New Products Available IN STOCK!

A few new and exciting products we are carrying as "stocked" items:

Gerber Prodigy Knife

Snugpak Kit Monster Duffel Bag

Silicone Rescue Tape: Red, Black, and Clear

McNett Aquamira Water Filter Straw

McNett Aquamira Water Filter Bottle

McNett Aquamira Water Purification Tablets

Click on product labels for more information!

Remington 700 LSS .300 Ultra Mag Rifle/Scope Package

Remington Model 700 LSS (laminated stock stainless) chambered in .300 RUM (remington ultra mag)

• 26" stainless barrel
• laminated hardwood stock with raised check piece
• floor plate
• cartridge capacity 3+1
• Leopold VX3 4.5-14x scope
• gun and scope weigh 9.2 lbs
• extra thick recoil pad

This is a beautiful rifle perfect for big game at any range!  The flat shooting, high velocity .300 RUM cartridge is known to be an excellent choice for all north american big game.  This gun has been safe stored and well cared for - it is in excellent condition.  Includes a top quality Leopold VX3 scope.

ASKING PRICE IS $1400 

Original price paid for gun and scope was $2200.

Ships free to anywhere in Canada!

This firearm is being sold "as is" and is a FINAL SALE.  No Returns, refunds or exchanges.  No Exceptions.

If you want more info please email sales@outdoorpursuitscanada.com or call toll free 1.855.HUNT.OPC

VIEW THE RIFLE PICS AND DETAILS ON OUR SITE BY CLICKING HERE

Photography by Meissa Fitzmorris

OPC is pleased to announce, Meissa Fitzmorris - Outdoors/Nature photography.  Check out her current work on our site http://www.outdoorpursuitscanada.com/categories/Artwork/ 


More pieces will be available in the future, and all prints are fully customizable.  

Recipe Time! - Grilled Halibut Thai Style

Recipe from Alberta Outdoorsman magazine


This is a very good recipe for grilled halibut adapted from the ATCO Blue Flame Kitchen Romancing The Flame (2004) Cookbook, which has a distinct Thai flavour and a mouthwatering aroma.  It's a great recipe for a late season BBQ to finish off your summer's halibut catch.


INGREDIENTS:

• 1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 3 tablespoons fresh lime juice
• 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 clove garlic (pressed)
• 4 small (or 2 large) halibut steaks

Combine all the ingredients for the marinade in a mixing bowl and stir well.  Pour the marinade over the halibut steaks inside a large Ziploc plastic bag.  Seal the bag.  Let the marinade stand (refrigerated) for 1/2 hour, turning the bag over a few times to thoroughly coat the halibut steaks.  Fish should not be marinated longer than 30 minutes.  Remove the steaks from the plastic bag and place them on cut-to-shape trays of aluminum foil (sprayed with canola oil so they won't stick) on the grill of a BBQ, pre-heated to 300 F.  You don't need to add any other spices.  Grill the steaks for about 10-12 minutes then remove them with a spatula to a serving platter.  The steaks should flake easily when done.


I served the grilled halibut steaks with carrots glazed with balsamic vinegar.  Make lots of carrots; they'll go fast.  I also prepared some boiled, garden fresh white potatoes and some balsamic baked tomatoes.  Scrub or peel the new potatoes and gently boil them for 1/2 hours, in scalding-hot water with 1/2 teaspoon of salt.  Drain well and set aside in a covered Pyrex bowl.


I used the following ingredients for the balsamic baked tomatoes recipe:

• 1 cup fresh bread crumbs
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 clove garlic (pressed)
• 1 teaspoon thyme (crumbled)
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
• 8 tomatoes (preferably Roma) halved, or quartered (lengthwise) depending on size
• 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar

Combine the bread crumbs, oil, garlic, thyme, salt and pepper in a mixing bowl and set aside.  Arrange the tomatoes on a baking dish (sprayed with canola oil) and drizzle some balsamic vinegar on top of them.


Next, sprinkle the tomatoes with the bread crumb mixture as a topping.  Bake at 350 F for 30 minutes until the tomatoes are tender and the bread crumb topping is crisp and browned.  Remove the baked tomatoes from the baking dish with a spatula to a serving platter.  There won't be any leftover tomatoes.


Overall, the grilled halibut, carrots, tomatoes and potatoes make for an excellent meal, which will be a hit with everyone.


