Archive for the ‘Tradition’ Category

Bill tabled to end Canadian seal hunt

- May 3rd, 2012

 fur-institute-logo

(Fur Institute of Canada Logo)

 

A private members Bill is threatening the future of Canada’s seal hunt!!

 

Representatives of Canada’s sealing community have responded to this legislation; introduced in the Senate this week by Mac Harb to end the commercial seal hunt in Canada.

 

“Mr. Harb’s claims are unfounded.  The Canadian sealing industry is very much alive and well,” said Dion Dakins, Chair of the Seals and Sealing Network. “Consumer demand remains strong.  And with positive results at the WTO and the European General Court, we feel there will be a level trading field for seal products.”

 

Exports between 2005 and 2011 were over $70 million (US) and seal products were exported to 35 different countries. The price for seal pelts has increased from 2009 levels at $15 a pelt to $20 – $25 a pelt in 2010 and 2011 and $32 in 2012.  

 

“The Canadian sealing industry is crucial to the economies of Quebec, the Maritimes, and Canada’s Inuit populations,” added Rob Cahill, director of the Fur Institute of Canada and a leading actor in international relations for the Canadian seal industry.  “The seasonal source of income can account for up to 35 per cent of a sealer’s annual income, and is available during a time of year when other rural employment opportunities are virtually non-existent.”

 

Estimates from the Department of Fisheries and Oceans and the province of Newfoundland and Labrador estimate that between 5,000 – 6,000 people acquire an income from the seal hunt for their families, communities and businesses. This amount is approximately one per cent of the total provincial population, and two per cent of its labour force.

 

“To put these statistics into context, this is similar to other locally-important industries such as crop production or forestry that each account for less than one per cent of Canadian GDP, but their local economic importance is undisputable,” said Cahill.

 

Denis Longuépée, a sealer from the Magdalen Islands added, “The animal rights groups are harming our communities and this bill is just another attempt to crush a viable industry. The facts don’t support their claim that our industry is disappearing.” “The animal rights groups and Senator Harb do not understand the people in these communities.”  Longuépée added, “Seal products harvested in our province and in parts of Atlantic Canada provide significant economic benefit to the regions, as well as other parts of the world. “With continued market demand for Omega-3 oils and emerging markets for the use of other seal products in research and development, as well as the traditional uses in furs and leather, we expect the market demand to keep growing.”

 

Should the seal hunt remain part of our Canadian heritage? I beleive it should without question!

 

What do you think?

 
Outdoorsguy

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Categories: Tradition | 40 comments

HUGE day for Long Gun owners

- February 15th, 2012

longgun1

(Photo of yours truly – another proud long gun owner)

 

If you hear a buzz coming from downtown Ottawa this afternoon, its probably emanating from the Gallery at the House of Commons.

 

Yesterday I received a very noteworthy invitation from Safari Club International’s Canadian director Bob Valcov, to join him and other like-minded individuals in the Gallery of the House of Commons.

 

Today is an extremely HUGE day for gun-owners in Canada and a big day for SCI Canada as well. It is the culmination of years of lobbying against a needless, expensive and over-the-top gun registry.

 

SCI Canada’s motto is “First for Hunters” and my new friend Mr Valcov plans to assert this credo along with his ‘vocal posse’ today on Parliament Hill.

 

The group plans to occupy seats in the House of Common’s Gallery during Question Period today beginning at 1 PM. They will remain there until 5 PM when the final reading is expected to be heard. It could become interesting as things may just heat-up a little:

 

“I expect it to get a bit rowdy” said Valcov of the Gallery of long-gun enthusiasts waiting on the edge of their collective seats this aft.

 

If all goes as planned (and it should) the 3rd reading of Bill C-19 will be the FINAL reading and the end of an era. With some luck we will remember February 15, 2012 as the day the Long gun Registry was put out of is misery. 

 

Stay close to your televisions and radios; it could very well be a day of celebration. Thanks to people like Mr Bob Valcov of SCI Canada – a man representing a fine organization working on behalf of all Canadian long gun owners.

