Migratory caribou herds in Northern Québec – The Minister of Sustainable Development, Environment, Wildlife and Parks announces measures governing hunting for the 2013-2014 and 2014-2015 seasons

QUÉBEC CITY, April 26, 2013 /CNW Telbec/ – Minister of Sustainable Development, Environment, Wildlife and Parks, Yves-François Blanchet has announced the measures governing migratory caribou hunting that he intends to implement in Northern Québec for the 2013-2014 and 2014-2015 seasons.

Biological data collected in 2012 indicate that the rivière George herd has continued to decrease and now appears to number roughly 25 000 animals, compared with 74 000 in 2010. This situation leads the Ministry to maintain the closure of sport hunting over the next two years in zones 23 east, 23 south and 24. These zones will remain closed to hunting as long as the biological data collected and indicators do not show that the herd is recovering.

Moreover, in light of new biological analyses, including those conducted in 2012, the rivière aux Feuilles herd appears to be fairly stable. “Because the stability is fairly recent, we must remain cautious. All involved stakeholders must apply vigilance” said the minister. Accordingly, as a precautionary measure, procedures governing hunting from the previous season will be modified in respect of the rivière aux Feuilles herd. The following measures will be in force for the 2013-2014 and 2014-2015 hunting seasons.

For Zones 22A, 22B and 23 West, to provide a transitional year, the provincial harvesting limit of two caribou per hunter will be maintained for the 2013-2014 season, and will then drop to one caribou her hunter, per year, starting in the 2014-2015 season.

Contrary to previous years, hunters and outfitters know as of now the hunting rules that will apply for the next two seasons.

In addition, in order to exercise strict control over caribou hunting and limit the harvest to current levels, the number of licences issued for sport hunting for the 2013-2014 will be reduced and allocated as follows:

Zone 22A:

• 500 licences allocated by random draw with no obligation to use the services of an outfitter.

Zone 22B:

• 1 722 licences offered via outfitters.

Zone 23 West:

• 804 licences offered via outfitters.

For the 2014-2015 season, licences will be allocated as follows: Zone 22A:

• 500 licences allocated by random draw, with no obligation to use the services of an outfitter.

Zone 22B:

• 3 053 licences offered via outfitters.

Zone 23 West:

• 1 998 licences offered via outfitters.

The following rules will be in force for the 2013-2014 and 2014-2015 seasons: Zones 22A and 22B:

• Hunting season will begin on December 1 and end on January 30.

Zone 23 West:

• Hunting season will begin on August 17 and end on October 7;
• Winter hunting season will be closed.

Zones 22A, 22B and 23 West:

• All individuals (males, females, fawns) in the caribou population may be harvested.

In addition to these measures, the Cree, Inuit and Naskapi nations reiterate their commitment to monitor their harvesting and encourage communities to adopt objectives and management measures concerning such harvesting. This contribution is essential to the collection of overall information that ensures sound management of the herds in the coming years.

The elaboration of the migratory caribou management plans is continuing with the concerned partners, including the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador for the Rivière George herd.

The Ministry will pursue its research and monitoring of the migratory caribou herds in order to better understand the causes of their decline.

“We are all concerned about the situation of the two migratory caribou herds in Northern Québec and I am confident that the proposed measures will have a positive impact on the species. The caribou is an integral part of the culture of certain Aboriginal communities. It contributes to economic activity in the region and also symbolizes Québec’s wildlife heritage. For all of these reasons, all involved stakeholders, including the government, have the responsibility to ensure its long-term survival,” Minister Blanchet concluded.

Cet article Caribou: 2013-2014 and 2014-2015 regulations est apparu en premier sur Pourvoiries.com.

By Bill Miller

So do you have a Quebec black bear hunt in your plans for the spring (IF spring ever gets here)? If you do, you’re probably champing at the bit like me to get going. But if you don’t, it’s still not too late to find an available hunt with a superior outfitter. Some weeks will be booked for sure, but even the best outfitters may have cancellations or one-/two-hunter openings here and there. Best place to start the search, even at this late date is right here on www.QuebecOutfitters.com. At the home page, click on the “Hunting Packages” button, then on the “Black Bear Packages” icon. There you’ll find outfitters broken out by region. Now get to it!

