I long believed my wife owned too many pairs of shoes, but for personal safety reasons, I never voiced that opinion. It’s a good thing, too, as I recently learned I was dead wrong. To my complete surprise, I discovered I own at least as many pairs of hunting boots as my wife does shoes. In my defence, no one pair can do it all, and that’s how I’ve amassed quite a collection. Here are the boots I’ve found over the years that meet my specific hunting needs and expectations. Consider them recommendations if you’re looking for some new hunting footwear of your own. The post How to pick the perfe ..read more

When the best fishing and hunting is found in tough-to-reach places, you need a vehicle that can comfortably transport you and your gear, yet still manage tough trails and unexpected obstacles. And that’s where a versatile ATV or side-by-side truly shines, such as these latest models designed for taking on the great Canadian outdoors. Please note that the prices shown here are for the base models. Vehicles are listed in alphabetical order by manufacturer. XPLORER XRT 1000 LE ($15,999) Key features: Four-stroke, 997cc engine; power steering; push-button two- or four-wheel drive; 26-inch tires ..read more

When I started bird hunting, I didn’t consider missing a bird or two as consequential since there were so many opportunities. That element of my youthful ego was quashed, however, after a hunt or two with an avid trap shooter. He just didn’t miss, but I did. A correction was needed, so I joined a trap club and soon discovered the sheer exhilaration of busting clays. During those formative years, I learned a lot about shotgun stance, hold, lead, fit, patterning and chokes. Collectively, it made me a better wingshooter, and the knowledge I gleaned along the way has served me well for hunting upl ..read more

It’s a chilly May morning, the sun a dull haze behind the clouds as my breath forms puffs of mist. I’m warm in my three camo jackets, and it’s so peaceful I slowly drift off to sleep—until I hear a crunch. My eyes shoot open and there, at the edge of the field, stands a small, lone turkey. He cautiously treads over the frosty ground, closer and closer to my decoys. My heart pounds in my ears as I shakily press my shotgun into my shoulder, feeling its weight in my arms. I line up the sights on the gobbler’s head, click off the safety off and look into the creature’s fathomless eyes. One step. O ..read more

Photo: Chil Vera/Pixabay132 Western wildfires still smoldering as of late March, with 85 so-called zombie fires in B.C. and 47 in Alberta, according to the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre. Officials blame the West’s unseasonally warm and dry winter for the lingering fires, warning 2024’s fire season stands to top last year’s record. The post 5 new numbers that tell important stories about hunting, fishing and conservation in Canada appeared first on Outdoor Canada ..read more

Patience is key to taking down a tom Jim Clarke is Alberta’s acknowledged wild turkey guru, and a leading advocate for bolstering the province’s turkey populations through the introduction of Eastern birds into suitable habitat. He’s also hunted turkeys in several provinces and states, but more importantly, he’s graciously helped countless inexperienced hunters harvest their first bird. So, when I recently started thinking about my upcoming annual turkey excursion with the Mentor and the Urban Dandy, my long-time turkey-hunting partners, it occurred to me to reach out to Jim for a little extr ..read more

Identify areas bears frequent that are off the beaten path or difficult to access (photo: David A Mitchell/Flickr) Baiting is undoubtedly the most effective way to hunt spring black bears, but it’s not as simple as throwing out a bucket of donuts and waiting for a big boar to waltz in. It takes a lot of work to be consistently successful at the baiting game, and you need to follow established best practices. For starters, do your homework before deciding where to bait. That means identifying areas bears are known to frequent that are off the beaten path or difficult to access—the less competi ..read more

Way to represent! This past winter saw three Canadians honoured with prestigious accolades in the U.S. for their noteworthy outdoor accomplishments on this side of the border. And the awards go to… BARRY M. FITZPATRICK CONSERVATION AWARD The International Game Fish Association (IGFA) established this award in 1993 to honour those who have made significant and outstanding contributions towards fisheries conservation. For that, Carleton University’s Steven J. Cooke (above) more than fits the bill. As Professor of Fish Ecology and Conservation Physiology, and Canada Research Professor, he has lo ..read more

We always enjoy seeing pictures of your fishing and hunting accomplishments—and learning the stories behind them. Please e-mail us your images to editorial@outdoorcanada.ca, along with any relevant details (who, what, where and when), and we’ll post them on Instagram and publish our favourites in the magazine There was still plenty of ice on B.C.’s Muncho Lake early last May when Hannah Piket caught and released this hefty laker while fishing with her finance, Travis McIsaac, who took the photo. Joining the Fort Nelson, B.C., couple was their regular fishing companion, Winnie ..read more

Devin Homick (above) might not be the turkey whisperer, but he certainly qualifies as one. A lifelong resident of Norfolk County, the cradle of the Eastern wild turkey’s remarkable return to Ontario, Homick is a passionate turkey hunter with 15-plus years of experience. He takes every opportunity to head into the spring woods with his compound bow, and graciously shares his knowledge with others. His best advice? Learn from the birds themselves, especially the hens. “To me, every experience with a hen, tom, jake or multiple birds is something to learn from,” he says, noting that studying the ..read more