A Voice For Canada’s Wild Turkey

© Othmar Vohringer

(Column originally published in the Merritt Herald)

It is no secret that organizations like Ducks Unlimited, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, Wild Sheep Society of British Columbia and a long list of similar organizations right down to the many local Fish & Game Clubs across Canada pour millions of dollars and countless volunteer hours into wildlife conservation. Some of these organizations concentrate on a single species and its conservation needs. One of these is the Canadian Wild Turkey Federation; it is the new kid on the block of Canadian operated wildlife conservation organizations and was founded, like most, by concerned hunters.

Until last year the conservation efforts for the growing Canadian wild turkey population has been represented by the American based NWTF (National Wild Turkey Federation). When the NWTF closed its Canada branch in the spring of 2014 to concentrate on turkey conservation issues occurring in the U.S. the vacancy was taken up by the founding of the Canadian Wild Turkey Federation (CWTF). This new, not-for-profit organization’s mission statement is to promote the establishment, restoration, preservation and sustainable management of wild turkeys and their habitats across Canada. As well, to develop conservation and research programs and engage in projects to preserve and enhance wild turkey hunting practices, traditions and heritage. It is also to focused on working with governments, other organizations and stakeholders to develop programs and engage in projects to protect wild turkeys and their habitat though education and youth conservation programs. The CWTF, with head office in Ontario, has many chapters across Canada and is hoping to set chapters up in British Columbia too. CWTF chapters are concerned with fundraising events, public education and other programs to aid the conservation needs and CWTF mission on a provincial level.

Canada has a thriving turkey population with the main population residing in the province of Ontario, however, here in British Columbia turkey populations also exist. The presence of these birds has been ongoing for probably a century or more; turkeys have been migrating from the south and entering Canada in a fairly recent natural expansion of their range.
Unlike in other provinces, British Columbia has yet to establish a conservation program for wild turkeys and in fact, regards the birds as an alien species. Yet, there are records going back to 1910 of wild turkey sightings in BC. Other records state that in the 1960’s flocks of turkeys migrating from America established themselves in the East Kootenay range.

When I emigrated from Switzerland to America and encountered wild turkeys I was instantly mesmerized by these fascinating animals and joined the National Wild Turkey Federation in an attempt to learn more about this remarkable bird and do my bit to aid in their conservation. Turkeys soon became my favourite bird species to hunt and to study. When news broke last year that a group of Canadian hunters founded the Canadian Wild Turkey Federation I signed up as a member of the new organization here in my own home country. It is my hope that in the near future the CWTF can set up several chapters in BC. Education is important since there are still many misconceptions about wild turkeys. Two of the most persistent myths are that wild turkeys have a devastating effect on agriculture and to other upland birds, such as the Ruffed Grouse and Pheasants. However, locally based studies conducted in the mid 1990 have addressed these issues with the conclusion being that turkeys do not inflict more damage on agriculture than any other wildlife and they do not cause any threatening effect on other upland bird populations.

The Canadian Wild Turkey Federation hopes to work closely together with provincial and federal governments to ensure a secure and prosperous future for the Canadian wild turkey. To achieve this goal the CWTF relies on memberships and support from the conservation and hunting community. To learn more about the CWTF and how you can help visit their website www.cwtf.ca.

Bluetongue Virus Identified in New Jersey Deer

News Item provided by OutdoorHub.com

New Jersey wildlife officials confirmed that the state’s first traces of bluetongue virus have been found on two dead deer. According to the Department of Environmental Protection, the deer were discovered in Somerset and Morris County last month (September 2014) and tested positive for the disease, which is spread by bites from the midge Culicoides imicola. Experts often compare bluetongue disease to the similar epizootic hemorrhagic disease, as both share the same symptoms, affect the same species, and are not considered contagious. Bluetongue, however, has a reputation for causing affected animals to develop foot lesions. In animals like deer, elk, pronghorn, and cattle, it can be extremely painful and eventually causes death. The erratic movements caused by the foot lesions have caused bluetongue to also be known as the “dancing disease.”

“The bluetongue virus is widely distributed in the United States, but has not been previously found in deer in New Jersey,” said Division of Fish and Wildlife Director Dave Chanda. “Both diseases are spread to animals by the bite of a certain type of midge. Neither disease can be transmitted to people. While EHD is only found in deer populations, the bites of the midge can transmit bluetongue to certain types of livestock.”

