Oh Canada!

Outdoormash was in northern Quebec on a 4 day snowmobile trip this past weekend. We rode through two parks, Parc des Hautes-Gorge and Parc des Grands-Jardins. If you ever get a chance to visit please do! Snowmobiling, riding ATVs, camping or hunting and fishing, it's an outdoor paradise!




Parc des Grands-Jardins;

 Parc des Hautes-Gorge;

Snocross!

Outdoormash was at the East Coast Snocross race which was in Lake George, NY this past weekend. If you have never been to an event, please go, it is a great spectator sport!

Fish Through the Ice

Icefishing is in full gear. But there are dangers when icefishing, following are some tips to make that fishing trip enjoyable and safe;

Icefishing Tip #1 - Always communicate your fishing plans with someone. By letting someone know where you are fishing is common sense. This way, in the event that there is a problem they will know where to look for you.

Icefishing Tip #2 - If you own a cell phone, CB, or other communications device, take it with you! 

Icefishing Tip #3 -  Always take along more clothing than what you think you'll need. If the wind picks up or you slip and fall in slush and water, it will be nice to have an extra set of clothes.

Icefishing Tip #4 - Before gearing up, wait to hit the ice until there is a minimum of 4-inches of solid ice. A wise man once said " If the ice is white, your all right. If the ice is clear you better fear". Make sure you have enough ice!

Icefishing Tip #5 -  Always hit the ice with a friend. This gives you and he/she a way out, should disaster strike.We've heard this since we were kids, safety in numbers.

Be safe and catch the big one!

 

Let It Snow

We're in the heart of the winter and following are some interesting snow facts;






Snow Fact #1 - Snow-based recreation contributes $67 billion annually to our economy.





Snow Fact #2 - Snow capital of the world? Stampede Pass, Washington State - avg. snowfall 430 inches per year!












 Snow Fact #3 - All snowflakes have 6 sides. Have to check this out next time it snows!








Snow Fact #4 -  Buffalo holds the record for snowfall in a city for one season - 199 inches!

Snow Fact #5 -  A blizzard is defined as blowing snow of at least 35mph, one quarter mile visibility for a minimum of 3 consecutive hours.

Cabin Fever...Nah!

 Winter sports are some of the best activities during the year. Outdoormash ventured to Cranberry Lake, NY this past weekend for a fantastic snowmobile ride.

Be Prepared

Winter is here and with that, many outdoor activities have begun. Today we'll talk about the sport of snowmobiling and what you'll need to have in the event of a breakdown.

1. GPS/Phone -Obviously, to know where you are and navigate to a road or point, however if you were able to use a phone or at the least send a text for help you can give you coordinates.

2. Portable Phone Charger -they sell for about $20

3. Compass-$5.00

4. Whistle-Much better than screaming with little effort, in the middle of the woods a whistle is distinct -  $3.00

5. Fire Starter- Lighter, water proof matches and small fire starter blocks. The blocks are 2 inches by 2 inches and can burn for 30 minutes, they are $5 a piece and are amazing for starting a fire (dry twigs may be hard to find if there is snow on the ground.) Another fire starting idea is you can disconnect your gas line and use a small amount of gas to start a fire.

6. Small Multi Tool-with knife, pliers etc....$10.00 

7. Water Bottle- preferably a metal one which can be used for multiple purposes.

8. Optional but worth it, I use SPOT, its a Satellite emergency beacon. SPOT has GPS responder built in, in case of emergency you hit the button, it notifies search and rescue and 5 pre-determined friends with your GPS longitude and latitude coordinates. It sells for $149.00 and the first years service is included  If needed its priceless.

9. Solar Sleeping Bag-$7.00, the size is about 6 inches by 4 inches and will save your life, reflects 90% body heat, you will not be toasty warm but you will live!

10. Snacks- things that last, don't really freeze and can be easily rationed and are in small portions- beef jerky, nuts, cashews, grain bars.

11. Map- topo map of the area you are exploring.

12. Two Way Radio- Cost about $30, for the five to 10 mile range, if people are looking for you, you maybe able to catch them on a channel.

13. Tow Strap-$15

14. First Aid Kit-$10.00 Small kit, either you or a buddy could get hurt and any of the items might make a difference.

15. Flashlights -$20.00 A head lamp, being hands free key. A small handheld will be good also, preferably the wind up kind or shakeable with no batteries needed.

16. Sharpie Marker to write on any surface, a few sheets of paper in a ziploc bag.

17. Gas Tank - a portable 2 gallon gas tank will save the day.

 Have a fun and safe season...brrrrrrp!

