burn, Author at Burntwood Lake Lodge

Cooking Bear Meat

One of the most common questions about bear is: “Can I eat it?” Of course! It’s perfectly delicious and safe, if not unusual. Experienced hunters may even tell you that it’s a finer meat. Bear meat was a staple of the frontier explorers, and since the bear hunting season has been elongated by many U.S. states, hunters and foodies are on the prowl for interesting bear meat recipes.

It’s been called one of the more flavorful wild meats you’ll ever come across. When hunting bear, you will need to field dress it quickly and then keep it as cool as possible until it can be properly cut and stored. The butchering process is similar to how you would butcher a deer with steaks, roasts, and ground meat for burgers and sausages.

Bear Roast

For a wonderfully tasty bear roast, cut garlic cloves and insert them into slits in the roast. Season the roast with salt and pepper and then marinade the roast in soy sauce, vegetable oil, an onion. You can add mushrooms as well. For three to four pounds of meat, cook the roast at 250 degrees for about four and a half hours (you want an internal temperature of at least 170 degrees).

Bear Stew

Have you ever considered a bear stew? Sauté the meat in oil and then stir in some flour and seasonings (pepper, salt, and oregano). Add water, potatoes, and mushrooms. Bring to a simmer, cover it, and cook the stew for about 45 minutes.

Bear Steaks

For mouthwatering bear steaks, try slicing a large onion and spreading with chili powder and sage. Place the onion pieces on both sides of the bear steak, spread the spices on the steak as well, and then refrigerate for about three hours. Brown on both sides, or cook until desired.

You’ll begin to wonder why restaurants aren’t offering bear!

Staying Warm in Cold Weather Hunting

Once you’ve set yourself down in your tree stand and you’re practically dug in to wait the few necessary hours until the perfect shot happens to come across your path, the last thing you want to feel is Old Man Winter getting aggressive. It’s important to stay warm in cold weather hunting, not just due to common sense, but because you won’t want to ruin your preparations by having to go home early from the cold. Here are some suggestions to help keep you warm this season:

EAT THE RIGHT FOODS

While eating healthy is obvious for a multitude of reasons, specific nutritious foods have been shown to work the best in cold weather situations. Having oatmeal for breakfast, peanut butter for lunch, and pasta for dinner will help sustain you. Since these foods are rich in complex carbohydrates, they break down slowly and keep you sustained.

STAY IN SHAPE

Much like the previous suggestion, this is kind of a no-brainer, but staying fit can help you in more ways than the obvious. First, you don’t want to start sweating while in the tree stand, as many people believe the scent will keep the prey away. Second, the perspiration will eventually cool and dampen your underclothes, and if you’re sitting somewhere with a high wind chill then you’re risking your health. Keep your underclothes dry by avoiding perspiration while getting to your spot in the first place.

LOOSEN THE BOOTS

You might think that you should strap your boots on as tightly as possible, but in actuality, once you’re set up in your stand, the opposite would be more beneficial. By loosening your boots you can improve blood flow and keep your feet warmer. Wear heavy socks and loosen the strings, then you’ll start to see the difference.

HAVE THE RIGHT GEAR

Invest in camo made specifically for cold weather hunting. Cabela’s has a wide selection to choose from. As you know, think about layering up so you can adjust temperatures as needed. Look into fabrics that are moisture wicking. Looks for fabrics like wool to keep you warm and dry. Also be prepared to get snowed and rained on. Cabela’s also has a large selection of wet weather camo.

Staying Warm in Cold Weather Hunting

EAT THE RIGHT FOODS

STAY IN SHAPE

LOOSEN THE BOOTS

HAVE THE RIGHT GEAR

Hunting Seasons for Manitoba

The beauty of hunting in Manitoba is that the seasons never cease. Throughout the summer, fall, winter, and spring, there is always game to be hunted in our great forests. As wildlife populations ebb and flow, the seasons are expanded and contracted to fit the need. However in an average year, each season is steadily predictable. For further questions and information on hunting seasons, contact us or view the official Manitoba site.

