Have a great weekend folks! I’m headed down to the Thousand Islands area of the St. Lawrence River for a quick weekend getaway. Looks like the rain is finally hitting the Ottawa area, but it’s still in the mid to upper 20’s. It’s a little different being out in a warm rain than what normally happens back home when the rain rolls in. Anyway, hopefully I can find some Bass, Walleye, Pike and Musky and do some touring of the island castles that pre-date confederation. Quite the history in this particular area.

Where have all the moose gone
Hunters in the Prince George and surrounding area are finding it more and more difficult to find a moose every year. I am fortunate to be able to take 5 to 7 weeks off ever hunting season. I have talked to a lot of hunters and they are leaving the bush year after year with no meat in the freezer. Lots of hunters are against cow calf season, they believe that by taking the cow or calf is depleting future moose, according to fish and wildlife 10 moose poached in one area is a lose of 60 to 70 moose in five years. They also say that only 2% of poaching incidents are reported.
So this being true why are they allowing cow/ calf season. I talked to a conservation officer a couple years ago, and when I asked him why they have it. His response was I quote (Its to generate money) I asked him if he would give me that in writing, he replied no I like my job. The poaching in BC is at an all time high, I have found 4 large bulls in 4 consecutive years that have been shot and left. All these moose were shot on the road. So if I can find 4 moose shot and left in one area, how many are left each year. There are not enough conservation officers in the Prince George area, their needs to be a lot more. Now let’s look at natural predators wolfs and bears do kill moose and they always have and yes they do take a lot down. Since all teran vehicles have come out, hunters have been shooting moose in areas that were so remote where before they would not even think of shooting one. So these remote pockets of moose are getting less.
The BC government would have you believe that wolfs are the main cause of the moose lose. This is a lot further from the truth than they would have you believe.
They will not blame themselves for total gross negligent are their part.
When the LEH hunting cards first came out they told us give us ten years and we would have an over abundant of moose in BC. That was over 30 years ago and still here we are. When I asked a Biologist what he had to say about a alack of moose In Prince George area. He informed me that the moose population has been stable for years. These guys need to get out in the field more and quit looking at numbers and graphs. The hunting questioner that is supposed to be filled out ever year for those that hunt is a joke. I know a lot of hunters that throw them in the garbage or just outright lie on them. Do you really think that poachers fill them out correctly? So for them to use this information to base how many animals are harvested every year is a bigger joke.
What is worse is they extended calf season. Your trading 140lb animal for one that’s 340 lbs the following year. And those of you that say 140 lbs of meat is all you need is hogwash, ever hunter I run across that is hunting cow/calf there is always at least two of you. A lot of cows shot in October are already pregnant, so you are killing up to 3 moose. Now lets look at the BC biggest killer CN Rail, they kill thousands of moose, deer, elk, etc you name it. If it is on the tracks they kill it. This happens every year in our province. There is nothing done about it. Sections where animals are being hit the most need to be fenced off, runaway lanes need to be plowed when the snow is deep. We are building overpasses on our highways to protect our wildlife, why are we not doing something on our rail tracks, because the average Joe does not see the carnage on the tracks he sees on the highway. Take a trip on the passenger train in late spring to McBride or Terrace, ever 100 meters there is a blood splatter. I talked to a Train man that had made 23 trips to Chetwynd in a 4 week period he told me that he hit 21 moose, times that by how many trains are running around the clock. He’s supposed to phone it in so they will come out and dispatch the animal that’s laying there with its legs cut off. He told me he does phone it in but He sees the animal still laying there 24 hours latter. He also told me that his boss has told him to speed up when he sees an animal not slow down. This I imagine is so they don’t have to pay someone to come out and kill it. I was told that as much as 15000 moose have been killed in the last 2 years by CN Rail. Its Getting worse not better. The government Would have you spend your hard earned dollars on tags, license, fuel, groceries, etc.
And have you believe the moose population is alive and well.
I know of a few guys that don’t hunt anymore, they have taken matters into there own hands by putting in cow draws and if they get the draws they put them in their desk and don’t use them. If 10 cows are saved that means an increase of 60 to 70 moose in 5 years are saved. So if you know any one that does not hunt, have them put in cow draws since BC Biologist is more interested in keeping the money flowing then in conservation.

