Outdoors in RI: Late season Stripers, Small Game season, “woke” times, 2A updates – Jeff Gross

by Jeff Gross, contributing writer

Photo, top: Jeff Koslin

It is unknown if the Stripers are still in Narragansett Bay since the cold snap set in 2 days ago.  Up until that point people were enjoying the Indian Summer and continuing to slam the Stripers in East Greenwich Bay. Also unknown is why the Stripers are in the Bay this late in the season.  There must be an ample supply of food as they are well into the upper reaches of the bay.

Abby’s inaugural

The small game season is slowly moving along.  Some are doing well with wood cock, while I feel very fortunate as Abby put a double of Roosters the other day.  I say fortunate as my shooting technique is horrible.  The 2 roosters flushed after Abby jumped them.  One rooster went left and the other went right.  I completely missed the one going left and swung back and luckily took the right one. I was thankful that Abby’s efforts were not in vain. 

She went after the downed bird and grabbed at it and the rooster was still flapping.  She looked at me as if to ask, “why the hell is it moving?”  Up to that point Abby had not experienced a live bird. A couple of “Bring it heres” and she was proudly bringing the bird to me. I let her prance around with the pheasant as to realize what a great job she did and she was inundated with praise.  Three cookies and more praise of “you’re a good girl – and – good job” sealed it as she was all business after that.  She had been a puppy most of the time that day, chasing leaves and other silliness.  The Rooster changed everything.  From that moment on I felt I was working a 3-year-old in her prime.  She is indeed a special dog as I have only seen 3 other doubles in my life and it is usually with a dog in the 4-7 year old range.  Abby is just 11 months.

I am hearing and seeing numerous complaints about the pheasant stockings.  While out with Abby we encountered 7 fresh kills. They stocked for Tuesday and the kills I found were fluffy dry.  It was raining Monday night when they stocked, so the predator kills occurred in the early morning as the birds had dried off. Abby found a pile of bird kills in Arcadia and I counted about 3 Roosters that were in the pile.  Also in the pile was a decapitated Pheasant head so it was not an owl that attacked those roosters. 

I know I sound redundant, but it is time to start taking Coyotes. I delayed getting out of the woods by 20 minutes after sundown to see if I could get a shot at a coyote, but no sign of them.  I am hearing only in the daylight hours.  I heard one earlier towards Breakheart Pond. The last time I was at Nicholas Farm when I heard a pack of at least 4 different animals near the home at the end of Nicholas Road.  If we are to salvage this pheasant season, we must take these Coyotes on non-stocking evenings as they will be more active looking for birds that are not there. Granted Coyote hunting is not a long-term solution, but it is at least a starting point.

On a positive note, I ran into the gentleman pictured. He sets the standard for wearing orange.  He was very kind and we had an enlightening verbal exchange. He asked if we hunters preferred him and his fellow hikers not to be out there in the management areas during hunting season.  I responded he had as much right to be out there as I did, which he appreciated. I countered that if he and his associate were to hike on non-stocking days they likely will have the trails to themselves.  The gentleman appreciated that information.  He countered that on Monday he was walking on Austin Farm Road and there was a Rooster standing in the road looking at him and the Pheasant did not run off.  I replied that was because he did not have a shotgun in hand.  We both laughed.  It is safe to say the hunting community has one more non-hunting citizen on their side.

As the world turns…

As the world becomes crazier by the day here are some on the ridiculous agendas now being pushed in the last month by the very same folks that brought you the failing Green Deal initiative.  Currently there is a push to reduce lighting in the USA as some are complaining they cannot see the stars. This is not a joke, I have the article bookmarked.  Here is a novel idea – go to a secluded beach and look up. 

Next is some are raising a ruckus that the earth is in danger as the salt levels are being altered in the world. That has been going on for millennia. Salinity changes with temperature, evaporation and precipitation and is different depending on where one is on the globe. Again, a manufactured crisis.

The next issue is from the “woke” agenda as there is an organization looking to change the names of all English birds to non-offensive, Woke names.  Today my editor has an article on this “crisis”.

Lastly there is a movement by the “woke” community to rename the United Stated of America – to something more inclusive and non-threatening, or non-offensive. Threatening?  The USA is offensive?  I think it is time to enlist all “woke” Ivy League and other college students to a mandatory 2 years military service.  I bet they respect the United States flag and the USA after that.

2A updates

There is a lot of movement in the 2A world next week and in the coming weeks:

November 7th, Rahimi v Garland oral arguments at the US Supreme Court (SCOTUS)  If SCOTUS decides in the gun owners favor this will shoot a very large hole in the Domestic Violence gun confiscation laws.  Decision will be released by July 1st, 2024

December 8th, Miller v Bonta at 9th Circuit Court of Appeals (This is the remanded SCOTUS Case from June 2022). Keep in mind that the Maryland AR-15 ban was argued on 12/6/2022.  December 8th the MD decision will be over 1 year late. Yes, there is someone watching and waiting to pounce!

A host of other Mag Ban and AR-15 cases have been argued and are awaiting decisions. Then throw in three Bump Stock cases in house at SCOTUS awaiting consideration.  November through January will be very busy months for gun owners.

___

Read more articles by Jeff Gross, here: https://rinewstoday.com/jeff-gross/

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.