Whiskey jacks work a lump of deer fat placed near a deer blind. Photo: Tim Sopuck

Hunting with whiskey jacks

Canada jays, or whiskey jacks, make for bold little deer hunting pals to liven up long periods waiting in the blind for a potential shot

Canada jays, or whiskey jacks, are bold little deer hunting pals that don’t mind getting close, if it means a piece of the offal or deer fat left over from a successful forest hunt in Manitoba.

Mark Sopuck bundles up for a late-fall waterfowl hunt. Late-season marsh hunts require special attention to dressing properly. Photo: Tim Sopuck

Mastering Manitoba’s late-season bird hunt

Grouse and partridge hunters in Manitoba still have over a month in their season, and late-migrating waterfowl still offer prime, late-fall hunting chances before the ice fully closes in

Manitoba hunters still have plenty of hunting opportunities left in fall 2025 for grouse, partridge and even waterfowl like ducks and geese.





Tim Sopuck with a 53-centimetre rainbow trout taken from Patterson Lake west of Rossburn, Man.

Manitoba’s trout fishing jewels

Want trout fishing in Manitoba? Look to the west: stocked and aerated lakes in the Parkland boast a first-class experience for anglers

Want a trout fishing spot in Manitoba? Stocked and aerated lakes in the Parkland boast a first-class experience for anglers

A person fishing from shore while seated, relaxing, in a chair.

The joys of fishing from shore

Shore fishing is less expensive, more accessible for new anglers and can still yield impressive catches

Manitoba has many lake and river shorelines to drop a fishing line without the cost of a boat, making shore fishing more accessible, and anglers can still catch impressive fish.





Julie Sopuck with a 69-centimetre walleye caught with a bottom bouncer and spinner rig in an area of high current and nasty snags.

Fishing the deep water of Manitoba

Bottom bouncers and slip bobbers should be part of every Manitoba angler’s kit if they’re looking deeper for fish

Bottom bouncers and slip bobbers should be part of every Manitoba angler’s kit when chasing fish in deep water or close to the bottom.

Chase Ganaden and his father, Ben, with a bass taken on a bobber.

Making fishing fun for beginners

It will be a good day if you focus on your guest’s needs and interests

Taking a beginner angler on their first fishing trip is a big responsibility for a fishing mentor, but if you focus on your guests’ needs and interests, it can make for a lifelong memory.