Tag: Valley Heritage Radio

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Late Season in the Great Outdoors


Seasonal changes are upon us, you can just feel it in the air and our fish and wildlife are greatly influenced by it.

Fish species like northern pike and muskie, which spent much of the summer in deep water, slowly begin to appear in shallower more ‘fishable’ water. Seasonal movement is observed among the white-tailed deer population as well. With the buck’s antler development all but complete, resident males will travel into open fields for the annual meet and greet with the boys. As the pre-season sizing-up period approaches, bucks congregate in groups to compare antlers size and establish the pecking order. Late summer can be one of the best times to observe critters on the move so be on the look-out, and have your camera ready!

Fish, Hunt & Ride magazine

I trust by now you have all found the summer issue of everyone’s favorite magazine, Fish, Hunt & Ride? Our summer edition celebrates, among other things, Ontario’s reinstatement of the spring black bear season with hunting adventures by several columnists’ including ‘Uncle’ Ted Nugent. Add to that more fishing, riding and hunting than you can shake a stick at and you’ve got Ontario and Quebec’s most comprehensive publication. Special note of thanks to Pembroke native and FHR columnist; Jordan Durocher for his work organizing the 1st Annual Upper Ottawa River Kayak Fishing Derby held Aug. 6. With a total of 28 participants, it was a darn good turn-out for its first year and Jordan tells me the event was tons of fun too! If you have upcoming hunting, fishing, or ATV/watersports events in your area you’d like to mention or advertise, drop me a line. In the meantime check-out our website: http://www.fishhuntandride.ca.

Lexus RX-350, luxury at its best

The completely redesigned 2016 Lexus RX-350 SUV I tried-out recently came with a 3.5-liter V6 under the hood kicking-out a more than ample 295 horses; and launching me soundly (and safely) up the Ottawa Valley to Cobden. Road-testing a luxury SUV is a new experience for me and I savoured the task to the very end. The new RX-350’s interior was very well-appointed with a high-end quality feeling throughout. The gauges were nicely laid out and quite user-friendly. This RX featured a joystick controller, which is much like a computer mouse and took some getting used to. Lexus is about quality and safety and the new RX-350 is rated as the safest luxury SUV on the market. Through the Enform App Suite located on the large centre console, you can stream music or listen to live radio once the app has been installed. Perhaps the most interesting feature I discovered; however, was the colour heads-up display where important parameters such as current speed, gear and RPM are projected onto the lower part of your windshield. I referred to it as the ‘hologram.’ This neat safety feature keeps the driver’s eyes on the road at all times and I found it absolutely succeeded. Oh, and the Mark Levinson Premium surround sound system is by far the best automobile sound system I have ever heard! It was much like sitting front row at a Guns & Roses concert and trust me I’ve been there. My time with the 2016 Lexus RX-350 was short but sweet and I was sad to give it up. For more information on the RX-350, check out: http://www.lexus.com/models/RX/technology

Arnprior fundraiser dinner

It was great this week to hear from my old pal Blake Corbin, host of Outdoors in the Valley Radio Show on the awesome Valley Heritage Radio (FM 98.7) in Renfrew. Blake wanted to give me the heads-up on the annual Arnprior Fish and Game Club fundraiser dinner being held on Sept. 10. For more information on Blake’s show on Valley Heritage Radio: http://valleyheritageradio.ca/meet-our-djs/blake-corbin/

Next time

Be sure to check-out my next column when I discuss the upcoming moose season.

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Outdoor & Travel Adventure Show this weekend – stop by FHR booth!


Hearing the familiar thump of the first ruffed grouse of the season, or catching a glimpse of the first wild garlic leaf poking its head up from the forest floor, are tell tale signs that a new season is afoot. Another sure sign of spring is the annual Outdoor and Travel Adventure Show, coming this weekend to Ottawa’s EY Centre!

Celebrating its fifth year, the Outdoor and Travel Adventure Show blasts-off this Saturday and Sunday at EY Centre. Organized by the team from the region’s two best magazines – Ottawa Outdoors and Fish, Hunt & Ride, the show will feature tons of outdoor services, gear and apparel, exhibitors and outdoor travel accommodations and even lodges. Come check out the Adventure Stage where you’ll hear tips from camping and canoeing experts like Kevin Callan and Becky Mason. And if that isn’t enough to entice, be sure stop-by the Fish, Hunt & Ride magazine booth where yours truly and a handful of FHR columnists will be stationed. (Just look for the camouflage clothing.) My FHR Team and I will be handing out magazines and chatting with readers about all things fishing, hunting or riding-related. I look forward also to speaking with Blake Corbin of Renfrew’s Valley Heritage Radio (98.7 FM) who will be stopping-by the booth to do an interview. For more information on this weekend’s show: http://www.AdventureOttawa.ca

Ice-fishing draws to a close

The annual March 31th ice-hut removal date seems almost pointless this year since huts have surely all have been removed by now. Or at least I hope they have! Folks in Pembroke legally have until the end of the month to haul their huts away, but remember that anyone who has not removed their ice hut is in violation of the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act and could face charges. By all accounts, this winter fishing season will be remembered as one of the shortest on record.

