Bounder magazine’s coveted 10th Anniversary issue is NOW out in full circulation! Get yourself a copy! Read the Outdoors Guy talk about trout, turkey and more or read a whole ton of other great stuff!
Check us out online: http://bounder.ca/
Outdoorsguy
With the start of the spring wild turkey season looming, gobbler enthusiasts across Quebec and Ontario will soon be in hot pursuit of beards and spurs!
For thousands of Ontario wild turkey hunters, April 25th marks the beginning of another coveted spring gobbler season. Thanks to successful reintroduction programs dating back 30 years, wild turkey populations across the province have reached sustainable levels. As we have witnessed over the past few years, there are more bird sightings than ever in the valley and around eastern Ontario, and the hunt is improving each spring. The glorious gobbler has evolved into one of the most prolific and tastiest games species around, so you had better get used to them.
For Ontario hunters, remember that it is illegal to pursue turkeys within 400 meters of any place where bait has been deposited unless the place has been bait-free for at least one week. Bait is described as corn, wheat, oats or any other feed that may attract wild turkey or any imitation of such feed. Standing crops, crops stacked in accordance with normal farming practices and grain scattered as a result of normal farming operations are not considered bait. Following the rules is part of the game and it would be a shame to ruin a great hunt by pushing your luck.
Folks in Quebec should read the provincial regulations for seasons and bag limits in your area…
Good luck to all the gobbler gurus’ out there and feel free to drop me a line with news from your area.
Outdoors Guy
Backyard deer feeding is a fun winter past-time and can be of great benefit to these animals as snow depth increases.
I currently have seven deer feeding regularly at my backyard feeder – four bucks and three does and fawns – but I have had as many as 16. We just love watching them out the back window! The key to supplemental feeding is to distribute feed in early winter and continue feeding until spring or until your deer decide to move on. A whitetail deer’s digestive system will adapt to the supplemented diet, along with the usual browse that makes up their winter diet. Here in Ottawa, Ritchie’s Feed & Seed makes a terrific pelletized 14 per cent protein deer feed I’ve been using for years with success. I’m sure other feed stores up the valley make a similar blend. Another way to assist whitetail populations during winter is by increasing access to natural forage by creating trails with snowmobile, ATV or even snowshoes. Even if you’re not able to provide supplemental feed, it’s a good idea to offer a helping hand in any way you can.
Hunt camp camaraderie shines!
Did anyone else enjoy an awesome deer hunt this year? Though it was not a season of sagging meat poles or big bucks running amok, the fun and camaraderie in our hunt camp was better than I have ever seen. As anyone who hunts knows well, the deer hunt is not just about pursuing whitetails. For us, it is more about team work, strategic planning and functioning as a fine-oiled machine, in the woods and back at camp as well. With four new members in camp this fall including two of my nephews who never hunted before, the season had failure written all over it. Much to my surprise and similar to the Ottawa Senators, our rookies and new recruits came together in the most wonderful way. Every member had their place, pulled their weight with chores and contributed to hunt, making for one exciting season indeed. I am looking forward to next fall already!
Newfoundland/Outdoor Sportsman Magazine
I am pleased to announce following a long absence, that I am contributing again to a publication near and dear to my heart – Outdoor Sportsman, the pride of Newfoundland’s hunters and fishermen. For nearly a decade I was a feature writer for this fine publication, which runs both a provincial version called Newfoundland Sportsman and the National version called; Outdoor Sportsman. With Dwight Blackwood at the helm as Publisher, and Gord Follett as editor for over 25 years running strong, Sportsman is what I would describe as an ‘enthusiasts’ read with stories, news and features direct from the guys and gals who celebrate our hunting and fishing heritage firsthand. Although it boasts a definite Atlantic Canada flair, there is more than ample content from the rest of our great country to make it feel ubiquitous. The winter issue, with my return article on ice fishing in Central Canada, will be out early January. For more information: http://newfoundlandsportsman.com/
Ice hut reminder
Before you hit the hard top this winter in search of your favourite game-fish, consider registering your hut. The Pembroke MNR wishes to advise area anglers that, not only is ice hut registration a requirement by law, it goes a long way in preventing wayward huts later in the season. Abandoned ice-huts which end-up in waterways after the thaw will create havoc for boaters and early season fishermen. For improved visibility, registration numbers on all huts should be at least 2 ½ inches in height. You do not need to register tent-style huts made of cloth or synthetic material, provided base measurements are less than seven square metres. Ice hut registration is longer completed by contacting the local District Office, but rather through an online registration process, or by mailing an online form to a central office in Peterborough. Full details on both processes are available at: https://www.ontario.ca/page/ice-fishing#section-2
Next time
In the next Outdoors Guy, we take a peek at what’s hot for the 2018/2019 ice fishing season. Be sure to send in your ice fishing reports or big fish stories to [email protected]
Bounder magazine’s latest issue is being distributed as we speak and its a biggie!
