outontherock

No moose

2012-02-04T11:31:00.002-03:30

First time for a long time. I waited too late. Chasing birds with the dogs. Ice locked me out of the back country where its a sure thing. Quads and snowmobile would have opened up the back country but I don't like machines in the woods. Hares and eider ducks are next on the menu. A child should be able to kill a moose around here.Next time moose comes before the birds

just out of the woods

2012-01-21T13:41:00.001-03:30

As wet,cold and tired as I have ever been. Lots of fresh snow and still snowing. Can't wait to go again at first light tomorrow. Life is good.

Out looking for meat again tomorrow

2011-12-30T17:59:00.005-03:30

Saw two moose and a coyote last time out while glassing. 50MPH winds here today and mild. Fair bit of sign around. The coyotes are thick this year. So are the hares. I guess that's related

Most of my pics this week are blurry as can be seen here. Don't know whats up with the camera. Those pictures are from earlier in the week. Boxing day I think. I have next week off for moose hunting but the weather is looking iffy. I have a bull only licence and can't get into the remote areas now. Snow is not the problem ice is. Many of the bulls now have dropped the racks now as well. I don;t care about racks but it makes identifying a bull more problematic. I should have spent more time chasing moose in November but with me the dogs come first. Sure could use the meat though. Will keep plugging away until the end of January. I can also take a calf but I am not keen on that

Merry Christmas

2011-12-24T08:36:00.000-03:30

To all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year

Today at work

2011-12-19T22:51:00.001-03:30

Out today doing trials for rescue offshore
Photos courtesy of coworker T.W.

Two posts of a few pics below.

2011-12-15T19:03:00.003-03:30

All were taken roughly two weeks ago. We had some snow and a then a thaw with wet mild weather. Its frost again here. Access to the backcountry by canoe is gone for the winter now. I have two weeks more leave coming. I worked a great deal of OT last winter and am taking it as time off. After Christmas day I am going to spend two more weeks in the woods hopefully

2011-12-15T18:58:00.000-03:30

2011-12-15T18:48:00.000-03:30

Sometimes even in the woods things go wrong

2011-12-07T18:41:00.002-03:30

The world is far from perfect, even in the woods. I lost my first big game animal last week. I did the best I could and still lost it. Its bothering me a great deal. In bed at night I play everything over and over in my mind. I may be a long time before I shoot at another moose. I always felt for the animal at the kill but I really appreciated the meat. If you like and respect animals though, to hit one and lose it leaves an awful sensation in the pit of the stomach. Probably finished with the blog for a while as well

I repeat this post once or twice a year

2011-11-23T19:17:00.009-03:30

and its good. I love this. Working with some leftover moose at the moment . I cook this twice a month or so in the colder months. Works with moose ,snowshoe hare or ptarmigan. It is my favourite meal in the cold months. See Hanks page below.
If you love good food you have to try this. Cooking it now while waiting for the snow to start

http://honest-food.net/2011/10/02/spanish-chilindron-stew/

Copy and paste link not working for me

I have been back to work a week and 1/2 now

2011-11-22T19:19:00.004-03:30

Was supposed to be weekends only now.
I went moose hunting this weekend passed. It was blowing a gale so I couldn't get up the lake. The season has been opened a while now and there is a big cull on so I saw no moose or sign near the road. I don't have much of a chance with just weekend hunting.
I have a fair bit of leave accumulated so managed to wrangle another week off starting Friday. Going to give it an honest shot in the backcountry if the weather holds. Cool and clear here now. It is not hard to kill a moose here. The problem is for a solitary hunter that won't use a quad is to get a moose where he can manage it hence the freighter canoe or packframe. I also despise road hunting. When you are talking moose you don't want to use the pack frame once you are passed 50. A couple of weeks ago I could have killed them in my yard

Moose hunting tomorrow

2011-11-18T19:16:00.000-03:30

Heading up country in the morning

Weekend hunting from here on in

2011-11-13T10:15:00.003-03:30

Back to work tomorrow after 9 and a half weeks off. Today is the last day of the ptarmigan season in my area but for me it finished Thursday.
Today is a pretty nice day but I don't hunt on Sundays as that is a family day.