Is Baiting Hunting? The Great Debate

The great debate, is baiting wild game actually hunting? I've been able to sit in on several of these discussions and I am curious to here what the hunters around the country have to say. Before you respond let's take a look at points from both sides.

Hunters in Favor of Baiting

Points that I have heard from hunters in favor of baiting are mostly based on terrain and where it is legal. For instance, Texas. Texas outfitters and hunters argue the fact that in their state, the shear vastness of land and the type of cover makes it almost impossible to hunt the traditional way of still hunting, drives and spot & stalk. I've heard this same point from hunters in Canada, miles and miles of forest, how else will you be able to harvest your game?

With time restraints due to work, family and other obligations, hunters argue that they still want to hunt but don't have the extra time to spend days in the woods. Where it's legal, they bait, fill their freezer and help with the game management.

Hunters have also expressed that while sitting over bait they see things you would not normally see or see more often. An example is the whitetails interaction with one another. Hunters say they learn a great deal from watching deer interact at such a close range.

One of the biggest arguments I hear from hunters in favor of baiting is the introduction of our children to hunting. Good or bad, the world today is all about instant gratification. Some say that their children would never hunt if they spent days in the woods without ever seeing a deer or bear. "Baiting helps preserve our hunting heritage."

Hunters Against Baiting

The fair chase argument seems to be more passionate from anti baiting hunters. These hunters argue that baiting is nothing more then bringing birds to a bird feeder. Many times I have heard "what hunting skills do you need when sitting over a pile of corn?"

Hunters against baiting say that the skill of the hunt is being lost. Will the new generation of hunters know how to read sign, understand how to find a core area or understanding where they are by using their surroundings -  mountains, streams, sun or moon positions. They argue that woodsmanship is also being lost, will the new hunters be able to read a compass, use land marks to find their way out of the woods. How about survival? Something as simple as building a leanto or starting a fire, all is being lost.

The biggest argument I hear, baiting is a shortcut to success, it teaches the new generation that the kill is why you hunt. Hunters against baiting argue hunting is not about the kill, but hunting is about being outdoors, exploring your hunting grounds, reading sign, preparing for all kinds of weather, watching the sunrise or listening to blue jay squawking at your presence.

We would love to hear your opinion on this debate, let's us know what your thinking!

Huge Rattlesnake!

Be careful when you look for golf balls out of bounds in Arizona! This is not a python but a Western Diamondback, largest one ever recorded.

Skeet Shooting

  A great way to sharpen your skills if your a bird hunter is going to the clay shoots, skeet and trap.



 

 

High Wire Act

Animals are amazing! You were worried about the squirrels??

Upcoming Hunting Season

This time of year you can start to feel the change in the weather, shorter days and cooler nights. If you are a hunter that only means one thing, September is around the corner and deer season is closing in fast.

What amazes me about hunting is the technology that is available today then let's say 20 years ago, in particular, your ability to pattern a certain deer with trail cameras. Trail cameras were once large and pictures were only taken on film which needed to be developed. Now the cameras are small, with digital images that are saved on smart cards! 

The great part about smart cards is the ability to check your images while in the field. With the old film cameras you had to take the role and get it developed. Problem with that was the expense and time it took to see what was in your area.

Even if you never get a chance to harvest that certain deer, the best part about the trail camera is you will always have that deer captured as an image. Good trail cam hunting!

Winter Preparation

I know, I know, it's the middle of summer and your talking about winter? Tis the season for some of us, as we prepare for our winter fuel source.....wood. Mid summer is when a lot of folks start splitting wood so the wood will be seasoned for the up and coming winter. As I was splitting mine, I thought it would be a good idea to share some tips when splitting wood the old fashioned way, with a splitting maul;

First, make sure that the splitting maul is in good condition. I prefer the synthetic handle. In the past I have splintered the wood handles making them unsafe.

Make sure that you have good footing so when your swinging the maul you stay balanced.

Your legs should be positioned wider than your shoulders. One thing is certain when splitting wood by hand and that is, you will have splitting maul deflections that could cause serious injuries. I wide stance will help prevent those.

When positioning a larger log piece to split, start on the edge of the log. The easiest way to split a log is on angles, so by creating a flat edge with your first split, the following splits will create triangle pieces. Also, if you can make your first split with the grain that will make your job a lot easier.

Many times you will run into a log piece that just won't split with a splitting maul. In this case, use an iron wedge to pound in, to force a split.