Mortality is relatively low with bluetongue, although there is no effective treatment for affected wildlife. The incubation period can last anywhere from a week to 20 days and symptoms can involve a high fever, swelling of the lips, and respiratory problems. Since the disease is spread by midges, experts expect that the potential for disease transmission will end when the winter frost kills the insects.

Like EHD, people cannot contract bluetongue through handling infected deer or eating venison. A midge bite will also not give people the disease. However, wildlife officials still advise against touching or eating any deer that appears to be ill.

New York Allows Crossbows For Hunting

© By Othmar Vohringer

The New York Department of Environmental Conservation signed on August 27, 2014 an act into law that permits crossbows to be used by hunters. However, unlike many other U.S. states where crossbows have been made legal archery hunting equipment New York still does not recognize them as such.

In order to hunt with a crossbow hunters need to successfully challenge a crossbow qualification & safety training test. Hunters wishing to use a crossbow also must in some cases be in possession of  a valid muzzleloader licence. The department states; "The new law essentially treats crossbows as a muzzleloader." There are also certain regions or "zones" where crossbows are not permitted. While there are areas and times when crossbows are permitted outside of the muzzlelader season, in most instances they are only permitted during the regular muzzleloader hunting season.

With all the restrictions in place I still find it encouraging to see that yet another state has given hunters the opportunity to use crossbows for hunting big and small game species. It's a start in the right direction.

To read the new regulations and information about crossbow hunting in New York visit the website of the New York Department of Environmental Conservation/Crossbow Hunting.   

PeTA Announces New Plan To Harass Anglers And Hunters

© By Othmar Vohringer

The animal rights lunatic fringe group PeTA announced that they will launch submersible drones called "Aquatic Angel" equipped with cameras to stalk anglers. The "Aquatic Angel" is the newest tool of this animal rights group, following on the heels of the "Air Angel" drones released in 2013 to harass hunters while in the field.  I guess the drones are submersible for one reason only, to scare fish away from anglers.

The release is slated for tomorrow, September 27, which is the National Hunting and Fishing Day in the USA and Canada. Both countries have laws on the book that expressly protects anglers and hunters in the legal pursuit of game and fish from the interference through animal rights and anti hunting people. In other words, what PeTA does with the release of the spy drones is illegal and just another from of harassing hunter and anglers, and interfering with the legal taking of fish and game. I have heard of several reports where hunters have shot down spy drones, apparently they make for good target practice.

Read more about it on the U.S. Sportsmen's Alliance Website.
And here is what the PeTA lunatics have to say.

Outdoor News Roundup

© By Othmar Vohringer

It has been a while since we did a “News Roundup” here at Outdoors With Othmar Vohringer. In other words, it about time for one. Staying informed is very important for hunters and anglers, especially about news of new pending legislation.

Without further ado here is the latest news in the outdoor world.

It is with great regret that a missing hunter in Calgary hunter has been found dead. According to the authorities who examined the dead hunter it is very likely that he had been attacked and killed by a grizzly bear. It seems that each year we of more hunters, anglers and hikers are attacked by bears. This means only one thing, despite the claims of animal rights, bear populations grow an nowhere more so than in Canada. For the full story go to the Calgary Herald. In New Jersey a hiker was attacked and killed by a black bear.

Talking about bears. In NW Wyoming the wildlife service has increased the limit on taking grizzly bears for the next three years in a323-square-mile public land grazing complex east of Jackson. In that area hunters can now take three female grizzly bears.

Alligator hunting is on my “must do list” for several years now and so it is no surprise that I read up on alligator hunting news. In the Mississippi Sportsman News I read that the record on trophy gators has been broken twice inside two weeks. The first reptile, a 756-pound 16 ft. beast, was caught by Robert Mahaffey of Brandon. His record was short lived when Brian Montgomery caught a monster gator weighing in at 792-pounds. Both alligators where taken on public waters near Vicksburg.

When I lived in Illinois the state was known as the nation’s deer hot spot number one, hunters from far and wide would travel to Illinois in anticipation of taking a trophy buck. Large deer populations and good genetics made it possible to hunt on public land with good expectations to get a nice buck. However, over the years things changed for the worse. Some blame the decline of the deer population on bad wildlife management and others on the outbreak of CWD (Chronic Wasting Disease)

This lead to the founding of the Illinois Whitetail Alliance, an organization committed to bring the Illinois deer herd back to its former glory. To do so the Illinois Whitetail Alliance borrowed a conservation tactic that helped the duck population to regain their large numbers, it’s called “Voluntary Restraint”. Read here more how the program works.

