The Bushmaster's Garage

I’ve been crafting wood countertops for years—our new 25.5x31in coffee bar base included—and tonight, I put the final touches on it down in the basement, with Denali, my trusty chocolate Lab girl, by my side. With bear season six weeks away (April 28, 2025, Manitoba’s black bears are stirring), I’m balancing home projects with prepping my Mathews Tactic. Here’s what I tackled tonight. Step 1: Filling Cracks with Wood Filler The spruce countertop had a few small cracks—nothing major, but they’d bug me. I grabbed some wood filler, worked it into the gaps with a putty knife, and smoothed it flush. Let it sit while Denali sniffed the fresh scent. Takes patience, but it’ll look solid. Step 2: Final Sanding and Prep for Staining Once the filler dried, I hit it with an orbital sander—80-grit paper to smooth it out, chamfering the edges to avoid splinters. Wiped it down with a tack cloth to clear dust—ready for my wife to stain it tomorrow. Denali watched, tail wagging. Step 3: Dry...

 March is here, the season is open, and we’re ready to drop the hammer on some geese—but where the hell are they? If you’re in Southeast Manitoba , you’ve probably noticed that the skies are still pretty quiet. The geese aren’t here yet. What’s the Hold-Up? Spring came early last year, but this time around, we’re still waiting . The big flocks of snows and Canadas haven’t pushed up yet, likely held back by colder weather to the south. Sure, you might see the odd small group, but the real migration hasn’t started rolling in. That means it’s a waiting game right now— scouting every morning, watching the weather, and being ready to go when the first big waves show up. Season Details (For When the Birds Finally Arrive) Whenever they decide to show up, here’s what the season looks like: Canada Goose: March 1 – April 10 (GBHZ 3 & 4) Daily limit: 8 Possession limit: 24 Snow & Ross’s Goose: March 15 – May 31 (GBHZs 2, 3, and 4) Daily limit: 50 No possession limi...

I’ve been crafting wood projects for years—countertops like our new 25.5x31in coffee bar base, and now I’m eyeing coffee tables to match. Down in the basement—our workspace ‘til that garage gets built—I’ve tested three solid ways to build one, with Denali, my trusty chocolate Lab girl, keeping me company. With bear season six weeks out (April 28, 2025, Manitoba’s black bears are calling), I need a break from Mathews Tactic prep to flex my woodworking. Here’s how I’d tackle a coffee table. Method 1: Simple Plank Top with Legs Grab 2x6 spruce, cut four 40-inch lengths for the top, rip to 5 1/2 inches wide. Glue and clamp with bar clamps, weighting with workout plates. Attach four pre-made 16-inch legs with L-brackets—sturdy, done in a day. Method 2: Reclaimed Wood with Metal FrameScrounge old barn wood—cut to 42x24 inches, sand smooth with a belt sander. Weld a simple steel frame (24-inch height) for support, bolt the wood top on. Rustic and tough, perfect for a hunter’s den...

I’ve been building countertops out of wood for years—every one in this house, and the last one too, all handcrafted with sweat and sawdust. Tonight, I tackled another, and it felt good to get back to the workbench, with our trusty chocolate Lab, Denali, right by my side. With bear season six weeks out (April 28, 2025, Manitoba’s black bears are calling), I need a clear space to prep my Mathews Tactic and gear. So, I hit the lumber yard, grabbed some 2x6 spruce, and brought it home to make magic—with Denali sniffing around the whole time. First, I measured the countertop spot—25 1/2 inches deep by 31 inches long. Gave myself a little extra, so I cut the 2x6s into 32-inch lengths with my circular saw, nice and square, while Denali watched like my unofficial supervisor. Then, I hauled ‘em to the table saw. Ripped each one to 5 1/8 inches wide, shaving off those rounded edges to get clean, flat surfaces for lamination. Took some focus—those blades don’t mess around, and Denali ...

Spring’s rolling in, and up here in Manitoba, that means bear season’s about to hit. The black bears are shaking off winter—big, shaggy targets I’m ready to stalk with my bow. Truck’s getting rigged, broadheads are sharp, and I’ve got an ALP pouch tucked in for the grind. Here’s the scoop on the 2025 spring hunt, plus why bear meat’s worth the draw, straight from bow legends like Steven Rinella, Cam Hanes, and Joe Rogan. Season and Rules Rundown Manitoba’s spring bear hunt kicks off the last Monday of April—April 28 for 2025—and runs through June 30. That’s over two months to pin a bruin with an arrow. Dates can shift, so double-check with Manitoba Wildlife Federation or gov.mb.ca closer to launch. Rules are tight: big game license, one bear per hunter, no cubs or sows with cubs—keep it legit. Baiting’s allowed, so I’ll be lugging oats and bacon grease to my stand soon. No dogs, no night shots, tag it quick. Some zones lock out non-residents, but outfitters like Agassiz or ...

Out in the bush, I’m either tracking deer, wrenching on something, or working on renos/thinking of new woodworking projects. This blog’s my spot to share what works—gritty hacks, gear that holds up, and the little things that keep me sane on long hunts. First off: Tucker Carlson's ALP nicotine pouches. No smoke, no spit, just 3-9mg of focus when I’m sighting in a scope or wrenching on my truck. Grab some with my code https://alppouch.com/BUSHMASTER —keeps me sharp without a mess. I'll be diving into all sorts of stuff, so stick around if you’re into hunting, fixing, and building your way.