Jarmila Jackson, Features Writer
The sport has an ever-increasing flock of participants (which includes women). - Ricardo Makyn/Staff Photographer
The 2008 Game Bird Shooting season is on and already has a great number of persons just itching to get out to the bird bush.
For former Minister of National Security, K.D. Knight, the love affair with the hunt began early. "It is a family sport, something my grandfather, father and uncle have done," said Knight, who credits himself as being a 'dead on' shooter.
"I started visiting the bird bush when I was nine years old years and I'm at the stage now where I take my grandsons with me. My youngest, who is four, has already booked his place, as long as I'm shooting he will be there with me," he said.
Gathering of brethren
The sport has an ever-increasing flock of participants (which includes women), and as Knight explains, is more than just an exaggerated display of machismo. For him, it is a celebrated gathering of the brethren. "I shoot birds with a group of friends," he said. "The birds we shoot, we end up cooking while playing cards and solving the world's problems," he joked.
"Also, a great part of the fun for me is helping out the bird boys," added Knight. "We have a great time with them, laughing and telling jokes. I sometimes might start off with two bird boys and end with seven".
The 'bird boys', who are employed to fill and carry the bags containing the fallen birds earn upwards of $3000 for their services which at times include giving advice about the best places to shoot. The relationships between shooter and 'bird boy' often endures, and according to Knight "they not only get money, but clothes and shoes to go back to school".
The shooting sessions are from sunrise to 9 a.m. on Saturday mornings and from 2.30 p.m. to sunset as well as Sundays from sunrise to 9 a.m. Shooters will go to extreme lengths to ensure that it does not miss them. "When I shoot in [Malvern] St Elizabeth, if I'm not staying overnight, I leave Kingston by 3 a.m." said Knight. "You have to try to get in the bird bush before daybreak so that you are ready".
According to regulations set in place by the National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA), the only birds which may be hunted during the season, are the Bald Pate, Pea Dove, White Winged Dove and the Long Tailed Pea Dove.
Bag limit
While the season heralds the end for a number of the birds, there is a strict bag limit of 20 birds per shooting session of which no more than 15 should be White Crowned Pigeon/Bald Pate. This rule was set specifically to maintain the bird population.
It is some wonder though, as some shooters have come to realise, that the birds seem to be aware that they are being hunted, the Bald Pate is known for this. "It is amazing sometimes," said Knight. "As you hold the gun up, the bird starts taking some evasive action; they detect movement very sharply, so a part of the whole thing is speed and silence".
While NEPA insists that in the field each hunter must ensure that he or she is in possession of a valid firearm licence, and a hunter's licence issued through NEPA, Knight believes the average person (once he has satisfied the criteria) can shoot a bird; "with just basic skill and if you have someone who can give you some idea of distance and speed then that is helpful".
The Bird Shooting season will run up to September 28, after which the birds will have a whole year within which to replenish their population.
TIPS
Proper body alignment enables a hunter to shoot accurately;
the same shooting form required to shoot clay targets accurately is required to shoot doves accurately.
The use of express bullets is also recommended for speed and accuracy.
