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Tag: hunting

Silvercore Podcast Ep. 28: Pro Hunter vs Pro Guide, Hunting African and North American Game

In Episode 28 of the Silvercore Podcast, Travis speaks with Darren Maughan, a longtime friend and Silvercore instructor. They discuss Darren’s experiences as a professional hunter, preparing for an African hunt, firearm and calibre selection, the differences between North American and African guided hunts, what can go wrong and how to ensure it doesn’t.

If you have a story that would be of value to the Silvercore audience, or know someone who does, email us at podcast@silvercore.ca.  We would love to hear from you!

If you know someone who would enjoy our podcast or YouTube videos, or anything else that Silvercore offers please share it with them.  Please engage us with your comments, questions and suggestions likes, shares and subscriptions.  If you have a story to tell that our audience would appreciate, or know someone who does, let us know.  Your interaction will help us in providing the best possible future content.
You can listen to episode 28 of our podcast on Podbean, Apple iTunes, YouTube, Spotify, SoundCloud, Google Podcast, and Google Play. All you’ll have to do is search for ‘The Silvercore Podcast.’ 

If you have any feedback or questions that we can address, please reach out to us via social media or at 1-855-771-5837 or info@silvercore.ca. Finally, don’t forget to rate, review, and subscribe to the podcast, and while you’re at it, follow us on FacebookInstagram, and Twitter!

Travis Bader

Join the Silvercore Club!

Looking for Show Notes of this Podcast? Read them Here!

Animal Diseases to Be Aware of When Hunting

In preparation for my first hunt, I’ve been doing a lot of reading and learning about what I need, or what I don’t need, and things to be aware of. Along my journey, one of the things that came to mind was animal diseases. I feel as though this could be something that many new hunters may not necessarily think about, but could also be considered as one of the most important parts of hunting!

Hunter safety is so important and in taking an opportunity to share knowledge with others on possible diseases, I chose to put together this blog post.  I’m going to talk about the common diseases which you could run into, the risk you might be facing and what to do in the event that you come into contact with an animal that carries the disease.

Below are some common diseases, but please keep in mind that this isn’t meant to be an exhaustive list by any means and I would whole heartedly recommend that you do additional research for any animal you plan to hunt to make sure you have as much knowledge as possible and are as safe as possible during your hunt.

Additionally, if you aren’t certified to go hunting yet, check out our blog on how to hunt in BC which outlines how you get your hunting certification.

The common diseases we will review today are as follows:

  1. Chronic Wasting Disease
  2. Trichinosis
  3. Hydatid Disease
  4. Bovine Tuberculosis
  5. Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease

Chronic Wasting Disease

Chronic Wasting Disease or CWD, can be found in Cervids (these are the split hoofed animal with antlers which are members of the deer family) such as Mule Deer, White Tailed Deer, Elk, Moose and Caribou. This is a fatal disease that affects the brain and nervous system of the anima. While there’s no direct evidence (or cases of the disease in humans) this disease is transmittable between animals and humans, it is highly recommended that hunters take precautions to reduce any possibility of transmission.

Now that we know what this disease is and the general risk, let’s discuss where you’re likely to find it, what signs to look for and what followup actions you can or should look to take. Let’s give a little background first, did you know that the first detection of this disease was 53 years ago in Colorado? Since then CWD has been found in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Ontario, and in Montana (close to the BC border).

How can you tell if an animal is infected? It may not always be obvious, especially if the animal is in the beginning stages of CWD, but some of the signs of infection include:

  • Little fear of humans
  • Poor coordination causing stumbling or trembling
  • Drooping head
  • Drooling
  • The animal may appear skinny due to weight loss
  • Unusual behaviour

If you come across an animal that shows signs of being sick with Chronic Wasting Disease, report it immediately.  In BC reporting for any dead or sick animals can be done by contacting the BC Wildlife Health Program (250-751-3219), or RAPP (1-877-952-RAPP). Reporting for other provinces can found below in our Quick Links section.

Trichinosis

Trichinosis is a parasitic disease that’s caused by roundworms. It’s commonly found Bear, Cougars, Wolves, Domestic Pigs, or Wild Boar. In severe cases, this disease can be fatal to humans and transmission happens when infected meat is eaten either raw or undercooked. The best way to prevent transmission of this disease is to not eat the meat. However, sometimes that may not be practical if you’ve already killed the animal and don’t want to waste the meat. So if you plan to eat the meat, ensure that it is fully cooked at safe temperatures. According to the CDC, curing, drying, smoking, or microwaving meat alone does not consistently kill worms, so keep this in mind.