 

Here’s to you Bob, and here’s to me.  And here’s to the rest of the legal and responsible long gun owners from Newfoundland to British Columbia!

 

ValcovHarper

(SCI Canada Director Bob Valcov with Prime Minister Stephen Harper)

 

Ok folks now all that being said, for God’s sake say a little prayer!!

 

Outdoorsguy

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Categories: Tradition | 42 comments

Sugar bush better late than never

- March 16th, 2011

sugarshack

I was speaking with my father last night who lives in the Quebec Laurentians – the heart of sugar bush country – and it looks like syrup producers are poised and ready for take-off this week!

My Dad and good friend John tapped about 800 trees yesterday and have another 200, or so, to do today before they finish up.

From what I can tell, the season is at least 2 weeks later than last year, but hey, better late than never right?

Ah, there is nothing like the maple syrup time of year, if you ask me, and I have spent more years than I can recall working in the sugar bush. Times I will never forget..

What a blast it used to be – running lines, repairing breaks, tapping, watching the evaporater, taking the syrup off and even canning. The whole operation is a joy right down to the moment when that first batch of maple syrup comes off…man it tastes great when its warm!

There is a certain amount of science involved in a maple syrup operation; from understanding the sugar content in sap at various times of the year, knowing the colour and taste of grade ‘A’ syrup, to ‘old-school’ skills like knowing how to build and maintain the perfect fire for your evaporator.

Then it is moment(many hours later) when the ‘webbing starts’ at precisely 7 degrees above the boiling point of water, and your pure maple syrup is ripe for the picking!

Old school syrup producers have never used these modern gauges and I’m sure never worried about it either. They can read more in the webbing off their ladle than a thousand sophisticated gauges could ever read..now that is pure science.

sapcan

The final product, well, it is simply a thing of beauty and there is really nothing in the world that compares to the taste of fresh maple syrup, or taffy on snow.

Canada produces 90% of the world’s supply of maple syrup(mostly from QC) – a statistic we should be very proud of.  It is a big part of our heritage like hunting, fishing or the fur industry.

SyrupCan

Outdoorsguy

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Categories: Tradition | 50 comments

Kenauk Deer Hunt a day to remember

- November 12th, 2010

Kenaukbuck3

White-tailed deer hunting at the historic Fairmont Kenauk in Montebello is not unlike pursuing deer in other parts of North America, except for:

1) Huge stands of pure sugar maple forest

2) Ancient mountains of rugged exposed bedrock

3) Amazing old growth forest with stunning visibility

4) Dirty swamps and cedar swails ideal cover for deer

5) A much higher whitetail density than most areas of the Province

6) Friendly, knowledgeable staff and top notch accomodations

(Actually, I guess it is unlike hunting deer in other parts of North America)

What a perfect day it was to honour Remembrance Day – a sunny 10 degrees and hardly a breath of wind.

It was also the perfect time to celebrate a 30-year hunting career and the 9th annual deer hunting trip to my favourite home away from home – the Fairmont Kenauk in Montebello.

My father Rathwell and I had big plans for the day and we started out by doing some ‘recon’ of a territory I have never hunted before. What a fabulous deer woods we had this day, as rugged and as beautiful as anything I had ever seen.

Kenaukroad

The two hunters we met in the office that morning were kind enough to share some big buck info for the territory we would be hunting.

“There’s always a big one hanging out alongside this lake!” the man said in French. “I saw his rubs and scrapes there last year!”

“Thanks for the heads-up” I told him, and my father and I agreed we would sneak into that area after lunch.

After spending an hour or two touring the north part of our woods, we started headed down into lower country when we noticed a great funnel-area coming off the nearby ridge; with two deer runways converging as it crossed the road.

It was the perfect place for two of us to sneak-in and ‘cop a squat’ for an hour. With the frost on the ground and no wind, still-hunting would not be a possibility.

