MANITOULIN—Several Manitoulin deer hunters feel there should be a new system put in place for the provincial deer tag licence draw system, or at least that more tags be available for the fall hunt after reporting that they haven’t received a deer hunt tag permission slip in this year’s draw. This is not the only issue involving deer tags on Manitoulin, as Algoma-Manitoulin MPP Michael Mantha told the Recorder on Tuesday, as some people who have received tags aren’t sure if they are designated for antlerless or antlered deer.
“No, I did not get a deer tag for this year,” stated Ches Beange, an Ice Lake resident, when contacted by the Recorder last week. “I am not really happy about this. I own 2,100 acres of property and pay taxes on all these lands, which are all deer country and I didn’t get a tag; I think it’s unfair.”
“They cut the numbers of tags available on the Island again this year for the hunt, but I don’t think they needed to be cut back as much as they did,” said Mr. Beange.
Willis Campbell of Gordon Township stated, “no I didn’t get a deer tag permission slip, this is the third year in a row. I sent an email to our MPP Michael Mantha stating that I’ve been a hunter for about 50 years and part owner of a hunt camp for the past 39 years.”
“I can’t understand why I have over 50 acres of property that I pay taxes on and I can’t get a deer hunt permission tag,” said Mr. Campbell. “At some point in time the taxpayers on these properties should be able to get back in the system, but I haven’t received a deer tag in the past three years. I think there is something wrong with the present system.”
“I know we had a tough winter, but another problem we have is with coyotes and wolves that kill a lot more deer,” said Mr. Beange. “I think this is a bigger problem than the bad winter. I hear wolves and coyotes all the time near my farm. I’m afraid to let my calves out unless they are old enough that they stay with their mother.”
“When you pay taxes on 2,100 acres of land that you also raise livestock on, and you are a resident of Manitoulin Island, I think as a local resident you should get some type of priority for the deer tags,”
Jim Sloss, chair of the United Fish and Game Clubs of Manitoulin (UFGCM), told the Recorder that farmers on the Island would like to see automatic deer tag permission slips being provided and is strongly in favour of this.
One farmer from the Spring Bay area said, “I haven’t received a deer tag for the past four years now and I’m a farmer. I don’t think the winter was as hard on the deer as the MNR and the deer management think it was. And yes, I think a permit should be provided automatically for those who are farming full-time and are basically feeding the deer as well since they get into everything anyway.”
“I’m a little disappointed that after two years of not getting a tag I still can’t get a tag in the third year. And if it’s happened to me I’m sure there has to be a lot more people in the same boat as I am,” said Mr. Campbell.
“I think the MNR (Ministry of Natural Resources) has a very poor deer tag draw system,” said Mr. Campbell. “If you miss one year you should be slotted in automatically the next year, and after two definitely.”
“I apply for a tag every year and don’t get a tag, but at least one brand new hunter applied and got one,” said Mr. Campbell. “There is some merit to this but I and others who pay taxes on all these lands that are being hunted on should get a tag as well,” continued Mr. Campbell. “There should be a little more consideration given.”
“And the Liberal government is now introducing seniors having to pay for outdoors cards (which they haven’t had to previously),” said Mr. Campbell. “I guess as we get older none of us are going to get any benefits. I think the whole thing is going backwards, the MNR has a big slush fund from fish and game licences. Where are all the funds from our hunting and fishing licences going?”
“Even if the deer populations are dropping, there should be some consideration given for those that didn’t get a deer tag the previous year, they should be at the top of the list the next year,” said Mr. Campbell.
“What could potentially happen is that if someone is hunting for meat and they are dishonest they are going to have a deer. The way the tag system is now it could lead people to the unlawful side,” added Mr. Campbell.
Mr. Mantha told the Recorder “at the AMO (Association of Municipalities of Ontario) conference this week the issue of deer licencing came up from a representative of NEMI (Northeast Manitoulin and the Islands). The problem is some tags are being issued and there is no indication on them if they are for antlerless deer or not. This gentleman had a farmers tag, but it wasn’t marked as to whether it was for a doe or for a buck. Other tags show specifically what the tag permits are for, but this wasn’t shown on this tag and I’m sure this isn’t the only case of this taking place. Hopefully we will get some answers on how the ministry is going to fix this. The MNR will have to provide clarity on this.”