I will try the rifle the week to check that it has held zero and will now be out with a rifle every weekend until I get my moose or the season closes.

I hunt some big lakes by still hunting along the shore and also by spot and stalk. I glass morning and evening and on windy days I still hunt. I have to get my moose fairly near the shore so I can recover him by canoe or boat as I am a solitary hunter. Looking forward to it though and I truly appreciate the meat.

Shown above is an area I hunt moose.
Hate to leave the dogs home though!

Daughter just before Remembrance Day Service

2011-11-11T20:06:00.003-03:30

I am proud of her. She is in the Royal Canadian Army Cadets.

Lest we Forget

2011-11-10T17:49:00.001-03:30

time for birds is getting short

2011-11-08T17:20:00.004-03:30

But am starting to look forward to moose hunting. Mid November is about the time to lay down the shot gun and pick up the rifle. Birds are getting white. Windy day today birds where wild. Getting edgy for the rifle. Looking forward to heading up the big ponds in the canoe. It will be nice to get into the woods where you can get a break from the wind

I no longer have a cell phone

2011-11-01T17:33:00.000-02:30

threw it in a pond....laptop to follow

pup coming along nicely

2011-10-30T18:08:00.001-02:30

lunchtime

2011-10-24T18:40:00.002-02:30

I am spending so much time alone with my dogs

2011-10-24T18:24:00.003-02:30

In the woods and barrens that I am getting spoiled. I may never be able to deal with bull crap again.I saw some beautiful moose today. I am soon going to leave the shotgun at home and take the rifle. I hate doing that to my dogs though. The pics above show the country that I will be hunting for moose come November

pup pointing wild birds

2011-10-22T19:17:00.001-02:30

Best kind of Roadtrips

2011-10-20T23:45:00.000-02:30

2011-10-20T23:31:00.000-02:30

2011-10-20T23:22:00.001-02:30

birds in the roaster. Local carrots, turnip in the pot

2011-10-19T18:58:00.002-02:30

Not long home, Dogs tired, hunting 4 days straight , shotgun cleaned, another brace of birds chilling in the fridge, drinking a rum and coke. Another great day in the world that God made. I am working tomorrow then off for another 3 or 4 weeks. Got to appreciate these days.

I am appreciating this

2011-10-18T19:18:00.002-02:30

There were times last year when I had doubts we would all make it especially the dogs.
We are appreciating this. When I was 17 I quit university to go bird hunting and a year or two later picked a career that would allow me to take the falls off. Now in my 50's I know life is just a flash. Had a great couple of days with the dogs. Living for the day

pups day out

2011-10-16T18:45:00.001-02:30

2011-10-15T19:46:00.003-02:30

The first picture below is about 12 Kilos from my house, looking back at my community. The next is at roughly the same spot looking west. I don't normally post pics of dead birds but do now and then. They with hopefully, a moose, will get me through the winter. Some people email me and ask if there is any forest in Newfoundland so I have included a pic of the track up into the country. Lots of ruffed grouse there and you can see one in between the ptarmigan on the freezer.

It will soon be time to look for a moose

2011-10-15T19:38:00.000-02:30

few pics

2011-10-15T19:26:00.001-02:30

my legs hurt

2011-10-13T18:13:00.002-02:30

I just took two birds out of the oven(ptarmigan) with a small pot of turnip and carrots. I am home about an hour. I had a day in with Sam my English yesterday and got a few birds but had a day today with Dunc my older Gordon which will help get me through the winter. He is an old dog at 12 but he gets it done without any flash. Today was one of the best days I ever had on the barrens. I walked a lot the past two days and climbed some big friggen rocks today with a 12 y/o dog that doesn't know the meaning of quit. I also saw one of the biggest bull moose that I have seen in a long time and am going to have a look see tomorrow with my rifle. A few pics maybe tomorrow.
Its an old cliché but life is good. And some people chase money

I would love to win an atv,argo or off road machine

2011-10-11T17:52:00.002-02:30

So I could burn the dam thing. Hate'em
If I can't walk I won't go.

