For those who haven’t heard, the MNR (with the support of the OFAH) have proposed a pilot spring bear hunt project to take place in 8 wildlife management units (mostly in the North) in areas with high levels of nuisance bear activity. The main communities affected are Timmins, Thunder Bay, Sudbury, Sault Ste. Marie and North Bay.
The project would consist of a limited early (Spring) bear hunting season for Ontario residents from May 1st to June 15th, in 2014 and 2015.
What do think of this proposed initiative? Make your thoughts known on the Environmental Bill of Rights Registry – enter the code: 012-0981:
In an open letter to the editor, the OFAH has spoken out publicly on this proposed pilot spring hunt:
Dear Editor:
Some northern Ontario communities are on the brink of experiencing a spring bear hunt for the first time in 15 years. The Ontario Government has finally listened to the concerns of northerners, and proposed a pilot project that will bring back the spring bear hunt to a limited number of northern communities during the next two years. While this partial reinstatement is a positive step, the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters (OFAH) strongly believes that all of bear country deserves the benefits of a spring hunt. The OFAH has worked tirelessly during the past 15 years to bring a spring bear hunt back to Ontario and will continue to push for its full return.
The decision to cancel the spring bear hunt was driven by politics, and was in no way based on science. Although Ontario still has a healthy and sustainable bear population, the big city animal rights extremists responsible for lobbying the government in 1999 will try to block the return of the spring bear hunt. The OFAH is calling on northern Ontario residents to help us make sure that does not happen.
Ontario’s spring bear hunt was a proven and sustainable wildlife management tool used to assist with the maintenance of bear densities at levels that minimized dangerous encounters with people. The spring hunt was particularly important for reducing male bear densities (70% of the total spring harvest) to help lessen cannibalism and aggression on other bears, decrease the number of moose calves and deer fawns killed by bears and minimize problems with people.
The spring bear hunt was an excellent example of a sustainable use of a renewable natural resource that offers enormous benefits for the residents of Ontario. Nowhere was this more evident than in northern Ontario communities where the hunt provided wholesome food, valuable hides, rewarding experiences for thousands of hunters, and generated over $40 million every year to help sustain hundreds of family businesses and associated jobs.
OFAH members are your neighbours, and want the best possible wildlife management for northern Ontario. Please take a few minutes and express your support for the spring bear hunt. It can be as simple as saying “I support the spring bear hunt.”
Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters
Is this a political play or a wildlife management move?? I suppose only time will tell…
Outdoorsguy
LOL I can’t wait for the “tour” I hear Ron James and Ron white are planning a tour with the ofah . seeing we may not have any deer left in the areas we need bear hunting. The strong rumour was that the ofah was involved in the cancelation of the hunt as long as the outfitters got money, Do we have a bear problem yes do we need a bear hunt yes is the ofah our friend absolutely not. ITs all about putting money in their pockets and to pay their wages. I have only ever seen one or two letters written and a few questions asked at there general meeting about “bringing back the spring bear hunt” thats all I ever read (and i do a lot of reading especially when it involves the comedy of the ofah ) . They are now in the business of leasing and purchasing land for hunting and fishing .. no wonder they want a 2 km buffer around the lakes up north … Some day I will tell you how i feel about the OFAH, But today i will just tell you to comment on the EBR and lets get back in the woods in the spring chasing bears
What a joke, at last years spring Carp Hunting show I asked the OFAH about a spring bear hunt and they said it wasn’t going to happen …..ever
Now that a bunch of people in Sudbury have put pressure on a MNR minister that finally listened, we have the beginning of a return to the spring bear hunt, and the OFAH is trying to grab the glory. There must be money in it someplace, maybe they are planning to be the only suppliers of a mandatory spring bear hunt course LOL. What a riot
The OFAH were the main group that the MNR had to get by to cancel the spring hunt and the OFAH saw some money for their buddy outfitters and jumped all over it.
