I flew to Alberta Canada last spring with hopes of scoring on huge black bear. Never saw a keeper, just smaller bear like we have in New Hampshire. Yes, I harvested a smaller bear with crossbow. 

My 1/2 mount taxidermy cost $2500 and took more than 14  months to make.

Canada now has a $1000 dollar export tariff to be paid on my mount before shipping. Then about $1400 US for shipping. So between taxidermy I paid already,  tariff and shipping it will cost close to $5000 to get my lesser black bear home. When the shipper called, I asked myself, is the tariff of $1000 and $1400 ship fee totaling $2400 US  worth it to bring home this lesser Alberta bear?  Canada is punishing US clients with their export fee. I would have paid the $1400 shipping. I had to say no to the tariff fee which nixed the whole deal. 

Honestly, is the $2400 better spent elsewhere here in the USA. You bet. I thought about the transaction for less than a minute and said…No Thanks. They are sending it back to the taxidermist.

My word to the wise, If its not a Canada trophy bear, don’t shoot.

I wont be hunting Canada any time soon with that tariff.

USA hunting is looking better and better. 

Hunt USA

Sounds scary right? Covering your muzzle with electrical tape when hunting?

I have walked under a fir tree laden with snow. Snow fell into my muzzle. I thought, if only I taped the muzzle. Secondly, falling awkwardly and your barrel muzzle is now pugged with snow. What to do? Use a stick to clear the muzzle is not a wise option as it just pushes snow further down the barrel, better yet, tape the muzzle in the first place with one layer of tape. 

Many use electrical tape to cover your rifle muzzle when rain, snow, debris can accidentally obstruct and plug your barrel.

Soldiers cover barrel muzzles in the military when slogging in mud and debris! You can too. 

My experience – Firing your rifle with just a small piece of tape covering the muzzle will not affect accuracy nor injure your rifle. As shown above, you can also cut a piece of a surgical glove, or nitrile glove like the thumb or finger portion and place it over the muzzle then tape it to the barrel.  I put tape on my barrel, then pull a piece of it off to cover the muzzle. 

I like the very thin nitrile glove idea too. 

Think Smart!

I have been receiving New Hampshire Fish and Game news via email for quite some time.

Not long ago, I got an e-mail looking for Volunteers to teach 3rd and 4th grade NH students about New Hampshire’s Great Bay & its Inland Estuary and its value to humans, flora and fauna alike in a fun hands on program. See www.greatbay.org 

The goal is education. Passing on the love of the Bay and “Discovering” its value and environmental balance to young students and adults alike covering Animals, Archaeology, Biology, Birds, Earth Science, Ecology, Environmental Science, Fishing, Hiking, Hunting, Clamming, Oystering,  Native Americans, and Natural History.

On September 2, I gathered all day, with other would be volunteers to receive training to educate young students through the Great Bay Discovery Center in Greenland New Hampshire, right on the Bay itself. 

As a sportsman-conservationist I felt right at home in this program which educates from September to early November. I was impressed.

The program includes the value of hunting, fishing, trapping, harvesting of wild game and estuarian food sources like clams and oysters and protecting the resource from overuse and re-seeding of disappearing flora and fauna like oyster beds and reintroduction of wild turkeys.  

I felt like a time traveler visiting the life of the native Abenaki people their customs, wigwams, and wampum.

So much fun! I was hooked!

Also early settlers and how life evolved along the bay and commerce using flat bottom sail boats called Gundalows to sell goods among shoreline settlers.   

We learn that Great Bay Matters in a fun and educational way!

Organizations like The Great Bay Resource Protection Partnership is also involved, a collaboration of conservation organizations in the coastal region that promotes landscape-scale land conservation and stewardship.

http://www.greatbaypartnership.org/

Check it Out!