Hunting season closes today

The hunting season closes today. All hunters have until end of March to turn in mandatory forms to the Wildlife Division. Failure to do so can result in a fine or you may be hauled before a Magistrate.

CHICKEN PRICES REDUCED

Chicken prices have been temporarily reduced by 12.57% at the biggest dealers. This is at least until March 8^th. Stock up now. It can stay frozen until after the Lenten season.

Two pressing issues for Trini airgunners

The 10-shot Marauder. Not for local airgunners.

We have countless airgunners In Trinidad and Tobago. Countless, because those charged with the duty of compiling relevant data do not release those figures. It’s a big national security secret.

Airgunners (and firearms owners) tend to be secretive, regarding their airgunning activities. Except with other airgunners. And for good reason. The average bandit doesn’t know much about rifles. So when he sees a long gun, more than likely he’ll start planning how to get it from the owner.

Most airgunners would not admit it, but they also want to own firearms. The TT Police Service operates as though their mandate is to remove legal guns from homes. Some individual members go further and rent their service-issued firearms, or illegal guns to violent criminals. Since the average non-shooting civilian tends to associate guns with violence, when they see a gun in another civilian’s hands, the immediately get nervous. Ask any shooter. That’s one reason why we usually keep our guns a secret. Never mind the fact that those same air rifles may have to protect the community, in an emergency.

So a neighbour sees your air rifle and calls 555 or 999 or the local police station. Despite knowing the airgunner  and her/his family for years as upstanding, law-abiding citizens. The police hear “man with a gun” and spring into action. When they arrive at your home, they’re sure you’re guilty of something. Maybe they can clear some of the backlog of unsolved robberies, rapes and murders with this one arrest (multiple arrests should your family be home, and friends visiting).

After the jack-booted ninjas (IATF) shoot your dogs, kick down your door, and terrorise, traumatize and threaten your wife and children, you are then allowed to produce your single shot, breakbarrel, .177, smoothbore air rifle. By this time, everyone at home is in handcuffs, with neighbours muttering, “they probably dealing drugs all these years and we didn’t know”. After all, if the ninjas kick down your door, then you MUST be guilty of something.

Depending on the mood of the on-scene corporal or serjeant, you may be allowed the privilege of producing your paperwork for the air rifle. Not satisfied, the police continue to search your entire home, including rifling through your wife’s underwear (a thing even you wouldn’t do), your children’s rooms and prized science project.

After turning your home upside down, and finding no evidence of criminal activity, they depart with a warning, and no apology. A version of the event is then documented in the station diary and other places.

A few months or years later, you apply for a FUL, and denied without explanation. You seek legal advice, and told to take your complaint to the Firearms Appeal Board. But wait, even though there is provision in law for this board, non has ever been constituted since Russell Huggins was Minister of National Security!

One citizen has taken the government to court of this matter.

CALIBRE AND RIFLED BARRELS

Our laws permit citizens only .177 caliber airguns, with smoothbore barrels. Almost no manufacturer produces smoothbore barreled air rifles anymore. Some are produced on special order of 100 rifles or more. So only dealers are allowed. A few dealers make enormous profits because of these old irrelevant laws.

There are a number of really good multi-shot air rifles on the international market today. The latest being the 10-shot Benjamin Marauder. It’s a duel-fuel (pump or CO2) beauty that retails in the US for US$500. Of course it doesn’t come in smoothbore. If a local dealer gets a special order through, then it will most likely retail here for four times the price, or more. The six-shot Evanix retails here for US$3,000, and sold in the US for US$600. The 12-shot FX Revolution is sold here for US$4,200. Both PCP, smoothbore, .177 calibre.

Only the rich can afford these prices.

In contrast, a .22 firearm (rifle) can be picked up off the shelf at Walmart for US$200-300.

The time has come for Trinidad & Tobago airgunners to be able to buy rifled bore airguns. We should also have the choice of .177, .20, .22, .25 or larger if we so desire. The present .177 severely restricts us as to what game we can take down. This also leaves us at a disadvantage to the hunters who use shotguns. An unintended consequence is, we have been forced to hone our shooting skills to near-sniper levels: one shot, one kill. This is no solace though, as one shot would almost never take down a deer. It would just wound the poor animal. We have been reduced to mere vermin shooters.

Hunting season opens today

Today, October 1 is the official opening of the hunting season. Season closes February 28, 2010.

Safe hunting, have fun and good luck to all hunters.

A few quick reminders:

Agouti, deer, lappe, tatou, wild hog, lizards (iguana, matte, caiman), cage birds and waterfowl cab be hunted. Waterfowl can only be hunted from Nov 1 – Feb 28.

Protected species: monkey, ocelot, anteater, scarlet ibis, pelican.

No hunting in game sanctuaries.

Hunting in forest reserves only 5:30am – 7:30pm.