Too bad the government yanked the money at the last minute and put egg all over their faces. There they were, sitting in the corner, no friend of hunters who knew what happened, and no friend of the outfitters that didn’t get a red cent.
I guess it’s good the OFAH are on board now but what a hypocritical joke!
The OFHA should just stay away from this.
@ IGGY here could be one way… there were a lot of guys that went belly up over the no spring bear hunt… now the OFAH has this ….
the OFAH Fish and Wildlife Land Trust Fund was established to fund the acquisition or lease of suitable fishing, hunting and outdoor recreation properties
NOW THE OFAH IS IN THE BUSINESS BUYING LAND
Chessy, thanks for the information. I had no idea the OFAH was involved in the purchase of land like you’ve indicated. Wowsers! That definitely puts a different spin on it.
But even still, what bothers me more is how the anti-hunters are starting to go bananas on this hunt. I don’t mind people having different opinions, but as long as it’s educated opinion.
In the last few days, I’ve read comments such as:
– there have been no black bear fatalities in Canada
(That took 2 seconds of googling to find the link to the doctor killed near Chapleau in 2005). Just for effect, I also send them the link to the 2 attacks last year. Granted, that is now what this proposal is about, but it certainly adds to an increase in bear sightings
– multiple cries that the cubs will be orphaned or shot.
(Proved my point that most antis react emotionally rather than with their brain because if they had READ the proposal, cubs are off limits as are mamas with cubs)
– significantly more bears are harvested in the fall since the cancellation of the spring hunt
(really, I’d like to see those numbers b/c I can never find them and judging from the hunters i know, there isn’t alot of bears being taken except by outfitters). I could be wrong
Those were the 3 which really irked me and instantly proved these people need to get some education on the subject. Interesting how I was labelled as arrogant and acting educationally almighty by them when I provided this information or refuted their claims.
I realize it’s a mostly futile gesture trying to reason with them, but if I can get a few of them to at least think with their brains instead of their hearts, it’s worth the effort.
As for the proposal, I think the areas are too small. It should be opened up wider up north. Some communities have to watch kids at recess because of bears close by. Crazy!
Cheers,
Keebler
OK, so what is the best way to approach this?
1) Disregard the fact that OFAH has jumped on the bandwagon…and decide on our own if supporting this initiative is the right thing to do
2) Send a message to the OFAH that we are aware of their past indiscretions with regards to the spring hunt
3) Look to other provinces success or failure in bear management.
I honestly don’t know what to think or do…will supporting a 2-year pilot project hunt in the North have an future impact on the return of the spring season? if we look at it objectively, pilot projects are put in place..on a short-term scale..to see what impact it will/or will not cause. Usually following such an experimental project, there is a period of evaluation and revaluation.
In the Province of Quebec, the gov’t determined that areas with high bear density (Outaouais Region) combined with high numbers of urban bear encounters required increased harvest through hunting. They tried small scale controlled hunts involving outfitters and local landowners which had little effect. It was decided that a annual Fall hunt be put (back) into effect, combined with the already existing Spring hunt. What do you know?? It worked!! Bear numbers are now down at manageable levels…not low just manageable.
The government then went ahead to instate several other Fall hunts in other regions with high bear numbers(& encounters)…to where much of the province now boasts both a Spring and Fall hunt..as it was 25 years ago.
All this to say….I’m not sure if ON can use QC as an example but it’s not a bad place to start!
Will it ever happen? Doubt it!
Outdoorsguy
Hey Keebler, the great thing about any ‘Animal Rights flare-up’ is that eventually their true ignorance shines through..doesn’t take long for their lack of knowledge to bubble to the surface!
