Technology and Hunting in Nova Scotia       

Humans learned long ago to hunt and gather food, and these skills eventually made us the dominant life form on planet Earth. Yet today, most of us neither hunt nor gather, except in grocery stores, a result of our new global economy. However, interest in local organically-grown food and a more natural and healthy lifestyle has shown us alternatives that bring us closer to our past.

Three new technological developments seem poised to trigger a renewed interest in hunting – game cameras, high-tech crossbows, and hunter hearing aids. The new game cameras are an invaluable hunting aid, giving us a fascinating 24/7 view from our hunting stand. At the same time, hunters and target shooters in Nova Scotia are embracing new, super-accurate crossbows as the renaissance of a very old, pre-firearm shooting tool. New hunter hearing aids give us “super-hearing”, able to detect otherwise inaudible sounds made by game. Together, these three developments make the sport we love far more interesting and challenging, attracting more folks, young and old, to the sport.

For the young, these high-tech elements make hunting “cool and awesome”. For the elderly or disabled, who need all the help we can get, they make hunting possible and extremely enjoyable.

Crossbows require no permits for acquisition or possession, as do firearms. It is now possible to satisfy Nova Scotia’s education requirement for crossbow hunting by taking a course delivered via yet another technological development, the Internet.  The course requirement for a crossbow deer hunting stamp in Nova Scotia is now available online at www.hunterexam.com, requiring 3-4 hours of our time, along with a certification fee of $29.95 + HST.

Currently, in Nova Scotia, crossbows are limited to deer hunting during the rifle season. In future we hope to see crossbow hunting of other species, such as small game, and a longer crossbow deer season.

There are lots of cheap crossbows on the market, but a Canadian company makes the very best and most accurate crossbows available to serious hunters. Information can be found at www.excaliburcrossbow.com.

Please stay on the line …