Interesting post crazyhorse. I remember about a year ago talking to one of my friends out here who has been hunting moose for decades near the Ontario/Quebec border north of Ottawa. He had been talking to a couple of long time guides in Quebec and they blame the weather trends to a large degree.

They said that back in the “old days”, they would have to wear typical fall gear, they would be able to track moose in fresh snowfalls, etc. In recent times, they said that their attire is more often shorts and that tracking can be almost impossible in the drier and warmer falls. They also said that the warmer weather contributed to a much larger tick population. The ticks would weaken and disturb the moose to the point that it made them much easier prey for the wolves and bears.

Brutal truth about moose populations. BC and Fed govts have no clue about moose, caribou, elk, grizzly, salmon, steelhead, etc. Numbers are down across the board and regulations frequently make little sense. I’m appalled with useless regulations and policies that put economics 1st and wildlife 2nd.

Only in Prince George. I see gas is on it’s way up again. As usual the Esso on Handlin is the first to go up.

Came home from a long weekend away and found guests in my yard. Someone has decided that my yard needed some garden ornaments so if you or anyone you have heard of lost some over last weekend on the Hart let me know as I have them. Feel like a thief and can’t return if I dont know where they belong.

The area I hunt moose holds lots of moose, last year I saw more big bulls than I have seen in many years, couldn’t take any of them as I did not have an LEH. Wolves have taken many of the smaller ones and deer populations are down as well. There are lots of black bears , which do have an effect on moose calf survival.

Crap, should have seen the moose I saw past Bear Lake. It was about 7 am. I bet it was 7 ft to the shoulder. It was huge.

Dont do the same stuff we did to the black bears, we are only going to get them to overpopulate and then they all starve. It is a balancing act between man and mother nature.

Why cant cellular companies get ther stuff together and improve services from salmon valley to chetwynd? Yes there is alot of hills and mountains. But doesnt make sense why there isnt a few hot spot areas like bear lake or mackenzie junction.

Everybody seems to watch the price of gas, has anybody ever noticed how jacked up most stations calibrate their pumps? I took 2 new gas cans to a station and they took exactly 38 litres each to get to the government inspected 25 litre fill line. I was ripped off 26 litres! The cashier babbled the usual, calculation for weather or the jug stretched,haha Do the math if a pickup truck filled up a large tank!

Where did that happen? I doubt any gas stations pumps would be that far out of calibration!

I was disgusted at the huge difference myself. I re-set the pump and had the guy beside me watch as I filled the next one, which took exactly the same amount. He and his wife freaked out worse than me. I have been filling jugs for decades at stations and rarely find one that is close. This was a certain station on fifth ave, close to A&W. That is the worst I have seen, next is Smithers and 100 Mile. They probably re-calibrated after I told them. If they get caught that far out by a regional inspector they can lose their license. Trouble is there aren’t very many provincial inspectors and they know it

Seems like Osama Bin Laden and his co-horts in Afghanistan had pretty good cell service, however we in the BC Interior cannot get a signal in the outlying areas.

This is primarily because the telephone companies do not want to spend the money to provide a good service. This is absolute BS. We need the ability to use our phones, especially in an emergency. Time for Telus to get off its butt, and spend some money and provide some service.

I heard that the Goverment has been relocating Elk from Alberta in the Central Interior for the past many years. So we have a huge increase in the number of Elk and a decrease in the number of Moose. Any connection??? I dont know, however some people state that the Elk will run the Moose out of its area. I heard of cases where the Elk ran Moose into a swamp and kept it there for hours. Who knows.

One thing is certain, if you put it all to-gether, ie; weather, wolves, clear cuts, elk, bears,railways, snowmobiles, and a Government that wouldnt know the difference between a Moose and an Elephant,. and you have a serious problem.