Oh, and of course the areas in question are too small..however, I think these small chunks could be this province’s way of ‘easing into the idea of a full spring hunt reinstatement’
Have to wait and see I suppose…
Outdoorsguy
Here are two Facebook pages regarding the reinstatement of the spring bear hunt. These are the real people behind the reinstatement, not the OFAH bandwagon hoppers!
https://www.facebook.com/groups/129022847266666/
and
https://www.facebook.com/spring.black.bear.hunting
Thanks Iggy, although I’m not a member of FB myself I know a lot of people who are!
What is the consensus from what you’ve been hearing? Most people in support of the Pilot Project?
Outdoorsguy
We as hunters and fishermen have to start voicing our voice. The ofah says they speak on our behalf, the only time they speak on our behalf is when it is profitable for them. I have email proof that this is, in fact, a true statement and it happened in our small town. If it happen to us i am sure as heck can imagine it happens on a grander scale. We must send a message to the government that we want it, heck I have never been bear hunting, never bought a tag ever, but still think this needs to be pushed through. We must not expect the ofah to act as a mob mentality for us, we must act as indaviduals!
I agree with Chessy and I too do not bear hunt but believe that it should be reinstated as it was. There were never any ‘valid’ reasons why it was canceled in the first place but rather the usual drivers; misinformation, fear, doubt and the perception that city people know what’s best! How many laws can qualify under this statement?
We can’t expect others who have their own agendas to speak in our best interests unless they agree with our interests wholeheartedly. The information I have read here is surprising to me because I actually believe the OFAH was on board with this. At least they told me they were for the last 20 years. I did have a big problem with the new facilities they built on my membership dues but I am finally over that one, sort of.
Bottom line is we all know that if you want something done right you must do it yourself and as soon as hoards of money is involved the game changes. Stakeholders naturally protect their well being.
Want to win the general opinion? Start posting that black bears are eating house pets and attacking kids in the school yards. Ever post a game camera picture of a fisher to a social media site? Most people ask why you haven’t killed ‘the vicious’ thing yet.
Sorry JEFF to get off topic but hey thats me…
@ Johan if you think the building of the ofah office is bad… they are in bed with guys like this ..HUNTERS FINED $13,000 FOR ILLEGAL MOOSE HUNTING
PARRY SOUND – Three Toronto area hunters have been fined a total of $13,000 for illegal moose hunting.
Mario Cortellucci, 55 of Woodbridge, was fined $7,000 for transporting wildlife illegally. Pietrangelo Serino, 53 of North York, was fined $3,000 for improperly putting a seal on a moose and Rocco Tesa, 32, also of Woodbridge, was fined $3,000 for failing to carry his moose seal while hunting.
Court heard that Ministry of Natural Resources conservation officers were on routine patrol near Kearney on October 24, 2004, when they began investigating the shooting of a bull moose that was being ferried away in a trailer pulled by a car.
Justice of the Peace Mike Kitlar heard the case in the Ontario Court of Justice in Parry Sound on November 2, 2005.
This is the same guy that has a building named after him at the ofah headquarters just goes to show if you got money you are in …
Back on the bears….. this is still not a go we need every hunter of voting age to call or write there mp….. the still could stop this even before it starts
Just a note to provide a little clarity on the bear issue.
First, I was a 32 year member of OFAH as well as a member of a Rod & Gun & Conservation Club doing a lot of wildlife habitat work. I ended my OFAH membership over concerns with several of their policies & their support of the Spring Hunt.
To be clear, I am not a bear hunter, never cared for that type of hunting & have always disagreed with a Spring Hunt.
Reading your articles, I realize that your understanding of Black Bears is much the same now as mine was prior to my decision to develop a Bear Smart program for the City of Elliot Lake in 2003.
As an outdoorsman & hunter of large & small game in Northern Ontario for over 50 years (mostly Northeastern Ontario) I had the same ingrained & unrealistic fear of bears due to inaccurate media reports, even though none of my many encounters with bears in the bush supported those fears.
I ‘became educated’ about bears by attending several field sessions at the Wildlife Research Institute in Minnesota, spending time with world class researchers & bears to learn first hand what these dedicated researchers had learned over decades of field work with Black Bears. I soon realized that almost all of my ‘understanding’ about bear behaviour was false so I changed my perception totally.
