Alberta Outdoorsman - Venture North Outfitting
Transcription
Alberta Outdoorsman - Venture North Outfitting
FEBRUARY 2009 $6.95 THE VOICE OF ALBERTA'S HUNTERS, ANGLERS & TRAPPERS OUTDOOR ISSUES QUICK-STRIKE RIGGING BORDER BATTLE BACK ON! WHAT'S OUTDOORS... ALBERTA! OUTDOORSMEN MAGAZINE Alberta Ouldoorsmen Magazine is published twelve limes a year by Sportscene Publications Inc. #100, 10642-178 Street Edmonton, Alberta, Canada T5S 1H4 Ph: (780) 413-0331 • Fax (780) 413-0388 Email: [email protected] Volume 10, Issue 10 - February 2009 Publisher/Editor- Rob Miskosky Regular Contributors Bob Adams • Brian Bildson Wayne Clark • Brad Fenson Kelly Hymanyk • Richard Mellon Don Meredith • Rob Miskosky Fred Noddin • Claudio Ongaro • Duane Radford Duane Rosenkranz • Bob Scammell TJ Schwanky • JB Struthers Neil Waugh • Kevin Wilson REGULAR COLUMNS 6 Outdoor Pursuits No Accident... 10 Outdoor Issues Outdoor Issues and events in Alberta 16 Fishing Phile Alberta Outdoorsmen Pro Staff Pierre Frigon • Gord Trenholm Jim Renaud Sales Manager- Paul Milberry Marketing Director - Gaye Williams Art & Web Development - Graham Edwards Design & Layout - Sportscene Publications Printing - Elite Lithographers Co. Ltd. Subscriptions: Please send your name and complete mailing address including Postal Code and phone number, as well as your cheque or money order payable to Sportscene Publications, or order online at our website: www.albertaoutdoorsmen.ca $38.00 + GST per year ($39.90) for 12 issues $70.00 + GST per year ($73.50) for 24 issues We welcome your articles and photographs that pertain to hunting and fishing in Alberta. Please send for writer guidelines. No portion of Alberta Outdoorsmen may be copied or reproduced without the prior written consent of the publisher. The views and opinions expressed by the authors of the articles in Alberta Outdoorsmen are those of the author and not necessarily those of the publisher. We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada through the Publications Assistance Program towards our mailing costs. Canada PUBLICATIONS MAIL AGREEMENT NO. 40020962 REGISTRATION NO. 10616 RETURN UNDELIVERABLE CANADIAN ADDRESSES TO SPORTSCENE PUBLICATIONS INC. #100, 10642-178 Street, Edmonton, Alberta T5S 1H4 email: ssplifclelusplancl.nel That Finest Fishing Line 18 Rubs, Scrapes & Tangle The Trouble With Ice 20 Fishing Lines Alberta Magazine Publishers Association 40 Photography for the Outdoors What is There to Photograph in Winter? 42 Black and White Kudos to the Sierra Club and Ecojustice 44 Seasonal Targets Canis smarticus elusivus 46 Covers & Riffles Border Battle Back On! 48 Alberta Adventures Getting Aggressive With Elk 50 The Lighter Side When You Think You've Heard It All 52 Alberta Fishing Holes Quality Rainbows at Peanut Lake 54 Spike Camp Musings The Hunters' Rendezvous 56 Tips for the Outdoorsmen Quick-Strike Rigging Dream Season 60 Backyard Ballistics Headspace 66 Fish & Wild Game Recipes Oven-roasted Elk Steaks www.albertaoutdoorsmen.ca Duane Rosenkranz took this photo of a coyote mousing near Edmonton. Coyotes begin mating in February and become a favourite target of predator hunters. You can read more about hunting coyotes on pages 28 and 44. The AFGA's Raison D'etre 58 Trapline Trails and Tales This magazine is a proud member of Ihe Alberta Magazine Publishers Association, abiding by the standards of the Canadian Society of Magazine Editors. Visit www.albertamagazines.com ABOUT OUR COVER MORE OUTDOOR STUFF 8 13 22 26 27 28 36 62 64 Trail Cameras: More than a Hobby Letters Hills of Opportunity AFGANews DUCNews When the Going Gets Tough... The One-Day Ram Alberta Borders and Beyond Classifieds v 28 .