In just about everyday

2011-09-28T19:52:00.004-02:30

Beautiful spell of weather. Birds for supper tomorrow. Pup is starting to find out what its all about.

2011-09-21T19:07:00.000-02:30

sunny day beautiful

2011-09-19T15:53:00.002-02:30

I love days when you feel as you can walk forever.

First Day in

2011-09-18T18:07:00.004-02:30

Maria past right overhead but there was nothing to her. Winds got up to maybe 50mph in gusts and a bit or rain. It was fast moving so it already started to clear late Friday evening.. Saturday dawned bright but wind was at 30 mph gusting to 50 so I just went out for an hour or two in the evening. Very windy and I couldn't find the two coveys I was seeing when running the dogs but saw one single and he is now cooling in the fridge.

Maria to make landfall here Today

2011-09-16T09:02:00.004-02:30

Maria is a cat 1 hurricane and is expected to cross right overhead. Guess the power will be going out late today -tonight.
Last year we lost power for several days with Igor. Nothing we cant handle. Bird season opener tomorrow will probably be postponed

Time to move the lawn furniture

Just started 10 weeks Vacation

2011-09-13T19:38:00.000-02:30

One Week from Today

2011-09-10T17:36:00.002-02:30

One week from today the bird season opens. There seem to be a few birds around and the dogs are ready. I hope I will be. I was worried about the dogs all year but now they seem fine. Maybe we will make it.

2011-09-03T10:38:00.002-02:30

Just got back from running the dogs. Two weeks from today bird season opens and four weeks from today moose opens. I have the weekend off, then work 9 days straight, then have 9 weeks off to hunt.

been cool all summer now we get a bit of heat

2011-08-19T18:11:00.004-02:30

Just in time, as I start to run the dogs we get temps in the high 70's. It was beautiful weather for running dogs. Now that we can it heats up.

This is an older picture in cooler weather

Moose with the sheep

2011-08-03T09:51:00.003-02:30

In a post a few days ago I posted a fresh moose track so I thought that a moose on the nearest island had left. This morning though I saw that she is still there

Saw her while having my morning coffee so walked down a little closer for a look.

great to be young!

2011-08-01T21:42:00.002-02:30

It may hit 60 later this week

2011-07-31T23:20:00.009-02:30

I hear that on the mainland people are complaining of the heat. Send some this way. It is not going to go near 60 here this week.

Wet and cool all summer. It has been a good summer for Atlantic salmon fishing but I have been busy.

http://www.weatheroffice.gc.ca/forecast/city_e.html?nl-24&unit=i

Some of my ships

2011-07-30T13:34:00.006-02:30

The white vessel is MV Camilla. She has been abandoned in the picture and is in the process of being salvaged. There was fun and games aboard of her;-)

After salvage she was sailed to Antwerp Belgium. I went across on her. What a trip. I could write a book about being on board while the crew were getting her ready ,the subsequent voyage and what went on after arrival.

The red vessel is the Lady Franklin. I sailed aboard her for a few years from the Arctic to the Antarctic and all points in between. We had a really rough voyage to Turkey aboard of her one winter.

Anyway time to take the dogs out

Someday Africa

2011-07-30T13:29:00.003-02:30

Growing up on the rock

2011-07-30T13:20:00.007-02:30

Two evenings outside kitchen window

2011-07-30T13:13:00.003-02:30

Cool day again. Very little sun this summer,still nice

2011-07-30T13:02:00.004-02:30

There was a cow moose on the island just off the community the last few days. i think she left last night

patiently awaiting fall

2011-07-30T12:54:00.002-02:30

good stuff Ryan Bingham

2011-07-23T18:31:00.003-02:30

Nice weekend

2011-07-23T14:02:00.004-02:30

Nice warm Saturday afternoon in the crowded city

Pup wants to explore his world

Up the hill on back of the house

It was a little warm so we came back early. All three of the dogs will get a run along the shore this evening when it cools. Found a brood of grouse not 400 meters from the house. I know where there are 3 broods of birds within a 15 minute walk of the house. I won't fire a shot at either of them. Seems like it will be good for grouse. I hope ptarmigan numbers are good. I have been extremely busy but will have time the fall if all works out

That point in the last pic is a good spot in the winter for sea ducks. The islands are a seabird sanctuary.