No artificial lights while hunting in forest reserves.

Every member of a hunting party must possess a state game licence.

Read Chap 67:01, Conservation of Wildlife Act (1963).

Another Citizen Defends Self

Another citizen has defended himself against an armed criminal. This time the robber was shot to death with his own gun, in the Snake Valley area of Laventille.


PREPPING

A friend who works in the health care sector brought me some ibruprofen, eye drops and antacid. I was very grateful and immediately stashed them away. Got a new thermometer too. Cleaned out the closet set aside for emergency supplies, and rearranged everything. It’s now a little easier to access preps for rotation.

It is a dangerous idea to put your family’s survival at risk by assuming you can eat someone else’s food in an emergency. The only food you can count on is what you have stored away. During emergencies, most people are reluctant to share the little they have. Don’t count on charity.


HUNTING SEASON CLOSES

The hunting season closes today. Chap 67:01 Conservation of Wildlife Act. Congratulations to all successful hunters during this past season, hoping you had fun. Poachers will, of course, ignore this friendly reminder. Don’t forget to turn in your mandatory forms to the Wildlife Division. Failure to do so can result in a fine of $200 or you can find yourself in front of a Magistrate.

Preps storage

After rotating some canned foods recently, I observed the following:

1. There are now several boxes, bags and buckets of preps.
2. Even though there’s a computerized inventory, finding one item at the bottom of a bucket involves effort.
3. Having to move boxes, bags and buckets is no fun.
4. There’s a need for a better system, especially for rotation.

I’d welcome any low-cost ideas that doesn’t involve major upheaval.



HUNTING SEASON CLOSES SOON

The hunting season closes on 28 February. Remember to fill out your mandatory forms to return to the Wildlife Division. Failure to do so can result in a fine of $200 or you can be taken to court.

The East St George Hunters Group family day will be on 28 March, 1-6pm at the George Boyce Recreation Ground, Arima Old Road.

Iguana, preps, meds rotation

Shot an iguana today. It took five or six shots before finally succumbing. A healthy seven-pounder, about 35 inches from head to tail.

Why do iguanas just sit there while you shoot them repeatedly? It seems counterintuitive to survival.

I gave it to someone who loves that type of meat.



PREPS

Got two more whistles (free, at a childrens party) and immediately put them in the Bug Out Bag (BOB). One more lanyard, and we’ll have one whistle-and-lanyard combo per family member.

Bought a few more tins of pellets, at a good price. Some for target practice; some for the BOB, and the rest for the preps. To that, added mints, vitamins, a knife, pure cocoa butter, ginger tea, plastic forks.

Some of the stashed meds are getting close to expiry date. This is the one ‘downside’ of prepping: you cannot rotate (use and replace) meds out of your stash. It’s a sunk cost. The upside is, it’s there; available for your use in the event of an emergency. Doesn’t matter if there’s a curfew, the pharmacies are closed, the hospitals and health centres are overwhelmed or your insurance doesn’t cover the private nursing homes.

Better to have them at hand and not need them, than need them and not have them.

We have access to medical advice by phone, sms, email and web chat from professionals familiar with our health/medical history. So there would be no self-diagnosis, nor self-prescribed administration of any of the meds (some are quite powerful and effective).

We also keep a personal health record (PHR) for each family member, that is quite detailed and comprehensive; in soft and hard copies.

- Trini Funshooter

Rabbit

While enjoying the sunset this evening with the family at the ‘El Dorado’ hill, I saw a movement out of the corner of my eye, in the bushes. An adult wild rabbit, about eight to ten metres away. He paused for a moment, but that was enough time to squeeze off a head shot. He fell over twitched for a couple minutes, then lay still. Large and brown, with a healthy coat, he was heavier than my rifle (nine pounds), so a good, conservative estimate would be about 12-15 pounds. My 24 month old son said, “doggie, Daddy?” When corrected, he said, “wabbit”.

While showing it off, someone offered enough money that I couldn’t refuse, so it was sold on the spot. The cash will be used to buy more pellets. Someone else’s family will enjoy rabbit stew tomorrow for lunch.

There is really something special about that hill. Maybe this was an omen.

Today was a great day.

- Trini Funshooter

Hunt, shop and preps

The hunt this morning was more enjoyable than last time. A few birds downed, with lots of misses. A trek through grass and bush, some taller than us. Lots of razor grass and thorns, but also a large number of birds. From hawks, parrots and ground doves to parakeets, kiskeedees and unidentifieds.

No small game spotted, but fruit trees reconned as potential future stalking sites. Even without game, a great morning spent ‘in the bush’.

Bought a few preps while shopping for baby boy’s upcoming party. Canned foods, juices, Ramen soup, Crix Multigrain crackers, toothpaste, laundry detergent and unexpected gem; a pair of safety/utility gloves that may also work well as shooting gloves. They are made of Spandex, stretchable leather, PVC and composite synthetics. Managed to get it for even less than the sale price. A deal.