What a wonderful story this little magazine has been, from the first time I heard about it on CTV Ottawa little over 10 years ago. My wife and I were watching the local Ottawa news at 11:30 and they mentioned a ‘New Magazine’ coming soon with Publisher, Brian Warren at the helm.
I’m not sure why but I knew instantly it would be a hit! Who doesn’t like to read about the history of the Ottawa valley or microbreweries, or the radio business 40 years ago, or hot cars and hotter bikes, great food, hunting, fishing traveling. Man, it’s like every guy’s dream, honestly!
I am honoured to be apart of this Bounder family and I still wear my Bounder vest proudly(though I could a new one, nudge nudge)
Check out my new Outdoors Guy column, along with numerous other fantastic local writers, like my pals Randall Moore and David Brown: http://online.fliphtml5.com/tdses/lpjd/#p=25
If you haven’t seen Bounder yet, crawl out from under your rock and find a copy!
Yours in the great outdoors,
Jeff Morrison
I am so pleased to see my old backyard brute, a trophy buck who has visited my property for the past 4+ years. He enjoys rubbing his antlers on the same tree every year, a mere 10 feet from my garage and I have no issues with that.
The non-typical brute, who arrived back for a visit a few days ago, appears to be a 15-pointer now.
Enjoy these trail-cam images of a truly special whitetail buck!
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
Check out the latest issue of Bounder, with my Fall column: http://online.fliphtml5.com/tdses/tcmd/#p=24
Happy hunting and enjoy the great outdoors!
Outdoorsguy
The Ontario moose season is in a bit of peril, of late, especially in areas to the north and many Valley residents are considering Quebec as a viable option this fall. Moose hunters are a highly-motivated group of individuals always on the lookout for new and exciting locales to pursue this Canadian icon and though the province of Ontario still boasts good opportunities in many regions, dwindling moose numbers in the north, and a red tape-laden tag draw has some hunters shaking their heads in frustration. On the Quebec side, an alternating year harvest system has maintained solid population numbers in most regions offering non-resident hunters (like me) a good second option.
Quebec moose season
For anyone considering Quebec this fall, the province’s moose management is simple to figure out. Over the majority of zones, harvesting of cows is prohibited every second year. During those years when cows are protected, only bulls and calves are allowed. Some outfitters operate differently so do your homework before booking a hunt. Many areas of the Outaouais offer superb moose hunting just a short drive across the river, and I have hunted several spots in this region myself. The cost of a non-resident permit does come at a premium for Ontario hunters, although not having to enter a draw or squabble over tag availability is more than worth the price if you ask me. I will be joining my hunt gang in early October for a ‘combo’ moose – deer crossbow hunt at our camp in the Laurentians.
For more information on Quebec moose hunting opportunities, contact the Quebec Outfitters Federation:
https://www.pourvoiries.com/en/
Valley waterfowl salute
Did you know there are hundreds of duck and goose enthusiasts out there each fall rain or shine, crouched motionless inside a camouflaged boat or duck blind? The age-old tradition of calling and decoying is one that rarely makes the pages of most hunting journal let along the local newspaper, and with migratory bird season now afoot, we pay tribute to the die-hard waterfowlers. Not everyone has ambition for this sport, but those who do are rewarded with the sights, sounds, and smells of hinterland during early fall. For information on waterfowl season and opening dates: http://www.ec.gc.ca/rcom-mbhr/?lang=en&n=99FDEC59-1
Petawawa Archery Club
I had the good fortune of meeting Chuck Omdal of the Petawawa Archery Club, during a visit of Petawawa last weekend. As someone new to crossbow hunting myself, I listened intently as Chuck had a lot to say in just a short visit. His club welcomes all skill levels and even offers lessons. Chuck was kind enough to invite me to their indoor and outdoor shooting ranges, set up at the South Side Community Centre. Sadly, I will not have time this fall but plan to next summer for sure. The Petawawa Archery Club’s 2018 3D archery season culminated in a big Ontario Association of Archers (OAA) Triple Crown shoot at the end of August, and they have tons of other activities throughout the year. Thanks again to Chuck Omdal and his fellow archery enthusiasts of Petawawa, I look forward to seeing you soon. Check them out on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Petawawa-Archery-Club-105116149553716/
Ford Fishing Expedition
Coming-off their best August sales on record, Ford Canada could not have picked a better time for its Ford Fishing Expedition in Montebello, Que. I was honored to be a part of this coveted event, on assignment for Outdoor Canada magazine, hosted by the dedicated marketing team at National Public Relations and held at my favorite haunt; Kenauk Nature. A small group of eager journalists and bloggers teamed-up for a day of fine dining, off-roading and trout fishing extraordinaire, and our time could not have been more fulfilling! Reps from Ford Canada were onsite to demonstrate the Expedition’s fancy new features like Pro Trailer Backup Assist, and a sophisticated 4WD System with seven preset modes. I chose “Grass/Gravel/Snow” for climbing the hill to our guide’s secret trout lake, and it proved to be a formidable beast! My pal Jamie Pistilli, Kenauk’s head fishing guide led us to bragging size rainbow trout with the help of some fly-fishing gear, sinking line and awesome deep streaming flies known as ‘boobies’. Several trout in the 1-3 pound range were hooked and released with one injured specimen being retained as part of a luxury meal at Chateau Montebello, later that evening. Thanks so much to Ford Canada, National Public Relations, Kenauk Nature and Chateau Montebello for a wonderful day in the great outdoors! For more information on the 2018 Ford Expedition: https://www.ford.ca/suvs/expedition/?gnav=header-suvs
Great Outdoors Trivia Contest – Question #1
Put your thinking caps on, all you wise hunters and fisherfolk, here is question # 1 in the 2018 Great Outdoors Trivia Contest. The first one to correctly answer all three questions wins a prize package courtesy of Breck’s fishing tackle, as well as a signed copy of my Canadian Wild Game Cookbook. Question #1: What 4-legged feline has been spotted, with some regularity in eastern Ontario, and is responsible for at least one attack on local livestock? Is it A) Lynx B) Bobcat C) Cougar or D) Eastern Coyote. Keep track of your answers and send them via email: [email protected]
This is one of my favorite series of trail cam images from a few year’s back…enjoy!