Warm day here too warm for the dogs. Heading out in the yard to saw up some poplar I took down around the house. The woods are trying to creep into the living room. They have been keeping the place damp. Its 64 degress in the city. definitely warmer than that here. I would say its 70. Thats about as hot as it gets here. If you guys in mainland Canada or the USA ever get sick of the heat Newfoundland is your spot

2011-07-22T19:48:00.004-02:30

Its Friday evening here and its a nice evening. There are 22 days until you can run your dogs on wild birds again. I am getting a little tired of hanging around our little community. I spend quite abit of time with my dogs and more so now with the pup here. The last time I got a pup I ended up having to take off to Kazakhstan and leave the looking after a brand new pup to my wife and daughter which they did without complaint. My daughter loves the new pup. Actually she loves all animals she is like her dad that way.

There is a cow moose out on the island just offshore with the sheep the past few days. She is up in the woods now but I will try to get a pic of her later

Drooling and nasal discharge again

2011-07-08T07:12:00.003-02:30

Sam and Duncan have started drooling with nasal discharge again. The discharge is becoming more profuse and thicker, though it is still at this point anyway still clear. Anybody have any ideas. My vet cannot find the cause.

Anybody with any ideas?

Just let the dogs out

2011-07-03T23:28:00.002-02:30

I just let the dogs out to water. Antares in Scorpio is to the south now over the sea. Deneb of the Northern Cross is over to the eastward with Vega and Altair and the milky way. These are the summer stars. I look forward to Orion and before him Pleiades because that will be the fall and my vacation time. While I waited for the dogs I could see the heavens and hear the sea. Back to work tomorrow. Sigh. Maybe when this fall is over I will go back to sea again

2011-07-03T22:59:00.006-02:30

Sam doesn't know the meaning of slow Duncan is a little more relaxed. I wish I still had Sams energy.

out around the house

2011-07-02T21:23:00.002-02:30

Fog cleared feels like summer

2011-07-01T17:20:00.002-02:30

For you bird hunters that visit here, these are two online bird hunting magazines that I have run across.

At work in the heart of the city

2011-06-30T19:38:00.002-02:30

Today I had to go to the centre of St John's for a day of meetings with work. Finished up at 430pm and headed home in city traffic. I really cannot see how people do this everyday. Most of my working career I went to sea for a living and now live outside the city and work outside the city. St John's is not a big city by most standards but I would have great difficulty in doing this everyday.

Anyway now have a three day weekend at home with family and dogs.

Its a great year for salmon by all accounts up this shore but with 3 dogs, one being a 9 week old pup and a persistent respiratory issue I will be just relaxing this weekend and maybe taking the dogs for a run somewhere clear of the birds along the shore.

My daughter now is playing with "her pup" and my dogs are lying under my feet.

Summer has not yet begun here and I am longing for fall.

Just hope we all make it

There is always hope!

2011-06-26T10:36:00.002-02:30

Tired Pup
Just awake and a drink

Should be here Saturday

2011-06-15T20:38:00.003-02:30

Clean bill of health for my two dogs

2011-06-08T21:09:00.001-02:30

Pup will be here in about 3 or 4 weeks

Dan

Big game this fall

2011-06-04T11:16:00.003-02:30

I just found out I drew a bull only moose licence for this fall. I was glad to get it as I love to eat moose. I didn't have a moose licence last fall but had one the year before. I still have a bit of moose in the freezer and a few birds,. That and trout and maybe a salmon or two will get me through till the fall. Atlantic salmon will soon be running here and I hope to get in a bit of salmon fishing in this year.

Now if i can only get my two setters straight another vet visit is schedule for Tuesday evening.