Serve with a bottle of dry white wine or a beverage of your choosing.


Bon appetite!

Razor Sharp!

How To Hone a Hunting Knife Into Something You Can Shave With

(story by Keith McCafferty - Field & Stream - March 2011)

BY NOW JUST ABOUT everyone has heard of 127 Hours, the critically acclaimed movie inspired by Aron Ralston, the climber who was pinned by a boulder in Utah and spent an hour sawing his arm off with a dull knife blade.  It's a dramatic film, but I don't think moviegoers would have had to close their eyes for as long if Ralston had carried a pocket hone in his pack, or even a piece of fine-grit sandpaper.
     Sharpening a knife so that it is keen enough to sever your limb, or, less drastically, skin and butcher a deer, really isn't that difficult.  All you really need to render a serviceable edge is a stone, a little spit and a steady hand, and even the spit is debatable.

True Grit     Traditional bench stones have largely been supplanted by diamond-encrusted surfaces and synthetics including ceramics and Japanese water stones.  I still prefer a good Arkansas bench stone, but as a rule the type of stone is not as important as its grit equivalent.  One that sports a medium-coarse grit (325 to 400) on one side and medium-fine 600 grit on the other will cover most sharpening bases.  Grandpa invariably prepared his stone with oil, on the assumption that it was needed to "float" away metal particles during honing.  Today, many experts recommend using water or no lubrication at all.  Shell out the extra sawbuck or two for a bench-size stone about 2 1/2" wide by 8 inches long.  It will have a more substantial surface that will sharpen a blade more evenly than a smaller stone.

Bevel and Burr     Most hunting or utility knives are ground to an edge bevel of about 20 degrees.  The easiest way to maintain that angle is with a blade guide that clamps over the knife's spine.  Drink decaf to keep a steady hand and you won't need a guide for blades shorter than 4 inches.  Place the edge against the stone at the correct angle and use either your thumb or two fingers on the back of the blade to guide it.  With light pressure, push the blade away from you, imagining that you are slicing off a thin sliver of the stone.
     Keep sharpening the same side, counting strokes, until a thin ridge of steel, called a burr, is raised on the other side (you can feel it by running your finger past the edge).  This means you've ground the bevel completely flush with the stone.  Only then should you turn the blade over.
     Using the identical number of strokes, repeat the process on the other side.  The blade should now be sharp enough to catch on your thumbnail and shave hairs off your forearm.  If you use your knife mostly for slicing cuts - field dressing, butchering, cutting cord and wood - stop right now.  The medium coarse stone leaves microserrations in the steel that give it more edge surface and bite for performing general camp chores.  For whittling and skinning, particularly fine detail work like caping a head for a trophy mount, or if you just want to show off by shaving your beard, you'll need to progress to a finer-grit stone.

Finishing Touch     To render your blade razor sharp, repeat the procedure with a 600-grit stone surface. This removes some of the microserrations left by the coarser stone.  Afterward you can polish the edge even keener with a 1,200-grit stone or a leather strop, which I prefer.  Prepare the strop - a wide leather belt will suffice - with a one-time application of a rubbing compound such as aluminum oxide.  Place the blade nearly flat against the strop with the edge facing you and stroke the blade down its length, spine first.  Flip the blade over and draw it back up.  A dozen reps should do it.
     I recommend supplementing your bench stones with a lightweight field sharpener.  It's just the ticker for touching up an edge when you're halfway done boning an elk - or you need to get through that last inch of gristle an muscle that attaches your hand to your forearm.

Photo Credits: Field & Stream

Check out our extensive selection of sharpeners!


http://www.outdoorpursuitscanada.com/categories/Sharpening-Systems/


We have everything from Japanese bench stones to lightweight pocket sharpeners to deluxe diamond systems!

Time to Kill

To consistently punch tags, you need to shoot quickly and accurately.


