A senior I know has been a hunter since he was six years old — and he’s now 82.
When he received his PAL years ago he didn’t realize it had an expiry date.
After hearing a news report about several hunters’ losing their possessions to the law due to expired licenses, he decided he had better take a look at his own.
Well, it expired in 2007! Interestingly, he had been buying hunting licenses for many of those expired years.
Naturally, he applied to renew his PAL right away. It wasn’t so easy!
He received some forms back from the RCMP in Ottawa and when he tried to fill them out things didn’t look good.
They wanted him to have taken a course or two. He fumed about it for a period of time, maybe a month. In the meantime, he received a letter from the RCMP telling him that if he didn’t complete the application form by a certain date — in about three weeks — he would have to turn in any rifles, guns, ammunition, etc.
It seems he was caught between a rock and a hard place: go to school for the first time in about 65 years or, God forbid, turn in his rifles!
After a period of anger and frustration, he signed up for the particular course he required. The course was two days long. He did pass it quite comfortably and now awaits his new PAL.
It is a good lesson for other seniors to check their license dates for possible expiration, just in case they are in the same situation. Sometimes, it’s hard to keep up with all the changes as the years go by.
CORRECTION: I apologize for the previous incorrect information re: the ICBC speaker coming to the Golden Centre. She is coming but not the same day as the Over 80’s Tea. Don’t forget to sign up for the Over 80s Tea.
Sign up sheets are at the Golden Centre and the Senior Centre. The ICBC speaker will be attending the Regional Annual General Meeting of the OAPO at the Golden Centre on June 22. The region includes Williams Lake, Lac La Hache and Quesnel.
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editor@quesnelobserver.com
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