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
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!
Well, I for one, am refusing to hunt moose this year. I did buy my tag & applied for the lottery fully expecting no adult tag because I just had one a few years ago, but since the MNR cut so many tags, they’re trying to tell us it was a bad winter for the moose.
So I’m not hunting calves this year. I need to be clear – I’m not judging anyone who does. It’s your choice and I wish you luck. But I’m going to play their game and see if they’re right or just BS’g us. Don’t get me wrong – I’m going to miss it like crazy this fall. It’s gonna hurt no doubt.
I think I’m going to pay more next year and hunt in PQ. The tag system is far superior and I hear there are plenty of moose around. When I hear of guys going 15-20 years without an adult tag in Ontario, it just reeks of mismanagement! I’m almost positive, at this point in time, that i won’t even be applying next year. My wife just passed the course and is interested in trying for moose too – so that’s just under $100 they won’t get from us. Hopefully more people will do the same as a silent protest.
Maybe the MNR will wake up and change how they do the lottery system. It’s a joke.
But yes Outdoorsguy, you raise some great points about how much fun the moose hunt is…just gets me revved thinking about any type of hunting! 🙂
Keebler, I can certainly see the appeal of hunting on the QC side..after so many years of being jerked around. Not to say that QC is the be-all and end-all..but their strategy seems to have been working. Zones with less moose density like around our deer camp allows for harvest of bulls only. My Dad and buddies have been hunting moose from the deer camp for three years now with crossbow, and have been seeing moose every year.
If they wanted to moose hunt with rifle the majority of the province offers rifle seasons with alternating years where cows are protected. Overall not a lot of complaints and the hunter does get the option to target bulls, or calves, or cows(every second year) if they so choose.
Two tags per moose registered is the usual going rate.
Sorry you wont make it this year…but check it QC next year..and I’ll give you a hand if you like!
Outdoorsguy
Well I have had my dealings with the MNRF and this time I think they got it right . The MNRF fianlly got the balls and stood up for what is right for ontario, after years and years of declining moose population (for what ever reason it may be) the MNRF finally said enough bending over to hunters,bussiness owners, and the OFAH . Alot of guys are pissed off that they have no tags but in 5 or 10 years will be more than happy to get a chance to hunt moose cause if we kept going there would not be any moose around. my area is one area really controlled and we have a large success rate but we also have lots of enforcement and our moose tag for bulls and cows were more this year than in the past . I am Thankful that the MNRF is doing what is right to control the population of moose as the MNRF was held at gun point by alot of people and did not do was was right ( and we all can agree on that) . Now what needs to be done is a ACCRATE count on what is out there and then decisions need to be made not by bussiness or outdoor groups but by sience. When hunters success rates went up our tags should have dropped but they continued to climb and that was leading us to a death spiral to our moose populations . It may leave a sour taste in alot of hunters mouths but some times thats the way it is… Maybe they MNRF should have cancled the hunts in those areas most affected But instead they allowed some hunting for some really lucky guys .
So chessy, how does the moose tag reduction affect you this year? I know moose numbers up around the park were dismal last year.
Are you even going up there this year?
Outdoorsguy
we were falling all over moose last year .. its the deer we did not see.. we are moose hunting this fall but i am only going till wed as this is my 20th aniversery and i agreed to take the wife south and see a nascar race, did i mention bow season is in down there lol. if no deer my daughter and i are going back down for the opening of rifle season .
Sorry Chess..that’s right. Well, sounds like you have things all planned out.
Keep us posted! Nascar race sounds fun!!
Outdoorsguy
Its the wife and son that like nascar.. seeing one daughter is in college (fish and wildlife) and the other works for canada post… money seems to go a little farther now so the wife and son will be at the race sat i will be fishing and i will attend the big race on sunday .. then its hunting and fishing for the next 4 days. from what i hear it could be a little tough this year with lots of nuts in the woods so they may not have to come to the feilds to eat .
chessy, your daughter isnt taking F&W at SSFC in Lindsay is she???
Outdoorsguy
Yes she is. Right now she is in common semester. Hopefully with all the contacts I have a job may come her way. She has 7 years doing the fishway so she knows her way around dams and fish
Eyes out for feral hogs!
http://blogs.canoe.ca/outdoorsguy/hunting/conservation/ontario-wages-war-on-feral-hogs/
Outdoorsguy
Hey Chessy..that is really awesome! Congratulations to her!
Such fond memories of my days at SSFC. Common semester is a super great idea..gives kids an intro. to many great programs to see if they’re really ‘cut-out’ for the program of choice.
Fish & Wildlife is perhaps the most famous program offered at SSFC(arguably the best in the country too) and also the most difficult to get into! Make sure she really buckles down in Common Semester. They only accept a limited number into F&W as you prob know and, of course, those with the highest averages get first dibs.
To ensure I made that limited F&W Program list(65 people at the time) I made sure I Ace’d first semester…ended-up on Dean’s List with the highest average in the entire College actually (Not that Im bragging…hehe…well, maybe a little)
My 3 years at SSFC were some of my greatest life experiences; which I will NEVER forget!
Now…ask me how much of my University Education I can recall? Very little…
If she needs any advice or pointers, you know where to come. Oh, and a bit of a warning..she will become VERY popular considering probably 90% of F&W are guys…hehe…my program only had 5 girls….out of 65 people.
Outdoorsguy
that’s why dad is a firearms owner