Everything you need for small game hunting

A specialist

Whenever he has a free moment, Claude Bissonnette, head buyer of the hunting and fishing department of SAIL stores, escapes into the world of nature. Over the past three decades, he’s tried his luck in the Ashuapmushuan, Mastigouche, Rouge-Matawin, Papineau-Labelle, Saint-Maurice and Portneuf wildlife reserves. "Every year, I take a cabin and spend a whole week hunting with my better half. Then, I go back on four or five other occasions for some day hunting with my spouse or friends. I make sure to spend 12 to 15 days in the woods in October and November harvesting game birds and beasts,” explains our connoisseur. I had the pleasure of speaking with this affable Davy Crockett about his must-have gear for small game hunting.

Comfort above all else

It’s important to choose high-performance attire that will keep you warm and dry. Depending on the prevailing temperature, Claude favours the principle of multi-layer clothing that can be removed during the day. As the weather gets milder, we adjust. It’s also crucial to remember that when hunting small game, we walk a lot. Our bodies warm up more quickly than if we were sitting in a deer or moose blind.

For the sake of your feet, you should choose comfortable walking boots. Claude recommends leather and polyester models with a light waterproof membrane. A sole with good grip on surfaces such as wet or damp rocks is a definite plus. According to this expert, rubber boots should be avoided because of the poor ankle support they provide.

What to lug

In his backpack, Claude likes to carry a water bottle, spare socks and gloves, a compact first aid kit, and some energy bars. The backpack should be as light as possible and have a polyurethane coating inside to make it waterproof.

Preparing the ground

When our enthusiast wants to explore a new sector, he first consults the digital map of the wildlife reserve with his portable GPS. This way, he can discover potentially productive sites before he even gets there. If necessary, he can save points of interest. The good old paper topographic map can be very useful as well.

Think safety

In addition to following the basic rules, wearing a bib, and prioritising the safe handling of weapons, Claude never ventures off the beaten path alone. He makes sure he always has his trusty compass around his neck (not in his haversack); his GPS* on his belt; and a detailed map of the hunting grounds in his pocket. He told me that he once got lost because all his orientation tools were stuffed in his backpack. To increase the safety of his excursions, Claude has also developed the good habit of saving the exact position of his vehicle each time he parks it somewhere.

In addition, the buyer from Sail always wears an orange cap to make himself visible to his partners and other hunting enthusiasts. He strongly recommends shooting glasses to avoid getting a poke in the eye from a branch when barging through the bush.

On the auditory side, Claude isn’t a big fan of hunting earmuffs or other such devices, as it’s important to be able to hear birds drumming or hopping through the leaves before they see us. "I hunt a lot by ear," he says.

*If you don't have a GPS, consider downloading the free Avenza Maps mobile application on your device (via the App Store® or the Google Play Store^TM). Most of the maps are georeferenced, so you can always know where you are, even if there is no cell signal.

Firearms for hunting

How should you choose the choke of your firearm with an eye to the surrounding environment? " I prefer a 20 gauge semi-automatic with a 26-inch barrel or overlaid with a 28-incher. The medium choke and improved cylinder provide a good pattern for shooting on the fly. It’s really lighter and easier to handle than the traditional 12 gauge, and also less of a burden when you’re moving through dense woods," says the expert. He also prefers pellet rifles with more than 500 fps in .177 or .22 caliber format. 

Preserving your harvest

The best way to preserve venison is to lug the carcasses in a game bag or in a ventilated backpack and clean them at nightfall.