Here are some things to keep in mind about the 2014 hunting in Manitoba:

White tail deer

The season started at the beginning of September, so we’re well into the deer season. This year, the bag limit has been changed one buck per license. In addition, the government has lowered the party limit from four to two. Foreign hunters are not permitted. This is because the deer population is exceptionally low this year in the Manitoba area.

Elk

For general elk hunters, the restrictions are much the same as they have been in the past. They have changed from allowing one antlerless elk to a much looser “One Elk” rule. Both male and female moose can be hunted at a rate of one per license. Landowner season has also been cancelled.

Gray Wolf

Gray wolf season is back with a bag limit of one per license.

Hunter Laws

The restrictions on hunting wear have also recently changed to allow hunters to wear hats with non-orange brims. Hunter Orange must be the primary color on the rest of the head covering, however.

These laws are current as of October 2014, for a complete list of up to date hunting laws in Manitoba, visit the Manitoba Hunting Guide page.

Hunting Seasons for Manitoba

Here are some things to keep in mind about the 2014 hunting in Manitoba:

White tail deer

Elk

Gray Wolf

Gray wolf season is back with a bag limit of one per license.

Hunter Laws

The restrictions on hunting wear have also recently changed to allow hunters to wear hats with non-orange brims. Hunter Orange must be the primary color on the rest of the head covering, however.

These laws are current as of October 2014, for a complete list of up to date hunting laws in Manitoba, visit the Manitoba Hunting Guide page.

How To Get Your Kids Into Fishing

As individuals who have a great appreciation for the outdoors, it’s really important to us that our kids learn to find the same values in nature as we do. Whether it’s fishing, or boating, or hunting, or even just being outdoors; influencing your children to appreciate these same activities is essential. Starting your kids out with activities like fishing is a great way to get them to enjoy the outdoors. Fishing is safe, fun, and a really great bonding experience. Here are some tips on successfully getting your kids involved:

Get them off technology

Before you hand your kids a video game, hand them a fishing pole. With new age technology and gadgets it can be hard to pry your kids aware from the screen, but in doing so, you can create amazing memories to be cherished for a lifetime. Fishing is one of those rare activities you can do with the whole family where every single person is involved and it’s peaceful enough to be able to enjoy each other’s company.

Keep it simple

You want to simplify the first experience so that the focus is on catching with the gear that matches the age range and probable skill of the child. For ages four to six, you will want a short rod of no more than 5 feet in length and with a flip-bale spinning reel. Your local outdoors store will certainly sell age appropriate gear.

Practice first

Before you head out on the water, have your child practice casting off in the backyard. This can save a lot of time and possible frustration on the boat later. Before you go out on the boat, practice off the dock.

Start small

A local pond or slow-flowing River is a good start for a fishing location. These bodies of water are typically stocked with a variety of easy to catch fish. Don’t take your kids fishing and expect to hook enough fish to feed yourselves for the year. It’s more about the bonding, less about the success of catches. Your children might not want to stay out on the lake all day, and that is totally understandable. Remain patient and flexible.

As your child becomes a more skilled angler, you can venture out to different spots where harder to catch fish thrive.

Burntwood Lake Lodge is a great place to visit once your child has had some practice with fishing. To book your family fishing vacation, give us a call.

How To Get Your Kids Into Fishing

Get them off technology

Keep it simple

Practice first

Start small

As your child becomes a more skilled angler, you can venture out to different spots where harder to catch fish thrive.

Burntwood Lake Lodge is a great place to visit once your child has had some practice with fishing. To book your family fishing vacation, give us a call.

Hunting License Requirements for Manitoba Hunting

Before you sign up for one of our Burntwood Lake hunting tours, you should find out if you are eligible for a hunting license in the Providence of Manitoba. Our laws are quite similar to those throughout the rest of Canada and the United States, but getting yourself organized is the best way to ensure that obtaining your license is an easy process. Here’s what you need to know about getting your hunting license in Manitoba.

Fees are included

The first thing you should know is that your hunting license fees are included in the price of our tours. So don’t worry about going ahead and getting one yourself. In addition to your license, each hunter is also guaranteed a trophy Bull Moose tag. Keep in mind that if you are hunting, your license will be specific towards the species that you are hunting.