It also became clear to me that the way we were dealing with the so called ‘nuisance bear’ issue was totally ineffective. Knowing that my understanding of bear behaviour was inadequate to properly assess what was needed, I enlisted the help from several world leading Bear researchers others who had worked on dealing with bears in communities across North America, to help us design & implement the program. With help of Sudbury Bear experts we designed & launched a Bear Smart program for Elliot Lake modelled on the successful approach used across many Western communities.. our program was pre empted in 2004 by the Bear Wise Program so my volunteer group has worked with the MNR as local facilitators doing compliance oversight & education.
Bear Wise is a world class approach to dealing with Bears. Almost every long term bear researcher agrees that these types of programs are the best way to reduce nuisance bear activity.
None of the 3 stated reasons for the Spring Bear Hunt are valid. Public Safety, Nuisance Bear activity will not be addressed by a hunt & the economic benefits from a SBH that existed prior to 1999 no longer exist since only 30% of Americans have a passport(mostly the wealthy), the US $ was over 25% premium & the middle class who supported the hunt are not visiting Canada for any recreation. Just check with NOTO, border stats since 2008 or other outfitters. Yes a SBH may attract a few more $ for a few outfitters but will not change a thing relative to achieving any of the 3 goals stated.
It would be nice if folks would take the time to do a little research into the issues to be able to present information supported…
Jim, although I do agree with some of what you’ve said, I also have my own experience with this ‘World Class’ bear program you speak of…
I began including coverage for MNR’s Bear Wise Program back in 2005, the second year of its operation I believe. Educating the public on bear behaviour seemed like a terrific idea to me, as knowledge is power. That year in my Ottawa SUN outdoors column I wrote a paragraph introducing Bear Wise; its principles and a brief overview. At the end of it, I tacked-on some suggestions of my own – because this was a column after all and not a news report – for those travelling in ON & QC bear country – my suggestion included carrying a can of bear spray or a rifle with you, where legally permitted.
My editorializing evidently caught the attention of the higher-ups (Conservation Officer) in the Bear Wise Program, who contacted me by phone the following week. The man ‘strongly suggested’ that I print a retraction to my statement that a rifle is required when travelling in bear country. I pointed-out that, in my article, I was merely suggesting a firearm could be brought as a form of defense where legally permitted. I went on to explain to him how I fished each spring in QC’s bear country and we did, in fact, keep a rifle with us and it was completely legal. He told me my suggestion would surely get many people in trouble, and his view was that you are as likely to be killed by a bear in downtown Ottawa, as I you are in northwestern QC. I found that to be an odd comment.. Anyhow, I told him I wouldn’t retract the statement because I stand by it, but I would pull the firearm part from any future coverage of his Program. (Even though I didn’t have to..)
Less than 1 month after speaking with this Bear Wise rep, three people were killed by a grizzlies in Alberta and Alaska, and two others were killed by black bears in Canada. That year a total of 6 people were victims in fatal bear attacks. I started sending this CO links to the news articles of the fatal attacks..until I believe he understood my point. Although I did continue to feature the Bear Wise Program in my column most years after that, I pulled the rifle suggestion to avoid conflict…
I never heard from him or anyone else in Bear Wise after that, even though I was giving the program free press on an annual basis. (I generally only ever hear from MNR when I write something they disagree with)
My point in all this? Sure, bear attacks are rare and fatal bear attacks even more isolated..however, to encourage the public NOT to be aware of the POTENTIAL danger….or allow them to take measures to protect themselves when travelling in bear country, was just ludicrous! I agree with educating the public on bear behaviour and bringing it to the school system was a terrific component, but why not tell the whole story?
Occasionally you can do everything right and bad things still happen!!!
