The Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters (O.F.A.H.) is encouraging everyone to take advantage of the upcoming provincial Family Day holiday and license-free fishing opportunity to get outdoors during Ontario Family Fishing Weekend, February 13-15, 2010.

“Ice fishing is a great Canadian winter pastime and a very family-friendly activity,” said Mike Reader, O.F.A.H. Executive Director. “We invite families across Ontario to take the opportunity to head out to a nearby lake or pond during Ontario Family Fishing Weekend and drop a line. It’s a terrific way to connect with our natural resources.” “If you’ve never tried fishing, this is the perfect time,” said the Honourable Linda Jeffrey, Minister of Natural Resources, of the upcoming license-free fishing opportunity.

Fast Facts:

• Safety first. Check conditions before you head out and frequently while out. Clear ice should be at least 10 cm (4 inches) for walking. Anything less is not safe. Carry rescue equipment and a whistle or cell phone.
• Across Ontario, Canadian residents do not require a fishing licence from February 13-15, but must follow all other fishing regulations, which can be found in the Fishing Ontario, 2010 Recreational Fishing Regulations Summary. Copies are available online at www.ontario.ca/fishing and in print from ServiceOntario centres.
• OFFW events are currently registered for the following communities: Bancroft, Cambridge, Cardiff, Espanola, Ennismore, Hearst, Honey Harbour, Marmora, New Liskeard, Ottawa, Pefferlaw, Trout Creek and Verona. Other family-friendly events may also be planned so check your local listings. Visit www.familyfishingweekend.com for details.
• Ontario Family Fishing Weekend is an initiative of the Ministry of Natural Resources. The program includes a winter weekend and a summer event in July which runs concurrent with National Fishing Week. The OFFW Steering Committee is comprised of the O.F.A.H., MNR, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, and the Canadian Sportfishing Industry Association.

With 100,000 members, subscribers and supporters, and 660 member clubs, the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters is the leading nonprofit fishing, hunting and conservation-based organization in Ontario. To learn more, visit www.ofah.org.

*Press Release Used With Permission

Ducks Unlimited published a great web article that shares 30 ways you can improve your duck hunting odds for next season.

1 of DU's Free Wallpapers

The article written by, Keith Sutton, is worth checking out. His recommendations are simple and straight forward. For example, his first tip is:

“Duck caller reeds sometimes freeze or stick in frigid weather. Prevent gum-ups by using a product such as Rain-X or Aquapel that’s made to deter rain, snow and ice buildup on windshields. A few drops rubbed on the reed with a cloth make the reed less likely to stick in the heat of a cold-weather hunt.” Entire Ducks Unlimited Duck Hunting Article Here

I wonder if that tip would work on fly fishing rod line guides? It might mean I could start the season earlier…

Ducks Unlimited also has a Canadian Site Here

*Thanks to KevinBOneill on Twitter for finding this article.

The eerie howls of a tracking coyote or wolf started just after I scared the forest-cloaked deer off it’s hidden bed. It was slightly unnerving and part of me wondered if the second hunter would have better luck than me. It seemed pointless to stay where I was (with all the howling in the area). So, I slowly walked off the watch we call the ‘Grand Canyon’ and began to plan where I might hunt until dark. I picked up the pace of my slow retreat (and planning session) when the four legged hunter’s shrill voice began to change direction.

It sounded like it was getting closer. There was a quickening silence across the frosty beech leaves I was walking on as I stopped to listen.

I remember muttering under my breath, “No way. There is no way that wolf is coming my way.” The freezing air made my whispered words come to life as they were whisked away in wintry condensation. Instinctively, my finger reached for the safety on my rifle as I waited for another howling volley from the beast.

It came sure enough and it sounded closer. Much closer and more excited.

I shrugged it off as coincidence and continued my hurried walk towards a tree stand at the ‘Evergreen’ watch. The homemade tree-stand, that dad made for this upcoming hunting season, was still a ridge and swampy ‘gut’ away. It did NOT feel close enough as I trudged through the frozen forest – with a potential bogey on my ’six’.

The animal’s next howl was close and loud. It was on top of the ridge I had just left and I hoped it would continue along the top of the ridge (dad if you are reading this – the mad howler was on the hydro line heading toward Aspdin) away from me. This would put me at the bottom of a capital “T” with the howling hunter in a travel line the same as the top of a capital “T”.

I stopped to catch my breath and hoped to confirm that the ‘following’ hunter would continue his tracking across the top of the ridge away from me. The sound of crunching leaves and another hair raising howl confirmed that my follower was coming off the ridge on MY trail and heading towards me!

I had become the hunted, and to be honest, fear began to trickle into my mind and my rising heart rate. I must have read ‘Peter and The Wolf‘ too many times as a kid. Quickly, I picked my way across the muddy low spot (known as the root gut) and hit the logging trail leading to the fortress on Mt. Evergreen Watch.

