Dark green: Days when fish and game are most active on the June 2023 solunar calendar Light green: Days when fish and game are more active than usual on the June 2023 solunar calendar OFAH key date reminder: June 3 Muskie opens, southern Ont. June 7 Moose primary tag claim deadline June 12 Elk draw deadline June 14 Spring turkey report deadline June 17 Bass opens in south, muskie in north June 24 Bass opens in central Ontario June 30 Antlerless deer draw deadline Major AM/PM: Daily times when fish and animals are likely to be most active. Periods also last ..read more

As a novice hunter many years ago, I was influenced to buy the latest surefire turkey call ― the spit and drum. Every time I used it, however, the tom went silent and walked away. I didn’t know what I was saying but learned many toms didn’t like it. Our calling is more effective if we know what the calls mean to wild turkeys and use them at the right time. This guide should help you better understand what you’re saying.  Plain yelp “If you’re out there, let’s meet up.” The yelp is the most common vocalization used by hens all year to connect with other hens they believe might be around ..read more

A box call can produce a lot of wonderful turkey calls, and unwanted ones in your pocket ― an unnatural squeaking or screeching that can be a deal breaker. Box calls make noise inadvertently in a pocket or vest while you’re moving. Many vests have specially designed pockets to house box calls and keep them contained, but they can still produce noise. This is something you obviously want to avoid when sneaking close to the roost on a dark, still morning, or when making a move on a bird. A simple fix to silence box calls is to take a thin piece of cloth, or paper towel, and lay it between the l ..read more

I saw the note left under my wiper blade after I started my truck to leave. I had been fishing a small lake which, while ringed by private property, was accessible through a narrow road allowance. My few hours of fishing included an unpleasant conversation with a cottager who told me I was trespassing. He backed off when I told him I knew about the road allowance, but it still took a lot of fun out of the day. The note on the windshield reading, “You were told about the fishing” also felt vaguely threatening. I didn’t know it at the time, but Conservation Officer Tyler Cameron of the Northern ..read more

This is my most-used, extremely versatile preparation for wild turkey breasts. Serve sliced on top of a spring salad, on a sandwich or panini, or fanned on top of creamy pasta. Ingredients: Serves 2 1 large wild turkey breast 1 ⁄2 cup smoked paprika 3 tbsp brown sugar 1 tbsp garlic powder 1 tbsp onion powder 1 tbsp mustard powder 1.5 tbsp chili powder 2 tbsp cumin 1 tbsp cayenne 2 tbsp kosher salt 2 tbsp ground pepper Brine: 2 L water 3⁄4 cup kosher salt 1 ⁄2 cup brown sugar 1 tbsp dried thyme 1 tbsp whole black peppercorns 4 cloves garlic Ramp pesto: 1 tbsp garlic, minced 1 ⁄4 cup walnu ..read more

The Ontario OUT of DOORS June 2023 digital issue is now available. In this issue, you’ll read advice from a Bassmaster Classic champ, how to call in bears, and the merits of inline spoons.  Plus, check out the latest electric outdoor gear, learn about the best handling practices for birds, how to DIY your own tackle box, and check out our Father’s Day gift guide. Also, you can win the contents of our Father’s Day gift guide by entering our 2023 Dad’s Day Giveaway. Read your June 2023 issue digitally on your desktop at: https://digital.oodmag.com/ Download the OOD app on your iOS or ..read more

For the past few decades, coyote populations have presented a unique quandary for the world of wildlife management since they appear to contradict one of its most basic and self-evident principles: more harvest means fewer animals. Coyote compensatory reproduction During the 1970s, the development of several coyote population models led wildlife experts to a fascinating conclusion. Based on this information, experts theorized that coyotes, or Canis latrans, possessed the ability to compensate for hunting and trapping pressure (and subsequent population loss) with increased reproduction. In ot ..read more

Dark green: Days when fish and game are most active on the May 2023 solunar calendar Light green: Days when fish and game are more active than usual on the May 2023 solunar calendar OFAH key date reminder: May 1 Bear season opens; walleye and pike opener FMZ 14 May 6 Walleye and pike opener FMZ 20 May 13 Walleye and pike general opener, southern Ont. May 19 Walleye and pike opener FMZ 12 May 20 Walleye general opener northern Ont. Major AM/PM: Daily times when fish and animals are likely to be most active. Periods also last two hours, beginning at listed ti ..read more

These efforts make a real difference in tone, functionality, and longevity of your calls and will keep them sounding sharp. Diaphragm calls In-season routine: Start by wetting the call and ensure the reeds (those thin latex layers) are separated. Stuck reeds sound flat and are less forgiving of a calling mistake. The best way to keep your reeds separated is to stick a reed separator in after use. For a while, Primos included reed separators with their calls, but most manufacturers now don’t. Here’s an easy fix. Simply break off the working ends of plastic toothpicks so they fit in the ca ..read more

I wander and can get lost from time to time. What better way to keep me on track than by testing the Garmin GPSMap 66i. What it is With a quick search, you will find endless blog pages and hours of video on all the functionality of the 66i —  way more than we can cover here. In a nutshell, it’s a merger of a GPS navigator with satellite communications and works in the most remote areas of the province or country outside of cell range. Some premium features require an inReach subscription for satellite functionality, but many applications can be used without it. What we like Look an ..read more