By David E. Petzal - (Story Source: Field & Stream - March 2010)


In 2006, After two weeks of slogging through the bogs of Southern Alaska, I finally got a chance to drop the hammer on a bull moose.  The enraged ungulate was approaching at a rapid trot.  I was out in the open, and if I moved, he would see me.  This meant that as he came abreast I would have to mount the rifle, aim, and get the shot off in the space of a second or two before he figured out that something was amiss, or amoose, as it were.  I did, and he learned too late that the best-laid plans of moose and men gang aft agley.*


What's the Rush?
     Sometimes you have to shoot fast.  Not only that, but you have to be able to hit what you're shooting at.  Guides and outfitters whine that far too many hunters these days are no more capable of getting off a fast, accurate shot that they are of flying.  One outfitter told me, as he approached apoplexy, "You work your butt off to get them a perfectly easy offhand shot, and they look around for a benchrest."
     In areas where the game population is hunted hard, or where you will have to shoot at close range, you had best fire right smartly.  On the other hand, there are places where the critters are more curious than concerned about humans.  If you're one of the growing number of nimrods who shoot at over 300 yards, you probably have time for a leisurely first shot and two or three more as well.


Get in Touch With Your Inner Earp
     Wyatt Earp, who died in his bed at 80, summoned up the art of fast shooting to perfection.  When you slap leather, he said, you get your revolver clear of the holster just as fast as you possibly can, but then you take your sweet time aiming.
     Translated into rifle shooting, this means getting the gun to your shoulder quickly, with no wasted motion, all the while keeping your eyes on what you want to shoot.  Remember that you don't yank the stock straight up; you bring it forward, up and back in a short semicircle.
     When you gun is up and you are aiming, you have to make a fundamental decision: How much time do I have?  Experienced hunters can judge by an animal's behavior whether they have no time at all, or five seconds, or five minutes.  Whatever time they think they have, they will take all of it.
     If you're not an experienced hunter, it's better to assume you have no more than three seconds.  So, pick a spot on the critter, aim for it, and when the crosshairs are on it or close, pull the trigger.  Do not keep aiming, hoping your sight picture will get better.  It won't.


Practice Makes Perfect
     I've said it before, and I will say it again (because, unfortunately, too many clods don't listen to me).  Get to the range and burn some ammo.  Doing so will at least keep you from making the following four mistakes:

• Finding out the hard way that you can't shoulder your rifle because what you are wearing is so thick you can't get the scope close enough to get a sight picture.
• Sighting in your rifle with the scope on 10x and leaving it there instead of cranking it down to 4x.
• Forgetting where your safety is, or how it works, or that you even have a safety.
• Keeping the rifle slung over your shoulder, or worse, across your back.

* No, I have not begun writing in tongues.  This is a line (slightly modified) from a famous poet.  Can you name the man and the poem?  And stay the hell off Google.

How To: Buy A Gun Safe

A GUN SAFE is a major investment, and once it's installed you won't want to move it or get a new one.  Which means you need to buy the right safe for you and put it in the right place.  Here are a few things to consider:

The Size:
Figure how many gun slots you require.  Every scope bolt gun in your collection gets two slots, other long guns get one.  Multiply the total by 1.5 so your collection can grow.


The Specs:
Safes are rated for fire protection by time and temperature.  The average house burns for 27 minutes at around 1,100 degrees.  In rural areas where response is slower, you'll want additional protection.


The Space:
The best place for a safe is in a confined spot where intruders don't have room to attack the sides.  It should be bolted to a floor that is strong enough to support its weight.  While it's tempting to put it in the basement, chances are higher that your house will flood than burn or be broken into.

(Story Source: Field & Stream - Feb. 2011 - By Phil Bourjaily)

The Wild Chef! - Mixed Bag Gumbo

THE CAJUN WAY TO CLEAN OUT A FREEZER
- By Jonathan Miles (story source: Field & Stream)

Gumbo is an example of Cajun cookery's prime directive: Waste not, want not.  You can combine an almost infinite variety of proteins to create a soul-stirring, inexpensive dinner.  If you bought a similar gumbo at one of New Orleans's best restaurants - Arnaud's - it would cost just under $8 per serving.

Ingredients:

Stock -
One large wild duck, or two small ones, cleaned an quartered; about 3 lb. mixed wild game (dove, squirrel, rabbit, quail, venison, goose, raccoon, etc., dressed and cut into manageable pieces); 1/2 cup vegetable oil; 1 onion, quartered; 4 celery ribs, roughly chopped; 4 carrots, roughly chopped.