As we quietly parked the vehicles and made our way to edge of bush; standing on yet another rock outcrop, however, our plan to sit would change very quickly…

A nice looking buck, which had been bedded down alongside the ridge, stood-up and looked at me. I could tell he was a nice one, not huge but a taker for sure.

In what always seems like a blur when you look back on it, my trusty old 30-06 Mauser was on my shoulder in one fluid motion and the safety was off.

Before it had really even sunk in, I had a chunky 7-point buck down with one perfectly-placed shot. As we discovered later, it was truly the most perfect shot a hunter can ask for, as I really got to the heart of the matter.

My father arrived a moment later to shake my hand. It may not be the biggest deer I have ever taken, but at 170 pounds field-dressed and a neat little 7-point rack, he was nothing to sneeze at either.

The only drawback though, by the time we finished cleaning the buck it was only 10:00. My Dad and already agreed that we would take one only deer. Sure, we hadn’t gone looking for the big buck the other hunter told us about, or really got a chance to walk to mountains, but that was ok.

Instead, we sat on the tailboard of my father’s truck and ate lunch in the radiant sunshine. We chatted about hunts from our past and discussed our plans for next year. It was great.

With the truck radio on quietly in the background, we sat there and observed the 11 AM moment of silence in the most perfect setting one could ever imagine.

As we sat there, we remembered back on those brave soldiers who gave their lives for our freedom. We also remembered all the great times hunting together over the past 30-years.

That, to me, is what deer hunting is all about. Sure, we didn’t spend long hours travelling endless ridges, but we did share a morning of deer hunting and remembering, that neither of us will forget.

Hopefully next year, though, the whole experience will last a bit longer.

A special thanks to Bill Nowell and Lynda Melanson of Fairmont Kenauk for taking such good care of me each year. I really am fortunate to be able to spend time – year after year – in the most spectacular deer woods on earth!

Kenauksign

For more information on deer hunting in Quebec, or to order your free brochure of the Province’s hunting & lodging opportunities: 1 (877) 266-5687

Outdoorsguy

Categories: Hunting, Tradition | 38 comments

Ladies and Gentlemen start your deer camp

- October 26th, 2010

  Oldtoothless

(Photo of me at the camp with my pride and joy ‘Old toothless’ taken Nov, 1996)

White-tailed deer enthusiasts in Quebec and Ontario are gearing-up for the busiest and most highly anticipated week of the year. 

Better hold onto your hat as the deer rifle season is on its way and one thing you can always count at the start of deer season each year; it certainly does not go unnoticed!  

Government buildings become short-staffed, highways less congested and you might even catch a glimpse of tumbleweeds rolling down the main strip in towns like Carleton Place, Otter Lake, Peterborough, Aylmer, Stittsville, Port Hope or Almonte. 

Be aware that once bitten by the deer rifle season phenomenon, you may be hooked for life.  It is a time when hunters get very little sleep but never seem to mind, and the tales of all the big bucks that got away; are heard long after the season has ended. 

And for those of you brought through the ranks of a traditional family and friend-based hunt camp, like me, you have certainly dealt with the loss of a hunting partner. 

After many long hours in the bush bearing your soul with guys you share a common interest, you do tend to grow very close. I myself began chasing deer when I was 13 (my 30th Anniversary this year) and have always been the youngest hunter in camp. 

Many uncles and friends of the family were there during my formative years, before heading off to that great hunt camp in the sky. And other fine hunters stopped going because of various health problems. It is just part of life, I suppose, as sad as it is to think about. 

I fear for the day my own father is unable to join us, or I myself am not able to attend deer camp in the fall for whatever reason. Probably best not to think about it. 

Well, here’s to all of you avid deer hunters out there…as you prepare for perhaps the greatest bonding experience known to man. For as much as the ‘non-believers’ like to tease us, deer camp truly is the greatest place in the world at the greatest time of year!

I wish you all the best of luck and please drop-in here anytime to give us your personal deer hunting update.

Outdoorsguy

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Categories: Hunting, Tradition | 117 comments

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