Looking for signs that an animal is sick with Trichinosis isn’t always possible as they just may not appear sick. Some may show changes in their behaviour, such as being less active that normal, but that’s could be hard to tell based on a single interaction with an animal infected.

There are however signs and symptoms of a trichinosis infection in humans. These can vary, both in the severity as well as the duration. First signs include:

  • Nausea
  • Diarrhea
  • Vomiting
  • Fatigue
  • Fever
  • Abdominal discomfort

Following the first signs and symptoms, these other can follow:

  • Headaches
  • Fevers
  • Chills
  • Cough
  • Swelling of the face and eyes
  • Aching joints and muscle pains
  • Itchy skin
  • Diarrhea
  • Constipation

If you think you may have this disease, go to your health care provider immediately for testing.

Hydatid Disease

This disease is also known as Echinococosis and is a parasitic disease caused by tapeworms. This commonly infects Dogs, Foxes and Wolves, and although it can also infect humans, it depends on the type (there are two main types; cystic echinococcosis and alveolar echinococcosis). These tapeworms release eggs into the feces of dogs and wild canines and their eggs stick to the animals fur. Humans can get infected from the ingestion of the eggs.

According to the CDC, those infected with cystic Echinococosis often remain asymptomatic until hydatid cysts containing the larval parasites grow large enough to cause discomfort, pain, nausea, and vomiting. The cysts grow over the course of several years before reaching maturity and the rate at which symptoms appear typically depends on the location of the cyst. The cysts are mainly found in the liver and lungs but can also appear in the spleen, kidneys, heart, bone, and central nervous system, including the brain and eyes. Cyst rupture is most frequently caused by trauma and may cause mild to severe anaphylactic reactions, even death, as a result of the release of cystic fluid.

Infection is asymptomatic in livestock and dogs as well. The best way to protect yourself is by wearing disposable gloves, washing your hands, and disinfecting your work space when handling live canines, their feces, pelts or carcasses.

Bovine Tuberculosis

This is a contagious bacterial disease is which is slow growing, long lasting and is an aerobic bacteria that has been reported to have infected Bison, Moose, Deer, Elk and Cattle as well as humans.  Because the disease is slow acting, signs can vary, or may not show at all. Advanced stages may show multiple small gritty lumps in the lymph nodes, lungs and on the inner surface of the rib cage.

This disease is transmittable between animals and humans and when it comes to cattle, infection is typically caused by eating or drinking contaminated, unpasteurized dairy products. Infection can also happen if you come into direct contact with a wound, or by inhaling the bacteria in air exhaled by animals that are infected, though direct transmission from animals to humans through the air is thought to be rare.

The bacteria from this disease can infect an animal but lie dormant for many years and thus, show no signs of being sick. Because of eradication programs like those in Canada, the advanced form of this disease is rare because most cases are detected in the early stages when infection typically consists of few or small lesions in the lungs or lymph nodes associated with the respiratory system.

When progressive disease does occur, the general signs are as follows:

  • Weakness
  • Loss of appetite
  • Weight-loss
  • Fluctuating fever
  • When the lungs are extensively diseased, there can be an intermittent, hacking cough.

If you believe you have come into contact with an infected animal, report the sick animal, and if possible include photos and videos.  Always wear gloves and wash your hands, clothes, and knives thoroughly in warm soapy water after field dressing and butchering. Hunters that suspect their kill is infected should contact their provincial or federal agencies and seek medical advice if they suspect they may have been exposed.

Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease

This disease affects White-Tailed Deer in specific and is caused by an infection if a virus which can be fatal. According to the CDC, while this has been found throughout the USA, it has also been detected in the southern portions of British Columbia, Alberta and Saskatchewan (albeit rarely and sporadically).

This disease is similar to CWD in that the deer will show the following signs and symptoms:

  • Lost fear towards humans
  • Lost appetite
  • Become weak
  • Salivate in excess.
  • Blue tongue is possible from lack of oxygen in the blood
  • Head and neck of the infected deer may swell

EHD has not been shown to affect humans to that it can be transmitted through bite, nor consumption of meat from an infected animal. Despite this, it’s not recommended to consume any meat from any infected animal due to the increased likelihood of other infections being contracted after EHD.