If you think the cell service is bad between Salmon Valley and Chetwynd, try going further north. After Chetwynd there is Ft. St. John, then Ft. Nelson, then nothing. All the way to the Yukon. Even at Watson Lake, our cell phones didn’t work. That makes 3 blips of cell service after P.G. for the whole north east segment of our province. The Alaska Highway is pretty busy with tourists, all who can’t get cell service if their vehicles break down on that crazy highway.

CAUTION:
12% HST being charged on your Kind Donation at the Store Till-if you donate.

“If they get caught that far out by a regional inspector they can lose their license. Trouble is there aren’t very many provincial inspectors and they know it”

I’ve found that the pumps I use are pretty much bang on. Sounds to me like someone needs to be reported . . .

“Seems like Osama Bin Laden and his co-horts in Afghanistan had pretty good cell service”

Must have been really good if the USA and allied forces could not detect it, locate it, and listen in. ;-)

I was comparing prices between Cabelas Canada and cabelas USA fall catalogs….imagine my surprise on seeing identical binocular straps priced at $29.99 in the USA book and $69.99 in the Canadian catalog!!! Buyer beware…..no kidding!

Is it true? PPWC local 9 has voted to accept an enhanced contract offer from Canfor? And passed the vote by a 72% margin?

I fill gas cans all the time, burn nothing but marked fuel, the place i go to is always bang on and i pay 9 cents a litre less than regular gas.

38 litres is 10 US gallons …..

So the cans you have sound like they are 10 US gallon size.

Can you tell us where, in relation to the full can capacity the 25 litre “government inspected” mark was? Which “government” did the “inspection” of the cans?

If natural gas is so abundant….why on earth don’t we have more NG vehicles??? Wouldn’t you rather fill up your vehicle with BC gas??

Stop off at Windy Point Lodge, just south of Mackenzie Junction. You can usually get cell service there, if not there is always a payphone! From Chetwynd north forget about any other provider than Telus or Koodoo.

I think some vehicles converted to CNG or LNG a decade and more ago ….. obviously was not enough savings, otherwise I am sure many more would have done it.

Check out this article. Utah has promoted the use of NGV (natural gas vehicles) and motrists are filling up for the equivalent of 87 cents a gallon.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/30/business/30gascars.html?pagewanted=all

I think that there are 2 primary issues with natural gas, limited infrastructure (not sure if Mohawk still has some NG stations) and the fact that it is stored as a gas means you can carry very little of it. The range of your vehicle is very small. Compound that with the limited access and its just not that useful. I dont know if they are taking about running cars on LNG which might be more feasible.

Here is how Utah did it. Check out the pictures that show CNG (compressed natural gas) at less than 1/4 of the price of gas.

http://www.cngutah.com/faq.php

From what I understand the supply of natural gas is so abundant that it’s cheap!! So we are saying its better to use imported oil/gas than to make it a national perogitive to switch to natural gas? If Mr Harper could find $100 million for green projects in the PG pulpmills surely he can match that for some NG infrastructure?

PG taxi still sells CNG, latest price listed on the following website is 75 cents.

http://www.cngprices.com/station_map.php

Just another thought…why Site C? Why not natural gas fired generators? Haven’t you ever gazed on the Husky plant at night and watched that huge open flame? They are burning off gas like this in huge flares all over the north….why can they not turn it into electricity?

checkitout: You should find Corporate and Consumer Affairs and report it to them. Ask them to send out an inspector.

“Just another thought…why Site C? Why not natural gas fired generators”

We have abundant water for hydro projects. As long as the climate change does not dry things up, and I understand it will be the reverse here if it happens, we have renewable energy.

Natural gas is a finite source and should be used for other things. There is some electricity being generated by NG in the GVRD area which can be taken off line if hydro capacity is expanded.

In the mid to long term hydro is cheaper energy and greener energy.

If site “C” is built; the power will go to big business at cheap rates. You & I will pay for it though.

As if a mile long train, fully loaded, could slow down, let alone stop for a moose. Really?

Willy-speed kills….slow them down to a point where they can stop!!! Isn’t that what we do in our vehicles??

Gus-it’s already burning in the oil rig flares, and at our husky plant…..make use of this energy and save the Peace Valley for raising food. :-). The natural gas network is already in place….google it for yourself and see how many years they estimate to deplete this energy source…energy without bitumen…imagine!

