Wild Northerner Magazine Summer 2018 | Page 49

HEADLINE:

BY AMANDA LYNN MAYHEW

For Wild Northerner

I have come a long way from that shy little redhead from northern Ontario. To be fortunate enough to

hone my skills as a hunter and an outdoorswoman and to be able to share it on national TV and in my

outreach programs gives me pure satisfaction. It is a career I enjoy. Hard work is finding creative ways to

get your message across and to allow others to learn and create memories alongside you; however, I

have found a way through the Women's Hunting Association's Range Day, Take Me Hunting and Take

Me Fishing I developed. This season just started but already my soul has been filled with laughter and

my stories are ready to share, with a few range days under my belt in various locations, and a very

successful Take Me Fishing at Tomiko Lake Lodge this year is sure to be a doozy.

During Range Day events, women 12 years old and up are allowed to participate - no license required -

with hands-on mentoring with shotgun, rifle, pistol and archery in a non-intimidating environment. We

filmed the Rock Cut Shooting Club Range Day to showcase the program on national television focusing

on a few key girls and sharing their stories. Their feedback blows me away at each range day with

comments like; "I am far more confident handling guns and I want to thank YOU for that.", "I feel

more confident now.", "Now I want my gun license." "I'm hooked."

Take Me Fishing was a huge success and I didn't understand how much knowledge I had to give in this

part of the industry because I am just an amateur angler myself. To instruct and hang out with the girls

as they assemble their Okuma rods and reels, put line on their reels, learn to tie knots, bait hooks, and

just get out on the new Crestliner Discovery and watch as they take in the perfect spots to fish and how

the boat comes in handy for many situations, such as trolling, bottom bouncing, finding the fish, marking

way points and being comfortable is all important to having a successful program. The girls were also

able to adventure off-roading with myself experiencing the trails and northern Ontario bush on the new

CFMOTO C-Force 800's that made for a very comfortable, no-stress ride. There are clips that showcase

the ease of riding these machines whether you are a novice or intermediate rider, and lots of mud

puddles.

"I don't care that I am wet, this is so much fun!", says Rae on the one day we had 90% rain.

Producing the first episode of Just Hunt featuring good friends Chris Mink, Captain Tony DeGasperis and

special guest, singer, songwriter, Ty Baynton was a barrel of laughs, a test of patience, and use of skills.

We started the morning with fishing for salmon on Georgian Bay and ended the day with a turkey hunt

in the Grey Bruce area. It was definitely a good call for exciting television.

No matter the weather, we were out there doing the best we could with what we knew in the situation

that called for it. Chris with his mad calling skills using a combination of Primo mouth calls and slate and

box calls was able to locate and get those gobblers interested in paying us a visit, which ended up in a

nice Tom taken by me and my Hatsan at the end of the last day of shooting - talk about waiting until the

last minute! We had two days to shoot a full episode but nonetheless we filled it with fun and action.

Tony, captain of Action Fishing Charters, shone through with his guidance on the water in active

weather and calm waters, keeping conversation flowing about the gear, tackle and fishing information

we needed to land some decent salmon. Ty and I were both able to hook onto some fantastic fish during

this filming and enjoyed a fresh fish and turkey dinner. How many of us can say we can do that?

My cameraman was incredible at keeping up and capturing the best of the action for you to watch on

WILD TV in 2019. Patrice Halley was passionate about filming the perfect shots and angles while not

complaining about the hunt, the fish, weather, water or any obstacles that may have gotten in his way.

When you have the perfect cameraman to work with it makes the job that much more enjoyable.

This summer and fall are quickly approaching and so are the adventures, and as always, stay tuned for

the most exciting year so far in the outdoors. Whether you are a novice or an intermediate, the

outdoors is the best place to play and education is everything to keep our heritage moving forward.

Amanda Lynn Mayhew

TV Host, Just Hunt

Official Ambassador of the Toronto Sportsmen's Show

www.justhunt.ca | www.amandalynnmayhew.com

BY AMANDA LYNN MAYHEW

For Wild Northerner

I have come a long way from that shy little redhead from northern Ontario. To be fortunate enough to hone my skills as a hunter and an outdoorswoman and to be able to share it on national TV and in my outreach programs gives me pure satisfaction. It is a career I enjoy. Hard work is finding creative ways to get your message across and to allow others to learn and create memories alongside you; however, I have found a way through the Women's Hunting Association's Range Day, Take Me Hunting and Take Me Fishing I developed. This season just started but already my soul has been filled with laughter and my stories are ready to share, with a few range days under my belt in various locations, and a very successful Take Me Fishing at Tomiko Lake Lodge this year is sure to be a doozy.

During Range Day events, women 12 years old and up are allowed to participate - no license required - with hands-on mentoring with shotgun, rifle, pistol and archery in a non-intimidating environment. We filmed the Rock Cut Shooting Club Range Day to showcase the program on national television focusing on a few key girls and sharing their stories. Their feedback blows me away at each range day with comments like; "I am far more confident handling guns and I want to thank YOU for that.", "I feel more confident now.", "Now I want my gun license." "I'm hooked."

Take Me Fishing was a huge success and I didn't understand how much knowledge I had to give in this part of the industry because I am just an amateur angler myself. To instruct and hang out with the girls as they assemble their Okuma rods and reels, put line on their reels, learn to tie knots, bait hooks, and just get out on the new Crestliner Discovery and watch as they take in the perfect spots to fish and how the boat comes in handy for many situations, such as trolling, bottom bouncing, finding the fish, marking way points and being comfortable is all important to having a successful program. The girls were also able to adventure off-roading with myself experiencing the trails and northern Ontario bush on the new CFMOTO C-Force 800's that made for a very comfortable, no-stress ride. There are clips that showcase the ease of riding these machines whether you are a novice or intermediate rider, and lots of mud puddles. "I don't care that I am wet, this is so much fun!", says Rae on the one day we had 90 percent rain.

Producing the first episode of Just Hunt featuring good friends Chris Mink, Captain Tony DeGasperis and special guest, singer, songwriter, Ty Baynton was a barrel of laughs, a test of patience, and use of skills. We started the morning with fishing for salmon on Georgian Bay and ended the day with a turkey hunt in the Grey Bruce area. It was definitely a good call for exciting television. No matter the weather, we were out there doing the best we could with what we knew in the situation that called for it. Chris with his mad calling skills using a combination of Primo mouth calls and slate and box calls was able to locate and get those gobblers interested in paying us a visit, which ended up in a nice Tom taken by me and my Hatsan at the end of the last day of shooting - talk about waiting until the last minute! We had two days to shoot a full episode but nonetheless we filled it with fun and action.

Tony, captain of Action Fishing Charters, shone through with his guidance on the water in active weather and calm waters, keeping conversation flowing about the gear, tackle and fishing information we needed to land some decent salmon. Ty and I were both able to hook onto some fantastic fish during this filming and enjoyed a fresh fish and turkey dinner. How many of us can say we can do that? My cameraman was incredible at keeping up and capturing the best of the action for you to watch on WILD TV in 2019. Patrice Halley was passionate about filming the perfect shots and angles while not complaining about the hunt, the fish, weather, water or any obstacles that may have gotten in his way. When you have the perfect cameraman to work with it makes the job that much more enjoyable. This summer and fall are quickly approaching and so are the adventures, and as always, stay tuned for the most exciting year so far in the outdoors. Whether you are a novice or an intermediate, the outdoors is the best place to play and education is everything to keep our heritage moving forward.

Amanda Lynn Mayhew TV Host, Just Hunt Official Ambassador of the Toronto Sportsmen's Show www.justhunt.ca | www.amandalynnmayhew.com