Gumbo- 
3/4 cup vegetable oil; 1/2 cup all-purpose flour; 1 cup chopped onion; 1 cup chopped green bell pepper; 1/2 cup chopped celery; 1/4 cup chopped scallions; 3 garlic cloves, minced; 1 lb. andouille or other smoked sausage, sliced into 1/2-inch thick pieces; 1 bay leaf; 1/2 tsp. dried thyme; 2 cups sliced okra; 1/4 cup chopped parsley

Prep:


1) Make the stock: 
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.  In a large roasting pan, combine game with onion, celery, and carrots, an coat with vegetable oil.  Salt and pepper generously, then place in the oven for 30 minutes.  Transfer contents to a 2-gallon stockpot and add cold water to cover.  Bring to a boil, then lower the heat and simmer, uncovered, for 1 1/2 hours.  Remove and reserve the meat, picking out bones and fat.  Strain the stock, discard vegetables and other solids, and return about 3 quarts of the strained liquid to the stockpot.  Keep it simmering as you start the next step.

2) Make the gumbo:
Combine 1/2 cup of the oil and the flour in a wide, heavy skillet over medium-high heat, whisking constantly.  As the mixture browns, keep whisking (to prevent the flour from burning) until it resembles chocolate syrup - about 3 to 4 minutes.  Immediately add the chopped onion, bell pepper, celery, scallions, garlic, and sausage. Cook, stirring frequently, until the vegetables are wilted.  Transfer the mixture to the stock and stir until evenly blended.  Add the reserved meat, bay leaf, and thyme.

3) Make the okra:
Wipe out the skillet.  Heat remaining 1/4 cup of oil until it simmers.  Cook the okra, stirring, until it is no longer ropy and slimy.  Add the okra to the stockpot and simmer, covered, for abour 1 1/2 hours.  Add parsley, salt, and pepper and serve over white rice.

Serves 12.

Tips for the Outdoorsmen : The 45 Minute Rule

Story by Kevin Wilson (Alberta Outdoorsmen Magazine)

Whether you've been mentored or educated through the school of hard knocks, if you're a seasoned bow hunter you know about the 45 minute rule; and if you don't, you should.  What's the 45 minute rule you ask?  Simply put, it's an unwritten rule of thumb reminding us that after every shot, we need to wait at least three quarters of an hour before following up.  Yes, I know there are exceptions to every rule, but the only exception to this one should be if you can see that the animal is down for the count.  Even then the savvy hunter still waits a few minutes before approaching.  It never ceases to amaze me how many archers and gun hunters for that matter, rush in to collect their prize without giving shot game adequate time to expire.

Perfect arrow or bullet placement will collapse game on the sport or within 50 metres of the point of impact.  That said we all know a good percentage of game falls victim to less than perfect shot placement.  In these instances it's wise to evaluate and act accordingly.  

Allow me to illustrate with the events of a a recent hunt.  A few weeks ago I was bow hunting mule deer in northern Alberta.  With an extra antlerless tag in my pocket, I capitalized.  Sneaking in to close range, the wind was in my favour.  I ranged the lone doe at 40 metres.  Totally unaware that I was there, she had her head down.  Just like shooting at the 3D range, I drew back, took my time, locked my sight pins on her chest and released.  My arrow entered in the bottom 1/3 of the chest just behind her shoulder and, because she was quartered slightly toward me, it exited half way back on the opposite side of the torso.  Jumping and then trotting toward me, she clearly didn't know what had happened.  The doe covered about 30 metres, slowed and immediately bedded down in the standing canola.  Some distance away my partner was observing through his binoculars from a high point.  As I looked toward him, he motioned that her head was still up so I backed away and joined him.  For 25 minutes we watched intently and finally her head dropped.  My partner was convinced it was done, but I was skeptical.  I've been bow hunting for nearly 20 years and I've seen just about everything there is to see when it comes to arrow wounds.  The one thing I know for certain is that every shot is different and unless you play your cards right, you stand to lose any game that isn't hit through the vitals.  Sound decision-making is critical and in this instance I was tempted to bend the rule to erroneously appease my curiosity.

Arrow placement had been nearly textbook but because the doe was slightly quartering toward me, i guess I'd only taken out one lung and passed through the diaphragm and liver.  Long story short, we opted to approach slowly.  With another arrow nocked I went to full draw and covered the last 20 metres with the notion of launching a finishing shot if necessary.

