brookieman

Go with theses guys. It's the top school in Ontario and the instructor is the one that taught Les Stroud everything he knows.

http://www.solotripping.com/education.php?id=11

Sorry if this is the wrong location for, Mods feel free to move it if need be. I've got a canoe located in Toronto that needs to come up to Red Lake. I won't ship Kevlar as freight so it looks like it needs to hitch a ride.

If anyone is heading to Thunder Bay, Winnipeg or somewhere around there in the next few weeks, please send me a PM. I'm willing to pay a good chunk of your fuel bill for the trouble.

Cheers,

Brookie

Cool pics but i'd say not from Timmins...or anywhere close. Look at the trees in the background. That's a huge stand of softwood. While Birch and Poplar grow readily throughout the Timmins region, they don't grow in stands like that. Even large stands of softwoods are densely populated with Spruce and Jack Pine.

Average daily temps here are in the -25 range with early mornings seeing the -30's. I just can't sit that long at those temps. Snaring allows me to keep moving and work through different areas and see all the interesting things that go on. Up until the new year I also carried the .22 for grouse. Lots of grouse up here! After 4-5 hours you turn around and head back to check your snares...usually with a few birds as well.

I've gotten out every weekend for the past month. .22 and snares. This year was my first season snaring and i'd say that's the best way to get #'s. It also a great way to spend the day. We've got over 3 feet of snow in the bush up here so setting up snares while trying to negotiate a dense forest is an all day affair......and totally worthwhile.

Here's a shot from the end of December.

The landowner doesn't legally need to post any signs on his property. By law, RED DOTS / MARKERS on trees around the property line are all that's required.....and it's even written on the ticket you received.

Even better than Toporama, figure out the index number of the map you need and download the appropriate map here:

http://ftp2.cits.rncan.gc.ca/pub/canmatrix/50k_300dpi/

These are actual full size scans of the Ontario 1:50 000 topo maps. The same ones that cost you $ 12 in the store. Thank your tax dollars for this service.

It's a little unsettling to me how lightly some on this board take this subject. Go visit a hospital, an accident scene or a funeral after a DUI and you'll see why both the United States and Canada take this issue so seriously. Come on guys.....

"I still want Peddie and Tannenbaum canned!!!!!! "

It might be a little difficult to get Larry Tannenbaum canned since he's the only one with a personal investment in MLSE. No way he's going to let someone else how to spend his money.

A shakeup's definately in order.

A word of caution about Lee Cole....his flight license has been revoked in the past...do a google search and you'll find all the gov't documents explaining the circumstances. I flew with him 10 years ago to a small lake near Chapleau. I was not impressed with the accomoodations. We were the first party to fly in to that lake that year (late May), and he hadn't even been to the cabin to check on anything. As it turns out, the dock had broken away from ice so the plane had a heck of a time landing and we had to wade in the water to get everything to the shore. To make matters worse, the fridge had crapped out and it was extremely difficult trying to save over $ 250 of groceries. He didn't so much as offer any discount which really ticked us off.

The fishing was good.....but all the lakes up there are. I'd do some serious research before booking with him

Caveot Emptor

Here's a picture of a classic spider hole

If you're wondering how and when your favorite lake froze over, check this out. You can actually go back in time and see how the ice formed. May give you a better idea of thickness

http://wintercampingforums.com/index.php?topic=30.0

Abu-Garcia C-3 reels at Lebaron are $107 in the 2008 catalog, down from $127 last year.

 

One of the reasons why Bas Pro stuff is so expensive is because they have to pay their rent at the Vaughan Mills Mall and I don't want to think about how much that must be. They should have built their own stand alone store. There is no reason why they shouldn't be able to out compete Lebaron with the volume they sell across their entire netwok of stores. Lebaron has only 4 stores and their mail order, how many does Bass Pro have?

Big Guy, not to be too harsh, but you should speak from what you know, not from what you believe to be true. If you actually "knew", you would be aware that BPS is living rent free for now. Part of their deal with the Mills corporation to get the store built.

You should also be aware of the fact a lot of the product in the stores was purchased and paid for long before the dollar reached parity. No retail business in the world has prices that reflect daily currency markets...why??? because they would be broke quickly or their customers would complain consistently. Think about it before you sling the mud guys. It takes time to put orders through, receive merchandise, sort it, distribute it and finally stock it on store shelves. If you owned a store would you sell at a loss because the dollar changed....i think not.

Thanks...just checked their site and the sale is on for a few weeks. I'll be popping in next week!

Bigbuck, you're thinking of White River

Well done boss......next time get the pizza hut express at the gas station. My pizza only took 45 minutes! LOL

oh, i hust wanted to ad something Pam. Balck Bears are Omnivores, yet their is only 10% meat. They'll take advantage of sick animals or "easy prey", but mostly they forage for berries, insects etc...They may be at the top of the food chain, but they'll almost never look for a fight. They look at things in terms of energy consumption. Foraging doesn't consume much, tussling does. They'd rather just move on.

Are you talking from experience or just what you've read and believe as gospel?

Uhm, I dissagree. I haven't camped in a Provincial Park since I was very young. All my bear encounters (except the last 5 years in my backyard) have been in deep, dense, unpopulated bush where the bears have very few, if any, encounters with humans. They are predators, and intelligent scavengers. If they smell food, they will take advantage of the situation.

 

And when the bears have not seen people, they just think they are a new weird food source. Why should they be scared if they are the top predator in their home range? It is up to the people camping to be smarter than the bears.