Is it wrong to defend the rights of humans or protect yourself in bear country? This was the impression I got from Bear Wise based on this incident..and how can you blame me. I researched the bear attacks that occured in 2005 and from what I found, most of the victims had done nothing to provoke an attack. They were all predatory in nature…
Outdoorsguy
If their concern is bear sightings/safety, I can’t help but wonder how the safety of residents of Fort Frances differs from any of the approved locations?
Grammar police: Quote OTG “The main communities effected are”
Should that not be affected ?
Trapper, didn’t I write ‘affected’..hehe?
Outdoorsguy
In reply to Mr. Johnston. I am a bear hunter , I do care for that type of hunting , and I agree with a spring hunt. My choices and opinions are as valid as yours. I do not have an “ingrained and unrealistic fear” of bears. Field experience alone has taught me that bears are not inherently dangerous. The bear wise program while good is mostly just common sense.Your use of the phrase ‘world class approach’ seems a little lofty to me. Your ” 3 stated reasons” for the hunt which you say are not valid are not the REAL reasons why most of us want a spring bear hunt. We like to eat bear. We like to hunt bear. Spring is when we usually have more time. They are a legal big game species in Ontario after all. There are lots of bears and they do predate moose and deer calves//fawns. Show me real science as to why a spring hunt is not sustainable and I’ll change my mind, but spare me the emotional rhetoric.
Don’t worry there will be a bear season in the spring soon. After giving the natives half the province there will be a lot of hunters in the affected areas that won’t bother hunting any more or won’t bother with a license. That will affect the ofah’s coffers also so they need to make it look like they give a dam about hunters and hunting.Seeing as the natives view bears in a spiritual way they are not that crazy about hunting them . ofah pumps money into the fishery down by Toronto so as to milk money from that district. There should be no illusions about the long term effects when all this land is handed over. They make it sound like it will be business as usual. Thank god my hunting and fishing career will be almost done before the real impact comes.I just pity any young wanabe hunters because we will be just like the states where if you don’t own your own land you’ll be paying a fortune to hunt a mouse.
You wrote effected hehehehe
This bear hunt thing is nothing more than a political chess move to garner votes. It has absolutely nothing to do with bear management or a sustainable bear population
I left out one very important sentence as to why the spring bear hunt will eventually be back.( The provincial government needs the money for road work in the toronto area). If they thought they could get money from us for swatting mosquitos they would have us get a license for that to. Oh ya i know they say our money goes strickly for wild life related expences. AS if.
Paul, I pray that there are no provincial liberals reading this blog! DO NOT give those Tax creation engineers any ideas to incubate in the hallowed Toronto offices. I can see it now, MST being deducted from my paycheque monthly, while the commercials to tell me how the new tax is actually saving me money. Rest assured that the revenue will go ‘solely to healthcare to offset the burgeoning costs’ to treat people who actually go outdoors in places where the air is still clean enough to support small insects. It’s a no-brainer…
Could this be the reason there is a sudden interest into a spring bear hunt by the MNR, after so many years ??
Honourable Sir:
On behalf of the Ontario Outdoors Recreational Alliance, Inc. (OntORA) and as its President, we join in the call for your government to immediately appoint a public enquiry into the problem of MNR employees unlawfully using their positions to gain lucrative tourism business opportunities.
Due to my extensive outdoors experience in the Wawa district as a Bear Outfitter for 21 years, President of the Wawa Trappers’ Council, the Wawa Bear Outfitters Association as well as the Wawa Rod and Gun Club, Outdoor Education Instructor, long term member of both the Wawa and White River Local Citizens’ Committees (LCCs), I have personal knowledge of MNR employees using their positions for unlawful financial gain.
I am prepared to testify, and to name names, at such an enquiry to expose the injustices by certain MNR employees using their preferred positions to acquire outdoor camps and lands for personal profit.
Certain that these injustices have been occurring since at least 1982 in the Wawa District and have been reported and documented, but your Ministry has never taken any action to stop it.
