Episode 6:  Algonquin Park Poaching Stories

As shared in Episode 5, one of the downsides to the creation of Algonquin Park in 1893 was the fact that a significant number of folks in the local communities around Algonquin Park were now considered outlaws because they were running trap lines in what was now a protected area. They went overnight from being fine outstanding citizens trapping to supplement farming and logging livelihoods to unenlightened, disreputable and heartless bandits. This second of two episodes is focused on sharing a broad collection of stories and tall tales; adventures and lifestyles recollected by both poachers and the park rangers who tried to track them down.

Contributions come from many well known trapping and poaching personalities including Ralph Bice, Joe LaVally, Emmett Chartrand, Matt Lavally, Stewart Eady, Jack Gervais and Bill Mooney amongst many others. A special shout out to my friend and colleague Roderick (Rory) MacKay whose sentinel book Algonquin Park, A Place Like no Other is a key reference for this narrative. His book is a ‘must-have’ reference for everyone who has a passion for Algonquin Park.