scooter
04-28-2008, 01:13 PM
PUBLICATION: The Edmonton Sun
DATE: 2008.03.12
EDITION: Final
SECTION: Sports
PAGE: B8
ILLUSTRATION: 2 supplied photos 1. Claudio Ongaro will be holding seminars sharing a number of his tricks for landing big trophies and more. 2. For an alternative to whitetail, Claudio Ongaro suggests going after bear.
BYLINE: ROB CRAMER, SUN MEDIA
WORD COUNT: 699
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Outfitter shares knowledge
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With over 10 years experience as an outfitter, Claudio Ongaro has gathered a lot of knowledge on hunting and fishing that the average sportsmen likely doesn't know.
That's why, at the Edmonton Boat and Sportsmen's Show, he will be holding seminars sharing a number of his tricks for landing big trophies and more.
Whitetail management, lake trout, alternative hunting and walleye are the topics, and after you hear what Ongaro has to say, you'll be a better sportsman.
Everyone wants to find a big whitetail, and for most hunters in the province, it's the game of choice. While there are plenty of whitetails out there, the monster trophies are usually few and far between.
They're certainly out there, but Ongaro believes things could be a whole lot better if hunters made a few adjustments each season.
"The philosophy on a lot of our ungulates is manage for opportunity, which means let's kill as many as we can and still maintain the population. That turns over a lot of animals, but it doesn't necessarily produce a lot of great trophy potential," said Ongaro.
"Let some of those little bucks grow, and if we all start doing it, all of a sudden you'll end up with bigger, better deer."
According to Ongaro, it really comes down to being a little more picky and waiting a little longer. By letting some of those smaller bucks that have potential go, you're changing the structure of the herd.
Even if you feel like you need to bring something home at the end of the season, don't shoot a one-and-a-half-year-old buck with great trophy potential on the last day. Instead, try and shoot a four and a half year-old buck that doesn't have the trophy potential.
"Not all of them grow trophy potential, and we call those cull bucks," said Ongaro. "You just cull them from the herd."
The other option, according to Ongaro, is to shoot a doe. Shooting a doe will help reorganize the doe-to-buck ratio resulting in more intense rutting activity.
"It's all complex, but there's a simple solution. Modify the age structure, let the bucks grow, and make sure the more mature bucks rut intensely," said Ongaro.
"If your age structure is off, you may not have all the does being bred, and you may have inferior bucks breeding that shouldn't be."
Ongaro has proof of whitetail management in action. Places like Alabama, Nebraska, Georgia and Mississippi, which were not previously know for monster whitetail, are now turning out world-class trophies thanks to whitetail management.
"These are places where guys used to struggle to get good deer.
"If they can do it down there, imagine what we can do here," said Ongaro. "Yeah, there are tons of deer out here, but why don't you have a good one on your wall even though you've been hunting for 20 years?"
Few hunters know about whitetail management, so Ongaro is hoping to spread the word.
While you're waiting for whitetail season to open maybe you should try out some alternative hunts. Ongaro will be giving visitors some tips on black bear hunting, wolf hunting and, surprisingly, even coyote hunting.
Ongaro will cover baiting options and archery tips for hunting bears and give a few hints on calling wolves and coyotes.
"It's fun and there's virtually no hunting pressure. One nice thing about bear hunting, wolf hunting and coyote hunting is hardly anyone is doing it and they're everywhere. You have bears from the northern border of Alberta to the southern border."
While few sportsmen actively pursue bear and wolf, most know of fellow hunters through the grapevine that take on this game.
But coyotes? That's something that's sure to turn a few heads at the show.
If a hunter is out in the bush looking for other game and they see a coyote they'll probably shoot it, but actually actively pursuing them as a hunting expedition, that's not very common at all.
"If you go out this time of year - it's the breeding season - you call them and they come in aggressive. Right now they're so focussed on breeding, if you sound like another coyote you're gonna get action. They howl back, they bark and sometimes you'll get a whole pack. It's interactive," said Ongaro.
For those who prefer a fishing rod, have no fear, because Ongaro will be giving some tips on fishing for lake trout and walleye.
Ongaro won the Alberta Walleye Championship in 1993, so he knows his stuff. You'll get the opportunity to learn some techniques that will land you a walleye you wouldn't dare throw back.
"At the end of the tournaments, you're out discussing tactics, and the cards are laid down. You say 'Hey, what did you do?'" said Ongaro. "I've taken things I've used that have been very successful for me and have passed them along."
Ongaro will be passing those tips on to you at the show. As for lake trout, it's all about making the average fisherman aware that a lake trout fishing trip is within reach.
"Lake trout is synonymous with fly-in fishing trips and five grand for a week. So most people go 'Well that's out of my league,'" said Ongaro.
"There are a bunch of lakes - there's Cold Lake, there's Waterton - those are big ones that are very strong fisheries. They're paved roads with paved launches that you can get to easily."
Ongaro will be speaking at the Pool and Hunting Seminar Stage in Hall D throughout the show, along with other respected outdoorsmen like T.J. Schwanky, Richard Mellon and Brad Fenson.
