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Benu · Post by **Benu** » Fri Sep 12, 2008 8:53 am

Hi everyone,

I just getting around to writing my introduction now and have been reading the forum for approx a month now. My name is Jason. My spouse, and 3 children age 5, 3 and 1 live in Ottawa, Canada. Our two eldest are boys and the youngest is my sweet princess. My wonderful wife is a nursing officer (Captain) in the Canadian military and we have been stationed here since 2001. Prior to that we lived in Saskatchewan. I am a stay at home father and love every minute of it. As we have no family in our area, everyone spread out from North Carolina to Calgary, Alberta, we decided it was best to have one of us with the children as they grow.

Having an education in wild life management and a lifelong love affair with the outdoors, I decided to seriously take up hunting this year. Growing up my father was never involved in any outdoors activity, being raised in Steel town didn't help either. But I always read novels about the wild and hunting and my fascination continued to grow. At the University of Western Ontario, I concentrated on Biology and wild life management, getting to know all the animals of this great continent of ours. After school with lots of debt, and few jobs in my field that could even pay my bills, I decided to serve my country and worked in the Communications Group of the Canadian Army. I worked as radio operator, telephone lineman and IT specialist. Retiring as Sergeant from the reserves in 2007 after 17 years of service, both full and part-time I left happily to pursue other interests. Taking with me a wealth of survival knowledge, that until recently I had not fully appreciated. Leading up to now, missing being outdoors in the field with work, I decided now was the time to take up hunting. In the military I always would say "I can't believe they pay me to go camping." I would have done it all for free. Oddly now unless I am on Crown land I have to pay to do it anyway.

Initially I thought rifles was the way to go since I had lots of experience on the range. I quickly went out and got a 30-06 Savage and 22LR Savage. After a couple of afternoons with the 30-06 and a good armpit bruise I was ready. So I thought. While on my hunters ed course, I discovered that WMU 65, where I had been planning to hunt on a friends family farm was only open to archery, muzzle loaders and shotguns. With no desire to get black and dirty with the muzzle loader and not trusting my fathers old single shot 12 gauge enough to hunt with, I looked into archery. Unfortunately in 2003 while snowboarding I fractured my right shoulder blade and completely wrecked all the muscles on that side. After months of physio the doc said I would most like never throw a ball the same again. 5 years later, and lots of time in the gym, he was right, I still can't make a good throw to end of the yard. With that knowledge I knew my arm couldn't handle the pull on a compound, and even if it could the chance of having a long hold was too risky. Then I discovered the Crossbow, while checking out a local shop. Lisa the owner, showed me the Phoenix package that she hunts with. It was a match made in heaven, the Phoenix and me that is. After thinking about it all night, first thing the next morning I ran over and bought it. From my first shots behind I was in love, no more painfull shoulder, no more expensive ammo to train with and best of all a really accurate and fun weapon to hunt with.

Currently I plan to hunt crown land and I am still searching for spots around Ottawa to go, ie farms. If anyone help out and point me in a good direction or offer up a spot on their land to place a stand that would be really appreciated. Finding a spot to hunt from seems to one of the most difficult steps so far, with lots of urban hunters around, lots of farmers already have guys on their land or don't want any. But it is all part of the fun and excitement. If it was easy it wouldn't be that worth while

After discovering this forum, I realized with Excalibur I really had stumbled on something special. Made in Canada. Top notch service and dependability. And best of all a great community of people to communicate and share ideas with on this forum. I look forward to getting to know as many of you as possible. Thank you for taking the time to read about me.[/i]

dutchhunter · Post by **dutchhunter** » Fri Sep 12, 2008 9:11 am

and welcome to are world .

cdup · Post by **cdup** » Fri Sep 12, 2008 9:17 am

Welcome!

N8tr Boy · Post by **N8tr Boy** » Fri Sep 12, 2008 9:21 am

Welcome Jason
I have a shoulder injury from car accident and know your pain. Crossbow the way to go.

Mark

Grizzly Adam · Post by **Grizzly Adam** » Fri Sep 12, 2008 9:54 am

Welcome to the forum!

kitty kat · Post by **kitty kat** » Fri Sep 12, 2008 10:12 am

Welcome Jason. This is family, you will find that all questions get answered on this forum. Keep practising and muscles will get stronger. When you get out in the bush you will find a lot of people using crossbows that have had injuries or shoulder surgery. Good luck.

saxman · Post by **saxman** » Fri Sep 12, 2008 10:13 am

Welcome Jason
I wish you success with your new love.
I must point out that for me at least.
I LOVE HUNTING WITH MUZZLELOADERS
When you get all the goodies and learn to properly take care of one,I prefer the Modern IN LINES but also like the sidelock.
With a properly loaded and sighted in ML you have a very capeable weapon as others on here will tell you as most of the folks on here hunt every season with multple weapons also, so dont count it out to quickly.
I also understand your desire to hunt with your new Crossbow,I love mine.

Welcome to the family Jason

Benu · Post by **Benu** » Fri Sep 12, 2008 12:29 pm

Saxman,

I am sure that the muzzleloaders are fun too. I friend of mine in SK hunted with them for years. For myself right now the crossbow was the most logical step for me, both knowledge wise and financial. Although there is always more to know.

Sandman · Post by **Sandman** » Fri Sep 12, 2008 4:25 pm

Welcome aboard....This is a great place to be.

hikerman · Post by **hikerman** » Fri Sep 12, 2008 4:44 pm

Welcome!!

ehntr · Post by **ehntr** » Fri Sep 12, 2008 4:49 pm

Jason...........that is pretty much the most informative introduction I have ever read on a forum. Welcome aboard soldier. Stay at home Mom..............that's the kind of employment that eluded me all of my life. By my avatar you can see what I'm into.........actually used to be into. I retired from the air force after 34 years and now am working full time reserve with the army. Hooooooooooooah!

Can't help you in finding good hunting areas in Ottawa.........check out crown land locations on county maps and go for a drive.

flbuckmaster · Post by **flbuckmaster** » Fri Sep 12, 2008 9:36 pm

Benu wrote:Saxman,

I am sure that the muzzleloaders are fun too. I friend of mine in SK hunted with them for years. For myself right now the crossbow was the most logical step for me, both knowledge wise and financial. Although there is always more to know.

WELCOME my new xbow junkie,
you may have that thought now, till you see a trophy buck out of range. Then you will start thinking about a ml for next year.
jay

mikew · Post by **mikew** » Fri Sep 12, 2008 9:39 pm

Welcome to the forum.
-Mike

fletch · Post by **fletch** » Fri Sep 12, 2008 10:08 pm

Welcome Jason, there are some public areas like Marlborough Forest just west of North Gower. If possible find a farm and ask the owner for permission but I live in Greely and hunt farms across the road but it is so occupied by hunters the deer are becoming very wise. If you want pm me and I can help you find an area.

just a feed boy · Post by **just a feed boy** » Fri Sep 12, 2008 10:09 pm

Welcome you couldn't find a nicer group of people

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