FHR and Valley Vendor

First off, I’d like to give a shout-out to Clarence Shires, Leonard Kubisheski and all the other fine folks up in Round Lake! Clarence and a group of area ice-fishermen were having trouble tracking down copies of the new – Fish, Hunt & Ride Magazine, but not anymore! I am pleased to report that we have now teamed-up with the Valley Vendor for magazine distribution, which will scatter the coveted FHR mags like buckshot throughout the Ottawa Valley and Pontiac. There are even a dozen or so distribution sites in Pembroke itself including Perkins, Pembroke Esso and Suny’s Variety. Our upcoming spring issue will be more than twice the size of the fall/winter offering and should be available mid-April. If you’re into ATV’s, black bears, fly-fishing, wild turkey, trout or are interested in the frank Q&A interview I did with ‘Uncle’ Ted Nugent, be sure to check it out! For more information: http://www.fishhuntandride.ca

Great Outdoors Trivia – Final Question

Okay outdoor trivia buffs, here is the final question in this year’s Great Outdoors Trivia Contest. The first person to correctly answer all three questions will receive a prize package courtesy of Brecks fishing tackle and Tinks hunting scents. Question #3: In 1984, the Province of Ontario received 274 wild turkeys in exchange for river otters, moose, geese and partridge. Where did these turkeys come from? Was it A) Europe B) United States C) Quebec D) Manitoba or E) Asia ? Please send all three trivia answers to: [email protected]

Column Anniversary

This month marks the third glorious year for this outdoors column and I would like to thank managing editor Anthony Dixon and assistant news editor Tina Peplinskie for being perhaps the best editorial staff I’ve ever worked for. Sharing my love and appreciation for the great outdoors with readers each month is something I take seriously. Thanks also to the hunters and fishermen of the Ottawa Valley for your support over the years and hey, maybe I’ll see you around Cobden or Pembroke this summer!

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Spring, a breath of fresh air

My ‘One year anniversary’ Outdoors Column  is now available in the Pembroke Daily Observer. If you’ve never read the Pembroke paper, do yourself a favour and check it out!

Here is the Daily Observer online:

http://www.thedailyobserver.ca/2014/03/21/spring-a-breath-of-fresh-air-for-area-sportsmen

 

Or read it here:

 

Spring, a breath of fresh air for area sportsmen!

By Jeff Morrison

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

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

 

With scant few hunting or fishing opportunities at this time, Valley sportsmen are dealing with the calm before the storm.

I don’t know about you but the arrival of spring can’t come soon enough! Winter may have its merit but after five long months of its icy grip, enough is enough! Besides, there’s just something unique about spring to get your blood pumping. Perhaps it’s the impending kick-off to trout and turkey season or the aura of rebirth created by seasonal change that rejuvenates the soul of true outdoorsmen, who knows. To hear the thumping drum of that first grouse of the year, or to catch a glimpse of the first wild garlic shoot pocking its head out of the forest floor, are all tell-tail sights that a new season is afoot. I realize spring imagery is difficult to imagine now with two feet of snow on the ground, but at least we’re on the homeward stretch and before you can say, pass the bug spray, we’ll be breaking out the turkey calls and trout tackle like they’re going out of style!

Gobble Gobble

With only a month or so until the province’s turkey opener, hunters are reminded that if you should happen to harvest a gobbler this spring, you only have until noon the next day to report it. Dial 1-800-288-1155, select the Turkey Harvest Reporting option and have your Hunting Card available. You will be asked questions about your hunt and location of harvest, and will need to identify the age and sex of your bird. To purchase a license using the automated phone line, you may call the same 1-800 number until April 30. Your wild turkey license and game seal will be mailed the next business day. From all accounts we should be in-store for another great gobbler season!

Valley Heritage Radio

Be sure to tune into Valley Heritage Radio 98.7 FM, for a new show airing the last Saturday of each month. Hosted by my old pal Brian Corbin of the Arnprior Fish and Game Club, the new radio show boasts copious outdoor action tempered with a touch of local flavour. Brian’s new radio spot will focus on the local service club scene and have features like conservation corner. This month’s spotlight is on birding and bird house construction, followed by turkeys and whitetail food plots in April.

Ferry trouble

Since the closure of the famous Deux-Rivières ferry three years ago, folks in the upper Ottawa Valley wishing to ‘jump the river’ were forced to either cross at Swisha, or travel much further up to Témiscaming. As someone who’s travelled the valley to access Quebec trout waters each spring for the past 25 years, trust me this ferry closure has been a royal pain! But alas, news from our ZEC office across the river indicates that a new ferry is being constructed in Mattawa. If anyone has heard rumblings if this new Mattawa ferry, please drop me a line and I will outline more details in my April column.

Valley fishing Show

Speaking of April, the 14th Annual Valley Fishing and Outdoors Show arrives next month! The brainchild of Valley boy Dave Arbour, this year’s show is set for April 4- 6 at the Carp Fairgrounds and Arena, and will feature everything from casting ponds to archery, shooting and fishing simulators. With more than 100 exhibitors and lots of hunting and fishing equipment, this event is a must do for Valley sportsmen. The awesome thing about this show is you’re bound to run into someone you know. For more information, contact: Dave Arbour at 613)-257-7489.

Huts be gone!

The March 31 ice-hut removal date for Pembroke District seems to arrive too early for hut operators and anglers alike. Folks in Pembroke district have until the end of the month to haul their huts away and remember that MNR law enforcement doesn’t take kindly to anglers who allow huts to end up in waterways after ice out; which poses a hazard to anglers and boaters. Anyone who has not removed their ice hut by March 31 is in violation of the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act and could face charges. Take note that winter angling remains open on most lakes and rivers after all the huts are gone; however, ice conditions tend to be sketchy and unsafe by that point.

Column Anniversary

This month marks the one year anniversary of my Outdoors Guy column in the Pembroke Daily Observer. I would very much like to thank Managing Editor Anthony Dixon and Publisher Jim Kwiatkowski for the opportunity of contributing to this fine publication on a regular basis. Sharing a passion and love for the Great Outdoors with folks in the Valley is something I am very proud of.

Please feel free to email me anytime ([email protected]) with suggestions or observation from your own hunting and fishing endeavors.