Quick Links:

Reporting Dead or Sick Animals in Canada:
Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative 

Alberta: Ministry of Environment and Parks
Saskatchewan: Ministry of Environment
Manitoba: Sustainable Development
Ontario: Ministry of Environment
Quebec: Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food
New Brunswick: Natural Resources & Energy Development
Newfoundland & Labrador: Department of Natural Resources
Nova Scotia: Communicable Disease Prevention & Control
Prince Edward Island: Environment, Water & Climate Change
Nunavut: Communicable Disease
Northwest Territories: Environment & Natural Resources
Yukon: Communicable Disease

Additional Resources to Learn More About Wildlife Diseases:
Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative: Disease Surveillance

Alberta: Wildlife Diseases
British Columbia: Wildlife Diseases
British Columbia Centre for Disease Control- Field guide for Hunters, Trappers, Anglers & Biologists – Diseases you can get from wildlife
Common Diseases and Parasites in Northern British Columbia
Manitoba: Wildlife Diseases
Saskatchewan: Fish & Wildlife Diseases
Northwest Territories: A Field Guide to Common Wildlife Diseases and Parasites

Safe hunting!

Firearms and Hunting Terminology

As our country’s oldest and largest safety training business of its kind, we have trained more outdoor enthusiasts, athletes, hunters, sports shooters and armed professionals, than any other company in our sector in Canada.

As you can imagine, in Silvercore’s endeavours and experience we know very well just how confusing it can be when you are first starting your journey to obtaining licensing, whether it be for your firearms licence, hunting licence, training, permits or otherwise. 

As such, we’ve created a list of different acronyms, variations of them and terms that you may run into in the process of becoming more knowledgeable in the firearms industry to help make things much clearer for you.

PAL or P.A.L. – Possession and Acquisition Licence

This is the current form of firearms licensing in Canada and the term which is most commonly used. It can refer to a Non-Restricted Firearms and/or Restricted Firearms Licence. It was put in place in 1995 when it replaced the term FAC (more to come on this below).

RPAL or R.P.A.L. – Restricted

This is also the current form of firearms licensing in Canada and is really just another term which is somewhat interchanged with PAL.  It refers to a Restricted Firearms Licence.

POL or P.O.L. – Possession Only Licence

This is the term used for individuals with a licence in Canada which cannot obtain firearms, but only possess them. POL’s were actually transferred to PAL’s in 2015 under the Common Sense Firearms Licensing Act

FAC or F.A.C. – Firearms Acquisition Certificate

This was the old form of firearms licensing in Canada and term which is less commonly used, but still relatively known and used amongst older generations due to when it was valid (1977 – 1995). These have all now since expired and will need to be replaced by a PAL.

CFSC or C.F.S.C. – Canadian Firearms Safety Course

This is the required training set forth by the Canadian Firearms Program and RCMP for individuals to be able to obtain a Non-Restricted Firearms Licence or PAL.

CRFSC or C.R.F.S.C. – Canadian Restricted Firearms Safety Course

This the required training set forth by the Canadian Firearms Program and RCMP for individuals to be able to obtain a Restricted Firearms Licence or RPAL.

NR – Non-Restricted

This refers to a classification of a firearm and typically means long guns such as rifles or shotguns. This is not always the case however and there may be firearms which are exceptions based on barrel length, calibre discharged, etc. Specifics relating to the classification of Non-Restricted Firearms can be found on the RCMP’s website here.

R – Restricted

This also refers to a classification of a firearm and typically means firearms such as revolvers or handguns.  Specifics relating to the classification of Restricted Firearms can be found on the RCMP’s website here.

Prohib- Prohibited

This also refers to a classification of a firearm. Specifics relating to the classification of Prohibited Firearms can be found on the RCMP’s website here.

CFP- Canadian Firearms Program

The Canadian Firearms Program, also known as the Canadian Firearms Centre is a federal program which falls under the RCMP and is typically responsible for firearms licences and regulations in Canada.

CFO- Chief Firearms Officer

The Chief Firearms Officer is provincial body which is responsible for the issuance of PAL’s to individuals in that province, ATT’s, ATC’s Firearms Transfers, and Guns Show Sponsorship approvals.  There are different CFO’s per province and a list of these and their contact information can be found on the RCMP’s website here.

ATT or A.T.T. or LATT – Long Term Authorization to Transport

A Long Term Authorization to Transport is a requirement for individuals which possess a valid RPAL and wish to purchase, possess, or transport a restricted firearm.

In order to obtain an ATT, the individual meeting the requirements above, must provide proof of a valid membership with a recognized gun club or range in order to meet the requirements of the CFO.

This proof of membership is typically provided in form of a letter from your club or range which you have a valid membership with.

ATC or A.T.C – Authorization to Carry

An Authorization to Carry is a special permit issued by the CFO in your province under the Firearms Act. This permit will allow an individual to lawfully posses and carry a restricted, or prohibited firearm, which is readily accessible to them for use. This may be issued in the case of it being a requirement for your line of profession, for example, an armoured car guard may receive this permit.

