As the temperatures continued to drop this winter the lakes and tributaries began transforming into these white desolate waste lands of ice and snow. As a result of this change in the weather, the waterfowl season for some would have ended early for those hunters who wish not to hit the dark waters of the river or cold winds in the open fields of the prairies, but for a resilient few there were still a few days left to harvest.   There are hundreds of thousands of hunters across North America and there is no doubt in my mind that their hunts are challenging and rewarding, however there ar ..read more

The kayak was gliding through the water with incredible ease. It was both peaceful and beautiful to see the water split on the bow and overflow on the camouflage netting on top of my craft. My strokes were so powerful that the water would bounce off the haul and hit the side of the banks in the canal.  The waves would then bounce back and cause me to shift slightly in the black waters. The canal walls were quite high and filled with overgrowth and wild prairie grass, the lower parts of the mud walls were bare with intertwined roots.  Here I was all alone in these remote wetlands, tuc ..read more

There are only two days to the opening season of waterfowl in my area and throughout my various summer activities just like the “Meat Eater” website wrote, I have also been scouting which resulted in “hours of windshield time scanning skies, fields, and marshes.”   I am not going to write a long blog entry about scouting because the “Meat Eater” website does a great job, however I will share my experience. I have most definitely done it right, and as a result have found some amazing sites for the upcoming season, having spent lots of my time in the prairies and foothills finding potholes ..read more

A few years ago, I lost some great books in a flood, they covered a wide range of topics like the outdoors, natural history, north American wildlife, waterfowl and survival. Over time, I replaced some of them while visiting thrift stores and used book stores.   One of the books I picked up and started to read again was the following: The Survival Handbook, essential skills for outdoor adventure, written by Colin Towell. I remembered in the book, on page 12 there is a quote that really resonated with me. “There is a thin line between being in awe of an environment and being at it ..read more

After a long day on the river navigating the rapids, there is no better feeling then slipping into your sleeping bag and tent on the river bank. As you sink into the bag your feet feel all secure like a moth in its cocoon, there is a sense of being invisible in this protective shell tucked away from the elements and all the wild beast outside.  And once darkness sets in, for a moment your eyes remain open. However you are now at the mercy of your hearing and your imagination, every sound is amplified and you can only rely on your knowledge to provide a rational explanation for what the so ..read more

Over the past few weeks, I have been taking some time on the weekends to begin my scouting for Snow and Ross’s geese in the nearby fields, ponds and lakes. Even though hunting seasons have specific periods assigned, scouting can be done all year and you can increase the amount of outings leading up to the opening day. In my zone the season for overabundant migratory bird species kicked off on March 15th for Snow Geese (Greater and Lesser) and Ross’s Geese. Now since the season has started, when I scout, I often take my duck gun along and for a few hours I setup in some of my favorite spots and ..read more

Throughout the years I have harvested a wide variety of game birds. The bird species I pursued were simply magnificent and so grew my collection of memorable hunts. And over time these hunts became part of my being and have transformed into my very own folkloric stories.  As I have now settled in the West and keep on discovering more of its wonders, I had the privilege of experiencing a ringneck pheasant hunt. There I stood between the golden grass and the glistening white snow, fully immersed like a classic huntsman brushed deep within the canvas pores of a game bird painting.  Exce ..read more

Just like the dark veins running through your arms below the surface of your skin. The thin muddy trails I was navigating were perfectly laid out over the golden rolling hills. When you are standing in the prairies, you can not help but feel the environmental force feeding your spirit and then you begin to understand the picturesque bond between the cowboys and the West.  In one of his episodes while pursuing Sage Grouse, Steven Rinella had suggested how the grasslands can seem bare and lifeless but if you have an eye and patience it comes to life.  I have experienced this and if you ..read more

Prairies, After having spent some many years in the forests out East chasing game, there is a magical transformation which occurs when you hit the prairies. The vastness leaves you in awe and the new possibilities of game seem endless. Along the way to the prairies, I saw three ringneck pheasants tucked away in the snow and the first thing that came to mind was the old fashioned collector plates, except this was real and as fresh as the Western air. Simply amazing. Happy Holidays to all ..read more

My tire treads came to a full stop crushing the stones below, as I approached the end of the dirt road. I swung my door open and leapt out kicking up some dust, then took off my ball cap, scanned the pond followed by a deep breath. There I was at the northeastern side of the pond, the temperatures had dropped some but it wasn’t an unpleasant cold with a slight wind. Every time, I hit the wetlands my soul is refreshed with an energy only found in the wilds of this land. On this particular afternoon there was less bird activity and the time of day when they move more hadn’t come upon us yet.&nbs ..read more