The last of spring training

2011-05-26T22:35:00.005-02:30

The last of spring training a few weeks ago with the dogs.If we are still alive we will return to the barrens about mid August. In the meantime trout fishing is open and salmon is just a few weeks away.There are still a few issues with the dogs and I am not 100% myself but God willing we will see the fall

Checking out the open country

2011-02-22T18:26:00.002-03:30

Yesterday I got enough rabbits and there was no wind forecast which is a rarity here in Newfoundland in the winter so I put on the skis and headed in the open country. There was no wind but with the overcast and flurries I saw whiteout conditions a time or two. Its supposed to be a bit breezy tomorrow so I will have the snowshoes on and head for the woods. The barrens is no place to be in the wind with drifting snow

Snowshoes are required

2011-02-21T19:42:00.005-03:30

I took a week off work. We have lots of snow great for skis and snowshoes. I will be heading out every day for snowshoe hares with a day or two for seaducks (Eiders)
Ptarmigan for supper, rabbits ( what we call hares) Tomorrow

2011-02-06T16:28:00.004-03:30

I have been getting out for an occasional afternoon looking for snowshoe hares and there are a few around. It is nice to see the evenings start to get a little longer as well.

My dogs both have a mild cough that is hanging on. I have spent about 500.00 in vet bills but we cannot find out exactly what is wrong. The dogs have their normal energy and appetite but have an occasional cough and engage in frequent headshaking as if they have an ear infection. They have been treated for French heartworm/lungworm and have been on antibiotics but still the coughing.

The vets here don't know whats wrong. Anyone have any ideas?

Dan

Back to a normal winter

2011-02-06T16:18:00.003-03:30

warm December, no snow for Santa

2010-12-17T22:52:00.005-03:30

A high pressure ridge over Greenland has been blocking the passage of low pressure systems from crossing the Atlantic and is ruining our December. Very mild weather with fog and rain is what we are getting. It has been warmer here in Newfoundland than in Orlando Florida the past few days. I was bitten by a mosquito at work today. We should be tracking moose and hares in the snow. The warm weather extends up into the eastern arctic. Yesterday Iqaluit on Baffin Island was warmer than Havana Cuba. We don't get really cold here on the island but we generally get a great deal of snow. I have new back country skis. Hope to use them soon.

Sam seems to be on the mend so all is not lost. He is still not 100% but he seems pretty good.

French Heartworm may be the culprit. It is not the same heartworm that is found on the continental US but something unique to Europe and maritime Canada.

Fingers crossed here.

I hope to be grouse hunting Christmas week and a cousin asked me to guide him moose hunting. He hasn't been big game hunting before so needs a hand. Looking forward to Christmas week.

regards

Dan

Dan.

Sick dog

2010-12-14T19:25:00.002-03:30

My English setter Sam is sick. He is coughing and gagging. Congestive heart failure has been ruled out. Looks like a mild obstruction or maybe lungworm. He is not coughing so much now but salivating a fair bit and gagging a little when excited. I have him on Sentinel. He has cost me $300 in vet visits and still dont know whats wrong. Life sucks when pup is sick!!!

2010-12-01T22:48:00.003-03:30

It won't be long before we get this

One of my dogs was sick and I was getting worried. He seems to be getting better. I was sick, wasn't worried, seem to be getting better. Haven't been on the barrens since the 14th but hoping to change that this weekend.I have to drive about an hour and a half now for ptarmigan, grouse are out the back door. Heading for the open barrens hopefully Saturday

Last ptarmigan of the season

2010-11-16T20:50:00.004-03:30

Well I was off for 8 weeks and started back to work yesterday. The ptarmigan season is closed now on the eastern part of the island.(Closed Sunday.) I may or may not get a few days in the central part of the island depending on the weather. If not I will spend my weekends now hunting grouse/ hares and then maybe a few seabirds as we get into the winter. I did not draw a big game licence this fall but probably will next fall. I do know that I will get in the woods every chance I get. I got out Friday, Saturday and Sunday and the weather was fantastic. I am about to clean my last bird now. It was a great fall

