Rescinds motion for changes to hunt
GORE BAY—The United Fish and Games Clubs of Manitoulin (UFGCM) met in an emergency meeting on Monday, April 11 to rescind a motion calling for an end to party hunting passed at the UFGCM’s March 22 meeting.
While a motion by the UFGCM does not have any force or direct effect on provincial hunting regulations per se, the response to the motion from rank and file hunters has been swift and merciless—with a near-universal outcry against the concept erupting across social media when it was first reported in the April 1 edition of the Manitoulin West Recorder.
UFGCM spokesperson Jim Sloss noted that the organization “was not trying to force anything on anyone,” but rather was engaged in an attempt to bring awareness of a number of issues that they believed were placing unsustainable pressure on the deer population generally. “We wanted to get people thinking,” he said.
Although party hunting was one of those concerns, it was the practice of baiting that was of most concern to those attending the meeting. “In the extreme cases the practice has been drawing all of the deer in an area onto one lot,” he noted. “It has put a lot of pressure on the herd.”
The hope of the March 22 meeting was to come up with a system to develop policy that would reflect best practices in deer herd management for the betterment of hunting for everyone.
With the advent of the development of high tech equipment in the archery hunt, the differences between that and the rifle hunt have diminished to an alarming degree.
Local farmers’ rights activist Paul Skippen weighed in on the matter with a typical response in an email to The Expositor. “I just heard that the United Manitoulin Fish and Game Club (representing Manitoulin hunters) is proposing to stop party hunting on the Manitoulin,” he wrote. “The Fish and Game Club is making a pitch to the MNR on April 19 at the deer management meeting,” he continued. “This means that you must possess a tag for the deer hunted. If you shot a deer, you can no longer hunt with the rest of your party. I also hear that they are proposing zero baiting of deer (apples) etc.”
“No one can be this misinformed,” continued Mr. Skippen. “We are overwhelmed with deer eating our crops and destroying property here on Manitoulin. Farmers all over the Manitoulin are complaining that they are not receiving doe tags. How crazy is this? I knew the deer management group was out to lunch, but this is crazy, at a time when the deer population is as high as I have ever seen it here on Manitoulin Island.”
Following the Monday, April 11 meeting, the UFGCM issued a press release on the issue: “On April 1 a story appeared in the Manitoulin West Recorder concerning an idea that had been raised at the March regular meeting of the United Fish and Game Clubs of Manitoulin,” reads the release. “This proposal, if adopted and approved by deer hunters, other Game and Fish Clubs, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry and other stakeholders, would have meant a change to the historical way deer have been hunted in Ontario.”
The release went on to note: “a tremendous amount of feedback has been received and without question, the majority of deer hunters that have voiced an opinion are not in favour of such a proposed change.”
“The United Fish and Game Clubs thanks everyone who took the time to pass on their feelings on this important topic,” reads the release. “The story may have created the impression that all three of the Manitoulin Island game and fish clubs had supported this proposal, however the opportunity to explore this proposal fully with all of their respective memberships had not taken place by April 1.”
“Based on the responses to date, the United Fish and Game Clubs would like to advise that they have withdrawn this proposal,” announces the release, going on to add that “the Manitoulin Island United Fish and Game Clubs have and continue to make a significant contribution to the fish and wildlife stocks on Manitoulin. They have been instrumental in a number of deer save programs as far back as the 1980s and continue to play a vital role in the management of Manitoulin’s deer herd for the benefit of everyone.”
“Volunteerism is alive and well on Manitoulin, as it relates to fish and wildlife, many, many individuals have donated much of their personal time and money and they will continue to make a positive difference in the future,” concludes the release, adding that “if any members of the public are interested in becoming active in a local fish and game club here on Manitoulin please contact Bill Strain of the Little Current Fish and Game Club at 705-368-2554 or Chris Robinson of the Gore Bay Fish and Game Club at 705-282-2050 or Jim Sloss of the United Fish and Game Clubs of Manitoulin at 705-282-2050.”
