Grocery Shopping / Saving Money …
Here, Larry Leigh shows us some great tips and tricks to plan out you shopping in order to maximize your time and save some money as well.
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Bannock Again?
At our house or cabin, bannock never gets old. In a ziplock or sealed container, it keeps for days in the fridge…
Challenging The Aches And Pains Of Aging: Part 2
We become our own biggest enemy as we age because we keep trying to do things how we used to do them and we strain or hurt ourselves.
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Winter Snacks Are For The Birds
Our long and often very cold winters are tough on all of us, but we can make it a little easier on some of our local birds.
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Challenging The Aches And Pains Of Aging
I’m sure I wouldn’t have believed you if, years ago, you had told me how much I would hurt during the aging process. As it turns out…
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Use Up That Burger!
So you checked the freezer to get something for supper and were surprised to see how many moose- and/or bison-burger packages…
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Keeping Coyotes At Bay
Coyote attacks on humans are rare, but a quick internet search will list hundreds of these incidents. The greatest number…
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Firelighting Is A Survival Skill
A BIC lighter is pretty small, isn’t very expensive, and even two or three of them won’t break the bank but could be the difference…
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More Cabbage, Please!
Cabbage is still relatively inexpensive and has always been delicious, raw or cooked. I think many of us grew up with boiled or steamed…
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Everyone Loves Bannock
Bannock has become a staple in our personal world. The grandkids and the dog love it, and so does the squirrel at the feeder.
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Firearm Care And Maintenance
It used to be that firearm maintenance was more tedious and certainly more frequently needed than it is currently.
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Basic Winter Safety
Where we live, winter uses up a lot of our time each year. The duration varies a bit, but it’s still a lengthy period…
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Ammunition Choices
Currently, there is a much greater variety of ammunition choices for hunters than ever before in firearm history.
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Tackle box or junk box?
The water is still hard and ice-fishing is good, but now is the time to take out all your open water gear and do some
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Taking water for granted
In the Yukon, we are spoiled with our abundance of water. Sadly, here and throughout most of North America, we use it (read “waste it”) as if the supply is infinite.
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Arthritis: Minimize the difficulty
Here we are, much older than we used to be and almost all of us suffer from the discomfort of arthritis in various places.
Even at a moderate level of pain we find ourselves avoiding lifting, bending, and reaching, as all of those movements – and especially something sudden – hurts.
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Time on the land – take a child with you
In my fairly lengthy experience dealing with kids in and about outdoor activities, I have found that they are like sponges when it comes to
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Buying a knife
Part 1 of 2 One of the more common errors made by someone young or otherwise inexperienced in selecting a knife is to buy something
Buying a knife
Part 1 of 2 Different knives are for different purposes, so peeling potatoes is not as easy with a Leatherman as it is with a
Snow can keep you warm
With a little know-how and little or no tools, a snow shelter can save your life. It will amaze you how warm you are inside a snow structure.
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Boat trailering suggestions
Larry has some tips to keep your boat trailer, and boat, moving I frequently see trailered boats with the outboard in the “down” position. This
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Camping: Timesaving tips
Foul weather can wreck more than your mood when you’re out camping and hunting moose. Simple tips and tricks.
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A ravenous raven is a resourceful raven
The Yukon bird since 1985, the ubiquitous raven arrives out of nowhere and disappears just as quickly. It all depends on the food supply. They
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Pike for supper
Pike are very common, not difficult to catch and are a delicious mild-flavoured fish. Their one big negative is that they have more bones than
Who invited all these bugs?
Larry has some tips for getting rid of those pesky mosquitoes I’ve often wondered what it would be like to go camping, fishing, hiking or
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The cooking fire …
A cooking fire isn’t just a miniature bonfire, and to make a good one takes luck, experience or some advice from someone who’s got a reputation for being a good campfire cook.
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KD, rice and Pilot Biscuits
If you have a big budget and a small appetite, freeze-dried meals will work to keep you healthy on the trail. I have always found
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A shelter from the storm
It’s quite amazing how many people (if they admit it) have had a potentially near-death experience in the outdoors. It’s rarely a plane crash or
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Preparing those tasty fish treats
Most Yukoners like to eat fish, but sometimes people want a different taste sensation. Here are some fairly simple options to try: Tasty Fish Treat
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Never-fail old standbys
It seems we are living in an age of electronic wizardry. Every season there is a raft of new GPS and communication devices as well
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Schnitzel
Schnitzel is really delicious and fairly simple to make, but there is a bit of cleanup afterwards. It can be made with just about any
Footwear and foot care
Our feet suffer less and work longer when they are cared for and housed in proper fitting, good quality footwear.
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Axes
Axes are very useful tools here in the north where campfires, bonfires and wood stoves are a big part of life. Everybody has at least one tucked away somewhere.
Cartridges over 100 years old and still kicking
Even shooters in their 20s have had cartridges invented, failed to catch on, and disappeared in their lifetimes. Not so with the six I’ll mention in this short article.
