For anglers who fish unfamiliar waters, a good lake

Fish finder: The Angler's Atlas homepage, just one of dozen's of online sites to find lake maps

map is a handy tool. And an online site for finding those maps is just about as helpful. So if you’re searching the Web for lake maps, you’ll undoubtedly want to check out this recent post (“Google Maps for Anglers”) on the Google Maps Mania blog. It includes a list of sites that compile fishing maps in various locations throughout North America and the world. As with sites such as the Canadian-based The Angler’s Atlas (see earlier blog), most of the sites include social-networking components, so users can post photos, fishing reports and meet other anglers. Just another useful way to get to know those lakes and rivers you’re itching to fish.

Talk about swift justice. Within three weeks of posting a despicable video on

Facing the music: Duck poacher David Fraser responds to media questions after pleading guilty to a variety of hunting violations on August 10

YouTube titled “Duck Hunt” that featured three men blasting away at sitting ducks from a car (mentioned in this space yesterday and last week), the trio responsible pleaded guilty to 15 charges yesterday afternoon, August 10.

David Fraser, 30, his brother James Fraser, 23 and Jeremy Rowlands all of Cudworth, Saskatchewan, were fined a total of $16,000 and banned from hunting for three years. Two rifles were also seized and forfeited to the Crown. All three men had been charged with hunting migratory birds out of season, using and rifle to hunting migratory birds, careless discharge of a firearm and allowing edible game to be wasted. Rowlands was also charged with discharging a firearm from a vehicle.

Judging by the comments on the related story on cbc.ca (there are 10 pages of them!), many folks aren’t happy with the punishment. I’d be interested from hearing from you. Did these guys get what they deserve? Or did they get off lucky?

You’ve either been on the water or in the gun range 24-7 for the last week or so if you

Caught on tape: Image from a Facebook page dedicated to catching the poachers

didn’t hear about the trio of Canadian yahoos who went on a duckling shooting rampage (from a car no less), and uploaded the video evidence to YouTube. I blogged about it on August 4 (see “Hunting poachers“) after the clip became the talk on a slew of internet hunting forums, and the story subsequently became big news for media outlets throughout Canada and the U.S.

As I predicted, the poachers were quickly apprehended, as three Saskatchewan men were arrested this past Saturday, August 8. Check out canoe.ca for this story (“YouTube duck poacher offers apology”), that gives some insight into the motivation behind the callous act. A tidbit:

“Not that it’s any excuse, but we honestly didn’t know it was crime–if we did we wouldn’t have uploaded it to the internet and we never would have done it in the first place.”

Also of interest, conservation officials say poaching tip lines in both Alberta and Saskatchewan received an unprecedented number of calls relating to the incident. The poachers were to make their first court appearance in a Saskatoon court this morning, August 10.

A number of Canadian internet hunting forums are abuzz over a video posted on

Sitting ducks: A still from a YouTube video originally posted by poachers, who are now being hunted themselves

YouTube recently (then subsequently removed and reposted by a concerned citizen), which depicts a couple of yahoos shooting what appear to be pellet guns or rifles at sitting ducks. From their car no less. (You can see the video here.)

Wildlife authorities from both Alberta and Saskatchewan, where it’s believe the video was shot, have been notified and are investigating the incident. Of course, if you recognize any of the individuals in the clip, you’re encouraged to contact Alberta’s Report a Poacher hotline at 1-800-642-3800 or Saskatchewan’s Turn In Poachers at 1-800-667-7561.

A couple of concerned hunters have even set up a Facebook page dedicated to bringing these poachers to justice. And after checking out the site, as well as threads on the subject on the Alberta Outdoorsmen Forum, the noose is surely tightening around the necks of these poachers.

Most modern anglers and hunters are technologically savvy, particularly when it

Tweet, tweet: Facts of Fishing's Dave Mercer's Twitter page

comes to gadgets such as fishfinders and GPS units. So, I suppose, it’s hardly surprising that a raft of famous Canadian anglers, have joined the ranks of the latest technological fad: Twitter. By my search, the popular social-networking tool, counts among it’s users TV icon Bob Izumi, World Fishing Network hosts Mariko Izumi and J.P. DeRose, Canada’s self-proclaimed fishing funnyman Dave Mercer (Facts of Fishing), and TV hostesses Kathryn Maroun (What a Catch) and Courtney Hatfield (Get Out!).

Now, I’m far from a technological wiz myself, but I’m certainly not a newbie, and the whole point of Twitter is somewhat lost on me. As you undoubtedly know, Twitter users send “tweets,” short messages about anything and everything so their friends, family and fans, can keep up with them. My question: Is this really info I need to know? Here’s a sampling of recent tweets from some of the aforementioned anglers:

Bob Izumi
Just hit a moose straight on and totaled my SUV. Bright side - lucky to be alive.
June 2 at 8:42 PM

Courtney Hatfield
At work, going to grab some lunch and hope my stocks are up by the time I’m back
May 19 at 11:24 AM

JP DeRose
Just got back from a family reunion picnic. Great to see everybody after way too long.
June 7 at 6 PM

Kathryn Maroun
Back in the studio today to work on the show from Japan for series 5.
June 2 at 4:15 AM

Dave Mercer
Packing!!!!!!!
June 4 at 9:28

Other than Izumi’s close call with Bullwinkle, there’s not a lot of significance in the tweets from these folks. But, if you’re a hard-core fan, maybe you care that Dave Mercer was packing. Just what he was packing? I’ll let you ask.

You netizens out there who are Facebook users may want to check out Canadian show

Show time: Outdoor Quest TV's homepage

Outdoor Quest TV’s new Facebook group. T.J. Schwanky, an Outdoor Canada field editor and one of the show’s co-hosts, promises weekly updates from the hosts and about the program, as well as some great contents in the near future on the page. The Outdoor Quest page already includes a collection of photos and video from the show, which can be seen on WildTV and online at www.myoutdoortv.com (see my blog on that site here).

While you’re at Facebook, you can also check out the Outdoor Canada fan page and join as a member.