It’s not a “How-To” book, but it is just as valuable. If every angler/hunter/trapper in North America read this book we would be able to intelligently counter and discuss the antics of anti-hunting groups and the science that backs effective wildlife management.

When you delve into the books pages, you find scattered through it facts (with sources) about our pastime in the outdoors. Facts like:

• You are about twice as likely to be attacked by a grizzly when you’re camping in National Parks, where hunting is NOT allowed

• Californians kill more cougars now than before hunting was banned. They annually use permits to kill between 100 – 200 cougars, which is MORE than hunters were killing when hunting was allowed

• Deer kill ten times more people each year than sharks, cougars, bears and alligators combined, and more people than all commercial airline, train, and bus accidents combined

• Hunters provided 1600 tons(12,800,000 servings) of venison and other big game for soup kitchens and food pantries

This book will facilitate sportsman to enter the arena with PETA, HSUS and others and competently shut-down the hype spewed out by the previously listed groups.

I took it to my hunt camp for a week and purposely left it out on the table. Many of the guys would read sections of it and then indicate how good it was to learn about what they had just read, because they had never thought about the science of hunting in this much detail before.

I would love to start a Foundation (or whatever you are supposed to call it) that would make sure every hunting and trapping course in North America gets these books to the participants. Every new and young hunter should be learning this stuff in their courses. Every outhouse in our hunting/fishing/trapping camps needs to have this book – right beside the tp. Any backers?

Christmas is coming. I would recommend this book for the hunter in your life.

NOTE: I do not make money from the anyone clicking through the book links on Amazon. Do not let that stop you from checking out the details of the book. Nor, was I paid for this review. The author (or Representative) has sent me an evaluation copy of the book and I have agreed to write about it on my blog. I appreciate the time the author took to do this.

If you have a fishing or hunting product that you would like me to discuss on my blog, please contact me via the link on the top of my blog.

• Management Plan for the Spanish River Valley Miniteqozibe Signature Site

• Ontario’s Forest Biofibre Policy

• Coordinated Application and Review Guide for Cage Aquaculture Sites in Ontario

• Proposal to Adopt Provisions of the Agreement on International Humane Trapping Standards

DNR gets an earful about trapping
Post-Bulletin – Rochester,MN,USA
The idea of allowing deer hunting with 30-pound bows, down from the present 40-pound minimum, is right on target, said Randy Doyle of Eyota…

Fishing lines of today
Williston Pioneer – Williston,FL,USA
One thing that really caught my eye is the explosion of fishing lines on the market today and how many brands there are and within each brand…

Ontario Muskie Fishing Through the Seasons
The start of June signals the beginning of ‘ski season in most parts of Ontario, and offers a tremendous shot at connecting with numbers of fish and quality fish too. Weedy bays and shorelines are attractive to post-spawn muskies and …

Actually, the lynx may be making a comeback. In New Brunswick the lynx is mating with bobcats and the hybrids are fertile. The CBC reports that,

“That’s providing data for the review of the province’s list of species at risk, and biologists are finding a surprise: lynx are mating with bobcats in New Brunswick, creating fertile hybrids…” Entire Article Here.

The U.S. Sportsman’s Alliance will help take up the fight against this group and it’s WASTEFUL lawsuit. Further taking funds that could be going to wildlife initiatives.

Tom Remington, of the Black Bear Blog, says this about the precedent this lawsuit could set,

A ruling in favor of this ban would set a very disturbing precedent nationwide that could have a devastating effect on hunting and trapping and the economic support these two activities bring.

Be sure to check-in with his blog for updates.

Bill Anderson

Muskoka Outdoors

I tried to find the survey and study, cited in the paper’s article, online to get some context into the newspaper’s article claims. I could not find mention of a survey on farmers/hunter relations but I did find the study on winter deer feeding. The problem was I needed a $40 dollar subscription to a wildlife society magazine. So admittedly, my responses to this article may be out of context.

The beginning of my rant will begin with this “unscientific” claim quoted by the researchers of the deer feeding study.

“We think it is mainly hunters who object to winter feeding, because they think it lowers the value of the deer as a target…”

Ok. First how scientific is the statement “WE THINK”? Your studies either show this or they do not. It sounds to me like they are theorizing about the people who object to winter feeding-hunters or non-hunters alike! In trying to find the winter deer feeding survey quoted in this newspaper opinion piece, I found numerous credible sites and studies that were NOT necessarily ‘FOR’ winter feeding. One listed here:

A Comprehensive Review of the Ecological and
Human Social Effects of Artificial Feeding and
Baiting of Wildlife

Secondly, deer season in Muskoka ends before the major winter feeding stations are actually operational. Rifle season ends the second week in November and bow season ends at the end of November. Any Muskoka hunter caught shooting at deer (during the winter) around deer feeding stations is POACHING. Call your local authorities immediately. How exactly does a winter fed deer actually become of lowered value as a target? Are you telling me that when a deer walks into my scope I am going to be able to tell if it is winter fed? Do the deer feeding people write “Winter Fed” on the body of a deer? I obviously do not understand the purpose of that comment. I also know many hunters who feed deer after the season is over.

