Though some animal rights activists view bird shooting as a brutal, heartless activity, it still remains one of the most popular pastimes in Jamaica.

Though shooting is only allowed during a strictly-regulated period of time, the popularity of the sport is such that a year-long wait is hardly a turn off. Many, like Brett Thwaites, developed a liking for the sport after accompanying older relatives when he was a child.

He told THE STAR, "My father was a hunter as well as all of his four brothers and most of his friends, but I instinctively love shooting sports. It is in my blood.This is an extremely popular sport. One thousand five hundred people are willing to spend somewhere in the region of over $50,000 per summer to go hunting for six weekends or less. This may be the most popular sport in the country as it involves thousands of people from rural Jamaica, in addition to the shooter."

Tolerance needed

He is aware that many people are against the sport and feels that they should be more tolerant. He said, "Bleeding heart liberals will always object to anything that offends them. I do not go around trying to force people to do what I like. We must accept that we are individuals with different opinions, no one is right or wrong. Hunting is a natural instinct for man and all other carnivores. Bird shooting appeals to this instinct just like fishing. It is great fun, not just the shooting, but the entire safari."

Those against the practice need not be worried. The National Environment and Planning Agency controls all activities that occur during the season and is responsible for the issuing of hunters licences. Each license expires at the end of the season and shooters must also complete a bird shooting report form. Persons caught shooting outside of the designated period or shooting protected species, may be prosecuted under the Wild Life Protection Act. The maximum penalty under the act is $100,000 and/or 12 months in prison.

Challenging

Jeff Hartalso enjoys shooting and has been doing it for a year. He said, "I enjoy shotgun sports and this seemed like a natural extension. I enjoy the camaraderie and the constantly varying challenges involved in shooting each bird." He too believes that the popularity of the sport is growing and said, "It is quite popular; both for those directly and indirectly involved. Approximately 4,000 licences are sold in a year and each hunter may use up to 10 different bird boys in a season, depending on location, so it creates employment for at least another 15,000 young people."

While he feels everyone deserves an opinion, he says the sport is not all bad as it creates jobs and is strictly controlled. "Anyone who says it is a one-sided match needs to try it. Many first-time shooters shoot all weekend hoping to get five or 10 birds. Five hundred shots for five birds sounds like the birds have the advantage to me!" he said.

- *Name changed.