If you have a spring bear booked, it’s coming up fast. We’re just a month away from the season openings. If this will be your first spring bear hunt, or if it has been awhile since you’ve enjoyed this amazing rite of spring and early summer, here are a few reminders on preparing to make the most of your hunt.

Check with your taxidermist — be sure to get his or her recommendations on preparing and handling the hide, cape and skull for the kind of work that interests you most. Are you looking for a full rug, a shoulder mount, half-body mount or a full-body mount? There are optimal ways of cutting and caping for each particular style, and you’ll get the best results by listening closely to your trusted taxidermist’s advice.

Check your Thermacell — got one? Good! Don’t have one? Get one! A Thermacell makes Quebec spring bear hunting a real pleasure rather than bug-plagued torture! Make sure to take along enough fuel cells and repellant pads, too. Some folks worry about the Thermacell’s scent keeping bear away, but think about it. If the wind is blowing from you to the bear, he’s going to know you’re there whether you have a Thermacell or not. So why worry? The vapors coming from the unit are BUG repellant not BEAR repellant!

Check your hunting tools — with the fall/winter big game hunting seasons having closed months ago, you may not have picked up your rifle or your bow since then. Don’t just trust it’s shooting like you left it … and that you’re shooting skills are still as sharp. Get out there and practice. That means shooting from field situations and from unknown distances. If you’ll be hunting bear from a tree stand, practice shooting from a tree stand. Get familiar with your equipment! Even if you’re hunting from a shooting house set-up, it’s best if you can silently move your gun into position and prepare to shoot without ever taking your eyes off the bear. Make sure you’ve taken every precaution to ready for the shot with absolute quiet.

Check your fishing tools – yes… I said fishing tools. That’s one of the wonderful things about most of Quebec’s bear hunting destinations. They offer great fishing, too. Most successful bear hunting is done in the late afternoon – from 3:00 or 4:00 p.m. until dark. That leaves you with morning’s free to experience lots of great piscine adventure as well. And who doesn’t like a meal of great walleye, pike or trout in camp?

Check your judging skills — chances are you’ll be alone in your tree stand or blind — no experienced guide by your side to tell you how big is the bear you’re looking at. The decision to shoot or not will be yours alone.

It’s not practical for most of us to get out around home and look at a lot of bears, so the next best things are videos and books. Study them. Stop frame the videos and look at the comparison of size between the bear and the elements in its surroundings. Look at those ears; where are they on the bear’s head? How prominent are they? Bear are the most difficult animals on which to determine trophy size. Fortunately you usually don’t need to make a snap decision. You can study on a bear that’s occupied with eating at a bait.

Check your optics – good optics are critical in spotting bear and in judging size on any hunt. Even if your bow stand is just 10 yards from the bait, good binoculars will help you pick up on a bear coming through the undergrowth and be ready that much sooner. Binoculars and a rangefinder are essential tools on any Quebec spring bear hunt.

Check your blaze orange – even when hunting from a stand or with archery equipment, Quebec’s laws require that you wear at least a blaze orange vest.  Most outfitters will have spares if you forget, but the last thing you want to have happen is to get w-a-a-a-y back in the boondocks and determine your one vest short for your hunting crew! I’d be pretty upset if I was the guy who drew the short straw and didn’t get to hunt!

There’s your spring bear check up list. By running through it now, you’ll have time to adjust whatever needs adjustment in plenty of time for the season. Then get out there and have fun!

Cet article Ready for Your Quebec Spring Bear Hunt? est apparu en premier sur Pourvoiries.com.

Cet article VIDEO: Teaser of the 2013 season of The Quebec Outfitters Camp est apparu en premier sur Pourvoiries.com.

By Bill Miller

March is the month devoted waterfowl hunters begin thinking about, and pursuing, spring season snow geese. Hunting these birds as they follow the snow line and the warming weather north has become extremely popular throughout the birds’ range. Outside of the occasional dove shoot in Mexico (and who wants to risk their life going into Mexico these days?) it’s the closest thing North America offers to the high-volume wingshooting of South America and elsewhere.

Most of the focus is on the white and blue birds migrating up the Central flyway from Texas and Arkansas through Missouri and Nebraska, into the Dakotas and over the border into Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta. The birds in this flyway are technically lesser snow geese which exhibit the frequent mix of blue (actually slate gray) color phase geese in the flock.

