Predators of the sea

CV32

CV32

New member
When springtime comes, and since we have no prairie dogs here in Newfoundland, thoughts turn to a different kind of predator hunting: sealing.

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Here's the pelt from this morning's hunt:

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The ice isn't hardly heavy enough in our locale just yet, so there aren't many around just yet. But as the ice moves down, so will the seals, and we will hopefully get another trip soon.
 
Its a harp, better known here as a "beater". Yes, there is a season (determined by the Dept of Fisheries and Oceans) and a quota. Pelts last year went for as much as C$105, but may drop this year to C$55.
 
How do you hunt them CV ?
Rifle, harpoon, Stick ?
Nice hunting grouds.
Those cliffs give new meaning to the word "Steep".
Thanks
PC
 
Geez
hope the females aren't pregnant or else you will get crucified around here by the elitist
But it dont look like we will have a season on them here in Ohio anytime soon,you know,with global warming and all /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smiliesmack.gif

Bob
 
Hehe, hardly worried about that, but if it makes them feel any better, pups are born from February to April. This one had shed the white fur that made it so cute and cuddly, and a poster child for the ban-freaks. Contrary to popular belief, we don't kill whitecoats and we do use the whole animal: pelt, blubber, carcass (which is now in my freezer). /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grinning-smiley-003.gif
 
CV32
what do you do with all the parts,,the blubber,the carcass and the pelt?
i always liked the shows on the discovery channel or another channel where the "old time" toothless eskimo women chewed the blubber in their mouths,,i guess that is where the saying,,"sitting around and cheing the fat came from huh?
how do you hunt them? hmmm maybe i SHOULDNT ask these questions with all the self righteous "GODS" on this board SO if you dont want to answer these questions for fear of being burned at the stake could you PM me? i would really like to know
Thank You very much
Bob
 
Ok Bob and CV,

I'm all in. I want to hunt one too. Mainly because it is a different experience and something that I have never done, but also because it would inflame the liberals! Anything that upsets them must be a great sport. Will they let Americans come there and hunt them? What is the limit? What is a good day of hunting? BTW, what is with the rope attached to the pelt?
 
Yep I want to know more. This is interesting. sealing and whaling has always intrigued me. Do you go out in a kayak or do you have a larger boat? How many do you usually see when they are in?
 
What color lens do you use when hunting at night and I gotta know if an HMR at 300 yards makes one DRT? Also, is it bangflop or bangflopsink? Inquiring minds want to know! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif
 
Hey CV32. Curiosity has been peaked. Looks like you have some questions to answer regarding this new and unknown sport (unknown to most of us). Will they come in to a call? Can you bait them? What kind of ranges are your shots at.
 
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... what do you do with all the parts,,the blubber,the carcass and the pelt?




The pelt is a fur product, like any other pelt. The blubber is rendered for oil. The carcass, I eat. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grinning-smiley-006.gif
 
Quote:
Will they let Americans come there and hunt them ?



I don't think that would be possible. Its a strictly controlled hunt, with regulation and red tape up the wazoo. New licenses haven't been issued for several years now, iirc. Those who have them are lucky in that respect.

Quote:
What is the limit? What is a good day of hunting?



There is a quota system. For the commercial licenses, its a competitive fishery, so they hunt like a madman until government thinks the quota has been met. (Hence, never buy a used rifle from a sealer; the barrel is probably burned out).

For a commercial boat, a good harvest would number in the thousands. This year was a very bad one; lots of boats were stuck in heavy ice, and didn't get to the "front" (the icepack where the seals congregate).

Personal use licenses are limited to six seals for the season.

Quote:
BTW, what is with the rope attached to the pelt?



So I don't lose the pelt when I dunk it over the side to wash off the blood. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif
 
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Do you go out in a kayak or do you have a larger boat?



We go out in small boats, with outboard motors, the same kind of boats you might see hauling lobsters in Maine (for comparison's sake).

Quote:
How many do you usually see when they are in?



The commercial boats that go to the "front" (the icepack where the seals congregate) would see numbers in the thousands and tens of thousands. The non-commercial folks would be happy to come across a lot fewer than that, say dozens or less. We saw only three when we were out, kinda disappointing.
 
Quote:
What color lens do you use when hunting at night and I gotta know if an HMR at 300 yards makes one DRT? Also, is it bangflop or bangflopsink? Inquiring minds want to know! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif



Probably you're asking in jest, but I'll answer anyway, just to humour you. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif No hunting at night. A .17HMR wouldn't be legal to use. And, if they're on the ice, its generally "bangflop". If they're in the water, it might be "bangflopsink" if you don't retrieve the seal quickly. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 
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