Author: Jeff Helsdon

If you aren’t using a turkey mouth call for hunting – at least part of the time – you are missing out. Mouth calls for turkey hunting are a love-hate thing: some people love them while others hate them. Even if you like your pot call or box call, learning to make a cluck on a turkey mouth call can help you kill more turkeys. Quiet purrs and clucks often help finish off a gobbler that’s hesitating, but a cluck is also vital to get a gobbler to stop and raise its head to get a clean kill shot– most…

The selection of turkey hunting vests grows every year, and this year was no exception. Turkey hunting is an adventure that requires skill, patience, and the right gear. Among the essentials, a turkey vest stands out as a crucial piece of equipment that can make or break your hunting experience. The best turkey vests are more than just storage solutions; they are designed to enhance your comfort, organization, and stealth in the field. With features ranging from ample pocket space for calls and ammunition to built-in seats for those long waits, a high-quality turkey vest is an investment that pays…

Turkey hunters looking for new boots to protect their feet this turkey hunting season have several new, and some unique, options to choose from. To pick the best boots for turkey hunting is difficult with terrain, weather conditions, hunting style and the presence of venomous reptiles varying across North America. The newest introductions of boots for turkey hunters introduced at the National Wild Turkey Federation’s convention offer something to satisfy everyone no matter what situation you turkey hunt in. Here is a list of the best turkey hunting boots for multiple situations and preferences this turkey season: Best Overall Turkey…

It didn’t take long for me to figure out that cod fishing with Newfoundland’s Quidi Vidi Charters was not your typical fishing trip. Someone asked Captain Kevin Battock if we would catch fish. “I guarantee you will catch fish and I will feed you the best fish and chips you ever had,” he answered. ”This isn’t a fishing charter, it’s a catching charter.” I had never had a guarantee of catching fish on a charter before, although it usually occurred. And I certainly never had the culinary guarantee that I would be fed the best fish and chips ever. Then,…

By Abigail and Jeff Helsdon Some people say a gun is a gun. You can have an adult gun or a youth gun, and many gun-store salespeople say you should be able to fit into one or the other, regardless of age. When buying a gun, there are many elements to consider. You want to look at caliber, brand, style, weight, fit and many other aspects of suitability. Women now have something else to consider. It’s the question of whether they’d’ want a gun that is specifically designed to provide the best fit for women. If you answered yes to…

“If you build it, they will come.” That famous line from Kevin Costner’s 1989 Movie “A Field of Dreams” was about a baseball field, but it could also apply to the John A. Halter Shooting Sports Education Center. The building of the center transformed a field into a first-rate shooting center for multiple shotgun disciplines on a scale that hadn’t been seen before. The shooting center is associated with Hillsdale College, a private liberal arts college. Hillsdale was founded in 1844 and has an enrollment of about 1,500 students. Competitive shotgun is a fully-funded program within Hillsdale’s Athletic Department. Although…

Pitting themselves against the wariest wildlife, hunters need to have all their senses at their peak. The trouble is that many hunters have a compromised sense of hearing due to repeated exposure to gunfire. The latest in electronics can help hunters hear better. And for those who don’t yet have hearing loss, the equipment to protect hearing is better than it has ever been. Hearing loss starts at any noise exposure above 140 decibels (dB). The quietest of firearms, the .22 rimfire, creates 140 dB. Centerfire rifles and shotguns are noisier, producing 160 to 170 dB. You need to realize…

…The Ideal Alternative to Lead In the early days after lead shot bans were put in place, one of the alternatives available was bismuth shot shells. After fading away, it has come back, and it has done so in a big way. All of the major shotgun ammunition companies now have bismuth loads. To fully understand bismuth’s potential, travel back to high school chemistry class and the periodic table. Right next to element 82 (Lead), is element 83 (Bismuth). This ranking means that bismuth has a similar atomic weight to lead. Shooters don’t talk atomic weights, though. They talk metal…

By: Abigail Helsdon /Jeff Helsdon Not that many years ago, the idea of a woman hunting was unique. Much has changed since then, and now, females are one of the largest and fastest-growing demographics in hunting. Change has come quickly, and it has not occurred evenly across Canada and the United States. Even when I was a young hunter a decade ago, the idea of a woman hunting was novel. I am still the only female hunter in our deer hunting group in Southern Ontario. While we run into several groups during the week, no other group contains another woman.…

A Great Sea Kayaking Option The British Columbia waters between Vancouver Island and the Canadian mainland are known for their diversity of sea life. It’s a top scuba diving destination and a hot spot for kayakers. Collectively, the Strait of Georgia runs between the island and mainland from the top to the bottom. The inlets and sounds off the strait are popular waters for sea kayaking tours and are more protected from the wind and waves. Known as the Sunshine Coast, this area is accessible by a stretch of road running roughly 100 miles north up the coast. It is…