B.C. Government Allows Hunters To Shoot Feral Pigs Anywhere At Anytime

© By Othmar Vohringer

Wild and feral pigs have been spotted in the Kamloops, Okanagan, Peace, Kootenay and Lower Mainland regions, and the government doesn’t want any of it. In a media release the Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations announced that the swine are now listed as a “schedule C” animal and hunters with a valid hunting license could shoot them anywhere and anytime they encounter this invasive species.

Having lived and traveled for a few years in America and seen firsthand how fast wild and feral pigs multiply and spread - and the devastation they create on habitat and agricultural crops - I can fully understand and appreciate our government’s drastic measure.

Where do these pigs come from? Wild pigs (like pheasant, fallow deer and many other species) are not native to North America; they were introduced by the first European settlers for sport hunting and agricultural purposes. The current “North American wild pig” is predominantly a hybrid of Russian wild boar and domesticated pigs that escaped. This interbreeding has created a particularly hardy animal that is able to survive in almost any condition from the desert to the lower alpine regions.

So far British Columbia is a small corner of North America where feral pigs are still small in numbers compared to other parts where the pig population, despite relentless hunting from ground and with helicopters, has gone totally out of control. The B.C. government views the “war on pigs” as a proactive measure to make sure we do not end up with the same problems that exist elsewhere.

Once established in an area wild pigs are extremely hard to control and keep their populations in check. Under the right conditions a sow can have two litters of piglets in any given year. While nursing one litter she is already impregnated with the next litter. The piglets are independent within six months and ready to reproduce. The average litter size can be as high as eight to ten piglets with the average surviving to adulthood being five to seven.

The good news for hunters is that wild hogs make for some very good and healthy table fare. Wild pork is some of the best meat that I ever had the pleasure to eat, and being wild it is also totally organic and is not dripping with excessive fat like domestic pork. Hunting wild pigs can also be very challenging. While pigs can’t see much beyond the tip of their noses their incredible sense of smell and hearing make them nearly unapproachable. Something else that makes pigs a challenge to hunt is their “bravery”. When cornered, injured, threatened wild pigs have no hesitation to attack their adversary with the ferocity one would attribute to a lion. There have been eye witness accounts that even a bear or cougar would run if he encountered an angry wild boar. It is for this reason that in Florida and some other American jurisdictions it is mandatory to hunt wild pigs from an elevated platform, like a treestand or shooting house.

In my forays throughout the Nicola Valley I have never seen feral pigs or any sign of them and can’t tell with certainty if we have any roaming around or not. Having said that, I will pay more attention to it in the future, it’s been a while since I had barbecued wild pork ribs and I wouldn’t mind having it again.
---

If you have seen any feral or wild hogs in British Columbia or hunted them we would like to hear your story.

Wolf Population Booming In The Nicola Valley

The following column has been previously published in the Merritt Herald in response to the wolf attack on a forestry worker near Merritt.

© Othmar Vohringer

Merritt has been in the international headlines again. This time it had nothing to do with feral cats or bobcats roaming in our city. This time it was much more serious. The headlines read: “Aggressive wolf pack attack near Merritt prompts warning”. The encounter was serious enough for the BC Forestry Safety Council to issue a warning to all their employees and people living in the Merritt area. As much as some try to convince us that this is just a singular case it happens more frequently each passing year. The provincial government has stated that the wolf population in our province is growing each year and in some areas has reached the point of over-population.

The regular readers of this column may remember my article about the peril of the BC mountain caribou. Part of the problem is a growing wolf population killing off these endangered animals at a rate that puts the survival of the entire herd in jeopardy. There are government reports that elk and moose population in some areas are facing similar pressure from wolves. With a growing wolf population the danger to humans increase dramatically too. Once the wolves have decimated their natural prey they quickly learn that human inhabited areas within their range are an easily accessible food source. Each year there are reports of farmers and ranchers that loose cattle and horses to packs of wolves. In one case it was reported that two wolves in a single night killed over 170 sheep. Wolf advocates try to convince us that wolves only kill what they need for food. Not quite true. Research has shown time and again that in areas where wildlife and livestock exist in large numbers wolves, for reasons not fully understood yet, will indiscriminately kill every animal they can catch. Humans in these areas are also attacked more frequently.

