Rolf Devinci

 On a lovely October Saturday I got out under the green, red and oranges of the autumn woods. Been dealing with a head cold this week so the morning spent in the fresh air with the bow was definitely what Dr. Fred Bear would have recommended. Sinuses opened up in the crisp morning temperatures though it became surprisingly warm as the day advanced toward noon. Started the day by repairing my wiki shelter which has been neglected of late. A tee pee style shelter I built it a few years ago primarily to store my animal feed bag archery targets and was in desperate need of winterizing before the first snowfall. Gave me an opportunity to use my newest hatchet, a CRKT tomahawk I picked up on Amazon. An excellent addition to my bush crafting kit. Using my 55# Hungarian composite bow with bamboo arrows. Speaking of awesome kit this bow is a great shooter with a surprising amount of pop for a 55# draw. Had to double up my target bags to be an effective arrow stop. Au...

I realized this past winter preparing for snow shoeing that gaiters might just have an anti tick application. Typically they quest for hosts in low shrub and tall grasses which means they attach on your lower legs. Gaiters usually cover the lower legs from knees to footwear with some styles having heel straps that secure them in place. Gaiters could provide protection in two ways; first by covering up the gap between footware and pant hem that allow ticks to get under the pant leg and gain access to skin. The first line of defense is keeping them on the outside of your clothing. Secondly any gaiter made from a light color fabric would facilitate one being able to see the critters before they have an opportunity to climb upward looking for a gap in your clothes. With that in mind I picked up a pair of former East European military gaiters on EBay. Made of khaki cotton with snug elasticized hems they are both light weight and breathable. Long enough to cover ankles to knees I ca...

Yes. It is soon that time when the ticks awaken fully from their winter slumber to annoy, harass and sicken us both literally and figuratively. Hack #1-Every camper, hiker, hunter and bushcrafter should throw grandmother's hand mirror in their kit. It does seem out of place within an outdoorsman's pack but the wider mirror's viewing area and longer handle certainly facilitates body searches, especially around the nether regions; groin, crotch and buttocks. Ticks prefer warm and moist areas, many of which are difficult to search if you are alone. They also will attach on your "six" including calves, back of knees, behind ears and along hairline. For well endowed females under the breasts offer sanctuary as well as armpits for both sexes. Yes - signalling mirrors can do the trick but require far more flexibility alone than most folks possess. Together the two can work in combination to view practically all one can offer. Granny mirrors are cheap at the do...

Winter finally arrived to the East coast with a couple heavy snowfalls last week. Due to the high winds its hard to determine the amount of snowfall due to drifting but 40-60 centimeters is a good estimate depending where you are in the province. Heading into the February long weekend it meant I finally would have a chance to get outside on my snowshoes. Not only is it a full body workout but a chance to appreciate the beauty of winter. Saturday`s attempt was a hard slog. The snow was fresh powder and the drifts were substantial in the area I choose to hike within. Even with shoes matched to my weight I was knee deep for most of the outing. By Monday the temperatures had risen and with a melt the snow cover became wet and firmer and afforded far better snowshoeing opportunities. I  love the woods in winter, especially with a fresh cover of snow. A white blanket of winter snow over the landscape makes for some great scenery and, subsequently,...

Picked up a couple knives for the archery and bush crafting packs from Canadian Outdoor Equipment. Excellent online store with lightning fast shipping. https://www.canadianoutdoorequipment.com/ A couple years ago I purchased a Condor Bushlore via Ebay but decided I needed something with a more durable edge retention. I like the traditional look and feel of the Bushlore but needed something that was simply bombproof. http://rolfdevinci.blogspot.ca/2014/11/condor-bushlore.html Enter the Mora "robust" companion. Excellent reviews and a bargain at $28.95 CDN. Yes. It`s a modern knife complete with a rubberized hilt and plastic sheath but with a world renown high carbon steel blade with a (decently) thick spine. Scandinavian grind - razor sharp out of the box. Excellent ergonomics and fits my hand to perfection. Since COE offers free shipping on orders over $50 I opted to also purchase the Mora Eldris neck knife. Designed for wear...

A few months ago I happened upon a Canadian army 1982 pattern rucksack while browsing through a local thrift shop. Showing like new and unissued I was happy to see a price tag of only $3.99. Score! A bright olive green color with no fading or fraying it was a gem of a find especially for that price as surplus stores are selling used versions for much more. It was missing the valise bag and the hip belt but otherwise all the strapping was complete including all the parts required for the quick release feature of the pack. By pulling a tab on the shoulder straps it will completely release the pack from your back. The ruck sack has one large compartment that is divided into two sections and covered with a hood. Within the hood is an exterior and interior zippered compartments that is rubberized for what I can only presume was for map or other document storage. The top of the ruck sack also has a zippered access to the interior storage compartment th...

Recently purchased a Bushbox stove from Canadian Outdoor Equipment. Made in Germany by Bushcraft Essentials it is a multi fuel pocket stove that is both light and small. Perfect for the backpack, bushcraft bag, jacket pocket or quiver. It assembles quickly with tabs that interlock and form a solid stable platform, complete with ash tray and two cross supports that offers a flush or elevated cup position.  It also comes with a cotton bag to keep all the parts together and keep your pocket or pack soot free. Picked it up for $49.99 CDN which was a very competitive price point compared to some of the other pocket stoves available. Seems to be well constructed so the next step will be to test its functionality. These are perfect accessories for anyone enjoying the outdoors who want the ability to spark up a heating source quickly and easily using twigs and other ground debris.

Decided to replace my current lean-to shelter on the archery range in the local woods with something a little more functional. A place that would store my (stuffed) feed bag arrow targets but also offer more versatility for usage and comfort. The lean-to was a project I completed a few years ago and has held up remarkably well to the elements. Unfortunately it is too small for anything other than storage - I can lay under it but cannot sit within it. I was looking to create something I could use as a base camp (so to speak) for snowshoeing so needed a (wind) shelter I could place a camp chair within along with some additional stowage. I considered an A frame but was limited in available flat ground space so opted to go with a Wikiup debris hut using a teepee styled design. It would fit nicely on the spot between two trees where the existing shelter lies and offers an entrance facing the rising/midday sun with the rear wall facing t...