Originally Posted by
bigr
Here is a template you can use for your responce to the registry. Use the whole thing or change as you see fit. PLEASE PROVIDE A RESPONCE. THE ANTIs ARE!!!!!
I fully support the proposed 5 year pilot spring bear hunt across the 88 WMU's to be included.
The expectation however is that a meaningful wildlife assessment of our bear population be done as with most big game in Ontario, wildlife assessments are done on a WMU too WMU case.
Black bears should not be managed by a provincial model but by each WMU as in all other big game and small game in Ontario. They are not a second class animal or pest.
As too ways to regulate baiting, the question that needs to be answered is WHY is the MNRF asking this question?
The belief to why this is being asked is that it is an "opinion" in this EBR that we will be attracting more animals (Black Bears) closer to homes, other properties, and the general public. While the intent of this opinion has good intentions, hunters and landowners have seen a decrease in human bear interactions once baiting on there property started.
If we want to "pick a distance" from homes, 500 yards would be responsible from a safety standpoint while using hunting equipment and 50 yards from a separate property where hunting is not permitted, add roadways, railways, canoe portages, marked trails and protected areas.
Permitted Timing.
Many hunters travel long distances to do there own baiting in Ontario and sometimes a location is chosen that may need to be changed. 3 weeks in advance of the hunt would be more reasonable in advance of the hunt.
Bait Removal.
Strongly support this as well as the removal of none hunting equipment. Bait and bait transporting equipment should be cleaned up. Only equipment can remain. Bags and general garbage should be cleaned up!
Method of Baiting
It is the responsibility of the hunter to identify there game! We have laws to cover this.
IF we feel the need to add something to facilitate identification, add trail cameras and scouting to this.
Know your game! It is our responsibility anyway so do we need to make a law to do it? NO
Amount of Bait
Why again do we need a limit to the amount? Bear behavior is not to the extent that they will not go look for food once a food source is gone. once the food is gone, they go look for new food sources.
Natural food sources will in fact pull bears off of active baits as there nature is to go to natural sources to clean them up before unnatural baits. Again, Once hunting season is over, clean out bait from site(s) and the bears will move on to other sources of food.
Many hunters travel long distances to there hunting area and some travel hundreds of Km.
Only putting in 10kg of bait out once a week will turn some hunters away from hunting at all. If the intent is to have hunters involved in the hunt, limiting bait to 10kg will have the reverse effect.
A more reasonable amount might be 165lbs (75kg) of bait. This is equal too 3 25kg bags of feed form a coop which has an economic impact on the economy..
A bigger concern that should be looked at is sugar hooking bears or the amount of sugar in bait. Working with companies who provide bear bait as well as an understanding of how much sugar is harmful needs to be addressed more then amounts of bait used.
I would also like to have Ray Smith from Markstay Ontario, consulted by the MNRF on all topics of Black Bear Management in Ontario. He is a known expert in the outdoor community on black bear populations and habits and he is the best person to represent hunters from the outdoor communities in Ontario.
Link to Assessment