The following sequence of trail camera photos depicts a scenario which is, no doubt, a daily occurrence in our deer woods, however, it’s the first time I ever captured it on film.
With the recent increase in predators across eastern Ontario and western QC, our white-tailed deer surely need eyes in the back of their head just to stay one step ahead.
When I arrived at our deer camp in the Laurentians a couple of weeks ago, I had my work cut out for me reviewing images on the three trail cams I had in place since Labour Day. I was like a kid on Christmas morning scrolling through all the images, it was great fun!
One camera in particular – my ‘invisible’ Bushnell Black LED Trophy Cam – featured a virtual cornucopia of activity from the past two months, at a popular creek crossing. The images including that of a cow moose, bucks, does and fawns, one 300 pound + black bear, and this bold looking bugger below.
Hey, who says timber wolves don’t exist this far south. My camp is only 2 hours north and although I did see a common eastern coyote (brush wolf) during the deer season, I also captured some tell-tail images of this large timber wolf.
I took some measurements in the area where he passed through; and I estimated this wolf to be minimum 90 pounds and probably closer to 100 pounds. It was basically the size of a full grown German Sheppard.
Pay close attention to the ‘timestamp’ in each photograph.
(A doe puts up ‘the flag’ and hightails it down the trail)
(Her tail can still be seen bounding through the trees)
(Doe bounds out of sight on the right side of the photo – time 5:52 & 34 seconds)
(A large white/black timber wolf suddenly appears on the deer’s trail – less than 1.5 minutes later)
(Wolf tears down the same trail in hot pursuit; now 2 minutes behind – notice the ‘running tail posture’, a key ID feature of the timber wolf. Eastern coyotes run with their tail down..)
(Wolf just before it disappeared from sight)
(Both deer and wolf disappear out of sight)
Footnote:
The same doe did reappear on camera 2 days later without so much as a hair out of place.
I suppose in this particular battle the deer came out on top, but what about next time?
Outdoorsguy
What a great looking tree…I’d tap that! Heyohh!!
Its almost spring and maple syrup season is here, weather permitting!
I heard from my pal Ian McDonald who was already tapping last weekend in the Almonte area of the Ottawa Valley, and my high school buddy; Scott Lees just started-up his 25-year maple syrup operation in the Lachute, QC area.
My daughter Grace and I do a little tapping also, we produced 1-2 litres of syrup last spring from just a handful of trees. Not a ton for sure, but still fun.
Ahhhh, there is nothing quite like maple syrup production, and I have spent more years than I can recall with my Dad working the sugar bush at the Arundel Natural Science School. Times I will never forget..not easy work, mind you, but extremely rewarding and tasty.
What a blast it was – laying lines, repairing breaks, tapping, watching the evaporator, taking-off the syrup and running the old creaky canner. The entire operation is a blast right down to the moment when that batch of syrup is ready to harvest…man, it tastes awesome when its warm, doesn’t it?
There is a true science involved in any maple syrup operation; from understanding maple sap’s sugar content at various times of the season, knowing the colour, taste and density of different syrup grades, to understanding basic things such as building (and maintaining) the perfect fire to keep your evaporator going strong. Its not as easy as its sounds.
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 predict..now that is science in itself.
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 over 90% of the WORLD’S supply of maple syrup(majority produced in QC and eastern ON) – a statistic we should be extremely proud of.
Maple syrup production is a big part of our heritage just like hunting, fishing or the fur industry, never forget that.
So, get out there and enjoy some pure Canadian goodness!! The forecast looks good for sap to run over the next few days and lets hope favorable temperatures remain long enough for another great season! (Last spring, from what I heard, was a very good syrup season)
Outdoorsguy
