The Mission of the BNT To conserve and protect the natural resources of The Bahamas, through stewardship and education for pre- sent and future generations. HUNTERS GUIDE FOR Bahamas National Trust THE BAHAMAS Tel: 242-393-1317 Fax: 242-393-4978 Bahamas National Trust P.O. Box N-4105, Nassau, Bahamas. Email: [email protected] http://www.bnt.bs ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS BIBLIOGRAPHY Ehrlich, Paul R., David S. Dobkin, and Darryl Wheye. 1988. The Birder’s This Hunters Guide was produced by the Bahamas National Trust with the Handbook. Simon and Schuster Inc, New York NY, USA support of the Ministry of the Environment and the Department of Agriculture. Patterson, Andrew. 1972. Birds of The Bahamas. Durrell Publications. Raffaele Herbert, James Wiley, Orlando Garrido, Allan Keith, and Janis Raffaele. 1998. A Guide to The Birds of The West Indies. Princeton University Press, Princeton New Jersey, USA White, Anthony. 1998. A Birder’s Guide to The Bahama Islands. American Birding Association Inc., USA Brudenell, Bruce P.G.C. 1975. The Birds of New Providence and the Bahama Islands. William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd., London, England. Bond James. 1993. Birds of the West Indies. Fifth Edition. Houghton Mifflin Company, New York NY, USA The graphics were reproduced from “ A Guide to the Birds of The West Indies”. We wish to acknowledge and thank the authors, Herb Raffaele, Orlando Garrido, Jim Wiley, Allan Keith and Janis Raffaele for their kind permission. Special thanks also to Laurie Hunter for her time and patience in preparing and forwarding the images. HUNTERS GLOSSARY TABLE OF CONTENTS Below are some words that hunters should familiarize themselves with. Acknowledgements……………………………………………..2 Birth Rate the number of animals born each year determined by breeding age, Introduction ………………………………………….………...4 number of births per year, and how many born at one time. Hunter Responsibility…………………………………………...4 Breeding Stock mature adults needed for reproduction to maintain a species. The Ten Commandments of Shooting Safety …………………..6 Alcohol and Drugs ……………………………………………...7 Conservation wise use of resources. Wildlife Identification…………………………………………..7 Questions and Answers about Steel Shot……………………….8 Death Rate the proportion of the number of deaths per year to the total Protected Ducks ……………………………………………….11 population. White-crowned Pigeon …………………………………………18 Protected species protected by law for any reason. A Summary of the Wild Birds (Protection) Act………….……..26 Species Game Wardens ……………………………………...27 Penalties / Rewards…………………………………. .27 Extinction disappearance of a species. Wild Bird Reserves…………………………………..28 Game wildlife that may be hunted or trapped according to legal seasons and limits. National Parks of The Bahamas………………………………...29 Habitat an environment that provides everything wildlife needs to live: Wild Animals (Protection) Act ………………………………...33 food, water, cover, space, and arrangement. Conservation and Protection of the Physical Landscape Act…..33 First Aid Emergency Measures…………………………………34 Harvest removal of surplus wildlife. Glossary of Hunting-related terms ……………………………35 Hunting an outdoor recreational activity in which game is normally taken. Bibliography ………………………………………………...….36 Introduced wildlife not native to the area / country. Species / Exotics Non-Game wildlife not normally hunted. Parasites forms of life feeding on and in wildlife, such as ticks or worms. Possession numbers of wildlife that may legally be taken daily or in a season, Limits / Bag or which one may have in one’s possession. Limits Predators animals which prey on other animals. Preservation non-use of resources. Reserves suitable habitat established for the purpose of increasing wildlife numbers and providing a safe haven for their existence. Seasonal/ the time, way, and numbers in which game may be legally taken. Methods/Limits Succession gradual changes to habitat. INTRODUCTION The Government of the Bahamas allows hunting of certain species of birds as long as their populations are at sustainable levels. In order to be able to continue hunting, hunters must cooperate fully with the Ministry of the Environment in its efforts to manage hunting activities. Hunters continue to play a pivotal role in the management of game species. The Bahamas National Trust works closely with is spearheaded by hunters who take part in White-crowned Pigeon surveys and banding programmes. In the past, we have had problems with abuses and lawlessness, but through the cooperative wrap with loose bandage. Get bandage. loose with wrap efforts of the Trust and hunters, these problems are now less common. Hunters (e.g., nearest artery on essure blisters-flush with cold water can assist wildlife conservation activities by cooperating in management level and apply heart ove the activities, conservation projects and data collection (e.g., wing surveys, information about hunts, areas hunted, number of birds observed etc.) and Treatment making donations to support BNT programmes. In order to continue to enjoy hunting privileges, hunters