Melissa Bachman Bullied Off National Geographic Channel By Anti-Hunting Lobby Petition.

By: Othmar Vohringer

Melissa Bachman, known as the “Hardcore Huntress”, producer and co-host of Winchester Deadly Passion, has been dropped as a planned participant in the of an upcoming National Geographic production called “Ultimate Survivor Alaska”. The decision has apparently been made after a petition, calling for the dismissal of Mellissa, a “heartless trophy hunter”, signed by more than 13,000 anti-hunters has been sent to the TV channel management.

According to a news story National Geographic apparently wasted no time to deny Bachman to take part in the show. In other words they let themselves be bullied into a decision by a mere handful of extremists. What boggles my mind is why would National Geographic reach such a decision? Isn’t hunting a part of the “ultimate survival” in the wilds of Alaska? To my knowledge you can’t survive in the vast wildness on vegetables alone.

But what more important, at least it is to me. Is the fact that Melissa Bachman has been discriminated against and I can’t help wondering what a smart lawyer could do with that blatant ant violation of the anti-discrimination act. Have we really come that far in our “civilized” world that a handful of radicals can decide what or who we can see on television? It’s not that National Geographic makes excuses about dropping Melissa, they are quite open about it that the decision has been made because of a petition.

While anti-hunters celebrate their victory over the “death celebrating murderer” they themselves show the true radical intensions with hundreds upon hundreds of death threats against Melissa Bachman.

Here’s a small sample of the more printable comment left on a facebook page.

“We will find you bitch and skin you alive.”
“I hope you and your children die a horrible death.”
“I’ll hunt you down and the slowly torture and kill you the same way you do with the animals.”
“We need to kill all hunters as they do not deserve to breathe the same air as the rest of the decent humans.”

Shocking, and these are people that promote compassion and kindness to all living things on this planet. The fact it that animal rights and anti-hunters are some of the most vile, hateful and self-centred people anyone could encounter.

As hunters, regardless if we agree with trophy hunting or not, we should weigh in on this issue and contact National Geographic and let them know what we think. To be quiet about this means we’re easy bush overs and bow down to discrimination against us. The last time I looked it up hunting was still a legal activity all across North America.

What’s your take on this story?

Orphaned Kermode Bear Makes International Headlines

© By Othmar Vohringer 

“Clover”, the orphaned and twice captured Kermode bear, finally found a permanent home at Kamloops Wildlife Park. But is all well? No. The notorious animal-rights activist group Lifeforce immediately started an international media campaign with which they lobby the release of the young bear back into the wild. Peter Hamilton, the leader of Lifeforce and the man who once suggested instituting a hunting season on hunters, wrote in a letter to B.C. Premier Christy Clark and NDP leader Adrian Dix, "Give this bear freedom. We don't need another exploited circus bear pacing back and forth and back and forth and back and forth. We don't need people profiting off the plight of this bear."

The truth of the matter is that the bear, which had gotten used to people, would return to humans every time as he has done in the past. In addition bears are notoriously territorial and no matter how far away they are taken they always will return to their original territory and very often need to be shot by Conservation Officers. In addition, given that “Clover” is only 18 months old his survival chances in another male bear’s territory would be slim at best. With all that in mind the best place for this bear is a facility like the Wildlife Park in Kamloops. Of course animal rights activists are not known to care about facts. Theirs is a purely emotional agenda based on wishful thinking and aimed largely at metropolitan populations that are totally removed from the natural world. People who have been spoon-fed a Walt Disney view of nature.

New Hampshire: New Way to “Make a Hunter”

© By Othmar Vohringer

New Hampshire has a new opportunity this year for participating in the hunting experience. The Apprentice Hunting License allows people to hunt, under the guidance of an experienced hunter age 18 or older, without first having to take a Hunter Education course. In instituting the program, New Hampshire followed the lead of thirty states that have established apprentice hunting programs over the past five years.

For New Hampshire it is the first year of having this the new license and so far it looks promising as a tool to recruit more hunters. During the spring turkey hunting season, 93 new hunters bought Apprentice Hunting Licenses. Of these, more than half were women, and many were in the 16-25 age group. Some 23% of these hunters (21 in all) were successful – better than the overall success rate for spring turkey hunters the previous year. No safety incidents were reported.

