Author: North American Outdoorsman Staff

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…

You can’t get up too early on an antelope hunt. Those hunters who are early risers often tag their quarry shortly after daybreak, validating my “First come, First Serve” mantra. That is, if they’ve practically put it to bed the night before; otherwise, all bets are off. However, to hedge their bets veteran antelope hunters also try to have a contingency plan just in case their first option doesn’t pan out successfully. My most recent successful hunt in 2019 re-enforced the value of being totally pro-active. Even though I’ve enjoyed being on many antelope hunts in Alberta, I still find…

I’d positioned myself a few hundred yards away from Shanty town on Big Bay as the sun hit its high-noon position in the sky. Across the mud flat, I walked through the snow and cut 8 holes from one end to the other, covering the whole thing – maybe 120 yards long by 50 yards wide. From here I could watch the weekend warriors gliding on their sleds back and forth from shore to the huts, dozens upon dozens of which were huddled together in their usual spots by the marker, searching for those Quinte giants, monstrous Walleye fresh out…

Canadians don’t have to venture to New Zealand or Alaska to achieve a fly-fishing Zen, they can do it right at home. Fly anglers, in particular, can enjoy unparalleled fishing opportunities for iconic char, salmonids and monster northern pike in some of the best waters on earth. Anglers from other countries can only dream about such opportunities. In my estimation, Arctic char, lake trout and northern pike really are the premier species to take by fly angling. The best fishing for them is on wilderness rivers, lakes and streams in Canada’s far north. Not to be overlooked, however, are destinations…

A mineral lick is where animals in nutrient-poor ecosystems obtain essential minerals. Mineral licks often occur naturally, providing the sodium, calcium, iron, phosphorus and zinc required in the springtime for bone, antler and muscle growth (along with milk production) in deer, moose, elk and other wildlife. Minerals benefit deer health and antler growth (we think): There is no verified research with free ranging whitetails that proves that supplemental minerals improve whitetail health or antler production. BUT – there is plenty of anecdotal evidence and theory that makes most biologists and experts believe that there is some positive effect on whitetails…

As a dedicated whitetail conservationist, wildlife biologist and big game hunter, I have had the pleasure of managing winter whitetails for more than 25 years. From deeryard operations in the mountains of Quebec, to counting ‘pellet groups’ in Central Ontario as part of a Fish & Wildlife program, to today managing my own backyard program in the National Capital Region. You might say managing winter whitetails is a pet project of mine, and an activity I take quite seriously! Backyard deer feeding is an enjoyable pastime and can be of benefit to whitetail herds as snow depth increases. Having done…

“Who in the hell is crazy enough to hunt in this weather,” scowled the state worker waiting for the storm to pass before plowing the roads. After ten minutes of talking football, the fellow cooled off, started his road grader, and pulled our rig back on the highway. The full-blown blizzard had also blown down a power pole and wires sparked across the highway, relegating us to hunting from camp. “I know a good spot,” I said to Seth McGinn, whose knowledge of the Nebraska Cornhuskers convinced the irate local to rescue us from the ditch. Shouldering our muzzleloaders, we…

I have 20 deer seasons under my belt, and Lord willing, I’ll have many more. While I have many mule deer and Whitetail racks in my home, I’m not too proud to say that I should have many, many more. I’ve made countless mistakes over the years that have cost me big time. Of course, deer are smart critters with the home-field advantage, so many of my hunts have ended in disgust rather than a victory in a short blood trail. The cause of those errors has usually been one or two completely avoidable mistakes. Sound familiar? LESSONS 1 Needlessly…

At the time of this writing, we are in the middle of a polar vortex here on the Canadian Prairies. With temperatures averaging around -35 Celsius (-31 Fahrenheit) it has been hard to find reasons to venture outside these last few weeks. I have been a little stir crazy so when the opportunity came up to test the new Black Mamba 31 by APA Archery I jumped at the chance. The Black Mamba 31 is being hailed by the company as one of the most accurate and forgiving bows they’ve ever created. So, the gauntlet has been thrown down with…

An All-Year Obsession Pursuing whitetails is an all-year obsession for me. Admittedly big bucks are never far from my mind. The sun was setting in the western sky when I decided to climb down from my treestand and call it a season. I had spent 70 hours perched in various stands over the past 15 days, but for the past hour I found it difficult to focus my thoughts. My fingers gently caressed the crossbow that was in my lap, but my attention was on the large 11-point buck that was lying 20 yards to my left. Only the small,…