These injustices included the privatization of a large number of lakes and certain road closures that were aimed at protecting the private business interests of some MNR supervisors and employees.
There are certain other questionable practices occurring in the Wawa District of interest to a public enquiry, such as the 38 major lakes reserved for the private use of the now bankrupt and defunct Wilderness Outfitters, not being returned for the benefit of the general public.
We therefore call on you, Mr. Minister, to do the honourable thing and call a public enquiry to finally shed some light on these very disturbing and illegal actions of some MNR employees.
Yours very truly,
Mike Boudreau,
President, OntORA.
If Mike Boudreau in fact has evidence to substantiate any allegation of wrong doing by any Ministry employees to the extent he claims, don’t hold your breath waiting for something to come of it…
Outdoors Guy: Thank you for being the voice of reason and sanity about the Bear Wise program. Most of it is common sense — put away your garbage, carry bear spray, etc. but it underestimates the danger. Personally, I will carry my 270, thank you very much, and I won’t hesitate to use it if my life is threatened. There is a tendency to romanticize Mother Nature –if we humans just take certain steps we can live in harmony with 500 plus pound aggressive predators. Mother Nature can be ugly and cruel, and there have been many people who have discovered this the hard way.
Hunting mom, I realize my rant had little to do with the spring hunt, however it was somewhat related and had been ‘stuck in my craw’ for quite some time.
Romanticizing can be a problem as you pointed out and really, why shouldn’t we take provisions to protect ourselves…along with being mindful of the other bear wise suggestions.
Outdoorsguy
Bob Barker ran out of elephants to save so he just joined the fray damning the Spring Bear Hunt. Can you imagine the effect his words about ‘motherless bear cubs starving to death’ will have on the masses? These masses the faithful couch warriors whose outdoor experience is a city park or cutting their 4×4 lawn?
Bear Wise? This is just common sense made ‘simpler’ for the city dwellers who move rural. I see it along my cottage roads now with each ‘lane’ having a garbage collection ‘depot’ for roadside pickup. I am surprised I haven’t heard of bears visiting these so far but the coons and neighbourhood dogs sure do so it’s only a matter of time. While roadside collection is thought of as a great thing by the ‘cottagers’ who are used to having someone else handle their garbage, sooner or later there will be a bear encounter. My bet is it will be someone trying to get close enough for a good picture.
Ontario Spring Bear Hunt – – COME ON DOWN!!!
You are the next contestant on the MNR (&OFAH) Price is Right!!
MAYBE SPAY AND NUTER THEM BOTH >>>@JEFF YOUR A FUNNY GUY the radio and news is just full of this clowns . . the non hunters outnumber us huge this could be the end of the bear issue… again science never wins
Jeff,
I don’t buy into the sympathetic band wagon when it comes to victims of bear attacks. Although I have no measurable statistics to support my belief I would suggest that if the truth be known we would learn that these ‘victims’ contributed in some way to their unfortunate experience. I can only support this by suggesting that I spend more time in the woods than the average person and I can count on one hand the number of bear incidents I have experienced. And none of those was I ever in a dangerous situation with the bear, in fact I cannot recall any of them being more than watching their big black ass running away from me. And I assure you there are many times that not only would I be a suitable meal but the animal carcasses I was handling and hauling would certainly attract them…
Trapper, I wasn’t really working the sympathetic angle with mention of the 2005 bear maulings…although they were unfortunate..it was more to point out that occasionally these things do happen. And I know from reading details of these incidents, many of the people did not bring it on themselves. One fellow was picking berries in Manitoba and was stalked and killed by a black bear. I suppose he contributed to his own death by being in bear country during berry season..and by being unarmed. This was my second point of that rant. Why cant we take measures to protect ourselves while spending time in bear country.