Summit Treestands Recalls Crush Treestand Series

© By Othmar Vohringer

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with Summit Treestands, LLC, announced today a voluntary recall of the following consumer product.

Name of Product:

Crush Treestand Series Models: Perch, Stoop and Ledge hang-on model treestands.

Units affected from this recall: About 2,900

Hazard: The treestand’s hanging strap assembly could dislodge from the treestand or fail to restrain or hold properly on the tree, posing a fall hazard. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed. It is illegal to resell or attempt to resell a recalled consumer product.

Description: The recalled treestands have the following names and item numbers:

Crush Series Perch, number 82069.

Crush Series Stoop, number 82070.

Crush Series Ledge number 82071.

The treestands include the main stand platform and seat with a green cinch strap and a tan tree stand hanging strap assembly, which consists of one nylon strap with a hook and an adjustment portion with a metal buckle and a matching nylon tab and a hook. This hanging strap assembly has the recalled item numbers printed on the safety label attached near the buckle.

The recalled products are old at: Hunting stores and in catalogs such as Bass Pro Shops, Cabela’s and others across the U.S.A. and canada from July 2012 through August 2012 for between $70 to $100.

WARNING: Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled treestands and contact Summit Treestands to receive a free replacement hanging strap assembly.

Consumer Contact: Summit Treestands, LLC, toll free at (855) 373-9808, anytime or website www.summitstands.com click on the Recall icon for more information.

(Image courtesy of Summit Treestands)

95-Year-Old Nova Scotia Woman Bags Her First Moose With 1 Shot

© By Othmar Vohringer

The following news item is the kind of hunting stories that inspire me.

Laura Wood, a 95-year-old woman from Yarmouth Nova Scotia, fulfilled her lifelong dream of going on a moose hunt. It was the last day of her hunt, just when daylight broke when Laura’s dream materialized in form of a 600-pound moose appearing. Laura brought the critter down with a single shot form her rifle. The Sandy Point Lodge, which hosted Laura’s hunting trip, said it's the first time they can remember a 95-year-old hunter in camp.

Now that Laura Woods has fulfilled her dream she won’t go moose hunting next year, because "I'm getting too old." She said “but I still plan on deer hunting." Wood said she has been hunting rabbits and deer since she was 16 years old. And to the one shot kill on the moose she said modestly, "Well I used to be a good shot. Well it must have been pretty good if I got that one...it's in my freezer now."

Laura Woods made headlines in the Canadian newspapers but that doesn’t faze her one bit. “Since I’ve been back people have been so good to me. The phone’s been ringing off the hook. I don’t know why they call me. I’m not worth it.” Well Laura you may think you’re not worth the media attention, but as far as I am concerned you are. There are not many hunters around that still hunt at that age let alone planning on continuing hunting.

(Photo courtesy of Sandy Point Lodge)

Tribute To A Loyal Friend

© By Othmar Vohringer
(Originally published in the Merritt Herald - Othmar Vohringer Outdoors Column)

On Tuesday morning (October 2nd, 2012) my loyal friend and companion for over 16 years passed away. Gazu, a Rottweiler/Labrador mix, had not an easy start in life. When I adopted him, then about one year old, from a pet shelter in Montreal, Quebec, he already had two previous owners that abused him badly. I learned that Gazu was destined to be euthanized because of the many behavioural problems he sustained from his abusers. Because of that I was at first denied adoption, however, when the manager at the shelter found out that I am a professional animal trainer and behaviourist he agreed with the adoption. My immediate concern at the time was not about Gazu’s behavioural problems. Having dealt with a fair number of animals with such issues I was sure I could cure him. My concern was what my other “pets”, 16 tigers, would think of this new addition. Training, performing and caring for the tigers took up many hours of my day and Gazu would have to fit into that schedule.

Gazu quickly adapted to his new life and surroundings and within two weeks we had a very close relationship and he slowly started to develop the outgoing and friendly character that would become the hallmark of his entire life. The most difficult part was taking his fear of travel from him. In his past a trip in a car signified yet another drive to the dog shelter but once he realized that this was not the case with me he started to enjoy traveling to new places all around Canada and America with me and the tigers. Later Gazu traveled with us by airplane and ship to China and Brazil. Wherever we traveled in the world Gazu’s outgoing and enthusiastic nature made him friends everywhere, even in China where people are generally afraid of large dogs.

