the seal hunt remain part of our Canadian heritage? I beleive it should without question!

 

What do you think?

 
Outdoorsguy

HUGE day for Long Gun owners

longgun1

(Photo of yours truly – another proud long gun owner)

 

If you hear a buzz coming from downtown Ottawa this afternoon, its probably emanating from the Gallery at the House of Commons.

 

Yesterday I received a very noteworthy invitation from Safari Club International’s Canadian director Bob Valcov, to join him and other like-minded individuals in the Gallery of the House of Commons.

 

Today is an extremely HUGE day for gun-owners in Canada and a big day for SCI Canada as well. It is the culmination of years of lobbying against a needless, expensive and over-the-top gun registry.

 

SCI Canada’s motto is “First for Hunters” and my new friend Mr Valcov plans to assert this credo along with his ‘vocal posse’ today on Parliament Hill.

 

The group plans to occupy seats in the House of Common’s Gallery during Question Period today beginning at 1 PM. They will remain there until 5 PM when the final reading is expected to be heard. It could become interesting as things may just heat-up a little:

 

“I expect it to get a bit rowdy” said Valcov of the Gallery of long-gun enthusiasts waiting on the edge of their collective seats this aft.

 

If all goes as planned (and it should) the 3rd reading of Bill C-19 will be the FINAL reading and the end of an era. With some luck we will remember February 15, 2012 as the day the Long gun Registry was put out of is misery. 

 

Stay close to your televisions and radios; it could very well be a day of celebration. Thanks to people like Mr Bob Valcov of SCI Canada – a man representing a fine organization working on behalf of all Canadian long gun owners.

 

Here’s to you Bob, and here’s to me.  And here’s to the rest of the legal and responsible long gun owners from Newfoundland to British Columbia!

 

ValcovHarper

(SCI Canada Director Bob Valcov with Prime Minister Stephen Harper)

 

Ok folks now all that being said, for God’s sake say a little prayer!!

 

Outdoorsguy

Sugar bush better late than never

sugarshack

I was speaking with my father last night who lives in the Quebec Laurentians – the heart of sugar bush country – and it looks like syrup producers are poised and ready for take-off this week!

My Dad and good friend John tapped about 800 trees yesterday and have another 200, or so, to do today before they finish up.

From what I can tell, the season is at least 2 weeks later than last year, but hey, better late than never right?

Ah, there is nothing like the maple syrup time of year, if you ask me, and I have spent more years than I can recall working in the sugar bush. Times I will never forget..

What a blast it used to be – running lines, repairing breaks, tapping, watching the evaporater, taking the syrup off and even canning. The whole operation is a joy right down to the moment when that first batch of maple syrup comes off…man it tastes great when its warm!

There is a certain amount of science involved in a maple syrup operation; from understanding the sugar content in sap at various times of the year, knowing the colour and taste of grade ‘A’ syrup, to ‘old-school’ skills like knowing how to build and maintain the perfect fire for your evaporator.

Then it is moment(many hours later) when the ‘webbing starts’ at precisely 7 degrees above the boiling point of water, and your pure maple syrup is ripe for the picking!

Old school syrup producers have never used these modern gauges and I’m sure never worried about it either. They can read more in the webbing off their ladle than a thousand sophisticated gauges could ever read..now that is pure science.

sapcan

The final product, well, it is simply a thing of beauty and there is really nothing in the world that compares to the taste of fresh maple syrup, or taffy on snow.

Canada produces 90% of the world’s supply of maple syrup(mostly from QC) – a statistic we should be very proud of.  It is a big part of our heritage like hunting, fishing or the fur industry.

SyrupCan

Outdoorsguy

Kenauk Deer Hunt a day to remember

Kenaukbuck3

White-tailed deer hunting at the historic Fairmont Kenauk in Montebello is not unlike pursuing deer in other parts of North America, except for:

1) Huge stands of pure sugar maple forest

2) Ancient mountains of rugged exposed bedrock

3) Amazing old growth forest with stunning visibility

4) Dirty swamps and cedar swails ideal cover for deer

5) A much higher whitetail density than most areas of the Province

6) Friendly, knowledgeable staff and top notch accomodations

(Actually, I guess it is unlike hunting deer in other parts of North America)

What a perfect day it was to honour Remembrance Day – a sunny 10 degrees and hardly a breath of wind.

It was also the perfect time to celebrate a 30-year hunting career and the 9th annual deer hunting trip to my favourite home away from home – the Fairmont Kenauk in Montebello.

My father Rathwell and I had big plans for the day and we started out by doing some ‘recon’ of a territory I have never hunted before. What a fabulous deer woods we had this day, as rugged and as beautiful as anything I had ever seen.

Kenaukroad

The two hunters we met in the office that morning were kind enough to share some big buck info for the territory we would be hunting.

“There’s always a big one hanging out alongside this lake!” the man said in French. “I saw his rubs and scrapes there last year!”

“Thanks for the heads-up” I told him, and my father and I agreed we would sneak into that area after lunch.

After spending an hour or two touring the north part of our woods, we started headed down into lower country when we noticed a great funnel-area coming off the nearby ridge; with two deer runways converging as it crossed the road.

It was the perfect place for two of us to sneak-in and ‘cop a squat’ for an hour. With the frost on the ground and no wind, still-hunting would not be a possibility.

As we quietly parked the vehicles and made our way to edge of bush; standing on yet another rock outcrop, however, our plan to sit would change very quickly…

A nice looking buck, which had been bedded down alongside the ridge, stood-up and looked at me. I could tell he was a nice one, not huge but a taker for sure.

In what always seems like a blur when you look back on it, my trusty old 30-06 Mauser was on my shoulder in one fluid motion and the safety was off.

Before it had really even sunk in, I had a chunky 7-point buck down with one perfectly-placed shot. As we discovered later, it was truly the most perfect shot a hunter can ask for, as I really got to the heart of the matter.

My father arrived a moment later to shake my hand. It may not be the biggest deer I have ever taken, but at 170 pounds field-dressed and a neat little 7-point rack, he was nothing to sneeze at either.

The only drawback though, by the time we finished cleaning the buck it was only 10:00. My Dad and already agreed that we would take one only deer. Sure, we hadn’t gone looking for the big buck the other hunter told us about, or really got a chance to walk to mountains, but that was ok.

Instead, we sat on the tailboard of my father’s truck and ate lunch in the radiant sunshine. We chatted about hunts from our past and discussed our plans for next year. It was great.

With the truck radio on quietly in the background, we sat there and observed the 11 AM moment of silence in the most perfect setting one could ever imagine.

As we sat there, we remembered back on those brave soldiers who gave their lives for our freedom. We also remembered all the great times hunting together over the past 30-years.

That, to me, is what deer hunting is all about. Sure, we didn’t spend long hours travelling endless ridges, but we did share a morning of deer hunting and remembering, that neither of us will forget.

Hopefully next year, though, the whole experience will last a bit longer.

A special thanks to Bill Nowell and Lynda Melanson of Fairmont Kenauk for taking such good care of me each year. I really am fortunate to be able to spend time – year after year – in the most spectacular deer woods on earth!

Kenauksign

For more information on deer hunting in Quebec, or to order your free brochure of the Province’s hunting & lodging opportunities: 1 (877) 266-5687

Outdoorsguy