By all appearances she was down for the count.  Then, all of a sudden she sprang to her feet and bolted.  Clearly weak but in a last-ditch effort to escape, she managed to make it to the nearby willows.  Dumbfounded to say the least I could hardly believe my eyes.  I remember reprimanding myself for not waiting the 45 minutes!  I knew to wait it out but I opted to push it.  Well, to make a long story short, minutes later I walked up on my doe and she'd expired almost immediately upon entering the small bluff.  Despite the significant trauma inflicted by a fixed 4-blade Muzzy broadhead passing through her torso, my deer still had enough life to get up and go after 30 minutes.

So, what's the moral of the story?  In retrospect, this was a lesson for me and should be for all of us.  Sad but true, far too many bow hunters, not to mention gun hunters, lose games each year because they fail to wait before following up on their shot.  I remember watching an elk hunting video produced by famed bow hunter Larry D. Jones almost 20 years ago.  Following a less than ideal hit, he and partner Dwight Schuh were adamant about waiting at least 45 minutes before following up on the shot.  I'm normally militant about this rule myself, even if I've made a good hit.  Why did I break the 45 minute rule?  Basically because we had seen her head go down.  Was it the right decision?  Absolutely not!  We all get excited in the heat of the moment.  We're anxious to collect our prize, but in the end it's all about making the right decisions; decisions that will inevitably determine the outcome of our hunt.

Source: Alberta Outdoorsmen Magazine

OPC Tips and Tricks

Prepare Meat on a Stick:


When dehydrating or smoking meat, pierce an end of each strip with a toothpick.  Set the toothpicks across the bars of the rack or grill, letting the meat hang down.  You'll get faster result - and better taste.






Keep Live Bait on a Leash:


Use a 2-liter bottle to hold minnows when you're wade fishing.  Poke small holes in the bottle and add minnows. Tie one end of a cord to the neck (of the bottle), the other to your waders.  The bottle should stay afloat while you fish.

Source: Field & Stream

Scouting with.... your iPhone?

Zoom in With Your Camera Phone

A neat wildlife-viewing trick if you have a smartphone is to employ your binoculars as a magnifier.  Using the camera function on my iPhone, I line up the lens with one of the lenses of my binoculars and use the phone's screen as a viewfinder.  I spotted a buck, which was easily 125-plus yards away, and was able to snap several scouting photos and even some video.

-story source: Field & Stream March 2011-

A Total Outdoorsman - Is a Mentor

The following is an article that touches on the very soul of the true Outdoorsman.

________________________________________________

Mentoring our children is a natural extension of the love that creates them.  It takes little forethought or effort to place your hand over a boy's hand on the rod cork when he casts for trout, if the boy is your son, or to prop a backpack for a shotgun rest when a girl aims at a turkey, if the girl is your daughter.  But fewer Americans (*and in this case, Canadians) take to the outdoors each year, and for our connection to the earth to survive the 21st century, we must make a dedicated effort to extend the light of our passion for hunting and fishing beyond the circle of family.


The importance of passing the torch and becoming a mentor in this larger sense was driven home to me one evening when I rowed a friend of my son around in an alpine lake as he trolled a fly for cutthroat trout.  He was a tough kid who had endured a family situation that was far from ideal - I had picked him up at the battered-women's shelter - but water smooths stones, and the lake sanded the rough edges to reveal the smile underneath.  We may think of mentoring as giving, but its rewards go both ways, and the look on that boy's face when I scooped his first trout into the net is one I'll never forget.  Today, a photo of that kid at a fish fry the following day hangs over my desk.  It brings me joy every time I look at it.  But much more satisfaction is that the ripples those trout made have continued to spread as the boy, now a young man, teaches his own children to fish.


Had I fished alone that evening I might have caught more trout, but with only my eyes to see them they would have been long forgotten.

