Joey Payeur
Those who enjoy the thrill of tracking down and bagging that prize moose in Rainy River District each year may have to change the way they do so as early as this fall.
The Ministry of Natural Resources and Forests on Friday announced proposed amendments to regulations under the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act for moose hunting in Northern Ontario.
Part of the amendment is a harvest management strategy proposed for this fall that would see the establishment of a two-week resident and non-resident open hunting season for calf and adult moose across Northern Ontario.
It would begin on the Saturday closest to Oct. 22, with all allowable firearms permitted at this time.
Outside of this two-week season, however, calf moose could not be harvested.
Adult moose hunting still would be permitted.
The second part of the proposed amendment relates to the start of the gun hunt season, which would be pushed back by one week starting in 2016.
“Moose play an important role in Ontario’s ecosystems and are an integral component of the province’s rich biodiversity,” the MNRF stated on the Ontario government’s website.
“Recent population surveys showed declines in moose populations in many parts of Northern Ontario, a trend also being seen in other North American jurisdictions,” it noted.
Local hunters generally were supportive of the proposed changes.
“There sure isn’t the moose population there used to be 20 years ago,” said longtime moose hunter Larry Cousineau.
“You could see 20 different fresh signs of a moose in a day and now you’re lucky to see one.
“They have to do something to protect the moose populations,” he added.
“I would like to think that there’s a positive side to [the changes].”
“There’s not much of a calf harvest, anyway,” reasoned Don Cumming, a frequent hunting partner of Cousineau’s.
“A lot of the time, cows keep the calves away from the vicinity of the hunters, at least from my experience of 30 years,” he said.
Chris Wielinga, another member of Cousineau’s hunting party, said he hadn’t had enough time to analyze the possible effect of the proposed changes.
But he did add, “From talking to hunters I know, they really need to do something with the calf hunt.”
Not everyone is willing to accept the amendments, however.
The Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters, in a press release issued Monday, called the proposed amendments “restrictive and unnecessary.”
“While we are encouraged by the ministry’s commitment to addressing Ontario’s declining moose populations, and its reassurance that non-hunting factors affecting moose will be examined, we don’t agree with the specific changes being proposed,” stated O.F.A.H. senior wildlife biologist Mark Ryckman.
“The anticipated benefits do not outweigh the costs—it is a significant negative impact to licensed hunting and the potential benefits are not supported by data,” he argued.
The MNRF’s proposal is posted for a 31-day public review and comment period, which began this past Friday and ends March 9.
Those wanting to have their say can visit www.ebr.gov.on.ca and search for EBR posting #012-3413.
Click on the link with that number, then hit the “Submit Comment” link on the right side of the next page.
