Author: North American Outdoorsman Staff

This spring I had the opportunity to test the 2020 APA Mamba 33 MT. As a die-hard bow hunter, I thought it fitting to test the Mamba not only at the range but also on a 3-week spring bear hunt. I figured that some real-world testing would give bow hunters some insight into not only how the bow performs in controlled circumstances but also how it works in the field, in the weather and under pressure. Technical Specs from apaarchery.com: IBO Speed up to – 353 fps Brace Height – 6 7/16” Let Off – 80% Axle to Axle –…

When it comes to baits at our disposal, bass anglers have it pretty good. Tackle store shelves are laden with lures in every style and shape imaginable, but can often hook the shopper more easily than the fish. Bladed jigs, although not new to the scene, are a tremendous asset to the largemouth aficionado. An simple bait to toss and work, these vibrating wonders will chatter up a storm that fish find hard to resist – and rightfully deserve a spot in every anglers tackle tray. The Bare Facts The Z-Man ChatterBait lays claim to the title of original bladed…

I don’t know if there is anything more exciting than hunting elk in the peak of the rut… I’ve heard my share of elk bugles over the years, but it’s a sound that still gives me goosebumps. There is just nothing quite like that raspy shriek breaking the morning and evening silence, after hearing it once, you’re wrecked for life. Elk have seemingly evolved over the years in many places, becoming less vocal and harder to hunt most likely due to a combination of increased hunting pressure and more people trying to call, especially way before a bull is even…

British Columbia prides itself on being the home to a vast variety of native fish species that inhabit the plentiful waterways this province has to offer. Anglers have a seemingly unlimited selection at their fingertips through every season and every method possible. Despite a heavy incentive on maintaining and protecting B.C.’s diverse indigenous populations there are a few non-native fish species that have been introduced and are climbing the ranks within the sport fishing community. There has been pushback against aggressive, illegally introduced, invasive species that threaten important stocks such as salmon and steelhead but one black-jawed, football shaped specimen…

“I remember thinking: it looked like a good trout river.” So thought James Baxter, a West Kootenay angler, when he first drove over the Salmo River in 1997. Little did he know then that he would come to spend the next 24 years of his life working, playing, and fishing on this river. The Salmo is a 60 kilometre river born from the Selkirk Mountains. It winds through stands of cedar, hemlock, and Englemann spruce, and it is visited by foraging grizzly bears and breeding Harlequin ducks. Prior to European contact, members of the Sinixt Nation — whose name translates…

When it’s –15C on the Canadian prairies, with a wind blowing out of the northeast, you must be prepared for bone-chilling hunts because your life depends on it! I’ve developed a checklist that I use to gear up for such hunting conditions because it’s vitally important to be prepared for the worst weather, especially if you’re hunting some distance from home. Below zero temperatures with high wind chills could stretch for a week or more. There’s no going back home for something you’ve forgotten when you are hundreds of kilometres away from your residence. It’s also very important to have…

In a country that regularly sees temperatures of -40˚ Celsius across many of its latitudes, those who spend a lot of time in the outdoors need to find ways to keep cold at bay that often dips to levels that can kill. Hot Drinks To many people, a hot cup of coffee is part of duck hunting. Once the boat and decoys are in place, reaching for the coffee is the next step in the ritual while waiting for legal shooting time to roll around. This situation is common for many other hunters and ice anglers as well. The reason…

Election 2019 is in the books and, to my dismay, my fellow Canadians thought re-electing a lying, law-breaking, face-painting clown to the Prime Minister’s office was the best choice for our nation. Somehow, Justin Trudeau walked away from every scandal that would end the political aspirations of any other politician. Three-time blackface-painter? Check. Two-time ethics violator? Check. Kokanee Groper and fake feminist? Check. Liar too-many-times-to-count about the SNC-Lavalin scandal? Check, check and check. Yet Canadians, primarily Eastern Canadians, chose to re-elect him. It’s baffling. Despite this setback, the election results were not all bad. Even though we didn’t remove Justin…

Honda’s latest versatile side-by-side comes with more power, improved suspension and a tilt bed.  Markham, ON. November 2, 2020 Model Updates: The 2021 Pioneer 520 is an evolution of Honda’s compact multi-purpose side-by-side, the Pioneer 500. This versatile machine hosts a number of upgrades, including a more powerful 518cc engine, upgraded suspension and a handy tilt bed with Honda Pro- Connect accessories capability. Introduction Outdoor activities are made simpler and more enjoyable with the right tools, and from hobby farming to adventurous excursions, few tools are as “right” as a versatile side-by-side with the ideal mix of manoeuvrability and power.…

Not many of us like to focus on much other than the spoils after the hunt, and that may be okay. But those that want to step up their game and think beyond the outcome of the hunt and focus on the future may think about the factors that indicate progress or change in their hunting world. Years ago, I would consider logging my hunts in a notebook; this ended up being a drawn-out and poorly organized set of data. It wasn’t that the data was unhelpful, but it became more of a memoir than a book of statistics. For…