Outdoors in RI: – Free fishing weekend, Turkey season, beware of ticks… Jeff Gross

by Jeffrey Gross, contributing writer

While fishing season is in full swing and numerous folks are filling up their outdoor grill with their catch, this weekend is the DEM free fishing weekend for everyone in Rhode Island.  No license nor trout stamp is required to fish on Saturday and Sunday.

And all eyes are on Turkey season. Many a dining room table will see some great birds served. Members of RI Fish and Game Protective Association (RIFGPA) are doing well this season as one gentleman, John, took his bird with an antique paper shotgun shell. Don’t ever think those antique rounds are duds. 

They may look a little grayed, however, some have plenty of life in them and may just surprise you.

The turkey hunters must be recognized, for very little of the bird goes to waste. Jeff F., also of RIFGPA, displayed some very creative artwork with the tail feathers from the bird he took this week. For you folks that don’t have an artistic side, before you throw the feathers away consult any friends that have an artistic flair. I’m sure they would be thrilled to create a great work of art for you, or produce an art piece for themselves. In another life this writer’s pheasant’s feathers would go to the wife of my dentist who would turn the feathers into highly colorful jewelry sold in a handful of shops in Newport. 

Rhode Island Deer hunters will have reason to celebrate as Bristol is opening 4 privet lands to bow hunting. Numerous deer-car collisions combined with much ornamental shrub and plant damage has convinced the Bristol Town Council to permit bow hunting on these lands. Town Administrator Steven Contente noted there are Deer signs “all over the place”. This statement is correct. A quick visual tour showed that Deer signs are so abundant it could be compared to the pigeon situation in Providence. There is no wonder why farmers are more than willing to open their properties. Deer make short work of Hosta, Pansies, Day Lilies, Tulips, and the like.  With so many Deer on the properties, somewhere a few trophy bucks must be hiding as they have quite the harem. Bow hunting will also help reduce the proliferation of Lyme and other Tick Borne Diseases in Bristol, as Bristol has one of the highest rates of Lyme disease.

As this article is being written two Brown Ticks were pulled off Abby. Some other species as well have been found walking on her. It is time for diligence for all dog owners, especially those with hunting dogs, to give their pups a good going over twice a day. Deer Ticks are showing up in Warwick near my alma mater, Warwick Veterans High School. These Deer Ticks were found on homeowners’ lawns in Warwick. If you and your spouse, or significant other, frequent the woods or fields hiking it is a good idea to check each other over very well. These bugs can hide in some hard to see areas. Who knows, dimming the lights afterwards, a little soft music and some candles, it could get interesting.

The lights of freedom are going on everywhere. Potentially numerous gun cases may be overturned by Tuesday May 9th.  Stay tuned.  Something to ponder:  Until proven otherwise we are the sole inhabitants of the universe.  That said each living human is a unique gift to the universe. Each good person precious in every way.  If the anti-gun community truly wants to save lives, then protect the innocent. Focus on removing all those forms of evil. Do not take away my God-given right of firearm ownership, thus removing my ability of protect the innocent from evil.

EVENT ALERT:  On Saturday May 13th Seven Cedars Farm will hold their Spring Festival. Vendors of all sorts will be set up. For you outdoor folks there will be numerous high end food enhancers available from some vendors. The Tactical Twins will have a booth selling a variety of gear. Another dealer will have a multitude of various paintings in nautical, outdoor landscape, wildlife, and still life, in both oil on canvas and oil on board. This same dealer will have a variety of diecast vehicles including 1930 early model replicas to some John Deere and Farm tractors. Hess Trucks will also be available. So the gentlemen are not left out there will be a variety of brand new fishing lures as well. This particular dealer will offer a 10% off to all military, Veterans and military families with a valid Military ID – just look for the American Flags.

This moment belongs to all of you reading this article.  I am very humbled and grateful for your readership. For the moment, I cannot accurately explain why the readership has doubled and tripled in the last month, but I have reason to believe it is not just a coincidence. Even with all the craziness going on in the world there is a pattern of good things happening as well. Again, my sincere thanks and gratitude. This is your moment (readers!) in the spotlight.

Tune in next Friday as the week will be very busy and additional festival details will be released.

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Jeffrey “Jeff” Gross spent 21 years as an Analytical Chemist at the USCG R&D Center in Groton, Connecticut, Woods Hole Laboratories, and Helix Technologies. Changing careers is a “great learning experience for everyone”, Jeff says, and I’m an avid outdoorsman and conservationist, a student of the sciences, and the world. The US holds too many wonders not to take a chance and explore them”.

Jeff is the Model Train and Railroad entrepreneur. Proud Golden Retriever owner. Ultra strong Second Amendment Advocate and Constitutionalist. “Determined seeker of the truth”.  Jeff is a RIFGPA Legislative and Legal Officer, Freshwater Chairman, NRA Liaison.

His subjects include Outdoors, Second Amendment, Model Railroading, and Whimsical.