Lesser snow geese in the prairies are plentiful (actually they are over-populated which is the reason there is a spring hunt) and fun to hunt, but extremely wary. Spring conditions for hunting agricultural fields in the plains with the requirement of thousands of decoys and complex electronic calling systems is an exercise that often seems a combination of mud-wrestling and graduate-level logistics management. These birds are nearly constantly on the move and will turn back south if snowstorms cover feed fields in their path.

Lesser known, but frequently more civilized spring snow goose hunting happens in the northeastern United States and on up into Quebec, Canada. The birds pursued here are the Atlantic flyway’s greater snow geese. Though not as numerous overall, these birds make up for in size what they might lack in gross population. On average greater snow geese are about 30-50 percent larger than their lesser Central flyway cousins.

These birds show little to no blue color phase in the flock. You’ll look on them in a field, tidal flat, or in the air and see nothing but pure white birds, save for their rust stained heads. Greater snow geese make use of agricultural fields to be sure, but spend much of the winter eating tubers that must be pulled out of mud containing high iron and clay content. This results in the snowy white feathers on their heads being stained a rusty orange color that stands out significantly when you are viewing individual birds up close.

Though much less known, spring hunting for Atlantic flyway snow geese is conducted in the northern half of the eastern seaboard including the states of Maryland, Delaware, Massachusetts, New York and Vermont. Then it’s just a hop over the border into Quebec where the birds are primarily hunted in the corridor of the St. Lawrence River.

Not only the best spring snow goose hunt of my life, but one of the finest waterfowl hunts I’ve ever enjoyed – period — was with Domaine de Ille au Canot (Canoe Island) off of Montmagney, Quebec. Hunting this tiny island is definitely different than mainland snow goose hunting, especially prairie hunting.

When the time is right, the birds cover up the island, but hunting them incorrectly or under the wrong conditions would educate the birds and they would leave and avoid the island completely. So you wait for the wind, tide and sky conditions to coincide correctly, then you rush out to the preset blinds and decoy spreads to hunt while things are right. Shooting is usually fast and furious – nearly continuous. Then as soon as conditions fall out of synch, you pull out of the fields to wait for the next alignment of the stars to hunt again.

This may sound like a frustrating way to hunt, but it is definitely not, since during the stay on the island you are accommodated in a fantastic lodge with private rooms, gourmet dining, and a long porch with rocking chairs overlooking the expanse of the St. Lawrence. Most of the time there are tens of thousands of geese feeding on the tidal mud flats as far as you can see in every direction. Many are walking right through the grounds of the lodge.  The warming spring sun on your face and arms as you sit in a rocker waiting for the call to hunt is a wonderful spring tonic.

Many other outfitters, as well, stand ready to assist hunters in pursuing greater snow geese in the northeast U.S. and eastern Canada with more traditional styles of field hunting. And an added bonus is that the spring hunting for greater snow geese tends to peak a bit later in the spring than it does for lesser on the prairies – so the devout goose hunter can enjoy it all!

Cet article Think East for Spring Geese est apparu en premier sur Pourvoiries.com.

By Bill Miller

On the distant skyline was a string of moving dots. I knew what they were, but to confirm, I planted the tripod legs into the meager tundra soil and brought the spotting scope to bear.

Zoom. Focus. There they are! Caribou … strung out for a mile. I quit counting at 80, but the high-powered optics revealed many more drifting along below the ridgeline. Best of all, they were trending our way. Time to move.

This might be the lead for a North American Hunter story from my first Quebec caribou hunt 20ish years ago. Or it could have come from any of a dozen caribou hunts I’ve enjoyed since.

t’s not.

I witnessed this spectacle on my beloved Quebec tundra last August. This herd stretched to the horizons. As in the other hunts, this thrill hadn’t come easily. In fact, it was the last day of a 5-day hunt shortened to three by weather. But here they were!

Repositioning quickly as I could with cameraman in tow, I remembered the doubt with which I’d come to this caribou adventure. I’d heard rumors Quebec hunting was bleak. Yet, here was proof positive the caribou are still here, and hunting with quality outfitters remains exceptional.

My experience last season supports the findings of the 2012 caribou population survey by Quebec’s Natural Resources Ministry. It was the most intensive ever and revealed a stable population of 400,000 animals in the Leaf River herd.

