THIS! Where does it stop?
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I suppose once your retired you feel free to express how you really feel. There goes a couple of COs who probably spent their whole careers hating on us barbarians. I'm sure they are the exception. The same way 99% of us operate in a legal and ethical manner. I'm not as familiar with the fox or coyote pens, but have a lot of experience with managing rabbit /hare train and trial areas. Since the old legislation was brought in, in 1998, there has not been one instance of a rabbit/hare pen or managers being charged with anything. According to these two, it's because we are master criminal minds able to avoid prosecution for over twenty years. The reality is that we are willing to comply with the rules and regulations and just want to do are thing, in the same unobtrusive way we always have.
I would think that anti hunting and animal rights groups monitor these closely. Concerning COs, I think their mandate is strictly enforcement. It's my experience in recent times that they have no interest in addressing concerns regarding conservation issues or modifying regs. Their mandate in the MNRF is confined to enforcement.
Well that is true and enforcement should be their main task so I agree with you. However when retired officers speak up and point out short comings in the "system" and abuse by certain elements in the hunting fraternity I believe they should be listened to. Their comments' were mostly about coyote hunters and what they discovered in a Province wide investigation as it related to fair chase and the handling of live coyotes.
You and your organization appear to be doing a great job and service to Ontario hunters , appreciate you.
It can and has been frustrating dealing with MNRF, the local COs and the area office were a total bust in helping us with our concerns. I believe their hands were tied and ended up being a fire wall for the ivory tower in PTBO. We did not get any traction until we turned for help from the Ontario Sporting Dog Association and importantly the Federation of Anglers and Hunters.
Over several years we dealt with 8 different ministers of natural resources. I would be remiss if I don't mention the cooperation of John Yakabuski, Graydon Smith, and Doug Ford.