Perhaps the only thing K.D. Knight likes more that shooting the breeze is shooting birds.

Knight has been shooting birds for 50 years but has never felt bored about joining the annual proceedings.

"I have always enjoyed the sport. I enjoy the challenge and the birds flying and I am shooting them," he told The Gleaner yesterday, the climax of Jamaica's bird-shooting season. "I don't get any fun out of shooting them while they are perched."

This year was no different and was packed with fun and excitement for Knight.

"I had a grand time, I enjoyed it," he said. "I didn't get many, but I had fun," he added, noting that he shot more than 125 birds.

Knight was quick to point out his love for the sport, even when the birds are scarce.

"There are birds, you gotta just find them, you gotta search out where they are feeding because they keep moving," he said.

Networking

His friends provide assistance in this area and this adds to the fun for Knight. "It's great. You're networking with friends who shoot and they tell you that they have scouted and it is a good area to shoot this weekend, so you go there."

Knight said he has travelled to Trelawny, Manchester, St Elizabeth and Westmoreland in tracking down his feathery prey.

"You have your friends in various parishes, so you shoot with them," he said proudly.

The 2009 bird-shooting season commenced on August 15 and ended yesterday.

During the hunting period, bird shooters hunt the white-crowned pigeon (bald pate), zenaida dove (pea dove), white-winged dove and mourning dove (long-tailed pea dove). The National Environment and Planning Agency's website states that a bag limit of 20 birds is placed on each shooting session, and no more than 15 should be bald pate.

kimesha.walters@gleanerjm.com