Last few days out

2010-11-12T08:39:00.001-03:30

Beautiful weather forecast for the next three days. Last week was rough but we still did ok. After Sunday work. UUGHH

Windy

2010-11-05T19:15:00.002-02:30

The wind has been blowing all week but it remains mild. We had some frost this week but nothing too bad but the wind has been giving the dogs a hard time. They get a bit of bird scent and up get the birds. Flushing way out of range. I saw 9 birds in singles and doubles Wednesday 20 minutes out of the truck and didn't pull the trigger. Walked then 7 hours for two birds. Today I saw about 10 birds and killed one. The dogs are enjoying it and thats the main thing. My older Gordon is having a great fall and this will probably be his last for all day hunts. saw caribou and moose everywhere today.Sorry pics aren't great, too busy, having a great time

2010-11-02T18:15:00.004-02:30

http://honest-food.net/wild-game/chilindron-spanish-red-pepper-stew/

He is not wrong when he calls it the ultimate game stew. I have had it with moose,ptarmigan(partridge,) snowshoe hares ( rabbits ) even Turr anything turns out well with this. I am on the first pot of the year and it will carry me through a long day tomorrow on the barrens hopefully. Its not done yet

Week and a half left

2010-11-02T08:55:00.003-02:30

I still have close to two weeks off but am waiting out a spell of weather. Coming into November the weather is always a bit iffy here especially with the wind. I will start doing a bit of grouse hunting and rabbit slipping now and head for the open country on fair days. I was going to say good days but they are few and far between now

2010-10-25T18:52:00.002-02:30

We have been getting out a fair bit and the dogs have been doing well with the birds. The weather has been fair with frequent showers and a bit breezy but today was beautiful and sunny but still a bit of wind. I am afraid that this will be the last year for all day hunts with Duncan the Gordon but he loves getting out. It is time for me to get another dog and i am looking at getting a Gordon for my daughter this spring. Sam is doing well. Last year I hunted the dogs separately most days so I would aways have a fresh dog but this year have been working them together.

3 more weeks left off. Life is good

Still Getting Out There

2010-10-25T18:29:00.003-02:30

Big sky

2010-10-14T08:23:00.003-02:30

In the video on the barrens you can see Duncan the Gordon going along but Sam is difficult to see. He gets out there when the country opens up. Next time I will show some pics of the dogs on point. I want to do the best for my dogs after their hard work so I don't get enough photos of the dogs pointing. Hopefully going again tomorrow

As strange as it may seem there are also a great many moose in this country. They lay in the spruce/fir breaks in the valleys where you get brooks and small streams. It used to be good caribou country years ago but numbers have declined greatly in this area

Southern Shore Barrens Cape Race

2010-10-14T08:00:00.003-02:30

This is the eastern edge of North America. Big coastal barrens. The pictures don't do it justice

Up on the ridges you can walk for a long ways

2010-10-07T22:28:00.005-02:30

Beautiful day

2010-10-05T09:19:00.003-02:30

Yesterday was a beautiful day on the country. It was calm sunny and warm just perfect for walking. On days like it you feel as if you could walk forever. A little more of a breeze would have helped the dogs more. Duncan the Gordon is still going all day. Pretty good for a 11 year old dog. Sam the English burns up the horizon

Pics
Boiling up on the barrens. I boil the kettle most days. When its cooler I use an open fire but on days like today I use a small stove.
Dogs taking a break as I boil up.
Going again tomorrow

Hoping to get out soon

2010-10-03T21:59:00.003-02:30

With the weather and a few other things I was tied up most of last week. I only got out Monday. The dogs and I are restless,the weather looks good hoping to get out quite a bit this week.

Politically Incorrect in Canada

2010-09-25T13:05:00.004-02:30

tail gate

2010-09-25T12:57:00.003-02:30

Tailgate photos and photos of dead game have passed out of fashion but i like them sometimes. I look at game as a gift so it is something I am grateful for. The birds they are gifts.