 

As for the Algonquin bears. It was my understanding that when a bear grows large enough to take down a full grown moose, they start taking down people as well. I researched this a few years ago when the bears were huge up here. People make a lot less fuss than a full grown moose.

 

Pam

Pam, i must completely disagree with you. You should re-check your fact finding. While i agree they will take advantage of any food left carelessly lying around....so will a dog...or any animal for that matter.

Regarding your comment on taking down humans...i'm still shaking my head. How many predatory attacks are you aware of in the past 100 years....me, i don't know of too many. Compared to the number of back country travellers, it's certainly not much. Black bears rarely attack moose and the ones that are attacked are either sick or weak, or young. YOU WILL NEVER SEE A BLACK BEAR GO AFTER A HEALTHY FULL GROWN MOOSE. Bears are smart enough to know they'd likely not win that battle. Futher, moose are consistenly in their environment so they know where they stand with them. Not so in truly "back country" non park encounters with humans. Chances are you'll see their asses as they run into the safety of the bush. Have a conversation with any biologist and i'm pretty sure they'll concur.

I doub't anyone here would tell someone that they don't need to wear a life jacket while canoeing, or wear a seat belt or not drink and drive. It just doesn't make sense to me.

 

Certainly no offense to anyone that doesn't bear proof there campsite, like I said its your life and your picnic basket. Just don't cry out for sympathy if it were to happen to you.

Nobody's looking for sympathy Jedi. Different strokes for different folks. Your idea of bearproofing may be different from others.

As for your comments on worrying about bears in bear country...really why should "I" be concerned. Note the word "I". I'm well versed in knowing how to handle myself in the bush. How to respond to bears, both aggressive and those foraging. Again, the chances of an actual predatory attack is one in a million. I'm out there to enjoy my time, not worry about whether i'm lower than a bruin on the food chain.

Jedi, seems like a lot of your experiences come from Provincial parks, which are virtually garbage factories. It's like ringing a dinner bell. Park bears, especially those in Algonquin have come to relate humans to an easy food source...thus they become campsite bears, and the reason for them not leaving willingly. They know there's food! This doesn't mean they're aggrerssive though.

When it comes to well used camping areas such as Ontario's "southern" provincial parks, i'd pay more attention to my food supply. On crown land and other remote areas, i don't worry. Like Dan said, if i see a bear, it's a perfect photo op, not a reason for panic.

I've read everyone's comments on this thread. lots of differing opinions, and you can't say anyones truly right....There's been lots of talk in the media about bears and they're getting a bad rep. it seems the problem is that as soon as someone see's a bear, panic ensues....and most people look at how they can eliminate the bear. Why? He's just out doing what he does. We're in his domain people. Just because a black bear takes a step towards you, or stands up on two legs doesn't mean he aggressive. He's just curious and this is his way of determining what to make of the situation. Instead of fearing the bear or looking for ways to protect ourselves from them, maybe we should focus our energies on understanding their behaviour. In the end there'd be a lot less bears killed, and a lot fewer incidents repoprted.

My $0.02

To the guy that said you have a better chance of being struck by lightning....

Well if you ran around in a thunderstorm with a 10 foot metal pole duct taped to your head you would greatly increase your chances of being struck by lightning.

 

Keeping food at ground level or even worse in your tent is like running around with a pole on your head in a thunderstorm when in bear country.

 

Use your head for more than a hat rack. Tie up your food and sleep soundly. or if you want to get your rocks off. leave it on your picnic table 10 feet from your tent wake up in in fear at every crackle or sound when inside your tent.

Jedi, i'm sure glad i don't run around the bush with you. It's comments and attitudes like yours that put everyone in jeaprody....bears too.

To the guy that posted about always heading out with a loaded firearm.....to each their own...but if you have a gun with you, you're more likely to use it even WHEN IT'S NOT TRULY WARRANTED. As was posted before, bears are naturally curious animals ( just like humans ). Don't mistake their curiosity for aggression. Unfortunately many do and bears are shot.

For all my time in the bush, i've never come across an aggressive bear....curious yes, but never aggressive.

Hundreds of thousands go out unarmed into the bush every year....how many "ATTACKS" are you aware of....me, i don't know of too many. Certainly not enough to give them a second thought while running around the backcountry.

Everyone's got their opinions on the subject...i just wonder how many of those opinions are educated?

yah...but when you're shivering on a Lake LE island do you think yogi is gonna swim out there? LOL

Cheap shot!!....and it was Diamond. Yogi was too busy freezing his butt off those nights

I would still put the barrell up a tree as well. The bears will smell food inside.

 

Basically, you want to get your food high enough that the smell of your food is carried far away from it's location and/or dissipates before hitting the ground. About 25-30 is the height I hang my food/cooler.

 

(I am knocking on wood right now) I have never seen a bear while camping. I attribute this to being careful with ANYTHING that smells like food, including toothpaste, deodarant, etc. I also like to bang a pot just before I start cooking fish, bacon or something really fragrant.

 

Camping on islands or points will reduce your chance of bear encounters.

Oh...well i spent pretty much all summer in my tent, always with a barrel full of food and never hung it. I don't see the need. I simply park it next to a tree some 30 feet from the tent. My attitude is if a bear does happen to find it and wants in...i'm gonna hear him. Last thing i want is some bear trying to get his hands on my grub, especially when i'm out for 1 week+. I'll be out of my tent trying to scare him off!

Just purchae a barrel from your local shop. Their darn near airtight. Never had a problem bear yet.

I'm getting this program for sure..

Nice pics. Just wondering how "early" those bass were caught as i'm pretty sure there's leaves on the trees by the end of June.

WATCH OUT FOR RATTLESNAKES