are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the rules and regulations contained in the Wild Birds Protection Act. Special care must be taken to avoid shooting protected and/or endangered species. Hunters should also participate in activities organized by the Ministry, including the inner between side of the arm the shoulder andor elbow, the body). the joins it where leg upper hunter meetings and hunter education programmes. and ends bone broken keep shock; for care first; bleeding Control moving. from joints adjacent closed with degree 2nd and 1st until dressing;for shock, applymoist 2nd pain loose, stops, care dry loose, degree-apply 3rd and blisters open with degree for shock. care dressing; severe over directly cloth clean of pad a with pressure Apply the wound ab bleeding, elevate pr apply needed, If pressure. direct upperEye: Don't rub. eyelid Lift andIf flushwater. with and both eyes close unsuccessful medical attention. temperature body normal maintain and down lying person Keep if CPR Begin unconscious. is victim if fluids give not Do (98.6). needed. by Stand vomiting. of case in side to head Turn shock. for Treat liquids give Never stops. breathing if respiration artificial give to attention. medical Get person. unconscious an to foods or GAME WARDEN PROGRAMME Every year the Minister appoints Game Wardens to assist in the enforcement of the laws and regulations that govern hunting. Over the years some of our game wardens have been hunters. Game Wardens are an extension of the Ministry into the various islands where hunting takes place. Game Wardens are fully Signs authorized to carry out bag checks and to investigate any situation where he FIRST AID EMERGENCY MEASURES suspects that an offence may have been committed against the Wild Birds Protection Act. They work very closely with the police and greatly enhance our capacity to monitor what is taking place in the sport throughout The Bahamas. Hunters are advised to cooperate fully with the Game Wardens in the Pain, tenderness, and deformity, bleeding. possible Degree: 1st– skin is red blistered is – skin 2nd charred is – skin 3rd Bleeding. Local irritation, tearing, and wetting. Pale, clammy skin; irregular pulse. weak fast, breathing; not does awake, not is Victim respond tho external stimuli. performance of their duties. HUNTER RESPONSIBILITY Injury Everyone who uses and enjoys the outdoors has a duty to protect and improve their lands. There is far more to sportsmanship and hunter responsibility than just following the written rules for safe and legal hunting. Broken Bones Burns Cuts ears, eyes, Objects in and nose Shock Unconsciousness Responsible hunters read and obey all hunting laws. A SUMMARY OF THE WILD ANIMALS (PROTECTION) ACT In The Bahamas there are several laws that pertain to wildlife. You can get a copy from either the Ministry of the Environment or the Bahamas National Trust. 1. Wild animal means any animal found living in a natural or feral state in The Bahamas. Responsible hunters follow a hunter's code. 2. No person shall, without written authority from the Minister: A responsible hunter makes fair and safe choices. (a) take or capture or attempt to take or capture any wild animal specified in the schedule. Written laws cannot cover all situations. This is why true sportsmen adopt (b) export, or attempt to export from The Bahamas, any wild their own hunter's code. This code is based on respect for what is safe and animal. fair. For example, is it right to kill every one of the 15 quail in a covey? 3. Any person who contravenes the provisions of (2) above shall be liable on As a hunter, you are part of a long and proud tradition of service to wildlife summary conviction to a fine not exceeding three hundred dollars or to and conservation. You can help continue this work by reading your hunting imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months or to both such fine and regulations and understanding the need for game laws. imprisonment. 4. The Minister may from time to time by order amend the Schedule. DON’T DESTROY THE ENVIRONMENT Currently the schedule lists Wild Horses of Abaco (Equus caballus), Hutias While most outdoor recreationists have a respect for the land, there are still those who, for whatever reason, continue to damage the environment. In areas where hunting takes place, after hunters have left, it is now common The following trees are protected trees in The Bahamas place to find the area littered with cardboard boxes, spent shells and other under the Conservation and Protection of the Physical trash. This behavior is irresponsible and shows a lack of respect for the environment. It also displays a lack of concern for the communities who are Landscape of The Bahamas Act. left to deal with this untidy mess. COMMON NAME BOTANICAL NAME Responsible hunters respect the environment. Don’t leave your spent shells and cartridges lying around to litter the environment. Take all Beefwood/Blolly Guapira discolor trash back with you, and dispose of properly. Black Ebony/Bullwood Pera bumeliifolia Brasiletto Caesalpinia vesicaria Candlewood Gochnatia ilicifolia Caribbean Pine Pinus Caribea var.