Out after the blow

2010-09-25T12:41:00.002-02:30

Well most of last week was a write off. We had the remnants of Igor blow through last week. It was the harshest wind i have seen anywhere outside of Antarctica. Gusts were recorded at some locations of 167 kph or 107 mph. We had 150 mm of rain some spots recorded over 250. There are still communities isolated from roads washed out. Nearby there were utility poles knocked down and we were without power, water or phone for 24 hour. This was Tuesday and Wednesday some communities are still down. We are used to harsh weather here though.

Anyway yesterday dawned sunny and I got out for a few hours. I had to pick up my daughter at 3pm so i loaded dogs and my new Browning Superlight feather and headed out. I am extremely pleased with the new shotgun and have shot clays with it a few times. I have shot better with it than any of my other guns it just seems to fit and its fast

No hunting Tomorrow

2010-09-20T17:38:00.001-02:30

Forecasting 150mm rain (6 inches) wind at 120 Kms/hour. heavy surf. Remnants of igor going to pass pretty close.
dan

First day

2010-09-18T21:33:00.002-02:30

Was a wet windy day to start so I went in a few hours before dark. The dogs worked well and a few birds are chilling in the fridge. From now on I will be carrying the camera. Its good to get back to the real world.

Saturday it starts again.

2010-09-16T21:57:00.002-02:30

Well I am finished work for 9 weeks. Dogs are in shape, I have tuned up on the rifle range and the trap field. Lots of shotgun shells.Dogs are raring to go and so am I. One last trip to town tomorrow for licences and permits and if all goes well weeks of hunting the wild country. Dogs are leaned down a bit from running after work in the evenings. I wish I could say the same for myself. The country around here though is changing slowly though. The slopes are getting steeper at an increasing rate every year. I have young Sam who doesn't know what slow is and Duncan who like myself needs a little more breath to get up the hills and like myself is a little slower now getting into hunting trim. I love this time of year and walking from dark to dark in tundra and bog. 50 years old and too excited to sleep. Life can be wonderful.

Another Fall is Near

2010-08-29T15:06:00.004-02:30

It looks like we will probably make it to the fall. In less than three weeks I will be throwing work aside for another full season to spend hunting. I finish work on the 16th of September and in the past few weeks myself and my dogs have been getting ready. I spent a only few evenings trout fishing the summer and didn't even wet a fly for salmon this year. . I might have been out in the canoe once or twice but mostly have been busy with work. I did get away once a week or so to the local range to shoot a bit. Trying to get myself and my dogs back into hunting shape is what we have to do most evening now.

As I get older I find it takes longer to get used to the days in which you start walking at first light and probably still are walking after the sun set. I hope to be actively blogging as well again this fall. All my life I loved this time of year.

We are still kicking

2010-05-06T18:53:00.005-02:30

I haven't posted in a while but hope to resume doing so soon. The snow is gone and trout fishing is about to open. I have been running the dogs quite a few birds made it through the winter.

Just behind my house

ptarmigan country in the snow

2010-02-09T19:24:00.007-03:30

There

We have been having a very mild winter here in Newfoundland while it seems most of North America is getting hammered.The temperature here is expected to hang around the 32 degree Fahrenheit mark for the next week or so. We will get snow and rain. I had occasion to cross some barrens this afternoon and took a few pics. There was not much sign of life on the barrens, I walked for two hours and never cut a track or sign of life. All wildlife is in the woods clear of the open country
dan

looking for a pup

2010-02-07T19:12:00.002-03:30

I am looking at getting another dog come spring. I am thinking about another Gordon, one for my daughter. We have a Gordon and and English setter now but the Gordon is starting to get up there. I am hopeful for a year or two with him yet(the older Gordon). I love having a pup around the house

I also need a couple of dogs in the fall as I take the last two weeks of September, and all October, November. Its always good to have a fresh dog on hand

Dan

Old dogs gone

2010-02-07T19:10:00.004-03:30

2010-02-07T18:57:00.001-03:30

This was taken a couple of years ago I used to spend quite a bit of time in after hares with beagles. It was great fun and a great deal more productive than hunting without dogs