Now, I know what you veteran hunters and bushmen (and Dad) are thinking. You are thinking, “Bill…you were armed with a .308 rifle. Whatever is zeroing in on your trail is about to open up a can of lead ‘whoop’ butt from the barrel of your firearm. Suck it up!”

You would be right – but I wanted to pick ‘the ground’ this epic ‘hunter vs. hunter’ battle was going to happen on. My under pressure shooting has not always yielded great results.

When I hit the logging trail, I bolted for the tree stand some 75 yards away. Under the circumstances, I quickly debated whether or not I should unload my gun before I scampered up the tree-stand’s ladder. I had visions that a snarling, sharp-toothed, frothing-at-the-mouth creature could lunge at me at anytime. You will be proud to know that I decided to empty my magazine before I began my ascent up to the welcoming fortress.

Once at the top, I reloaded my gun and braced my arm against the the trunk of the tree and picked a spot on the trail through my scope. I could hear the sound of four legs splashing and struggling through the mud and water of the low spot I had just crossed.

I took a deep breath and waited.

A howl echoed across the snowy ridge I was fortified on and I knew the tracker was close.

I clicked off the safety on my gun and began to visualize the shot to a wolf’s front shoulder…

What happened next made me relieved and somewhat sheepish. A small beagle materialized on the trail. His wild sounding howl was nothing like the hound noises I was used to. I sat down with my back against the tree and laughed wondering how I was going to explain this one. The little hound came to the tree stand and began to paw at the wooden ladder. Looking down, I saw a beagle shaking and soaked to the core. I climbed out of the tree stand and clipped him in to a free strap I had on my back pack.

We walked back to camp together both slightly more happier to have a partner to walk with in the fading light. Dad listened to my ‘official’ story as we waited for the dog’s owner to pick it up. I left out the brisk run from the ‘root gut’ to the tree stand because I thought the little beagle (sleeping at my feet) was the big bad wolf.

I guess I’m no Peter.

Huntsville's Roadside Turkeys

It’s amazing to me that these turkeys are still going strong this year – despite our recent, heavy snowfall! The turkeys that we are seeing in our area are a result of a program that began in 1984. Turkeys were trapped in Missouri, Iowa, Michigan, New York, Vermont, New Jersey, and Tennessee and transplanted in Ontario. In 1986, turkeys from successful Ontario ranges were also transplanted to various other locations in Ontario. A total of 440o turkeys were initially “borrowed” to begin the program. There are now estimated to be 70,000 turkeys in Ontario (source: Ontario’s Wild Turkey Management Plan).

The excitement of trophy class buck running by you is no different than a first chance buck that suddenly materializes in your line of fire. Disappointment was the last thing on my mind when I saw the spikehorn running towards me on the top of the ridge.

Monster snowflakes helped conceal my location on the ground. The falling snow also covered the noise of my trek across the crest of the ridge I was going to watch on. It was one of those cold, damp mornings that made getting out of your warm bunk seem like a bad idea. Until I saw the buck – I was still wondering why I bothered to wake up. I used my camera (video right) to record the misery of the morning I thought I was going to have. The video is just a quick pan looking down the ridge I was watching on.

About 2 minutes after I put my camera away, I spotted the the young buck running towards me at 40 – 50 yards. It had been startled from his evergreen hideout by dad approaching from the north end of the ridge. I could tell very quickly that this deer was only a spikehorn and somewhere between telling myself to calm down and take a deep breath – a brief debate raged in my mind. Do I pass up this shot and hope to see a larger buck in the two remaining days of my hunt? This thought was countered with the reality that we had yet to shoot a deer this week. It was far from a ‘buck of legend’ and I doubted there would be ’songs of victory’ sung for me at the hunt camp table.

Still. There he was coming closer. This first chance buck. He was preparing to jump to Mach 2.

Memories of past hunts with the guys began to flash into my mind. The excitement of hearing shots fired, the thrill of radio chatter announcing that a deer was down, the camaraderie of processing the deer and dragging it through thick forest undergrowth to a waiting ATV, the satisfaction of a freezer full of meat that you played a part in preparing  are all things that make a hunt worth of memory. They are all things that occur despite the size or gender of the deer.

It was decided.

The silent debate in my mind ended as I placed the crosshair just behind the spike’s shoulder. Three shots thundered across the ridge and the first chance buck fell. Elsewhere on the ridge, cold hunters turned up their radios and listened for 2 words that would warm their memory makers,

“Buck Down.”

*it turns out this was the only ethical shot deer I saw this rifle season.

Triple Threat Offence

Hunting fall grouse somewhere in a Muskoka Forest…