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Garage Sales 101
Garage sales are friendly Saturday morning events where we get a chance to socialize with other shoppers and the households, neighbourhoods and organizations hosting the sales.
Fishing with children
Fishing for youngsters may be their first glimpse of ethics and responsible behaviour in relation to nature.
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Low impact on the land
The sites you choose look good to you or you wouldn’t set up there. Make your best effort to leave them as you found them.
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Let’s use that whole bear
Sadly, black bears have an undeserved reputation of not being very good to eat. A number of Yukon hunters, including me, will dispute that thought as black bear is just as delicious any other animal hunted for meat in the Yukon.
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Almost everybody likes jerky
Simple jerky is a cinch to make without any special equipment at all.
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What can we do with all this burger?
Ground meat is certainly one of the results of just about any successful hunt and this includes birds. With a little thought, there are a
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Ropes and the rope bag
Ropes are the long standing traditional way to fasten or tie things down. These days, those ratchet devices with straps and hooks have replaced knots and loops. For some of us older people, ropes are still the logical tie-down tool.
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Caring for the bison hunt rifle
Since the bison hunt started, hunters have had problems with their rifles. Steps to prep them for -25ºC to -40ºC range.
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Moose round steak
Tenderloin and backstraps (striploin) get all the hype regarding being the most tender cuts off any wild game animal. They have a good reputation as
Camp guns for bears
A “bear gun” in camp or at the cabin is very common in the Yukon. It’s primary function is for protection of the humans in camp.
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Oil lamps
In modern times oil or kerosene burning lamps are used more as part of décor than to throw light on a situation. People nowadays run
Yukon Share: Harvested gamemeat sharing program
After a few years of effort, The Yukon is now up and running with a “Hunters For The Hungry” type of meat sharing program.
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The wall tent camp
Sleeping on good quality cots with a wood stove it was so comfortable that I stayed eight nights and prob-ably slept better than at home.
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Whatever the season, hypothermia can be dangerous
It may come as a surprise, but more people are affected by, and die from, hypothermia in summer and other seasons than in the winter.
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Human Errors Re: Bears
Sadly some human errors are fatal mistakes when bears are involved. Bears are somewhat predictable, but there are many exceptions to that rule. As a
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Oyster Sauce Makes it Better
Not too many years ago, I discovered oyster sauce during a barbecue at a friend’s house. I wasn’t sure what the new flavour was, but
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Black or Grizzly? It’s Good to Know
Just two weeks ago – and many times over the past – I’ve heard people say they saw a grizzly bear along the road or
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Salmon: Another Dijon Delight
Fire up the barbecue, here’s another never-fail salmon recipe. Salmon: Another Dijon Delight Ingredients: ¼ to ⅓ cup mayonnaise 2 Tbsp of your favourite Dijon
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Salmon on a Stick
This shish kabob recipe works well, but be gentle as rough handling will cause the cooked fish pieces to break and fall off the skewer.
Bear Spray
It’s that time of the year again, the bears are out and we need a refresher on bear spray. It isn’t magic – and definitely
Salmon, Salmon, Salmon
Many household freezers have some – or even a lot – of salmon waiting their turn on the menu. Hopefully all our salmon is wild
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Coyotes in the Neighbourhood
Coyotes inhabit everywhere from Central America to the Canadian territories. Originally they resided in the west, but now they reside all across Canada including Prince
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Veggies à la Barbecue
I bet you can get your kids or even adult veggie haters to enjoy them done on the barbecue. Here are three simple and very
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Portable Burn Barrel
On a recent half-day ice-fishing adventure with our son, I got to experience some of the benefits of a portable burn barrel that he has
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Firelighters
“It will take a few minutes.” Almost all the time, taking a few minutes to get a fire going is an acceptable part of the
Happy Appies
Winter is the time for socializing around the wood-stove at the cabin or just in the living room at home. We all want to be
Fishing on a Budget
The equipment needed to start out fishing can be very expensive and it’s really easy to spend a lot more than you need to. One
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Hold Onto that Heat
Woodstoves are still a very traditional heat source for our homes and cabins. Firewood and stoves have always been messy with chips and bark in
Hold Onto that Heat Read More »
Winter Bird Feeding
I feed the birds in winter because it makes me feel good to do it and the birds certainly seem to enjoy it as well.
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Cast Iron: The Original Non-Stick Cookware Part 2
I have about 15 or so cast iron pots and pans with six or seven of them in constant use. The others, too good to
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Cast Iron
Long before Teflon or other spray coatings were on your pots and pans, cast iron was easy to use and easy to clean. It’s been
Boat Launch Etiquette
This was an extreme situation, but I once pulled up to the ramp to put my boat in the water and a Zodiac owner had
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Remember Walking?