Source - Field & Stream May 2011

The Perfect Post-Fishing Cocktail

Celebrate a Memorable Day On The Water


It even looks like the perfect summer drink.  Tall, cold, and bubbly with a slice of lime, a gin and tonic is a tropical tradition dating back more than a century.  British colonials in India and beyond mixed quinine with carbonated water as an antimalarial medication.  Adding gin helped disguise quinine's bitter taste.  Modern tonic waters still contain quinine, but in smaller, non medicinal amounts.  Its still works magic, though, when mixed with a proper London gin in an ice-filled glass.  Then as now, a gin and tonic doesn't actually repel mosquitoes.  But after a couple you won't mind the bites so much.

photo  and  story  by  Field  &  Stream  June  2011

Norinco YW-12 Tactical Shotgun FOR SALE

PRODUCT DESCRIPTION:

Consignment Sale

NORINCO YW-12 PUMP ACTION TACTICAL SHOTGUN 

(REMINGTON 870 CLONE)

$350 NO GST - FREE SHIPPING

Comes complete with:

- 18.5" barrel
- interchangable pistol grip stock and Knoxx Spec-Ops 6 position M4 style Telescopic Tactical Stock
- steel heat shield
- gradient sights (similar to SKS sights)
- side saddle shotshell holder (holds six rounds)
- Kolpin tactical sling
- barrel cap sling swivel, as well as original fixed barrel cap 

Chambered in 12 gauge, accepts 2 3/4" and 3" shotshells, technically identical to a Remington 870 shotgun, all interchangable parts.
Gun works great, great camping/protection gun. 

All sales and used and consignment items are final, no returns or refunds. 

CLICK HERE TO VIEW DETAILS AND PICTURES

CALL 1.855.HUNT.OPC for more info.

Spotlight on: Briden Solutions Gear of the Month

Outdoor Pursuits Canada is pleased to introduce Briden Solutions - emergency preparedness products & solutions.

Part 1 of an ongoing gear of the month feature is....

The Volcano Stove from Briden Solutions is BACK just in time for BBQ and camping season! 

The Volcano 2 Collapsible Cook Stove is the best stove you can have for  camping, hunting, and backyard roasts.

The Volcano's amazingly energy efficient.
You can cook an entire meal with a 12 inch long 2 x 4 piece of wood! 
It collapses into itself for easy transport and storage.
And it offers Tri-fuel capacity -  fuel it with charcoal/brickets, wood or propane.

Learn more about the Volcano 
or
Order yours now

Briden Solutions is an Alberta based emergency preparedness company, learn more about how they can help you be better prepared online at www.BridenSolutions.ca

Things to consider when shopping for used archery tackle:

Spring hunting season is here and fall season is just around the corner, are you considering buying a used bow? Consider these five points carefully before you buy:



1) Is the lower cam nicked or stressed?


2) What is the draw length?


3) Are string or cables frayed or worn?


4) Are limbs cracked or split?


5) Are there accessories included?


Buying a used bow can be awesome and save you lots of $$$, but you gotta do your homework! Happy hunting from OPC!

Mossberg 702 Plinkster Tactical .22 - USED - FOR SALE

We have the following firearm for sale. 

- Mossberg 702 Plinkster Tactical .22 lr
- Was purchased new in November 2010
- Aprox. 250 rounds put through
- Flawless condition
- Consignment sale

- also included is a Tasco 1x red dot scope with 11 levels of reticle adjustment. (the scope has very minor surface wear)

Here is a complete description of the rifle:

The Tactical .22 matches an 18” barrel to a quad-rail forend, giving any shooter the opportunity to easily customize the Tactical .22 with lights, lasers or any number of AR accessories currently in the marketplace. The Tactical .22 is available in two stock configurations; a fixed stock with a standard 13” length of pull or a six-position polymer adjustable stock that offers a 10-3/4” – 14.5” LOP that accommodates smaller shooters as well as adults. The Tactical .22 features an integrated A2-style carry handle with rear sight and includes an optional handle-mount Picatinny rail which allows versatility in mounting scopes and other optics while providing the clearance necessary to utilize the open sights. Other features included with the Tactical .22 are sling mounts and a ten round magazine.

Price: $350, no GST, free shipping.

contact Jesse at info@outdoorpursuitscanada.com for inquiries.

Survival Tips 5 of 5

Build a Bivouac

Bivouacs reflect a fire's warmth, serve as a windbreak and provide overhead shelter in emergency situations.  They can be erected without tools in an hour if you are in an area with downed timber - less if you find a makeshift ridgepole such as a leaning or partly fallen tree to support the boughs.

Step one:
Wedge a ridgepole into the lower forks of two closely growing trees (one end can rest on the ground, if necessary), or support each end of the ridgepole with a tripod of upright poles lashed together near the top.

Step two:
Tilt branches or poles against the ridgepole to make a frame.  To strengthen it, interlace boughs through the poles at right angles.