If you are splitting your wood and haven't got around to storing it under shelter, pile the wood in a pyramid fashion. This allows for air to penetrate the stack which will accelerate the drying process.

If anything else splitting wood by hand is a great workout. Stay hydrated and be safe.

Wetland Importance

Have you ever driven or hiked by a swamp or marsh and think, is there any real use for these areas? The answer....YES! Check out these facts;

1. In North America, 50% of the 188 endangered or threatened animals are wetland dependent.
2. Fresh water wetlands cover only 1% of the world's surface yet they support more than 40% of all plant and animal species.
3. Wetlands contribute 70 billion annually to our economy through hunting and wildlife watching.
4. An additional 42 billion is added to our economy by our fishing community.

Ducks Unlimited reports that wetlands associated with lakes and rivers capture and retain water, shortening the duration and reducing the severity of floods. Wetlands also play a huge role in purifying water by removing nitrogen, phosphorus and some toxic chemicals.

Wetlands also recharge our ground water. Water that collects in these wetland basins percolates through the soil into the underlying aquifer.

So the next time you pass a wetland, remember the importance of these areas. The ecosystem is complex and these areas are a very important part of the puzzle.

Smokey the Bear

Summer is in full swing and so are the wildfires. Currently there are 47 wildfires blazing in the US, with the concentration of them in the west, Montana, Colorado, Wyoming and Utah.

The National Geopraphic reports on average, more than 100,000 wildfires, also called wildland fires or forest fires, clear 4 million to 5 million acres (1.6 million to 2 million hectares) of land in the U.S. every year. In recent years, wildfires have burned up to 9 million acres (3.6 million hectares) of land. A wildfire moves at speeds of up to 14 miles an hour (23 kilometers an hour), consuming everything—trees, brush, homes, even humans—in its path.

 Although four out of five wildfires are started by people, nature is usually more than happy to help fan the flames. Dry weather and drought convert green vegetation into bone-dry, flammable fuel; strong winds spread fire quickly over land; and warm temperatures encourage combustion. When these factors come together all that's needed is a spark—in the form of lightning, arson, a downed power line, or a burning campfire or cigarette—to ignite a blaze that could last for weeks and consume tens of thousands of acres.

 The health and economic cost of these fires can be enormous. Appraisal of resources damaged by wildfire is not always straightforward. Human lives and adverse health effects are usually not considered in terms of dollar losses at all, and tallies of wildlife fatalities are rarely done. Habitat, scenery, ecosystem services, and other non-commodities are difficult to value, although there has been considerable study and published efforts in that regard. Rarely has there been any attempt to quantify the long-term consequences of a damaged renewable resource base to provide for the needs of an ever increasing present and future human society.

Unfortunetly, wildfires destruction overshadows some of the benefits, rightfully so. But after a burn there is a positive.  Fires aid in nutrient cycling, volatilize nutrients, thin forests, prepare seedbeds for regeneration, and topkill plants so they can resprout. They provide a large number of fundamental ecosystem services. 

Less than 3% of wildfires are natural. Most fires start from carelessness. While your out enjoying the great outdoors this summer, take caution when building and extinguishing fires. As the famous Smokey the Bear says - Only YOU can prevent forest fires.

For the Love of Pets

I have a great dog, a black lab, that has the disposition of a lake on a windless morning....calm. Loyalty second to none and affection that never dwindles. This is the very reason that pet popularity has grown over the last couple decades to record levels.

They say that pets enhance our lives, and I couldn't agree more. Research shows that owning a pet helps one to relax. Another study shows owning a dog increases your motivation to exercise by 43%. Several studies show a similar fact - pet owners are health conscious, like to look their best, like to exercise with their pet, are happy and maintain a well organized home.

Check out these numbers from APPMA's survey;

Pet ownership is currently at its highest level, with 63 percent of all U.S. households owning a pet which equates to more than 69 million households. That's up from 64 million in 2002 and 51 million in 1988 when APPMA's tracking began. 

About 78.2 million dogs and about 86.4 million cats are owned in the United States.
 
Twenty-six percent of dogs are purchased from breeders, 20 to 30 percent of cats and dogs are adopted from shelters and rescues, and 2 to 10 percent are purchased from pet shops. The majority of pets are obtained from acquaintances and family members.

A couple cool facts;

A dog’s nose has about 4 times as many scent cells as a cat’s and 14 times more than a human’s.
  A cat will almost never meow at another cat. Cats use this sound for humans.



Pets are great. If you have the time and love to give, adopt a pet, it'll enhance your life!