OUTDOORS GUY
JEFF MORRISON
Getting ready for Fall hunting
The hallowed hunt camp has long
been a favourite hangout spot of mine. Soon other moose and deer hunters will be there in droves. There is a certain “blessed” quality
and tradition about hunt camp which draws family and friends together each year. And it’s not just about big game. There exists a special camaraderie
among folks you might only see once a year but share a special connection. Most hunt camps are basic in appearance and focus on simpler things – open jars of pickled eggs, the smell of deer sausage or the sight of mouse droppings scattered in the cupboard. Others are more comfort and style- oriented than they are rustic. The old 20-yard dash to the outhouse (by Will- He-Make-It) and a cup of piping hot coffee at 4 a.m. are, for me, all part of the experience. As smoke billows from the old camp stove and bacon dances in the pan, new friendships blossom while old ones are renewed. Yes, hunting is the ultimate pursuit
and hunt camp the ultimate haunt during fall.
44 BOUNDER MAGAZINE
Consider whitetail management The new millennium was a banner
period for white-tailed deer in Central Canada. Herds were healthy and growing, hunting opportunities were expanding, and by fall of 2007, deer numbers were higher than ever. Whitetail populations in our area reached densities as high as 14 deer per square km. Quebec saw its greatest annual harvest with an impressive 75,000 animals. All that changed in a few short
months following the record-busting winter snowfall of 2008, when Mother Nature reared her ugly head. High predator numbers combined with deep snow created a perfect storm, spelling disaster for ungulate [hooved] populations. Winter die-off was huge and the population of eastern Ontario’s once-productive deer woods sank to a meagre 2.5 animals per square kilometer. Yes, things have rebounded since
then, but it is a grim reminder that we must remain vigilant. Coyote numbers remain high and our whitetails still need a nurturing hand. As I strive to micromanage my own deer woods, and government agencies formulate their strategies, it’s time for an overall mentality change. Given the current
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