Step three:
Thatch the lean-to with slabs of bark and/or leafy or pine-needle branches.  Chink with sod, moss or snow to further insulate.

(source: Outdoor Life)

Survival Tips 4 of 5

Directions By a Watch:

You can use a watch that has hour and minute hands to get an accurate indication of north and south (depending on which hemisphere you are in).  This technique is most reliable on a clear day when you can see the sun, but if it's cloudy, simply look for the brightest area of the sky.

Northern Hemisphere:
- Point the hour hand of your watch at the sun.  South will be halfway between the hour hand and the 12 o'clock.

Southern Hemisphere:
- Point the 12 o'clock mark of your watch at the sun.  North lies halfway between 12 and the hour hand.

(source: Outdoor Life)

Survival Tips 3 of 5

Get Your Bearings:
One way to determine direction without the aid of a compass is to drive a straight 3-foot-long stick into the ground in a sunny location and set a stone where the tip of the shadow falls on the ground.  Wait 20 minutes and then place another rock in the spot where the tip of the shadow has moved.  The first marker indicates the west end of a line running beteween the two rocks, the second marks the east.
(source: Outdoor Life)

Survival Tips 2 of 5

Rig a Snare:
In a survival situation, snares are a good way to catch some food.  They can be made from wire, fishing line, twine, strips of leather or cloth, rope or even shoelaces. 
Step One:
When using wire or other stiff material, bend the tip over and twist several times to form an eye.  The run the wire's other end through the eye to form the noose.  When using more pliant materials, make a loop that's closed with a slipknot.
Step Two:
Suspend the noose in a game trail, den hole entrance or other spot where animals are likely to pass.  The noose should be large enough for the animals head to pass through, but not its shoulders, so it will draw tight and hold the forward-moving animal.
Step Three:
Attach each snare to a solid anchor such as a nearby tree or a stake driven into the ground.
Check them frequently.
(source: Outdoor Life)

Survival Tips 1 of 5

Build a Solar Still:

- A solar still is one of the best methods for obtaining water in apparently dry areas.  In a low, unshaded area, dig a hole 1.5' deep and 3' in diameter.  Place a can or jar in the center of the hole and cover the hole with a large sheet of plastic, sealing the edges with dirt and rocks.  Put a rock in the center of the plastic directly above the container.  Moisture is drawn from the earth beneath the plastic and condenses on the underside of the sheet.  The water then runs down and drips into your container.  Greenery, such as chunks of cactus, lining the hole will increase production.  Depending on conditions, you might produce on pint to one quart of water daily.
(source - Outdoor Life)

My Favorite Outdoor Pursuit - T Shirt Contest Winning Entry

Below is the winning entry from our recent contest, asking our fans to tell us about their favorite "Outdoor Pursuit" - congratulations Andy Wheatley, you've won yourself an OPC T Shirt!


Although I am an active , Fisherman, Hiker, camper and overall outdoor enthusiast. My Favorite outdoor pursuit is Pond Hockey! There is nothing more gratifying than hiking into an area with a shovel, My Skates and stick. Finding an Ice surface. Testing it, clearing it and then having a good old fashion game of shinny with my buddies! I am 40 and have been doing this my whole life. It is by far my favorite part of being Canadian. I Have yet to find anything else that brings such a rush and such a great time! In my time finding Ice to play on I have seen a wealth of animals, some of the most beautiful scenery ever and some of the most fantastic sunrises and sunsets! We have even camped at sites to make a weekend out of it. The food always tastes great and the beer is always cold! The best kind of "outdoor pursuit" I can think of!



Thanks


Andy Wheatley

Where have all the meat hunters gone?

The other day I was on a job site, talking with some guys, naturally the conversation amongst outdoorsmen turned to hunting.  The one guy proceeds to pull out his I-Phone and show off several photos of a ram he had killed last fall.  I will give kudos to the guy for a nice trophy ram, taken on what looked like an epic hunt.  Then he goes on to tell the story of how he killed the animal, note: how he killed the animal, not how he hunted it.  Explaining in great detail how the rams face got to be covered in blood (nobody bothered cleaning up the animal for the photos), due to the Big-horn falling over a 100 feet down a rocky slope.  Now, you may be thinking, "Big-horn hunting often ends with a ram being shot and falling" and so and so...  That is true, however, should this be the part of your hunting story that makes you smile the most?