Though official hunting stats for 2012 are still being collected, outfitters are reporting high success rates across August and September. Many of the animals taken carried the heaviest fat reserves guides have seen in decades. Combined with high numbers of calves in the migrating herds, these appear to be signs the animals will fare winter well.

I can’t tell you nothing has changed. The George River herd of northeastern Quebec and Labrador is in serious, as-of-yet unexplained, population decline. Hunting there is closed completely. Outfitters in Schefferville who previously focused on this herd acquired or partnered with operations in the North and moved to hunt the vigorous Leaf River herd.

Enjoyment of Quebec caribou hunting relies on connecting with an experienced, trustworthy outfitter. Many top-shelf operations belong to the Quebec Outfitters Federation and achieve the high standards of the Caribou Country code. You can research these at www.quebecoutfitters.com.

Keep in mind:

•  The more camps and territory an outfitter maintains, the greater chance they can move you to migrating herds.
• An outfitting operation with its own planes or longstanding air service contracts will have the best access to flights to move you as needed.
• You want an outfitter who is an excellent communicator. The more you hear from the outfitter, the better prepared you’ll be to enjoy the trip and success.
• An outfitter’s accessible, frequently updated website makes it easy for you to stay connected as your hunt approaches even when he is out on the tundra.

Cet article Quebec’s Caribou: Not Much Has Changed est apparu en premier sur Pourvoiries.com.

By Steve MacInnis, B.Sc. – Executive Producer – Adventures North Productions, Inc

It’s an angler’s paradise!  Bordered by the coastlines of Ungava Bay, Hudson Bay and the HudsonStrait, the northern most part of Quebec, the Nunavik region is vast and unspoiled.  Stretching from the edge of the boreal forest at the 55^th parallel, north to the arctic coast at the edge of the North American continent, it’s one of the most sparsely populated, pristine wilderness areas on earth.

Although remote, commercial flights from the south provide easy access to the region.  Characterized by beautiful tundra landscapes, abundant wildlife, friendly Inuit people, quaint camps and lodges, and vast expanses of land and arctic waters, Nunavik is totally awesome.  The whole region boasts amazing fishing for species like Arctic Char, Atlantic Salmon, Brook Trout and Lake Trout.  Nunavik’s rivers, streams, lakes and coastal estuaries are prolific sport fisheries.  Whether spinning or fly fishing, your days are filled with action, excitement and angling adventure best described as totally wild and untamed.

A fishing adventure in this part of the world is so much more than just going to a place where you can catch a bunch of fish.  It’s a truly unique and fascinating experience.  The friendly Inuit people and their culture, expert guides, camp camaraderie and hospitality, spectacular scenery, fishing and wildlife viewing that rivals any on earth, reward you with memories that you keep.

It’s so exhilarating and spectacular we keep coming back.  For the last 15 years the crew of Adventures North TV have explored the waters throughout the region, documenting dozens of fantastic fishing adventures.  Reeling in exotic fish from crystal clear, virgin streams, casting a dry fly to eager Arctic Char or Salmon, fishing for trout until your arms are sore, watching a herd of Caribou on the horizon, and then taking a break for shorelunch, these are real and authentic experiences, Nunavik fishing experiences.

To learn more about northern Quebec’s Nunavik region, and the fishing adventures offered there, tune in to “Adventures North” and see why we call it an angler’s paradise!

As seen on Global-TV and Wild-TV adventuresnorth.com youtube.com/stevemacinnis

Cet article Fishing Quebec’s Far North est apparu en premier sur Pourvoiries.com.

The Quebec Outfitters Federation (QOF) wishes to clarify the fact that Richard Henry Bain, the suspect held in custody following the shooting that occurred last night during the speech of the newly elected Prime Minister Pauline Marois, is not an outfitter.

 Following statements that Mr Bain was working in the outfitting industry, the QOF verified all available records and the search showed nothing related to him.

 In order to offer lodging facilities and fishing/hunting activities in Quebec, a person is legally bounded to possess an outfitter’s licence, delivered by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Wildlife. The QOF confirms that Mr Bain does not detain such a licence and therefore cannot be considered as an outfitter.

 The QOF offers its deepest sympathies to the families affected by the tragedy.