Age

If you are a hunter 12 years or older, you are eligible to receive your hunting license in Manitoba.

Hunter’s Education Certificates

Whether you have the Manitoba Hunter Education Course Certification and Firearm Safety Training or a valid equivalent Hunter Education certificate from another jurisdiction, you will be eligible to obtain the necessary paperwork to lawfully hunt in Manitoba. United States citizens can use their state’s hunting permits as well.

All bear and moose game that is hunted during your tour with Burntwood will be capped and dressed for you. The price for your hunting tour also includes all government taxes. For more information on joining a Burntwood Lake hunting tour in Manitoba, Canada, visit our hunting page. Feel free to give us a call if you require additional information.

Live Bait Vs. Artificial Bait: Which is Better?

Many fishermen have used both live and artificial bait on various fishing trips; but a successful catch can depend on many different variables, so it may be difficult to tell which bait is actually more effective.

Though there are no absolute answers to this question; both types of bait have their pros and cons. If you are going to choose between one type or the other; you can make the most educated decision as to which is best for you by knowing the various advantages and disadvantages.

Artificial Bait/Lures

Fish naturally go for bait when they are hungry. Artificial lures have the ability to create certain physical actions that can lure fish even when they are not looking for food. This gives the fisherman more options to secure a successful catch.

There are lures that will vibrate and make noises that can be detected by fish from long distances; and topwater lures, like crankbait, which mimic the actions of a fleeing batfish. Artificial lures also allow fishermen to travel distances in large bodies of water while in search for a good location.

One artificial lure can last for many fishing trips tucked away in a tackle box; this is not an option when using live bait.

Live Bait

Of course, artificial lures are made to mimic live bait. This is why many fishermen prefer to use the real thing. They naturally have a scent that fish are drawn to. Avid fishermen know that there are some varieties of fish that will only react to live bait. This advantage makes live bait the preferable choice when fish simply are not biting, or waters are too cold.

Expense can be debated. Artificial bait can be used multiple times, if you have an unsuccessful outing; however, many varieties can be expensive to purchase. While live bait is often pretty cheap.

Though artificial lures can be reused, they often get lost and you will need to purchase more which can get costly over time. Live bait is the simplest to use, which makes them perfect for novices. It’s most fun to use live bait when teaching children to fish. You can even search for your own bait; which many outdoorsmen enjoy as a hobby.

In conclusion; both live and artificial bait will catch fish; you just need to find out which type works best for you.

The Ultimate Moose Burgers/Meatballs [Recipe]

After your hunt takes place, the best part is enjoying the fruits of your labor. Moose venison is high in iron and low in fat. Talk to your butcher about creating a variety of options from your moose meat. You can have it turned into steaks, ground, or jerky. Moose has a strong, gamey taste, and is a little tougher than beef, for instance. Therefore, grinding your moose meat and making it into burgers or meatballs with some other flavors is a great idea. Below, we include a recipe for preparing the ground meat for burgers or meatballs, whichever you prefer.

For this recipe, you’ll need:

3 pounds ground moose meat

¼ cup minced garlic

¼ cup soy sauce

½ cup honey

2 tablespoons garlic powder

3 tablespoons onion powder

1 ½ teaspoons chili powder

2 tablespoons canola oil

Preheat your over to 350 degrees F.

First, stir together minced garlic, soy sauce, and honey in a small saucepan. After they are thoroughly mixed, add in the powders. Bring this mixture to a simmer over medium-high heat before reducing heat to medium-low and letting it cook at a low simmer for 15 minutes. Set aside.

If you are making meatballs, roll the ground moose into meatballs in portions equivalent to about 2 tablespoons. This recipe should make about 48 meatballs. Next, heat the canola oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook the meatballs in batches until browned and cooked through.

Once your meat has drained, put your meatballs or patties into a baking dish. Pour the sauce over your meat and make sure it’s well coated. Bake the meat for about 20 minutes so it absorbs the sauce.

If you are making burgers, put meat into patties and cook on the grill or as desired. For some amazing topping choices, go classic with BLT, or try avocado, onion rings, mushrooms. Try an alfredo sauce dressing – delicious!

Enjoy!

What are some of your favorite moose venison recipes?