” Posted by: checkitout on August 10 2012 9:14 AM
I was disgusted at the huge difference myself. I re-set the pump and had the guy beside me watch as I filled the next one, which took exactly the same amount. He and his wife freaked out worse than me. I have been filling jugs for decades at stations and rarely find one that is close. This was a certain station on fifth ave, close to A&W. That is the worst I have seen, next is Smithers and 100 Mile. They probably re-calibrated after I told them. If they get caught that far out by a regional inspector they can lose their license. Trouble is there aren’t very many provincial inspectors and they know it”

What did Consumer and Corporate Affairs tell you when you reported this to them?

American litres are smaller than Canadian litres!

Waaaa about cell phone coverage. If you need a reliable portable phone that bad go get a sat phone!

Tried a Glo.?.?.? sat phone , next to useless!

Noway – American Litres? What? I know the American gallon is smaller than a Canadian gallon but since the US doesnt have litres I dont know what size they would be? ;-)

Did anyone ever identify what was stinking out downtown PG?

MMMM…Tiger Prawns and farmed Salmon.

http://thecanadian.org/k2-video/item/1576-grinding-nemo-video-exposes-unsustainable-fish-meal-thai-prawns-farmed-salmon

Canada’s Food Guide. And you thought our Govt had your good health in mind. Those that are really running things around here know whats best for all of us. Well, maybe for their own wallets!

http://www.cbc.ca/news/health/story/2012/07/27/f-food-guide-70.html

Cell phone coverage by telus in College heights is a joke.

Gus has the climate never changed before?

Some areas dry, some areas wet, so tell me what is normal? Lots of water up in the Peace this year.

With the government always looking to make money, surprised that the ministry of transportation hasn’t decided to install cell towers along the major northern highways and then lease space to the cell providers.

I read in the Vancouver sun a couple of days ago that the B.C. Government wants to go for on line voting system.
I don’t believe that this is a good idea, especially for the average voter.
When did B.C. become the guinea pig for any and all new idea’s start here.
All the sheeple must live in B.C.

We all know about Enbridge right? Who remembers SNC Lavalin, their involvement in Libya and the plot to smuggle Gaddafi’s son into Mexico?

http://news.nationalpost.com/2012/05/03/snc-lavalin-defends-handling-of-cynthia-vanier-accused-of-aiding-gaddafi-son/

Look who is defending Enbridge.

http://thecanadian.org/stories/rafe-mair

“Lots of water up in the Peace this year”

Not so!

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/story/2012/08/03/bc-peace-region-water-shortage.html

The dam is or was spilling lots of water, depends on the area, some areas dry, some wet.

read this about gas prices, sure did not take long to go up.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/story/2012/08/10/bc-gas-price-jump.html?cmp=rss

Ya gotta love this quote

“McKnight said that even though Vancouver has its own Chevron refinery, the North American Free Trade agreement rules dictate that Canadian prices can’t be lower than those in the U.S.”

But it seems to be alright for our prices to be higher than the US.

“American litres” could be quarts. 1 quart = 0.946 litres.

“Has the climate never changed before?”

1. Not appreciably since hydro electric facilities have been built.

2. Probably quite a bit since humans started to harness water flow/head to pump water, grind things, power early mechanical systems and torture people … ;-)

A litre = a litre = a litre the world over …..

I heard that the reason ‘merikans don’t like the metric system is because the French invented it … ;-)

Torture, interesting path.

Don’t tell the Americans their money is metric. The American litre is as true as the metric crescent wrench.

Anyone remember metric time and the metric clock? Now that would be fun.

Time Metric Time
24 hours per day 10 hours per day
60 minutes per hour100 minutes per hour
1,440 minutes per day1,000 minutes per day
60 seconds per minute100 seconds per minute
3,600 seconds per hour10,000 seconds per hour
86,400 seconds per day100,000 seconds per day

In Germany, France and likely several other countries which have been metric for generations, they use the term “pound” or its translation, which is 500g rather than 454g.