I am a bowhunter

Bowhunting, this is my way of being, my way of life, my way of saying how I am. The need is internal. The happiness to hunt with a bow is immense and irresistible. When I bowhunt, I feel live, I feel that I am part of the earth, that I am part of nature, that I am part of life itself. Hunting, it is a part of what I am. I am a bowhunter.

I can't recognize me otherwise. I am not part of these cities and villages built on concrete and asphalt. I need wide open spaces and fresh air to breathe and think.

And these things do not exist in the cities and towns. These things are elsewhere, in the hills and mountains, in the trees and wild forests, in streams and rivers. I am a bowhunter.

Sometimes you will see me near a brook that tweets, as do girls playing outside. Then at the edge of the forest, listening to the rustling of the wind in the trees and the singing of birds.

Nature continually speaks to us but no one has time to listen, because life goes too fast and 100 at a time it hears more nothing.

Over the years, I found my balance, my territory, my place. Proud and athletic but crafty, cautious and nervous, I am unpredictable and inscrutable. I live in the world of instinct, in the world of sounds and scents. I am a bowhunter.

I revolves around your urban world and you don't see me. I don't want to annoy especially not you. I'm just trying to live my life without disturbing anyone. When I disapear, you will see even not as a cunning Hunter leaves no trace nor scent.

It was the opinion of the blogger in this may 22, 2015.

André Nanook Simard

Guest post: Hearing Loss Caused by Hunting

Hi my name is John O'Connor, I am a father, outdoorsman and passionnate about living a healthy lifestyle. Over the past few years I have become more and more interested in hearing loss. My father and grandfathers, who are and were all hunters, are affected by hearing loss. I feel that there is a general lack of understanding around this issue and it is our job to spread awareness where we can. Check out my blog at: bloggingwjohno.blogspot.com

Noise-Induced Hearing Loss Caused by Hunting

If you are ever exposed to noise that is loud or extremely loud for an extended period of time, you could experience noise-induced hearing loss, often referred to as NIHL. These loud sounds can damage sensitive structures in the ears called hair cells which can result in hearing loss. When the hair cells are damaged, they won't submit the correct signals to the brain when sound enters your ears. Many may not think this but some recreational activities can cause hearing loss. Hunting and shooting in general are common causes of noise-induced hearing loss. Safety while hunting is important, and ear protection is equally critical.

Effects of Noise-Induced Hearing Loss

 
Loud sounds can damage both the hair cells and the hearing nerve in the ear. An impulse sound is a one-time exposure to an intensely loud sound that can cause permanent or temporary loss in hearing. It also may result in tinnitus which is a buzzing, ringing or roaring sound in the ears. Both conditions can also occur during exposure to loud sounds over time. In this case, the damage is progressive. With hunting, you probably won't notice the damage right away. In either case, temporary or permanent damage is possible. If it's temporary, it may disappear in about 16 to 48 hours.

Sunrise and sunset for hunting in Québec

Here is a site to calculate sunrise and sunsets in your town.

http://app.hia-iha.nrc-cnrc.gc.ca/cgi-bin/sun-soleil.pl

Here's what the information will look like:

Have a good day

André Nanook Simard

Hunting : no discount for seniors

Seniors are the biggest losers

Cinema, several government agencies and some large  stores offer substantial discounts for seniors. A few of these reductions are the result of efforts made by the FADOQ (Fédération de l'âge d'or du Québec).

In coming years, given the facts that baby boomers will reach the retirement age, we will see those discounts multiply.

Plants to avoid this summer in Québec

A deer hunter is the first to walk in the forest to prepare its fall hunt. Deer hunting is generally prepared early in the summer. There are plants that hunters should beware.


Giant hogweed


When this plant is handled, there is a risk to contact with the sap that contains a toxin that can cause severe burns. The skin becomes red and fluid-filled blisters appear. Although it is not present in large number in Québec, you still have to know it exists.

Nanook : born in the wild

Lucky to be born in the wild

I was born in Duchesnay, Portneuf County, during World War II. This is where I grew up in the shadow of the forest station where my father worked.

The choice of your hunting spot

1- Find out where there are more deer

A territory with more deer, leaves more traces. It will clearly appear in the number of deer you'll see all summer. You will notice that, in the number of tracks left in the mud. Do your personal search in the spring because later in the season, there will be a lot less hunting spots available. 

A little help by the hunters

Our public forests

I think the ''cold front''that approaches the sport of hunting, will bring very serious problems for hunters in the coming years. I see more clearly that dangers will surge on hunting enthusiasts.


There are of course all those organisations who want more controls on hunting rifles. Anti-hunters and animal lovers who think that hunting is a disgusting sport. There are also municipalities, farmer groups, transportation departments who all want less game on their territories, their lands and their roads.

We should band together to defend our traditions and our rights, so as not to let them win one single inch of the coming battle. 

Shooting lanes

Cleaning your shooting lines
I know, you have spent enough time on hunting during the last season and you want to take a little time to relax. But if you want to be successfull during the next hunting season, you should start now.