DATE: 2008.03.12
EDITION: Final
SECTION: Sports
PAGE: B8
ILLUSTRATION: 2 supplied photos 1. Claudio Ongaro will be holding seminars sharing a number of his tricks for landing big trophies and more. 2. For an alternative to whitetail, Claudio Ongaro suggests going after bear.
BYLINE: ROB CRAMER, SUN MEDIA
WORD COUNT: 699
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Outfitter shares knowledge
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
With over 10 years experience as an outfitter, Claudio Ongaro has gathered a lot of knowledge on hunting and fishing that the average sportsmen likely doesn't know.
That's why, at the Edmonton Boat and Sportsmen's Show, he will be holding seminars sharing a number of his tricks for landing big trophies and more.
Whitetail management, lake trout, alternative hunting and walleye are the topics, and after you hear what Ongaro has to say, you'll be a better sportsman.
Everyone wants to find a big whitetail, and for most hunters in the province, it's the game of choice. While there are plenty of whitetails out there, the monster trophies are usually few and far between.
They're certainly out there, but Ongaro believes things could be a whole lot better if hunters made a few adjustments each season.
"The philosophy on a lot of our ungulates is manage for opportunity, which means let's kill as many as we can and still maintain the population. That turns over a lot of animals, but it doesn't necessarily produce a lot of great trophy potential," said Ongaro.
"Let some of those little bucks grow, and if we all start doing it, all of a sudden you'll end up with bigger, better deer."
According to Ongaro, it really comes down to being a little more picky and waiting a little longer. By letting some of those smaller bucks that have potential go, you're changing the structure of the herd.
Even if you feel like you need to bring something home at the end of the season, don't shoot a one-and-a-half-year-old buck with great trophy potential on the last day. Instead, try and shoot a four and a half year-old buck that doesn't have the trophy potential.
"Not all of them grow trophy potential, and we call those cull bucks," said Ongaro. "You just cull them from the herd."
The other option, according to Ongaro, is to shoot a doe. Shooting a doe will help reorganize the doe-to-buck ratio resulting in more intense rutting activity.
"It's all complex, but there's a simple solution. Modify the age structure, let the bucks grow, and make sure the more mature bucks rut intensely," said Ongaro.
"If your age structure is off, you may not have all the does being bred, and you may have inferior bucks breeding that shouldn't be."
Ongaro has proof of whitetail management in action. Places like Alabama, Nebraska, Georgia and Mississippi, which were not previously know for monster whitetail, are now turning out world-class trophies thanks to whitetail management.
"These are places where guys used to struggle to get good deer.
"If they can do it down there, imagine what we can do here," said Ongaro. "Yeah, there are tons of deer out here, but why don't you have a good one on your wall even though you've been hunting for 20 years?"
Few hunters know about whitetail management, so Ongaro is hoping to spread the word.
While you're waiting for whitetail season to open maybe you should try out some alternative hunts. Ongaro will be giving visitors some tips on black bear hunting, wolf hunting and, surprisingly, even coyote hunting.
Ongaro will cover baiting options and archery tips for hunting bears and give a few hints on calling wolves and coyotes.
"It's fun and there's virtually no hunting pressure. One nice thing about bear hunting, wolf hunting and coyote hunting is hardly anyone is doing it and they're everywhere. You have bears from the northern border of Alberta to the southern border."
While few sportsmen actively pursue bear and wolf, most know of fellow hunters through the grapevine that take on this game.
But coyotes? That's something that's sure to turn a few heads at the show.
If a hunter is out in the bush looking for other game and they see a coyote they'll probably shoot it, but actually actively pursuing them as a hunting expedition, that's not very common at all.
"If you go out this time of year - it's the breeding season - you call them and they come in aggressive. Right now they're so focussed on breeding, if you sound like another coyote you're gonna get action. They howl back, they bark and sometimes you'll get a whole pack. It's interactive," said Ongaro.
For those who prefer a fishing rod, have no fear, because Ongaro will be giving some tips on fishing for lake trout and walleye.
Ongaro won the Alberta Walleye Championship in 1993, so he knows his stuff. You'll get the opportunity to learn some techniques that will land you a walleye you wouldn't dare throw back.
"At the end of the tournaments, you're out discussing tactics, and the cards are laid down. You say 'Hey, what did you do?'" said Ongaro. "I've taken things I've used that have been very successful for me and have passed them along."
Ongaro will be passing those tips on to you at the show. As for lake trout, it's all about making the average fisherman aware that a lake trout fishing trip is within reach.
"Lake trout is synonymous with fly-in fishing trips and five grand for a week. So most people go 'Well that's out of my league,'" said Ongaro.
"There are a bunch of lakes - there's Cold Lake, there's Waterton - those are big ones that are very strong fisheries. They're paved roads with paved launches that you can get to easily."
Ongaro will be speaking at the Pool and Hunting Seminar Stage in Hall D throughout the show, along with other respected outdoorsmen like T.J. Schwanky, Richard Mellon and Brad Fenson.