It was a simpler time when I grew up. We had only two or three television stations to choose from, we played outdoors with little supervision until the streetlights came on, and we didn’t worry about offending someone every time we told a joke. And for those of us who hunted, there were only two types of Canada geese, greaters and lessers. I don’t have to tell you that things have changed since then, and that includes how science, waterfowl managers and, by default, goose hunters classify these geese today. Prior to 2004, all 11 of the recognized Canada goose subspecies were considered to be B ..read more

Over time, dogs have developed highly efficient prey-hunting characteristics, including eyesight that’s largely superior to that of humans. But while they excel at detecting motion and seeing clearly in dim light, dogs cannot distinguish between red and green. Fortunately, that is less important during the prime hunting times of dawn and dusk, when shades of grey predominate. To properly train dogs to become even better hunters, however, you do need to take into account their limited colour vision. Here’s how. SIGHT TRAINING If a dog can see and mark a falling bird, he’s usually able to easi ..read more

Over the past decade or two, Savage has established a reputation for manufacturing accurate bolt-action rifles at a competitive price. The gun maker’s most recent addition to its ever-expanding line is the Impulse, which has the distinction of being the only American-made straight-pull centrefire on the market. While the straight-pull concept is not new, the design of the Impulse certainly is. The engineers at Savage must have burned a bit of midnight oil while developing this rifle, as it boasts 13 patented innovations. Essential to the success of the Impulse is the bolt, which features a uni ..read more

Vicki Cianciarulo mounts a FORCE-PRO-S solar trail camera on a tree. The scouting and preparation part of the hunt is truly what makes for a successful encounter. We’ve been using our Spypoint trail cameras for this and have had incredible success. Here are some of our tried-and-true tips: Utilize Multiple Cameras We often set our FORCE-PROs to video mode in the locations we feel we may get a shot. Then, using some field pods, we utilize multiple cameras to capture the shot from different angles. Take Shorter Clips Setting the camera to video mode at 30 to 90 seconds with instant delay is the ..read more

You need the right balance of pattern density and pellet energy for the hunting scenario at hand The image of the first duck I ever tumbled out of the sky back in the mid-1970s will be forever etched in my memory. How my shot string and that poor bluebill actually happened to find themselves in the same place at the same time remains a mystery on par with how the pyramids were built—theories abound, but nobody can fully explain it. I shot that duck, and many others over the subsequent years, with a 2¾-inch load of #5 lead manufactured by CIL Imperial. I’d like to say that was my duck load of ..read more

Don’t cheap out on your scope (Tip #2) (Photo: Laura Deschenes) Whether you’re new to hunting big game with a crossbow or you’ve used one for years, there’s always room to improve your chances of success. It all begins with relying on both your bow and your shooting skills, and that’s where the following advice comes into play… #1  PRACTISE REGULARLY I’m surprised by how many crossbow hunters don’t practice. Perhaps they’re also long-time rifle hunters, who view any close-up shot as a cinch. But what if you don’t get the easy shot you want? Continual practice will give you both the conf ..read more

How well do you know your favourite game’s headgear? Congratulations on a successful hunting trip! It took planning, a commitment of time and money, a bit of discomfort and a whole lot of work, but all of that stuff is nearly forgotten. The adventure aspect, however, will be relived through memories and campfire stories for years to come. And of course, there’s that tangible reminder of the hunt—a beautiful set of antlers. All hunters are happy to bring home a deer, moose, elk or caribou with a nice rack, and those looking for a trophy are always checking out antlers. Even meat hunters need t ..read more

Originally designed for ranchers to pull newborn cattle out of the field and into the barn, calf sleds have also long been used by ice anglers and hunters to haul gear and downed game. Typically made of polyethylene, these rugged sleds are light, practically indestructible and easy to clean. They also have short sides, making it easy to load and unload gear or critters, while keeping the contents protected when being pulled. Outfitted with a rope handle and a rounded front for easy towing, calf sleds are also highly customizable. I enhanced mine for ice fishing, for example, by drilling holes ..read more

While winter marks the beginning of yet another hardwater season, it can also send those who silently suffer from mental illness onto emotional thin ice. The heavy weight of depression and the pressures of anxiety can crack a brave surface and eventually pull otherwise strong people under. Winter is indeed a dark place, but thankfully light shines through the ice hut door in the form of initiatives such as Bell Let’s Talk Day on January 24. This annual campaign is a conversation ice breaker around matters of mental health, a topic that impacts many people in our lives. And there’s no better pl ..read more

“A peculiar virtue in wildlife ethics is that the hunter ordinarily has no gallery to applaud or disapprove of his conduct. Whatever his acts, they are dictated by his own conscience, rather than that of onlookers.” —Aldo Leopold, from 1949’s A Sand County Almanac. As hunters, we’re constantly confronted with ethical and moral issues. Some are thrust upon us, such as the 2017 closure of B.C.’s grizzly hunt. That was fueled by the ethics of the broader community, which simply wanted the hunt stopped. It had nothing to do with science-based evidence about the actual health of the bear population ..read more