WATC or W.A.T.C. – Wilderness Authorization to Carry

A Wilderness Authorization to Carry is a special permit issued by the CFO in your province under the Firearms Act. This will allow an individual to lawfully posses and carry a restricted firearm, which is readily accessible to them for use for the purpose of protection in their line of work. An example of an individual who may be eligible to apply for this permit might be a licensed professional trapper.

POP or P.O.P. – Proof Of Proficiency

A proof of proficiency is required to be completed by the Applicant that is looking to obtain a WATC. This consists of the applicant showing the administrator of the POP that they can shoot their firearm at a different distances and in different positions. They will be scored on their shots and where they placed on the target. This will determine if they’ve passed or not and will be included with their application which is submitted to the CFO for their WATC.

CORE or C.O.R.E. – Conservation and Outdoor Recreation Education

CORE is education or training related to hunting. There are currently various ways to do this including self-study, reading the CORE Manual, completing the Online CORE Hunter Education Course, or attending an in-person CORE Hunter Education Course with a BCWF certified CORE Examiner.

All of these methods go towards the same goal; obtaining your Fish and Wildlife ID (FWID) which acts as the passport to hunting in BC. Individuals will be required to complete an examination with a BCWF Certified examiner and obtain their student graduation certificate in order to proceed and obtain their FWID. Read more on this in our blog post on what you need to hunt in BC.

BCWF or BC Wildlife Federation – British Columbia Wildlife Federation

The BCWF is the provincial body which manages the CORE program, its instructors and the certifications of students whom have successfully passed their CORE examinations. They also are British Columbias leading conservation organization with core values of Stewardship, Education and Research and Partnership. Find out more about the British Columbia Wildlife Federation on their website here.

FWID – Fish and Wildlife ID

The Fish and Wildlife ID or FWID, is the passport to access hunting services in BC.  This is required in order to obtain the following:

  • Hunting licences (resident, non-resident, non-resident alien, youth and initiation)
  • Fraser Valley and Gulf Islands special area licences
  • Species and upland game bird licences
  • Limited entry hunting (LEH) licences
  • Guide outfitter licences
  • Permit to accompany a non-resident or non-resident alien to hunt big game

LEH –  Limited Entry Hunting 

Limited Entry Hunting is a random draw which provides hunters the opportunity to hunt animals which may not otherwise be huntable during the general open season. LEH applications are typically for authorizations to hunt Bison, Mule Deer, Elk, Moose, Mountain Goat, Mountain Sheep, and other B.C. game.

Regulation Synopsis

There are many different synopsis’ with regulations as they pertain to hunting, LEH, trapping, and fishing, these include the following:

  1. BC Limited Entry Hunting Regulations Synopsis
  2. BC Hunting and Trapping Regulations Synopsis
  3. BC Freshwater Fishing Regulations Synopsis

These Synopsis’ are typically released every 2 years and have important regulations in them that are important for hunters, trappers and anglers alike to follow. The BC government also updates these online so its important to check their website to make sure you have the most current and accurate information.

Looking to learn more? Visit Silvercore.ca for information blog post resources for outdoor, hunter, angler, firearms enthusiasts alike.

Silvercore Podcast Ep. 16: Firearms, Optics and Equipment for New Hunters

In this episode of The Silvercore Podcast Travis Bader sits down with Silvercore pro staffer and hunter extraordinaire, Paul Ballard to discuss gear for new hunters. There are so many options to choose from it can be overwhelming, particularly to someone starting out. We cut through the clutter and explain what you need, what you don’t and where your money is best spent so that you can have a productive and enjoyable hunt.

We also discuss the Vortex Apparel Package, the Silvercore Club Shoot, and a number of other ongoing promotions and giveaways that you don’t want to miss out on! Listen to the podcast to learn how to enter for free and and check out our website for full details.

Want to Win a Vortex Apparel Package? Just follow these steps:

Don’t forget to Follow and Subscribe our Silvercore pages, tag a friend, and like the post for multiple entries.

 

If you know someone who would enjoy our podcast or YouTube videos, or anything else that Silvercore offers please share it with them.  Please engage us with your comments, questions and suggestions likes, shares and subscriptions.  If you have a story to tell that our audience would appreciate, or know someone who does, let us know.  Your interaction will help us in providing the best possible future content.
You can listen to episode 16 of our podcast on Podbean, Apple iTunes, YouTube, Spotify, SoundCloud, Google Podcast, and Google Play. All you’ll have to do is search for ‘The Silvercore Podcast.’ 