Cet article NEWS: Richard Henry Bain does not operate an outfitting business est apparu en premier sur Pourvoiries.com.

Bob Humphrey – the Portland Press Herald – Otober 16th 2011

Strolling along on a crisp, clear September afternoon, we paused on a rocky outcrop. I slowly took in the scene while my guide bawled out a nasal moan through a sawed-off traffic cone. I knew where I was and why, but it didn’t really sink in until I heard the first bull grunt. At long last I was actually moose hunting.

I’ve been applying — unsuccessfully — for a Maine moose permit for 22 years. I believed it when they said my odds would increase dramatically with the bonus point system. But I’ve accrued as many bonus points as one possibly can, to no avail. They say the odds will be even better with another new system next year. I decided to take a more pro-active approach and look over the border.

With a few emails, Tourism Quebec connected me with folks from the Outaouais region in southwestern Quebec. They, in turn, put me in touch with Frank Poirier, who operates Poirier Fish and Game Territory. Poirier has exclusive fishing and hunting rights on 124 miles in Provincial Zone 12. Roughly 150 miles north of Ottawa and 200 miles northwest of Montreal, his territory is within a day’s drive of anywhere in New England. It is roughly the same latitude, and therefore has the same climate and habitat, as Aroostook County.

And unlike many other areas of Quebec, most folks in the Outaouais region speak English fluently.

The best part is that moose permits are available over the counter. You want to hunt moose; you go buy a license. They allow one moose per two hunters. However, you need not declare which two hunters until a moose is taken.

Poirier uses a slightly more restrictive system. Each of his hunting parties books an exclusive territory for its five-day hunt. The group may consist of two, three or even four hunters. The rate is the same regardless of the number of hunters. All four may hunt, but only one moose may be killed per territory. “I used to allow each pair to take a moose, two moose per territory,” said Poirier, “but even the hunters felt that was too much. Most groups are happy to go home with just one moose.”

Groups of three or four are advisable for this largely do-it-yourself endeavor. Hunts are unguided, though guides are available on request, and hunters are responsible for their own meals and handling of meat and trophies. You are free to roam, ride, still-hunt and paddle throughout your territory, though most hunters call from stationary locations.

Hunters stay at either the main lodge or an outpost camp, depending on which territory they choose or are given. Most of Poirier’s clients are return customers and get first dibs on their favorite territories. While there I met hunters from several different groups who had been coming for more than two decades.

While most territories are accessible by truck, Poirier suggests using an ATV. That’s another refreshing difference. The land within Poirier’s territory is owned by the province, but hunters, fishermen and recreational riders are permitted to ride just about anywhere as long as they are not abusive, and they are not. This makes getting to and from remote areas — and getting your moose out of the woods — a lot easier. It’s also a huge financial boom to the regional economy.

The season begins around mid-September and runs four weeks. Hunt prices generally range from $1,550 to $1,700 for up to four hunters, except for the first week, which is $2,500. But each group has a larger special territory made up of three or four regular territories spanning 12 to 16 miles.

Read the entire article

Cet article Hunting: For a chance to hunt moose, head north est apparu en premier sur Pourvoiries.com.

Experience a Treasure hunt in the forest offered free during your stay at Pourvoirie Domaine Bazinet.  Choose among six courses lasting approximately 2:30 to 3:00 plus one lasting 45 minutes which can please everyone. Walk along their hiking trails to find the hidden enigmas and puzzle out to solve the solution path. All courses can be followed either with a compass, GPS or just with the treasure map.

This activity is available all year-round and allows you to enjoy the panoramic views. During winter the courses can be done with snowshoes! 

For each course completed, you have a chance to win a bonus package at the outfitter for the next year. (One draw per season)   

www.domainebazinet.com

View outfitter’s profile

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Mike’s Outfitter, located in Abitibi-Témiscamingue (Lac Kanasuta), has invested to give customers direct access to its territory! It’s a great initiative to better meet the needs of its current and future clientele who can now directly access the lodge by car, through to the new road built! Thus, the outfitter also contributes to economic development and recreational tourism within the territory of Rouyn-Noranda.

View outfitter’s profile

Cet article FLASH INFO: On the way to Mike’s Outfitter! est apparu en premier sur Pourvoiries.com.