maharashtra forest dept circular on hunting

[ranjitkher]

surprised to see that maharashtra forest dept allows hunting of wild boar and neel gai as per their circular, pls view on
http://www.mahaforest.nic.in/staturyorders.htm

[OverUnderPump]

Well its says something that brings the all too famous "discretionary" powers of babudom to the fore yet again.

Power to grant permission to hunt wild boar(Susa Scrofa) and Nilgai (Boselaphus Tragocamelus)
which has become dangerous to human life or to property.

As is evident, the latter part is open to interpretation.

regards

OUP

[hvj1]

As is evident, the latter part is open to interpretation

.

Hi OUP
I am usually vociferous against hunting but since the last few months, I have met really poor farmers, I mean these are guys who dont own agricultural land but work on contract system for those farmers who are unable to do their own farming. These chaps work their asses of round the year on small pieces of land, 1/2 acre to 3 acres. The produce is divided between the owner and the labourer. Wild boars can ruin overnight 40 to 50 % of the crops grown by these farmers, if no night supervision is conducted. When that happens, the returns to the landless farmer/labourer are meagre pickings, leading to further accumulation of debts.
When this law was introduced, many bleeding hearts (like myself) vent our concerns, that these boars will be shot indiscrimanately! That the horizon would be dotted with hunters with bandoliers and shotguns blasting away the country side like bandits from Sholay. None of this has happened. Even now, farmers are killing wild boars with explosives, since they dont have guns.
As far as discretionary powers are concerned, so far, the chaps whom I do know and have shot wild boars on their own lands,have not got into any trouble with the forest dept. since they have followed proper procedures, that is informing the rangers before hand. Now most of these rangers hail from farming backgrounds and do understand the menace. Off course, it does help greatly if generous portions of the boar are passed on with compliments of the farmer/shikari.
Regards

[Amit357]

hvj ,will add just one more thing to this debate,we face the same problems here and the reason for Wild boar and Blue bull to have had a population explosion is the absense of any natural predators,the Gora Sahebs and the Brown sahebs for trophy hunting and pleasing the gora sahebs wiped out tigers and leopards who were natural predators.Till 1988 we could procure permits to shoot wild boar and blue bulls,and we acted as a predator for these species,but latter on everthing stopped,A very recent study in US which is also facing the PIG BOMB has stated that a sow gives birth to 8-12 piglets twice an year,for the population of wild boar to be stable 70% of those have to be culled.HV its not just that the small farmer suffers,i have seen 15 acres plantion of sugarcane ruined by wild boars,they dont come out of the plantions and keep on eating the crop.by a rough calcution an acre of sugarcane is worth about Rs 25k x 15--------------------

[prashantsingh]

The Chief Wildlife Warden , Maharashtra State, letter (Order) is dated 1-1-2004.
The Officer who passed the Order must have retired by now, and it is very possible that the order has been "amended" ever since.

[OverUnderPump]

Hi OUP
I am usually vociferous against hunting but since the last few months, I have met really poor farmers, I mean these are guys who dont own agricultural land but work on contract system for those farmers who are unable to do their own farming. These chaps work their asses of round the year on small pieces of land, 1/2 acre to 3 acres. The produce is divided between the owner and the labourer. Wild boars can ruin overnight 40 to 50 % of the crops grown by these farmers, if no night supervision is conducted. When that happens, the returns to the landless farmer/labourer are meagre pickings, leading to further accumulation of debts.

Completely agree with you hvj1, sorry if I came across as a bleeding heart type, because I am not one . You and Amit357 echoed my sentiments. My main grouse is the hypocritical way in which the law is/will be/or was implemented. I'm of the opinion that Hunting is a controlled and regulated activity as opposed to poaching.

We need "actual conservation" efforts like reintroduction of predator species in the wild under supervision to ensure their continuity and cullling of identified 'vermin', to set the balance right.

A balance which we have badly offset on one side and its getting worse by the day .

regards

OUP

[ranjitkher]

irrespective of the warden retiring, the order is very much in force and any farmer who is genuinely faced with this problem can resort to this, a formal application is made to the DFO along with the 7/12 extract,the offices arranges a panchanama at site and the animal can be shot in the presence of the range forest officer or his appointed guard.
the animal is then the property of the forest dept and has to be handed over to them.

[salaama]

How much does it usually cost to go on a hunting trip in Africa? If you go on a hunting trip in Africa and you hunt quite a few animals (maybe a few of the big five) how much would it usually round out to? Like what would the price range?
______________________
matrimonial

[snIPer]

Why go to Africa when the same is available in Maharashtra
Jai Maharashtra
/s/

[prashantsingh]

That's great....................................... Happy hunting.