Author: Brad Fenson

We started the trucks early to burn the industrial-strength frost off the windshields. Giant snowflakes drifted randomly through the headlights as we drove down the long driveway. The weather on the prairies can be fickle, but during April, it is better described as manic. The slightly inclement weather did not dampen our spirits to set up for a spring snow goose hunt, though. The snow had been melting the week before, and we feared snow geese would be headed north. Fresh snow falling left us wondering what type of snowstorm lies ahead. Snow geese often frustrate hunters, and it can…

We hunted in the morning but could not find a fresh elk track. We had started hiking an hour before sunrise to reach the top of a ridge. The view was spectacular, overlooking miles of alfalfa and winter wheat fields with a backdrop of rocky cliffs and pine-studded ridges. This steep country is where the elk typically hung out for the day and catching them coming back from a night feed was part of the strategy. We hiked down the ridge to check adjacent draws and spotted some cows scattered in the timber. Upon closer inspection, we found hundreds of…

After meeting me, wild game became the norm for my wife. Stefanie did not grow up eating much wild game, and it was certainly not a staple in her diet. However, we now process our game, make sausage, sandwich meats, and specialty dishes, and naturally love the lean and flavorful protein sources. After adapting to a wild game diet, Stef con- cluded that she would like to harvest an elk, her favorite table fare. Her only stipulation was that she did not want it to have antlers. It did not take long to figure out the limited entry draws, and…

The view from the air was breathtaking. The Mackenzie River and its tributaries snaked their way from the rugged mountain tops to create a monster-sized river flowing through a wide, sweeping valley. With a storm front on the horizon the clouds provided a backdrop of moody colours and light streaming through seams in the billowy haze. The flight was emotional and exhilarating as I was starting a longtime dream to hunt the wilderness area of the remote mountains with my outfitter Stan Stevens, of Mackenzie Mountain Outfitters. Game trails were cut deep into the land and spread like spider webs…

The remote solitude of the Athabasca River is a special place to fish in late summer. I was fishing with Ray Kohlruss of Reel Angling Adventures (reelangling.com) and we were hoping to boat some big walleye. Ray introduced me to the Athabasca years ago, and it is still a favorite destination for big fish. Fishing a deep pool along a muddy shoreline we were treated to a couple of nice walleye, increasing our expectation of landing a lunker. The graphite fishing rod I held telegraphed the message that a fish had taken the minnow on the hook and with a…

When my outfitter buddy Clay Royer asked if I was interested in black bear hunting a few days this spring, along with his boys and a good friend and son, I couldn’t resist. We did a similar camp last spring during the Covid lockdown and had a fantastic adventure. It is always exciting to harvest a nice bear, but seeing new hunters find success is even more rewarding. Clay had some clients in for a week, and we planned to head to camp when the happy hunters had headed home. The reports were outstanding, and everyone had been successful in…

The sun was falling into the western sky like a ball of molten lava, making it difficult to see. The whisper of wind was enough to focus the birds on landing into the east, putting the immense ball of fire directly in our eyes. Staying tucked into the layout blinds like larvae spun into a cocoon, we dare not move until the geese were directly overhead. We had been treated to several pairs of geese working the decoys, but over 40,000 simply flew past our 1,100 decoys without a second look. The excitement for the evening was when 100 snow…

My dad has always had a significant influence on my life. As a child, I can remember accompanying dad on hunting trips for deer, grouse, and waterfowl. I was always keen and could never sleep the night before the big event. Little has changed. I can recall being along when my dad and uncle pushed a big white-tailed buck out of slough bottom. The crack of the rifle was so exciting that I can still remember every detail of the moment. Grouse hunting was always a thrill. Being able to spot the boreal forest’s chameleon is still a challenge I…

When friends from the states called to find out about bear hunting in Alberta, the questions were not about the animal itself, rather the types of rifles you can legally use to harvest them. Umarex is introducing the “Hammer,” a .50-calibre, highpowered air rifle and they wanted to put it to the test on an Alberta bruin. The first thing we did was to phone Fish & Wildlife to confirm that the rifle would be legal to use in our province. Firearms are restricted in Alberta by the size of calibre, and a bullet must be larger than .23 calibre…

If you have been fortunate enough to witness the rutting chase of whitetailed deer, you can appreciate the incredible strength and stamina that these grand animals posses. A whitetail buck has his work cut out when it comes to getting the opportunity to breed. When a doe comes into estrus and locates a dominant buck, she’ll take her suitor on a long-winded chase before breeding occurs. The rut chase usually occurs on the edge of an open area, and the doe will lead the buck on a long chase before stopping and allowing the buck to do his job. These…