This guy then asks a few of those around how their seasons were, a few nods and some reciting of antler measurements later, I decide to show him a picture of a mule buck my hunting buddy harvested (having had mostly a "meat hunters" season myself).  Now this buck was a beauty.  Not the biggest one out there by any means, but the story behind it made the hunt, and the trophy, worthy of being talked about.  It was his first mule buck taken by archery, after a awesome rattling sequence (not to mention countless hours of scouting and prep).  I myself drove out that day to the spot to see the results of my buddies eventful morning, and then proceeded to lose 5 arrows in the snow, as all of the deer seemed to be on high alert.... but that is another story.   Anyhow... I show this guy the picture, it is a great pic BTW, animal is positioned just right, cleaned up, very respectful and even melancholy to those who appreciated the feelings of accomplishment that come from the hard work of taking an animal with a bow.  First thing buddy says, "oh.  what did he score?".  Not a question about the hunt, no comment on the quality of the photograph, no care in the world except numbers.  I answered (to the best of my knowledge), and got back a "oh.  that's it?, oh well", and then goes on to talk more about his bloody (literally) ram.

Walking away I am thinking, this is the type of attitude that breeds ignorance and perpetuates the anti-hunter sentiments of those who have a jaded view of the lifestyle and sport.  Why have antlers become
(for many) the sole means of measuring ones success as a hunter?  Now don't get me wrong, I like big antlers, horns, and whatever other means of measuring a trophy animal are out there.  But that isn't the only reason I like hunting.  The "kill" and the "trophy" have become the sole reason to hunt for some, and has turned many of these into a newer breed of quasi-unethical sportsmen/women.  Sure TV is somewhat to blame, who can't help getting hyped after watching a well known TV personality pass up a 175" 6x6 because "we are gonna wait for the big one..."  But does that hype and show really need to become the way of the average hunter?

I recently read an article that spoke of a community, where most of the families were involved with hunting in some way or another.  There was a healthy spirit of competition, but instead of scoring antlers, they weighed animals.  A trophy in their books was a freezer full of meat.  We all need to do a little more of this.  I am not saying pass up a shot on a monster whitetail because there might happen to be an even more monstrous doe also within range, but don't get down on the guy who is spilling over with excitement over his first doe, or spiker buck, or cow elk.  The last thing we need in a sport that is already shed in a bad light by some is dissension from within our ranks.  As sportsman we strive to encourage others to embrace the lifestyle and get exposed to a real outdoors experience.  And encouragement may come from flattery, interest and genuine kindness when talking about somebodies hunt, especially if it resulted in success.  Not success in a record book, but personal success that breeds an addiction to the outdoors, the fuel of our passion for excitement and exploration.

I have to go now my wife is cooking whitetail backstrap....

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Trip Plan and Travel Essentials

Things you should know and have when going on any outdoor adventure whether it be little or monumental!

1. Current map of the area and compass, KNOW HOW TO USE THEM!



2. Large orange coloured plastic bag - useful as a emergency shelter, signaling device or rainwear.


3. Flashlight and spare batteries (keep batteries warm in cold weather)


4. EXTRA food and water.


5. EXTRA clothing that is stored in a watertight plastic bag - rain and wind clothes, toque and gloves, sweater and warm pants (not jeans!), and proper footwear.


6. Sun/Insect protection - sunglasses, sunscreen, hat, long sleeved shirt and pants


7. Sturdy pocket knife or multi-tool


8. Candles and/or firestarter (efficient firebuilding in adverse weather MUST be learned before you venture out!)


9. Check weather forecasts and travel concerns prior to departure. When boating always wear a PFD.


10. First aid kit - (training is required to develop skills needed for proper first aid)


11. Whistle, small lightweight ground insulation, projectile-type flares, tarp, space blanket, flagging tape, notebook and pencil.


BE PREPARED and equipped to spend the night outdoors if needed. REMEMBER: unexpected delays, bad weather or injuries can turn any outing into an extended crisis.


Completing a Trip Plan prior to leaving on an outdoor excursion is very important. Leaving the Trip Plan with a responsible person is essential, your life may depend on it. In the event that you do not return from your trip as stated in your trip plan, it will be given to police and search & rescue organizers.