The only time Gazu showed any sign of slight displeasure was when I meet Heidi, my future wife, two years after I got Gazu. My guess is he suffered a brief case of jealousy. However, it only took him a short time to realize that he did not have to “loose out” and instead, he gained another friend and so he quickly adopted Heidi as part of “his family”. Gazu liked making friends; be that tigers, elephants or humans. Throughout his life, even in old age and in the last months where it was apparent he had cancer, Gazu’s loyalty, outgoing nature and unassuming friendship was exemplary and humbling for those that knew him.

Gazu will be dearly missed and there always will be a very special place in my heart for him. Heidi and I would like to thank Dr. Anne Flemming at the Merritt Veterinary Hospital for her respectful treatment, marked by dignity, for Gazu and letting us be with him until he took his last breath while resting in our arms. Thank you Gazu for your loyal friendship, unquestioned trust and also for the many things I learned from you, rest in peace until we play together again.

Global TV and Shaw Media Cancels All Hunting TV Shows

© By Othmar Vohringer

Global TV and Shaw Media, Canada’s largest television network, has announced that it will cancel all hunting shows on their network across Canada after December 30, 2012. The shows affected by this decision are; Canada In the Rough, The Canadian Tradition and Angler & Hunter Television. The network claims that declining viewer numbers are the reason for the cancellation, which in my humble opinion frankly is hogwash. A little search on the intent reveals that; A. The notorious animal rights organization, the Vancouver Humane Society, brags about their “success in petitioning the television network” to take the above shows off their network. B. A phone call to a person I know who works in the programing department of the network revealed to me that the shows actually gained in popularity.

Here is what I think happened. The hunting shows in question are not your typical shows that you see on subscription channels. These shows could be viewed by anyone. The reason the shows became popular, even with non-hunters, is because they emphasized the wildlife and habitat conservation aspect of hunting. Every show highlighted the many hunter founded organizations such as, Ducks Unlimited, the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, The BC Wild Sheep Association plus an array of other noteworthy organizations. With that aspect of the hunting shows ordinary people became aware that hunters are not the barbaric uncaring bambi-killers after all. Ordinary people, who up until the airing of the shows only had the animal rights view of hunting, started to call the motives of these radical organizations into question. In my opinion this is what the Vancouver Humane Society motivated to launch a petition to cancel the shows. They wanted to silence the hunters. Animal rights hate the truth.

Duck Populations Are At An All Time Record High

© By Othmar Vohringer

This information is throwing some well deserved mud on the animal rights mantra, erroneously stating, “Hunters are detrimental to wildlife populations.”

According to the latest annual Waterfowl Breeding Population and Habitat Survey conducted each May by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Canadian Wildlife Service the duck population has across North America has increased by 7 percent from 45.6 million birds in 2011 to 48.6 million this year.

This tremendous conservation achievement is a direct result of the tireless efforts from hunter founded organizations such as Delta Waterfowl and Ducks Unlimited. Ducks are not the only wildlife species that multiply thanks to efforts of hunters and their conservation organizations. All across North America wildlife is thriving, some of which have been brought back from the brink of extinction.

Hunters can be justifiably proud of what they have achieved in wildlife and habitat conservation over the last few decades since regulated hunting and hunter dollars became an integral part of sound wildlife and habitat conservation.

For more information read: Delta Waterfowl.

New World Record Mountain Goat Taken In British Columbia

© By Othmar Vohringer

According to the Boone & Crockett Club hunter Troy M. Sheldon of Alexandria, Ky. Has bagged the new mountain goat world record. After the required drying period the official Boone & Crockett judges panel verified the goats official entry as the new world record. It surpasses the old world record by a substantial 6/8 of an inch.

Troy Sheldon took the animal in the Stikine River area while hunting with Heidi Gutfrucht of Northwest Ranching and Outfitting. As an interesting side note; Sheldon used a Tikka T3 .270 (my personal favourite calibre) to make a perfect 319-yard shot across a ravine.