Stockpiling food, water, pellets, gun spare parts, tools, pharmaceuticals and bandages (beans, bullets and bandaids) gives me and my family a sense of security in these uncertain times.

With ongoing wars and rumours of wars, tropical storms, hurricanes, violent crime, dynamic political escapades and feuds coupled with food and fuel increases side by side with double digit inflation…
Spending money today on consumables we will use tomorrow seems better than earning 6% in some mutual fund that may or may not be there when I need it. Remember ITL? Summit Finance? If those unfortunate folks had spent more money on preps, then when the companies folded, the impact would have been less devastating.

It doesn’t have to be either or. You can still invest AND prep. Just tweak your asset allocation policy to include tangibles in hand. Remember the adage of “a bird in hand…” being “worth more than two in the bush.”

Prepare for your family’s immediate (and future) needs today.

Hunting season is open!

Wednesday the 2008-09 hunting season opened. Eager hunters have been waiting since the season’s close at the end of February to renew their hobby. For some it’s a passion. Being a newbie, the passion hasn’t yet developed. But the idea of being able to track, stalk, trap, kill, field dress and cook game appeals to me on a visceral level.

Woke up at 4: 30 am and left without breakfast. Assembled all my gear the night before, so packing the car was easy. Drove to the chosen area and awaited dawn. As the sun’s rays began peeking over the hills, geared up and started the trek into the bush.

It was fairly uneventful, with no game sighted. Made a beginner’s mistake by bringing a cleaver instead of a cutlass (machete). Spent a few hours walking, standing, stopping, listening, looking, smelling, shooting. Bushcraft skills need improvement and tuning up with regular practice.

- Trini Funshooter

Game licences on sale

Wildlife Section of Forestry Division, Ministry of Agriculture, began selling state game licences today. You can buy them from Wildlife Section at
- Long Circular Rd, St James,
- Pleasantville, San Fernando,
- Sangre Grande.

And from the District Revenue Offices at
- Chaguanas,
- Siparia,
- Rio Claro,
- Arima,
- Tunapuna

Tobago, the Department of Natural Resources and the Environment, 78 Wilson Rd, Highmoor, Scarborough.

They cost $20 per class, and there are five classes of game.

A few quick reminders:

Hunting season is officially Oct 1 2008 – Feb 28th 2009

Agouti, deer, lappe, tatou, wild hog, lizards (iguana, matte, caiman), cage birds and waterfowl. Waterfowl can only be hunted from Nov 1st – Feb 28th

Protected species: monkey, ocelot, anteater, scarlet ibis, pelican.

No hunting in game sanctuaries

Hunting in forest reserves only 5:30am – 7:30pm

No artificial lights while hunting in forest reserves

Every member of a hunting party must possess a state game license.

Read Chap 67:01, Conservation of Wildlife Act (1963)

-TF

Upcoming events

Sep 13 - South East Hunters Association will host a Wildlife Seminar at the Tableland High School.

Sep 20 – Nariva Mayaro Hunters Group will host Hunting Dog Show at BP Resource Centre in Mayaro.

- Trini Funshooter

Hunters Club AGM

The hunters club AGM ran over three hours with around 100 members attending. A new executive was elected. The incumbent president was immediately re-nominated, but declined, citing over 25 years of presidency has left him yearning for the burden of leadership to be lifted. Even temporarily.

Issues addressed during the meeting were:
- dogs stolen from hunters and sold “down the main” (Venezuela)
- hunting during ‘exercise only’ period
- hunting during closed season, by poachers
- the benefits of microchipping dogs
- rumour of new policy of all firearms to be taken to Forensic Science lab to tested, with results entered into a ballistics database
- Honorary Game Wardens haven’t been paid their stipend for months. A bureaucratic anomaly that occurred because Forestry Division was removed from Environment Ministry and placed in Agriculture Ministry, but Environment retained the budgeted funds meant for stipends
- the annual uncertainty of whether hunting season will be opened
- the possibility of forest patrols with hunters, game wardens and police officers।

- Trini Funshooter

Hunters club meeting

Going to a hunters club meeting tonight. It’s also their AGM and I hope they will allow me to join. Hunting skills would be quite handy and valuable. I’m told it’s also a lot of fun. A fun skill that puts food on the table? Sounds good to me. Though I suspect it will be more challenging with air guns. The president is Kenneth Noriega, a 72 year old semi-retired auto mechanic, avid hunter and former forestry officer.

I found out today that hunters usually fall into three groups: dog runners, trappers and sentries. Sentries usually cut branches or the trunks of young trees and tie them with ropes into trees. These contraptions are called ‘scaffolding’ and the hunters/sentries sit on them, waiting patiently for hours on end for the game to approach a feeding site.

- Trini Funshooter