MINDEMOYA—The Manitoulin Trappers’ Council is expanding on its name and looking at developing a brand new logo for the group that can be used to promote the organization.
“I was wondering if we should change our name to include the Island,” said Natalie Parrington, secretary-treasurer of the Trappers’ Council, at a workshop the club held this past Sunday in the Mindemoya Community Hall.
“Manitoulin Island works well,” agreed George Hagen, president of the club, prior to the club members agreeing to the name change.
Ms. Parrington also mentioned that two ideas have been drafted for a club logo.
“For our next meeting we would like to have the logo chosen so that we can have shirts and hats made with our name and logo on it,” said Mr. Hagen. “We’re not rich by any means but we have some money in our account to take to someone with a silk screen to put these logos on merchandise we can sell to help promote the club.”
Mr. Hagen told the meeting at the club’s previous meeting discussion ensued as to building a booth that the club could use in participating in various sports and fish and game club events and to provide education on the club, what it does and its mission.
“Manitoulin Island will be represented at the (upcoming) Ontario Fur Managers Federation conference and we hope to have this booth put together that we can take to this and various other functions and events,” said Mr. Hagen. “Also, if anyone is comfortable making speeches at these type of events, or making presentations at schools, we would like them to come forward.
“It is nice to see our group growing in terms of members,” said Mr. Hagen. “We are getting bigger as a club and hopefully better,” he said in introducing directors on the council. They included Mr. Hagen, Natalie Parrington, Rick Campbell, Dallas Moggy, John Seabrook, Ian Anderson and two new youth directors, Cole Corbiere and Nathaniel Wood.
Paul Van Zutphen, of the Ontario Fur Managers Federation, said, “for the 150th anniversary of Canada coming up (2017), we want to promote trapping and the long tradition it has in Canada. We have a video advertisement that will be shown promoting trapping.”
“We are advertising the clip on television with about 60-120 spots that will cost $13,000, and we are asking for the Trappers’ Council to assist in some of the costs,” said Mr. Van Zutphen. “It’s also educational. There are still some people, even in Northern Ontario, who don’t think trapping actually exists; we have to continue educating members of the public on trapping.”
Mr. Van Zutphen explained the Minister of Natural Resources and Forestry has announced an extension to the pilot project for spring bear hunting. The pilot has been extended for a five-year period starting May 1, 2016 in 88 Wildlife Management Units (WMU). The OFMF had responded to a provincial EBR posting on this extension and had asked if trappers will be able to harvest bears in the spring under their trapping licence.
“A trapper can harvest bear, but on only property you are licenced to do this,” said Mr. Van Zutphen. “You have to follow the quotas on the licence. If there is a number under the quota for black bear, you can only harvest that many bear. For example, if it has a two you can only harvest two black bear under that licence.”
Mr. Van Zutphen explained black bear are listed as a big game animal and are no longer classed as a furbearer. If you harvest bear under the authority of your trapping licence, you can discard the hide. “However, you must use the meat or flesh of the bear. You cannot allow the flesh or meat to spoil.”
The spring season is from May 1 to June 15, 2016, he said, pointing out trappers can trap or shoot bear on their trapline, or land they have permission to hunt, as long as it is according to the quota on their licence. “However, in the spring it is illegal to harvest female bear and cubs,” stated Mr. Van Zutphen.
The council members agreed to donate $100 to the Ontario Fur Managers Federation towards the promotional advertising it is doing for trapping.
