OUTDOORS GUY JEFF MORRISON Hunting stirs the soul


The quality of hunting is not strained. It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven Upon the place beneath. It is twice blest: It blesseth him that gives and him that takes.


So sayeth the Merchant of Venice, and


yes, deer season really is like Shakespeare – that dramatic, larger than life “play” I have acted out for the past 33 years. From that first autumn when my Dad


invited me to camp with the men, I was hooked instantly. I even gave up Halloween to go deer hunting that year, which was saying a lot for a wide-eyed 13-year-old. It was a tumultuous and adrenaline-filled experience for any up-and-coming deer enthusiast, and a tradition in the making from the get-go. The joy of pursuing deer as a lad I


compare to the bud of a maple tree: not yet developed but primed and ready to go. I believe true hunters all share this childlike enthusiasm for the sport and understand what spending time afield is all about. Hunting allows us to relive those carefree days of our youth with an enthusiasm rarely seen the rest of the year. And now, with the white-tailed deer


season just around the corner, guys and gals from far and wide are gearing up for the most anticipated time of year. The fall turkey season runs the usual


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12 days this fall, from October 9–21, and hunters are again allowed to harvest one bird. Unlike the spring hunt, however, both male and female turkeys are fair game in the fall. According to statistics, hens actually make up 59 per cent of the fall harvest. Last year, a total of 8,560 turkeys were taken during the spring hunt, which is down about 700 birds from previous year, while 299 birds were bagged during the fall


stamina. I say this with experience, following two knee surgeries. The less adventurous “road warriors” tend to hug the logging trails while our gang is more traditional − opting for mountain peaks rather than the road most travelled. Don’t discount


hunt − also a slight decrease from 2010. The hunt is currently underway in


Wildlife Management Units 64, 65, 66A, 67, 68, 73, 76, 77, 78, 80, 81, 82, 84, 85, 87, 89, 90, 91, 92 and 93. Non-residents are allowed to participate in Ontario’s fall turkey hunt provided they have a valid hunting card, an Ontario small game license, a wild turkey license and game seal, and have attended the Ontario Wild Turkey Seminar. Although I have no stats on non-resident turkey enthusiasts each year, I’m guessing they are few and far between. Anyone who listens to Ottawa’s World


Class Rock CHEZ 106 FM on a regular basis has probably heard me chatting with Doc & Woody, sharing highly-skilled big- game calls and hunting strategies. Last fall the buzz was all about Miss


November – a revolutionary inflatable deer decoy made by Tinks Scents. Anyone who hunts from a stand would certainly benefit by bringing Miss November with them. Just as decoys do for the waterfowl hunter, their mere presence puts resident white- tailed deer at ease. This year Tinks has brought the


inflatable deer market across gender lines with the introduction of Mr. October. Yup, you guessed it − an inflatable whitetail buck. This bad boy comes complete with high-definition print for a realistic appearance, and a light-weight tail that waves with the slightest breeze. This fall I’ll have all my inflatable


friends with me and I don’t care what the boys say back at camp! Check it out: http:// www.tinks.com/


*** Bear enthusiasts in eastern Ontario


still have until the end of this month to bag their bruin. Again this fall, certain


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regions of Central, Northern and Northwestern Ontario are offering additional tags on a first-come- first-serve basis, but nothing extra for this part of the province, I’m afraid, much to the chagrin of local hunters. Amid a continuous cloud of


controversy, Ontario’s fall bear season continues undaunted. Most hunters realize it is not the optimal time to pursue black bears, but alas, it is the only true conservation control we have. I must remind all bear hunters


to complete the mandatory questionnaire available at: www. Ontario.ca/hunting . These questionnaires should sent in no later than Dec. 15. Those looking for a new and


exciting challenge this fall might consider a hunting adventure across the river. La Belle Province offers some of the best deer, moose, bear and small game hunting anywhere in Canada. Although I do hold an Ontario


hunting license, I have never lost my interest in pursuing game on the Quebec side. The scenic mountainous terrain offers an unparalleled challenge for any hunter, but you’ll need to have your “climbing legs” on to succeed. Chasing deer at our hunt camp


is my passion but it does require considerable endurance and


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Quebec as a hunting destination, but be prepared to work for it. For a free Quebec hunting and lodging brochure, contact my


good friends over at the Ministry of Tourism: 1-877-BONJOUR or online: www.bonjourquebec.com/ outfitters


*** The Canadian hunting world was


dealt a staggering blow when Global Television, in its infinite wisdom, chose to scrap all hunting shows for 2013. On the surface, the cancellation


was bad enough, until we discovered the head of this pustule little pimple. The mighty Vancouver Humane Society (VHS) had included a rant on its web site against hunting and, more specifically, the hunting shows that appeared on Global. The VHS stressed the cruelty of the sport and that, as true caring Canadians, we should all boycott this activity as glorified on Canadian TV. The group even included Global’s contact information with the suggestion that we write in to demand they pull these shows immediately. Well, in the blink of an eye,


Canada in the Rough, Hunt TV, Canadian Traditions and Angler & Hunter Television fell from Global’s 2013 schedule faster than an Orleans sinkhole. Our tradition is under siege,


my friends, and this is only the beginning. If you care about the future of our hunting heritage, please contact Global TV/Shaw Media and tell them what you


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