I still see a number of people out walking for exercise and just the enjoyment of it. It’s kind of a mindless activity at least
DIY Campfire Treats for Kids
Just building and helping to keep a fire going is great fun for kids of all ages. There is something magical about being near an
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Muzzle-Loaders
Until the mid to late 1800s, all firearms were muzzle-loaders, which, as the name implies, had to be loaded singly by pushing the components –
Grouse Stew with Baking Powder Biscuits
Grouse Stew with Baking Powder Biscuits If you had a good grouse harvest or are just looking for a different way to serve them, follow
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Axes: Use and Abuse
Winter is the busiest and most abusive time of the year for axes. They get a solid workout in the fall when we split the
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Flinch: The Rifle-Shooter’s Nemesis
Have you ever wondered why bullet holes are all over the target; or, worse, why you had a good sight-picture but the animal was poorly
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Cooler Tips
These days the word “cooler” can mean a pre-mixed alcoholic beverage, but it’s also the name of an insulated box to keep your food and
How to Deal with Tough or Strong Tasting Meat
Tough or gamey meat is a real challenge for you and your family. If the first meal doesn’t come off well, you’ll have a hard
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Lists, Colour Coding and Labels
People new to outdoor activity such as hunting, hiking and camping are likely a bit more organized on the second or third trip than they
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Lost, Who Me??
I bet almost every backpacker, hunter or any other outdoor person has been lost in the bush, at least for a short time. Most won’t
Chainsaw-chip Fire Starter
We get pretty good at fire-starting if we light enough fires, but there are some ways to make it even easier. Solid-fuel fire-starters work well
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Hiking: Other Essentials
In previous columns, I’ve talked about food, tents, packs, boots, foot care and outer garments. Now let’s look at other things that range from nearly
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The Camp Knife
Too often, I have seen people wearing knives that are really too big to take on any task except chopping down trees. These are often
Clothing to Keep You Safe and Warm
Time on the land can be uncomfortable and even very dangerous if you aren’t ready for the weather nature sends to greet you. On a
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On Backpacks
Since people come in different lengths, so do packs. Most quality packs have frame adjustments to lengthen and shorten the unit. Some have no adjustments, but that’s fine if it fits you at the length it is. Don’t buy it simply because the price is right.
Freezing Fish
Over the years a few people have told me that due to a loss of flavour, they do not freeze fish and only eat them
Raingear
Over the years I’ve been out in the rain. I’ve seen people who wear raingear from ultra-expensive Gore-Tex to disposable vinyl rain ponchos, or even
Grilling Salmon
Salmon can be grilled in your oven. Then, it’s referred to as broiling. It can also be grilled on the barbeque, or carefully over a
A Hike or a Walk
Both hiking and walking use feet for propulsion. A walk is often more leisurely, unless it’s your mode of exercise, and it’s done without a
Camp Tips and Ideas
Meat care: • Pre-cut ropes for hanging quarters. Make them six to seven feet long with a tied loop on one end to fasten to
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Cooking and Eating Ling Cod
Ling cod, or burbot, is very common in the Yukon’s southern lakes, and is quite easy to catch by jigging, bottom fishing, or using set-lines
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Ice Rescue By Others
Falling through the ice is less life-threatening if you are with others, especially if they’re prepared for such an event. Some very experienced Yukoners have
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Cold Water Immersion
The 1-10-1 principle refers to time: one minute, 10 minutes, and one hour. “One minute” deals with cold-water shock; when you first fall into the cold
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Ice Fishing Equipment
Ice fishing is a cold weather activity and your hands are involved in every operation, including cutting holes, setting up equipment, and hopefully handling fish.
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Ice Fishing, Part 1 of 2
In southern Canada’s ice-fishing season, lakes have been traditionally dotted with wooden ice huts or shanties. These are frozen in places with propane or home-built
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Making the Best of a Gunshot Animal
The heart-lung area is the place to put your bullet for a quick, clean kill on any big animal. The lungs supply oxygen, and the
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Knives For the Hunt
Generally speaking, a hunter should have two knives — one for camp chores, such as cutting rope, whittling a wiener stick, or cutting up vegetables.
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Cowboy/Camp Coffee
A little research shows me that “camp coffee” and “cowboy coffee” are the same thing, but maybe originated in different locations. Basically, each involves a
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Dumplings For Your Moose Stew
It’s an unfortunate household that doesn’t occasionally sit down to a simmering pot of delicious moose or other wild-game stew. It’s a meal that can
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Sheep Hunting Part 3
Many new gun cartridges have come to the market in the last few years. A number of them are in the 30-calibre-and-under range, and would
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Sheep Hunting: Part 1
A sheep hunt is a true test of intestinal fortitude. It is similar to an alpine hike, but with a heavier pack — due to meat-care
Sheep Hunting: Part 1 Read More »
Rhubarb
It’s in almost everybody’s garden, and it grows totally untended in abandoned homesteads and mine sites — It must be a North American plant, right?
Your Goose is Cooked
Unlike the southern provinces where ducks and geese are around for a few months, migratory bird hunting is not a popular activity here. But those
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The Perfect Weenie Roast
As far as I know, electronic gadgetry hasn’t affected the humble hot dog. Having said that, I’m confident that somewhere out there there is a
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