Long Gun Registry Survives – for Now

If you want to raise the hackles of Canadian farmers, hunters, and trappers just mention the long gun registry. I have watched with biased interest over the past several weeks as we edged closer to the vote and what I saw was just plain ugly. In the end the vote was no longer about the long gun registry; it was about fear. Nobody was concerned with the facts and from the numerous articles and posts that I've read far too many Canadians are completely unaware of just how tightly firearms are controlled in Canada, even without the registry.

There are two extremist camps in the fight and neither one wants to see the registry live. On one side you have the anti gun, anti hunting, animal rights types whose objective it is to see all guns in Canada confiscated and firearms ownership made illegal. On the other side you have the gun lobby who feels that we should have the American right to bear arms. What you saw during the debates leading up to the vote was these two groups firing missiles at each other. If you listened closely to the rhetoric you would think that the survival of the human race hung in the balance.

And the media, always hungry for a controversial issue to latch onto was no better. Stories were written in newspapers and aired on TV and radio. Objectivity – the foundation of good reporting – ceased to exist as reporters were forced to follow the personal views of their editors and producers.

Everyone that was opposed to the registry was classed as a fanatical right wing Conservative. I suggest that the only link to Conservatives for a vast majority of those in favor of shutting down the registry is in the fact that the Conservative Party were the ones to bring forth and support the bill. Personally I am non partisan and vote in favor of good legislation, no matter what party brings it forward, but I simply cannot abide "feel good / do nothing" legislation. This was bad legislation when it was first introduced, it is bad legislation now, and it will continue to be bad legislation until the day that it is finally scrapped.

©2010 Lloyd Fridenburg – All rights reserved click here for copyright permissions

Time your Southern Ontario Turkey Hunt

So every astute turkey hunter knows that the best way to put that spring gobbler in the bag is to learn where the birds roost, hit the bush well before dawn, and get ready to bag your bird soon after. We'll let me be the one to admit that getting up at 4:00 a.m., driving to the bush, stumbling another km or more in the dark, and sitting quietly in the predawn darkness has never been one of my favorite things to do. I tend to be an early riser but I do like to see the sun up before me. Watching and listening to the woods awaken around you is an experience that is never forgotten, but I for one don't need that experience every time I go hunting.

If you know your territory, there is a great chance of bagging Mr. Gobbler before he gets the sleep out of his eyes and is looking for his early morning mating partner. But they don't simply vanish for the rest of the day after that; they're still out there looking for love, but there are some peak times to keep in mind.

Personally I love heading to the bush during the mid morning. The hens that were attracted to the gobbling toms first thing in the morning have started to disperse to feed or find nesting spots. That leaves the amorous toms looking for love in all the wrong places and often starting to gobble up a storm in an attempt to find his girl…or another one. Another bonus of heading to the bush a bit later is that the diehard early morning hunters have often packed it in by mid morning, leaving the entire bush and all the birds to you.

Although they may not gobble quite as much as in the morning, mid-afternoon is another good time to head out. The birds are again actively looking for mates and often come quickly to calls or to a hen decoy. Be on guard though because they are more likely to run in without signaling their approach with a round of gobbles and can often sneak up on unwary hunters.

So don't get into the rut of thinking that just because you didn't hit the bush before dawn that all is lost. Some of the best hunting, with the least pressure, can be had later in the day. Above all practice a safety first policy and have a great spring turkey hunt.

©2010 Lloyd Fridenburg – All rights reserved click here for copyright permissions

A Tale of Two Canadian Hunting Shows

For all you hunting enthusiasts that are well into withdrawal symptoms with the passing of yet another hunting season you’ll be happy to know that Canada now boasts not one but two great national hunting shows on the Global TV network.

Most of you are familiar with Canada in the Rough and host Thomas Pigeon and you are likely familiar with Taylor Wright who started off as Hunt Coordinator and then to host some of the CITR episodes over the past few years. Well Taylor has departed from Canada in the Rough and has started his own national show aptly called The Canadian Tradition.

Canada in the Rough has taken on a new format this year with a distinct country flavor and a new theme song sung by country singer Larry Berrio. Also, there are three new hosts – the Beasley brothers; Paul, Keith, and Kevin – who are now co-hosts of the show and will be sharing in the hunting adventures across Canada. Gone are the Rough Gear and Rough Cooking segments and there seems to be more focus on the hunt. Thomas created a show that many scoffed at, saying that there was no market for a national Canadian hunting show. He proved them wrong an continues to produce an entertaining, conservation focused hunting show.

Following in his mentor’s footsteps is young Taylor Wright who grabbed another national spot for The Canadian Tradition with the Global TV network. Taylor has come far in terms of camera presence and production over the past several years and has put together a great show in The Canadian Tradition. With veteran Doug Vopel behind the camera the camera work is first class. It seems that The Canadian Tradition is a little lower key and that will certainly appeal to many viewers. The show also provides viewers with consistent spots for outdoor gear and hunting tips and still manages to focus on the journey.

Hunting shows are always a work in progress and I recommend making time for both shows. Each has its own unique flavor but both uphold the high standards that Canadian viewers demand in a hunting show.

Canada in the Rough airs Sunday mornings at 8:00 eastern time on Global.
The Canadian Tradition airs Saturday at 9:30 eastern time on Global.

©2010 Lloyd Fridenburg – All rights reserved click here for copyright permissions