I have prepared a brief report regarding a potential Sandhill Crane season in Ontario but I am waiting to receive an approval before I post it ... stand by.
I am also preparing a rather lengthy summary of what has been happening regarding a limited (tag only) Tundra Swan season and the delisting of the Mute Swan from the List of Protected Species since 2010.
I know that this takes a lot of time with the various levels of government to see anything happen ... it is a long road to the finish line.
A representative of Delta Waterfowl contacted me early in June of 2018 to inquire if we could meet to discuss my previous offer to financially support a Delta Waterfowl survey of its members in the Province of Ontario regarding a limited (tag only) Tundra Swan season.
During that meeting we agreed that a potential Sandhill Crane season and the delisting of the Mute Swan from the List of Protective Species would be included in the survey along with a few other waterfowl related issues.
Delta Waterfowl eventually conducted two (2) waterfowl surveys ... one survey "on line" of its members as well as one survey by "Facebook" of non-members in the Province of Ontario during the fall of 2018. These surveys indicated a strong support for a Sandhill Crane season, delisting of the Mute Swan from the List of Protected Species and a limited (tag only) Tundra Swan season in that order ... on both surveys. However all three (3) options were just a few percentage points apart with support for all three (3) options slightly higher with the non-members who were overall a bit younger than the members ... an interesting point.
I provided the results of these two (2) waterfowl surveys to Mr. Toby Barrett (MPP, Haldimand-Norfolk) who was also the Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Natural Resources and Forestry in the spring of 2019. Mr. Toby Barrett subsequently met with the Hon. John Yakabuski (Minister, MNRF) to discuss the results of both waterfowl surveys.
Delta Waterfowl provided the results of both waterfowl surveys to the Canadian Wildlife Service (CWS) and the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters (OFAH) later in 2019 for their due consideration since the CWS hunting regulations were to be reviewed in the fall of 2019.
Although the OFAH apparently supported a Sandhill Crane season as well as the delisting of the Mute Swan from the List of Protected Species the CWS apparently was not prepared to proceed with these proposals at that time.
My suggestion to anyone and everyone who would like to have any one of these three (3) proposals implemented in the Province of Ontario would be to join Delta Waterfowl as well as the OFAH if you are not already a member of both organizations and express your support for all three (3) proposals since they are all related ... see note below.
Jerome Katchin, D.V.M.
PS I suspect the reason why a Sandhill Crane season received more support than a limited (tag only) Tundra Swan season is because the respondents may have thought that a Sandhill Crane season would include a "bag limit" of a few birds per day throughout the season and this cannot happen due to the population dynamics. We are only looking at a limited (tag only) Sandhill Crane season ... unfortunately this was not stated in the surveys. However one jurisdiction in the United States issues fewer Sandhill Crane permits (300) to its hunters but each permit allows that hunter to harvest three (3) Sandhill Cranes during the season.
Last edited by Buddy Boy; March 6th, 2021 at 01:21 PM.
Anybody who would like to have more ducks over their decoys this fall and more ducks over their decoys in the future should invest a few dollars in becoming a Delta Waterfowl member.
Furthermore and perhaps more importantly ... anybody who would like to have a limited (tag only) Sandhill Crane season and a limited (tag only) Tundra Swan season as well as having the Mute Swan delisted from the List of Protective Species should invest a few dollars in becoming a Delta Waterfowl member.
So what does it really cost for you to become a Delta Waterfowl member?
The basic membership starts at $35.00 but you receive a tax receipt for the full amount less the value (base cost not retail value) of the gift (camo cap as an example) received which may be $5.00. In this case (as an example) you would receive a camo cap (base cost of $5.00 but a retail value of at least $10.00 plus taxes) and a tax receipt for the balance of $30.00 as well as five (5) exceptional issues of the Delta Magazine including a special "Hunt Issue". Now consider the value of those exceptional magazines for a moment because they did not cost you the balance of $30.00 from your basic $35.00 membership donation.
The federal government provides you with a 29% tax credit and the provincial government provides you with a 11% tax credit (total of 40% ) against that $30.00 regardless of your taxable income (see note below) so you will receive an income tax deduction of $12.00. So after considering your $12.00 income tax deduction your Delta Waterfowl membership will only cost you $18.00 (out of pocket) ... perhaps only the cost of a box of shells ... a cheap box of shells.
Note: The tax savings described above are based upon your total annual donations to all Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) registered charitable organizations (including your religious affiliation) exceeding $200.00 since the first $200.00 of donations receive a slightly lower tax credit.
So consider if $18.00 per year is worth five (5) exceptional issues of the Delta Magazine, more ducks over your decoys every year and additional hunting opportunities for Sandhill Cranes as well as Tundra Swans with Mute Swans being an extra bonus to hunt.
Thank you for supporting Delta Waterfowl and our initiatives.
Jerome Katchin, D.V.M.
Last edited by Buddy Boy; March 6th, 2021 at 03:52 PM.
crane season
Originally Posted by Mauro
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