Hunfest Is Coming to Chilliwack, BC

© By Othmar Vohringer

Huntfest is coming to Chilliwack, BC from June 22 to 24, in the Chilliwack Heritage Park

With over 150 exhibitors from the hunting industry, wildlife conservation and hunting related organizations, Huntfest is one of the biggest Canadian events of its kind that focuses on everything hunting related. Visitors can attend over 20 seminars and special events. Among the speakers are moose hunting expert John McDowell, Linda Cline from Someday Retrievers, Cody Robbins from the hunting TV show “Live to Hunt”, Eva Shockey, daughter of famous Hunting TV host Jim Shockey, plus many others.

This is the first time that Huntfest is coming to British Columbia and you’re in for a treat. If you purchase you ticket early you could be in for a win of a 10’000 dollar shopping spree at Wholesale Sports or you could win a moose hunt with 4 Buck Adventures Outfitters in Ontario, valued at 3’000 Dollar. For more information on the “Early Bird” specials read here.

Huntfest has is creation of Wild TV. Wild TV is Canada’s only channel that provides viewers with 24/7 top quality outdoor programming from Canada and around the world.

To read more information about Huntfest in your area visit:
Huntfest Chilliwack, BC. June 22 to 24, 2012
Huntfest Edmonton, AB. July 13 to 15, 2012
Huntfest Orangeville, ON. July 27 to 29, 2012

Bear Attacks Man In Outhouse

© By Othmar Vohringer

A 65-year-old man and his friend, a 63-year-old man, from Winnipeg experienced a dramatic encounter while on a fishing and camping trip at Dunbar Lake, north of Sioux Lookout, Ontario, when a black bear attacked the older man and dragged him out of an outhouse on early Saturday morning.

According to the Police report the 65-year old man was in the outhouse and was startled by this bear. "The bear reached in and grabbed him by the arm and dragged him out and proceeded to bite him and slash at him. The victim suffered a bite in the back of his head and several scratches on his head, neck and arms.

Public Safety Minister Shoots At Illegal Back-Door Gun Registry

© By Othmar Vohringer

Since the long-gun registry has been abolished it has come to the attention of the Public Safety Minister Vic Toews that the chief firearm officers (CFO) across Canada have taken it upon themselves to get gun shop owners to collect personal information from buyers of hunting rifles to establish what is termed a “backdoor gun registry”. In a stern letter to the RCMP the minister has told the CFOs to stop their back-door registries and personal information collection.

Toews wrote in the letter to the RCMP: “If it comes to your attention that CFO’s are interpreting the Firearms Act as a basis for unauthorized data collection, please advise me immediately. I am prepared to consider all legislative and regulatory measures necessary to effect the will of Canadians.” The minister further says that any CFO who persists with attempting to collect such data is breaking the law. “The CFO’s are not to engage in the collection of information of that nature.” Toews said. “That runs contrary to C-19.”

Hunting Accidents On Opening Day Of Turkey Hunting Season

© By Othmar Vohringer

It makes me cringe each time I learn of a hunting accident, especially those that occur because of mistaken identity. Last week two “mistaken identity” accidents occurred on opening day of the spring turkey hunting season in Indiana.

In the first case 55-year old David Iron of Cicero mistook his brother, 35-year old Brian Iron of Noblesville, for a turkey. According to the investigating conservation officer, the shooter fired his shotgun at his brother. The pellets hit the victims face and chest. The accident occurred in Morgan Monroe State Forest north of Bloomington. Because of the remote area it took rescuers several hours to find the injured man and move him from the forest my hand and off-road vehicle to the waiting Life Line Helicopter that took him to Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis.

Meanwhile, in Orange County, Jesse W. Boyle, age 26, was shot at by his father-in-law, 49-year-old Gerlad D.Walton. The men had been hunting near each other when the father-in-law was heading to meet his hunting partner. He saw movement from behind a tree and discharged his shotgun, injuring Boyle in the face, neck and on the shoulder. The victim has been transported to the University of Louisville Hospital where he is been treated.

These accidents could have been avoided if the hunters would have taken their due time to make absolutely sure that what see is indeed a turkey and not a human. I understand that at times buck fever or in this case tom fever can rattle us, but there never ever should be any reason not knowing what you’re shooting at.

Be careful out there and before you bring up your gun make absolutely sure you identified the target. As my father used to say, “You can reverse every decision you make in your life with one exception. When you decide to pull that trigger it cannot be reversed or changed. You just played God and will have to live, for good or worse, for the rest of your life with that decision.” Think about that when you’re out in the turkey woods.