«• * • - photo Duane Rosenkranz _^ www.albertaoutdoorsmen.ca by Kevin G. Wilson hifting awkwardly, I struggled to advance in the heavy snow. Conditions were tough for both bman and beast. Thigh high drifts 'and frigid temperatures made it difficult to move. Every step was a chore. Ice crystals shimmered across the horizon as the early morning sunlight pierced frost-laden branches. Winter had secured its icy grip and that meant all things wild had to work overtime to survive. Ironically, winter's impositions created ideal conditions for predator hunting. Opportunists extraordinaire, coyotes are easily enticed to the prospect of an easy meal. Compound this inclination with desperation caused by a tough winter, and the offer of a free meal is irresistible. It was mid-winter and most forest-dwellers were laying low. Despite bluebird skies, a biting northwest wind nipped at my face as I settled in for the first calling session of the day. We'd left the pick-up in a farmyard only 300 metres away but my back was already damp with sweat. Unavoidable, to cover any ground at all required exertion. Seems no matter how slow one moves under these conditions, you're burning calories every step of the way. December, January, and February offer up some of the finest coyote hunting of the year. Yes, these wild canines can be taken at other times, but they're much more cooperative when the going gets tough. Alberta is known world-wide for its trophy deer and waterfowl, but it's also fast gaining notoriety as a destination for serious varmint hunters. Historically, bounties and higher fur prices served to keep coyote numbers in check. As remuneration dwindled, so did the ambition of many profit-seeking fur collectors. In turn, coyote populations have spiraled out of control creating a Utopia of sorts for the pursuit of predators. Biodiversity is all about balance but unfortunately a distinct imbalance is hard on small game, upland birds, and even ungulate populations. Only by culling coyotes can we even begin to offset this dilemma. Our goal was to do our part in conservation by taking out a few of the problem dogs that were causing my producer friends ongoing grief. Joining me on this frosty day was my populations in good friend, Kyle Alberta have Horvath. A welder by trade, Kyle spiralled out shares my passion of control for smaller caliber rifles and calling coyotes. The day previous I'd placed a few calls. Gathering valuable intelligence, these conversations confirmed access to several important properties. My favourite coyote haunt is well-established dairy country and any time you get dairy cows, calving operations, or even chicken farms, or hog operations, you will invariably find yotes lurking about. Several landowners I know were complaining at infmitum about their coyote problems. Several said they'd seen up to eight at a time skulking around their yards. With a roster of these properties on the list, our strategy was to hit one after the other all day long with the notion of making a dent in the population. As we were to soon find out, the only barrier was lack of mobility. It makes me shiver just reminiscing about that morning. A biting breeze ripped at our faces as we gingerly eased the truck doors closed. We had only taken a few steps when I glimpsed movement beyond the corral. It was a whitetail doe. Posturing defensively, I knew that could only mean one thing. Springing into action, Kyle and I quickly used a low spot to sneak closer. Reputation Built on Reliability EU1000JC EU2000JC DOUBLING power output The EU100OIC inverter Is the only generator of Its kind with the capability to offer 2000 watts of power. Aslmple parallel connection* of one EU10001C (1000 watts) to another EU1OOOIC (1000 watts) will produce 2000 watts from the host generator. This combined output allows for power to most household appliances or hand-held electrical tools. REG PRICE $999 '660 ZT3-C31CH We Take Trades & Rent Commercially Financing Available 15 INGLEWOOD DR. (North on Hwy. 2), St. Albert, Alberta T8N 5E2 1-800-819-7433 (780)458-^ •All prices plus freight & set up www.riversidehonda.com HOOTD Power Equipment honda.ca www. albertaoutdoorsmen. ca 29 Alberta is fast becoming known as a destination for Unfortunately, as Kyle extended his bipod, the culprit, a mature coyote hunters. C0yote, snapped to attention and immediately bolted for cover. Struggling to advance in the deep snow, it became evident that our options were limited. On the bright side, we knew that if we couldn't move easily, the coyotes would likely be experiencing the same challenges... and that meant they would be hungry. Deeply cut game traits were evident everywhere. Deer had ^^^__«_^^^^^^^_l pounded troughs | into the snow and were using them daily to travel between bedding and feeding » locations. The •"* snow hadn't yet crusted over so it ^ seemed logical that the coyotes would