Ripple Outdoors Podcast

Show notes for Pre&Post Bucks podcast #123

Many wildlife biologists agree that the diminishing ratio of daylight to darkness is the primary factor in triggering the rut.

For those that want to know the technical term its called “ Photoperiodism”

These shorter days induce hormone-level changes in both bucks and does. Because daylight hours diminish more rapidly in northern latitudes, rutting activity is generally more concentrated in the northern part of the whitetail’s range. As Ontario is at the northern end of a whitetail range we experience the rut early.

Photoperiodism is only part of the rut story. 

Moonlight intensity—specifically a bright full moon waning to a dark new moon—affects the timing of the rut. When daylight and moonlight reach a certain level, the doe prepares to enter estrus. 

Daylight triggers it but it’s the bright full moon that sets it off. (Read on …)

Host Peter Wood chats about tactics for pre and post rut bucks.

Episode Resources

Ripple Outdoors

Episode Credits

Voice by Chuck Lefleur
Music by Jon Schmidt from the Podsafe Music Network

 

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Here’s a chance to give a holiday gift that keeps on growing – a tree.

A $30 donation to the Grand River Conservation Foundation will cover the cost of planting a tree as part of the annual reforestation program of the Grand River Conservation Authority.For your $30 you will receive a thank you letter, a tax receipt and a beautify holiday card suitable for giving to that hard-to-buy-for friend or relative. Or, the foundation will send the card directly to the recipient so it arrives in time for the holidays.Another gift-giving opportunity is a $20 donation to help offset the annual costs of caring for the dozens of miles of rail-trails and hundreds of hectares of forests and wetlands that are free to the public and add so much to the quality of life of watershed residents. These donors will also receive a letter, tax receipt and holiday card.

For more information on these gift opportunities: go to the foundation website at www.grcf.ca, or you can phone  1-877-29-GRAND or e-mail the foundation at dhartley@grandriver.ca

The trees will be planted on GRCA land in 2009 as part of its annual forestry program that sees more than 100,000 trees planted each year. The donor can request that the tree be planted in a specific watershed community.

Trees are an important part of the natural heritage of the Grand River watershed. Close to 95 per cent of the trees were chopped down in the 1800s as early settlers cleared land for farms and towns. However, during the past 50 years the GRCA has planted more than 26 million trees and the percentage of forested land has climbed to almost 20 per cent.

The Grand River Conservation Foundation is a registered charity created in 1965 to raise funds for environmental projects of the Grand River Conservation Authority.

To learn more about the GRCA forestry program and tree-planting program see the Forestry section of the GRCA website at www.grandriver.ca  

This fall I spent a few days in Elliot Lake with outdoor guide Marty Descoteaux of Elliot Lake Outfitters while doing a destination article for Ontario Out of Doors magazine.

We fished, hunted and travelled by ATV over three days in absolutely splendid fall weather, The leaves were brilliant, this time the bugs didn’t bite but the fish sure were biting.

Northern grouse were easy pickings if you knew where to look. Marty did!

During my stay at the Fireside Inn I met the star of Mantracker, Terry Grant and his sidekick Phil Lemieux relaxing the day before an episode was being filmed.

Marty and his son enjoyed their photos taken with the Mantracker and Phil as much as I enjoyed having a one on one interview with Terry later that day.

To hear that interview http://www.rippleoutdoors.com/mantracker-interview-with-terry-grant119/

Marty and I spent a lot of time ATVing to some of his secret fishing holes. We limited out on big smallies and tasty walleyes a few times.

AS you can see Marty was hard at work with a few of these tasty fish!

We also did some Laker fishing one dead calm misty morning. Fishing was slow but we did manage to boat a few small lakers. BTW they were delicious.

Of course I had to help out when ever I put my Nikon camera, Browning Citori or fishing rod down . After all I did help Marty hold up our catch of the day.

Whew….visiting Elliot Lake sure can wear an outdoors-man down! You really need to visit this place!

All in all it was a great time visiting one of my favourite areas up north. My thanks to the great staff at Fireside Inn during my stay and of course Daniel Gagnon  Daniel.Gagnon@City.Elliotlake.on.ca over at city hall for all of help coordinating my trip.

Naturally Marty of Elliot lake Outfitters gets tremendous kudos for acting as my guide during the great time we had atving, hunting and fishing.

I like to believe he is more a friend than guide as I thoroughly enjoyed the time atving with his son and enjoyed that great home cooked meal!