The second section of the article that raised my blood pressure was a string of results in the Arizona survey that said 53% of farmers (in Arizona – not Muskoka) did not appreciate hunters on their lands even though the farmers were hunters themselves. Apparently, the main reasons that the farmers did not want hunters on their lands was because of:

• damage from ATV’s
• leaving gates open
• tresspassing
• vandalism

What the author of the article implies, with the above comment, is strange. The newspaper article (if you were able to read it) suggests that while farmers were allowing hunters on their lands to ‘thin-out” deer populations they were upset at the same hunters for vandalism, trespassing (how do you trespass with permission?) and ATV use. If this was the case farmers should:

• ask the hunters NOT to come back
• if you do allow hunters on to your property-set use principles
• if you catch hunters trespassing or vandalizing- CALL law enforcement
• tell hunters (that are hunting with permission) to leave gates as they found them

I would have really liked to have seen how this particular question was actually written in the University of Arizona survey. It probably was more directed toward getting the farmers to state some of the things trespassing PEOPLE (hunters, hikers, ATV’ers) do to their land when they trespass. I should also add that is not in best interest of the hunter to tear around on an ATV in the middle of the land he or she is about to hunt. It is also not in the best interest of the hunter (who has permission) to vandalize the property he or she is visiting – especially if they wanted to return. In Ontario, during a Hunting License course applicants are taught to leave gates as they were found and to ensure that the hunter gets a portion of the meat killed on their lands.

The newspaper article also throws out an an unqualified statement about hunting:

“Only 1/4 of the population hunts while 83 percent of wildlife managers hunt. This means that wildlife managers who hunt oversee animals on behalf of a public that does not hunt.”

Again…a 1/4 of WHAT population does not hunt? The Canadian public? The American Public. The state of Arizona? The state of New York? Where does this number come from? Does it mean a 1/4 of the population in Toronto does not hunt or fish – this could actually be the case.

Secondly, if 3/4 of the population did not fish does that mean fishing is wrong? If a 1/4 of the population can only afford big expensive cottages in Muskoka does this mean people should not purchase cottages on our lakes? Maybe only a 1/4 of the population only hunts but it DOES NOT mean that 3/4 of ‘whatever’ population are AGAINST hunting. A study in the U.S. actually supports this statement.

Study Link Here. (.pdf file)

Thirdly, the statement implies that since these wildlife managers actually hunt themselves this is the reason hunting is allowed as a wildlife management tool. Hence, they have no credibility in the management of animal resources. These wildlife managers also take charge of fishing, minerals, forests, and natural water resources. Does this mean all of their efforts in these areas are discounted? Imagine for a minute if you went to a doctor who prescribes your regime toward a full recovery, and then after telling you what to do he/she says, “but that is not what I would do.” This is a case of educated wildlife managers who understand that science dictates that hunting is an effective wildlife management tool. Give these people some credit. They make decisions on science and not emotional, anti-hunting/trapping propaganda.

See one of my previous posts regarding this.

They are practicing what they preach. Remember – hunters, anglers, trappers want to see wildlife flourish. I would be the first to agree and (not hunt) with any scientific study that found that there was a declining number of X species. Conversely, I have yet to see a strategy to maintain and increase wildlife numbers that does not include hunting and trapping. There is a thing called carrying capacity of a herd. When this is ‘maxed’ animals die (sorry PETA). Wildlife plans that do not include hunting, fishing, and trapping components have practices like poisoning, sterilization and government snipers (paid hunters with huge price tags) to cull herds that explode in population.

Just my opinion. It does not mean it has to be yours but at least I hope you understand more about this creature called the hunter.
Bill Anderson

Muskoka Outdoors

National Trade Centre, Exhibition Place, The Toronto Sportsmen’s Show is Canada’s largest outdoor show. For anglers, there are tips to be had from the experts at the Toyota / Fish TV Pro Fishing Seminars, fish to be caught in the Live Trout Pond and $75,000 in cash and prizes up for grabs in the Casting Pond. Also exhibitors will feature an extensive assortment of fishing equipment and outdoor gear – from the latest in fishing and leisure boats to tents and backpacks, ATVs and motorcycles, and canoes and kayaks.

• Phone: 416-695-0311
• Toll-Free: 1-888-695-2677
• Email: info@sportshows.ca
• Website: www.sportsmensshows.com