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).

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

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

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