Hunt,fish, eat

2010-02-06T12:47:00.004-03:30

We are just coming through a blizzard here on the east coast of Newfoundland but at least its mild. I have been out a fair bit looking for snowshoe hares on weekends and evenings when I can get away but am seeing more signs of coyotes than hares. Hunting has been poor for me this winter meatwise but I had a great fall. I am still eating moose 5 days a week and ptarmigan,hare or waterfowl for a change. I might have a bit of chicken on Sunday otherwise I have eaten nothing but game since November.
I just finished a big pot of Chilindron made with moose. I got the recipe from here http://www.honest-food.net/blog1/wild-game/chilindron-spanish-red-pepper-stew/.It is really worth trying as well as the other recipes on this great website. I have been eating this since Thursday night and am sorry to see the last of it go. Tonight I will be having ptarmigan fried in a cast iron pan with olive oil and a bit of garlic with a few pieces of broccoli, cauliflower and leeks. Trout fishing for brook trout through the ice is next. I should really start working on those coyotes as well. I am not keen on shooting if I am not going to eat it but the coyotes are getting very thick here in some places. In one spot they are following me and taking hares from my snares.
regards
Dan

2010-01-16T18:55:00.002-03:30

I was out at evening looking for snowshoe hares with a 22 rifle and had no luck. Bird season and big game is long gone so I spend a few evenings now looking for hares with a 22 rifle that my dad bought for me a long time ago. We have had a very mild winter here in contrast to what most of eastern North America has been having, with very little snow. We normally get a great deal of snow, I mean meters of snow. This year so far no snowshoes are needed in the woods. Anyway today was damp cold not winter cold this evening in the woods and very little has moved in the woods since the last snowfall. I am home now, my daughter is home from nans and I am having a rum and coke with a bit of lime while frying a nice piece of moose with mushroom and onions. Life is good. Dark in the winter but still good. The moose and ptarmigan, ducks and geese that I shot the fall will keep me through the dark months. The sun is already on its way back north.
Its going to be a busy winter at work. It looks like I am going to be working a lot of 7 day weeks so I am glad to have gotten out the fall. Its now time to pay for it

regards
Dan

Merry Christmas all.

2009-12-26T13:33:00.002-03:30

A Merry Christmas to anyone who happens along. I haven't posted in a while but I have a week off and I hope to be spending a fair bit of time in the woods. I hope all enjoy the season

Nothing fancy

2009-12-07T21:46:00.004-03:30

I love bird dogs whose reason for being is finding birds and they look at you as you come abreast of them by rolling their eyes until you see the whites without them moving their heads.
I love the covey flush which gets your chest pounding and your adrenaline going as if it is your first covey.
I love the rise of a trout or better yet the hidden wink of the take of a dead drifted nymph.
The pull of a salmon as the fly swings on a drift.
The feeling you feel as you realize that you will soon have the moose dead to rights after a tense 20 minute stalk and you look asking, is he there? he should be there and then you see him bigger than anything you had imagined.
Sunsets,woodsmoke, leather, canvas, cold rain, warm sun, first snow of the season. The smell of balsam fir and wet dog. I taste and smell all of this in simply cooked wild game. Moose and onions. Its as good as food gets.

Well that picture was a disappointment, it didn't do it justice. Oh well off to the city tomorrow. Snow shoes and snowshoe hares soon winter has arrived.

2009-12-02T01:24:00.004-03:30

I haven't been out much busy with work and last weekend we had terrible weather. It has been unseasonably mild. Its 0130 now and the wind has woke me up. Its forecast at 110 KM/h or about 70 mph. The house is shaking with some of the gusts. I spent many a night on the North Atlantic in weather like this and its a pleasure to be in a warm dry house. We have had no snow but they are getting hammered just a little west of here. It won't be long I am sure before we start getting hit ourselves with snow. I hope to get out this weekend with the dogs and my daughter. I will need a day in the woods to get me through next week as I will be in the city all next week attending a course.