favour those f same trails. In turn, Kyle and 1 moved to a familiar clearing, a place where I'd experienced success in the past. Carefully placing my rabbit decoy in the centre of the clearing we backed away, took cover in some nearby trees and waited a few minutes before beginning to squeal the abhorrent cries of a rabbit in distress. The response was fast and, frankly it caught me off guard. A coyote, likely the same dog we had seen harassing the doe, came rocketing up the nearby game trail and stopped 40 metres away. I don't often miss, but I have to admit that one got the better of me. A chip shot on any other day, I flinched and sent the bullet just over his back. Reprimanding myself incessantly, I couldn't believe I'd just missed what could only be described as a gimme! On a positive note, that encounter confirmed our suspicions; the deep snow and cold would be our biggest asset on that cold day in January. Motioning for Kyle to join me, it was obvious what we had to do. "Can't believe I missed... it won't happen again," I offered sheepishly. "On the bright side, that coyote just told us how every dog in the country will likely react today. Let's move and try again." Every step off of the main game trails was strenuous in the deep snow but we now had a plan. I knew of a steep ravine that held a few active den sites. If we were going to be ARE YOU A SHEEP HUNTER OR INTERESTED IN "PUTTING SHEEP ON THE MOUNTAIN" THROUGH HABITAT IMPROVEMENT, INPUT IN WILD SHEEP MANAGEMENT AND PROJECTS? If so, why not join the Alberta Chapter of The Foundation for North American Wild Sheep? ALBERTA CHAPTER Memberships and tickets are available online (www.fnawsab.org) or by calling 403-845-5544. 10th Annual Sheep Show & Fundraiser Saturday March 21, 2009 Capri Centre, Red Deer Tickets $60/person FNAWS Annual General Meeting Friday March 20, 2009 - 7:00pm Everyone Welcome www.fnawsab.org 30 www.albertaoutdoorsmeaca successful, we'd have to move in tight to where they live. With that place in mind we fought the temptation to call again before reaching our destination. A half hour later we were in the zone. Plodding our way to a stand of old-growth spruce trees, the pounded deer trail we were walking was littered with fresh coyote tracks. Setting up strategically, Kyle sat against a tree looking one direction and I faced another. With the legs of my bipod stretched out I took extra care to sit accordingly should a coyote materialize in another direction requiring me to reposition. Rifle in hand to minimize necessary movement, I nodded to Kyle sitting a stone's throw away and then commenced calling. Anticipating that a coyote may run straight down the deer trail again, I shouldered my 22-250 and pointed it directly down the trail. With only 50 metres of visibility, a coyote could sneak in from any direction but I figured this would be most probable. On cue, in less than two minutes, a young coyote stood statuesque against the snowy backdrop only 30 metres away. I took extra care in aiming as I settled the crosshairs on his chest, and gently squeezed the trigger. He collapsed instantly. Moving to another property, we played the same game. Spotting two coyotes on the edge of another ravine, we eagerly scrambled along the slope and set up on another heavily used deer trail. Within five minutes another dog came in, this time sneaking slowly but eagerly nonetheless. Kyle launched a bullet from his .243 to hit that one at a mere 18 metres. It became obvious that our long-range sniper rigs were overkill on this particular outing. That day will go down as one of my all-time favourite predator hunts. We managed to score on several coyotes that day. While more hospitable conditions allow varmint hunters to cover additional ground and, in turn take more dogs, it was the tough conditions that made that day so unique. Hunting those well-traveled game trails funneled several directly into our laps. All but one set-up produced close-range encounters with coyotes on the dead run clearly anxious for a feast. I have to admit that hunt taught me a thing or two about varmints. Specifically that when the going gets tough, the coyotes get going... and that means world-class opportunities await ambitious varmint hunters willing to endure the most difficult conditions. •