THIS was the issue when the CO called me..he suggested that since attacks were so rare we didn’t and shouldn’t need to protect ourselves. Hogwash! You may not have been charged by a bear in your area..not yet anyway, but I have! (Never wrote about this much..mentioned it once on Iggy`s site years ago) About 10-12 years ago during the deer season in QC, I ran into a decent-sized black bear who heard me on the drive, the animal swiveled around and ran straight at me at full speed! He made it to about 50 feet from me until my yelling and waving my arms caused him to turn. Sure my heart was going like a little humming bird, but I did have a loaded 30-06 pointed at him if my diversion attempt failed, and I was seconds away from pulling the trigger. Keep in mind that the bear density in my QC deer woods is probably higher than where you area. My region currently has both a Fall and Spring hunt…one of those areas in the province which has had two seasons for several years in response to bear numbers.
Ok Sure, attacks are certainly rare and probably will never happen to most, but I was happy to have a rifle with me during my encounter, even if I didn’t use it, I may not have been quite so brave had I stood there unarmed…without a backup plan.
Again, as mentioned, not really much to do with the call for a Spring bear hunt, more related to Bear Wise program and my dealings with them.
Outdoorsguy
Coyote seminar in Ottawa, anyone go??
http://blogs.canoe.ca/outdoorsguy/hunting/conservation/coyote-seminar-getting-to-know-our-wiley-neighbours/
Outdoorsguy
I support the Spring Bear Hunt as I live in Northern Ontario
Gord and Wanda, tks for stopping by the Outdoors Guy Blog!
What is the general feeling on this pilot project in your Northern Ontario community? Do residents perceive this temporary spring hunt is a positive sign?
Outdoorsguy
I support the Spring Bear Hunt as we live in Northern Ontario where there are too many bears roaming around and causing trouble.
I support the Spring Bear Hunt as we live in Northern Ontario where there are too many bears and they come into our community looking for food and its not safe for people or our pets.
I support the spring bear hunt and every one that does not dont know what they are talking about I live in norther ont .!! If the animal rights people were really worried about animals then they would listen to the bilgiest that did the study in Manitoba whair bear kill over 50% of the calf moose and is the same in ont when the charts for the moose population has Ben dropping since 1999 when the spring got stopped in wmu 29 then people can’t get a moose tag after applying for 20 year . How meany days gas bob barker spent in the woods what a joke if you don’t know what your talking about dont say aneything at all
Back in 2001 I was invited to go to a ofah convention and dinner. After the dinner I asked an ofah organizer as to why they had no hunter pictures or fishing pictures displayed on the walls. It was almost like they were embarrassed they were supporting hunters!! After this convention I refused to be a member. Some members why fight for a spring hunt I don’t hunt bears?? Toronto PURE IDIOTS!!
The Ontario government is letting NW Ontario go out of business. Stores are closing, lumber yards are shut, gas stations out of business. Ontario can’t afford gas for CONSERVATION OFFICERS vehicles, can’t afford to properly maintain our highways in the winter, they lay off hundreds of mnr employees because they can’t afford to keep them employed and they close the tourist centre at the Ontario/Manitoba border. Open up the spring hunt to bring back they economy in the NORTWEST OF ONTARIO!!!
WMU 5 & 8 had a great moose population. Now you can’t find a moose track where you always were able to. It’s been a slow decline of moose numbers since 1999. The bears are preying on them. It took 15 years for the bears to deplete the moose population. To that hunter at the 2001 ofah convention who asked “why fight for the spring hunt I don’t hunt bear’s”. Now you know why!! When are ONTARIO HUNTERS going to stand up and stop leyying TORONTO dictate what we can hunt in Ontario??
Chris, you should move this comment to the more recent post on the subject:
http://blogs.canoe.ca/outdoorsguy/outdoors/ontario-moose-population-in-peril/
Outdoorsguy
The goal of animal alliance is to shut down the hunting of animals by humans.The anti’s are winning as they just lowered our moose adult tags in area #8 to 26 from 205. They believe the wild animals should only be for the prey animals.