If you have any feedback or questions that we can address, please reach out to us via social media or at 1-855-771-5837 or info@silvercore.ca. Finally, don’t forget to rate, review, and subscribe to the podcast, and while you’re at it, follow us on FacebookInstagram, and Twitter!

Travis Bader

Join the Silvercore Club!

Looking for Show Notes of this Podcast? Read them Here!

Summary of Rules

  • To enter Silvercore Advanced Training System’s (hereafter “Silvercore”) “Vortex Apparel Package Giveaway” (hereafter the “giveaway”) Go to a Social Media Channel (Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, Twitter) and comment with #SilvercoreVortexgiveaway to enter.
  • Entries for the giveaway will be accepted between the event dates of April 2 – 16 2020. By April 22 we will have gathered participating entries and one (1) recipient of the “draw gift” is picked randomly from all collected post entries. As entries will be closed on April 16 2020, any received thereafter are voided.
  • The “draw gift” recipient will be announced in the newsletter and via Social Media (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter) and will require a response from the recipient within 4 weeks of the announcement. If Silvercore does not receive a response within these 4 weeks or if the recipient doesn’t meet the requirements to be able to receive the gift, a new recipient will be drawn by Silvercore from the entries collected in that same period. You can unsubscribe from the newsletter at any time.
  • The giveaway can be entered as many times per person as they’d like. .
  • Silvercore staff members are excluded from entering the giveaway.
  • Silvercore retains the right to cancel the giveaway or change the giveaway rules and draw gift at any time without prior notice.
  • Some draw gifts will require the recipient to be in the possession of a valid PAL license and/or be aged 18 years or older. 
  • Draw gift(s) may not be exactly as shown in the images portrayed on advertisements for these giveaways. Draw gift(s) have no cash value, and are non-transferable and not redeemable for cash or other items or courses.

Captain of the Hunt

Silvercore has several contest and giveaways running right now and here is a reminder to check out the Silvercore.ca website to learn more about the current Glock gear giveaway as well as the postal match which is free to all Silvercore members across Canada with prizes which include firearms, steel targets, accessories, courses and more. Full details on the Silvercore.ca website.

If you are enjoying the Silvercore Podcast, please do us a favour and consider subscribing, liking, commenting and leaving a review. Likewise, if there is content that you would like to see featured on a future Silvercore podcast, let us know. You can also check out the Silvercore Club Facebook page and join in the conversation.

Today I sit down with long time friend Marshall Lowen as he recounts growing up in rural Manitoba and his adventures and misadventures while hunting and trapping across Canada.

Marshall spent over 44 years serving his country as a member of the Canadian armed forces, he is a firearms instructor, hunter education instructor a proud member of Metis society and served as Vice President of the Vancouver Metis society for many years and now sits as an elder who has been bestowed with the honour and responsibility of being selected the Captain of the hunt.

You can listen to episode 14 of our podcast on Podbean, Apple iTunes, YouTube, Spotify, SoundCloud, Google Podcast, and Google Play. All you’ll have to do is search for ‘The Silvercore Podcast.’ 

If you have any feedback or questions that we can address, please reach out to us via social media or at 1-855-771-5837 or info@silvercore.ca. Finally, don’t forget to rate, review, and subscribe to the podcast, and while you’re at it, follow us on FacebookInstagram, and Twitter!

Travis Bader

The Silvercore Podcast Ep. 10 – Moose Underwear and Other Hunting Stories

Episode 10 of The Silvercore Podcast is here! In this episode, we find out what happens when a group of hunters, with very different backgrounds and hunting experience, embark on a week-long shared moose hunt.

Also in this episode, Paul Ballard regales us with sage hunting advice, Rob Wilson discusses when it’s appropriate to put underwear on a moose, and Mike Welti shares an experience that no hunter wants to find themselves in, but every hunter should be prepared for.

This episode is sponsored by Carter Motorsports in Vancouver. As long-time customers of Carter Motorsports, we were very excited when they agreed to be part of this podcast. Also, a huge thanks to International Barrels, who supplied a custom barrel chambered in 6.5 Creedmoor and Vortex Optics, who provided the scope for this hunt. All together, it made for one extremely accurate hunting rig.

You can listen to episode 10 of our podcast on Podbean, Apple iTunes, YouTube, Spotify, SoundCloud, Google Podcast, and Google Play. All you’ll have to do is search for ‘The Silvercore Podcast.’ 

If you have any feedback or questions that we can address, please reach out to us via social media or at 1-855-771-5837 or info@silvercore.ca. Finally, don’t forget to rate, review, and subscribe to the podcast, and while you’re at it, follow us on FacebookInstagram, and Twitter!

Travis Bader
Silvercore Inc.

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