Spring Bear Template

[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

[bigr]

Here is the link.
Copy and paste if you wish

http://www.ebr.gov.on.ca/ERS-WEB-Ext...k4&language=en

[duckduckgoose]

Dude, you still need to show us how you're an expert (like others said in your similar thread). I can completely agree that you are very passionate and interested, but being considered an expert is something very different.

[LowbanksArcher]

Dude, you still need to show us how you're an expert (like others said in your similar thread). I can completely agree that you are very passionate and interested, but being considered an expert is something very different.

I think the point of Ray's post here to to send a response and show your support. If you don't feel he is an 'expert', change the wording. Perhaps "respected and knowledgeable hunter known in the outdoor community". Or leave the last paragraph out all together.

I will say, I have not yet seen anyone who could be considered an 'expert' willing to carry the torch the way Ray has.

This template is a simple way for people to quickly 'copy and paste' to show their support without having to spend too much time typing a comment.

[duckduckgoose]

I guarantee you there are lots of people out there who would die to be part of the process. I bet OFAH and just about every conservation organization has more than one person waiting in the wings hoping to be part of this. I also bet just about every bear hunter in Ontario would like to be part of this. You're right, the letter is a nice start for people, but you've got to pay attention to that tricky last paragraph if you're a rabid cut and paster (also if you're a spelling and grammar guy). I don't question Ray's passion at all, I just want to know about his expertise.

[sparkplug]

Ok, Greenhorn. I have been around most of the sites also since 2004.I started at Adrians site away back when

[bigr]

LOL

Just be sure to put in your response.
As for other organizations,,,, I presented them with options to help bring the hunt back in the past and they told me FLAT out. Spring bear hunt was a dead issue.

[sawbill]

Well, my SIL runs a lodge in Chapleau taking it over after her father passed away. The lodge has run the bear hunt for close to 60 years. With respect to the spring hunt and its cancellation, she`s been interviewed numerous times by CBC radio and television, been quoted in numerous newspaper articles, headed up a group representing outfitters fighting the spring hunt cancellation and spend thousands upon thousands of her own dollars fighting the cancellation. She`s gone head to head with MNR s M..... O..... over suggested hunting methods and she`s kept up the fight even after the fight was long over.
And I don`t remember her ever publicly knocking those who had other opinions or opposing views.

Those are the qualifications I`d look for when it comes to being represented.

[bigr]

Greenhorn, is he the fellow that showed many of us how to design the so called "shaker barrel" etc. He use to be around the Sudbury area and was on the Ont. Hunting Lodge alot?
I remember the signature "master baiter " quite some time ago.
We need to do something but we also need to be aware of others motives for self advances .

Why not just ask me? Have you ever met Greenhorn or hunted with him? I suspect not? Anyway,

Sorry Just an Avid outdoors person like most
Not an outfitter
Not in sales
No personal gain for me in any way other then hunting opportunities for us all.

BUT

I have been following this issue and fighting for it when other outdoors people and organizations have told me its a dead issue and drop it!

So what do I bring ?
An understanding that our population model used is proven wrong.
MNR uses the model of 1 bear per 10 square Km as THE MANAGMENT STRATIGY. The number of 100,000 bears in the province lines up with the geographical land size of the province as a whole.
Problem with that is there is not 1 bear per 10sq Km in southern Ontario and way more then that in the larger portion in the north BUT they give us a number that works for the provincial model and were done.

In areas with an over population we are seeing big issues and it will be a concern to see what we see next spring for the lack of mast crops and berry crops this year in areas with population issues. We may kill bears in the den from this.

I have gathered info relating to calls to the OPP and cross referenced them to known hunting areas. Example, my area, bear calls to the OPP are DOWN over 50% due to hunting activities but this is not just from shooting bears, bears are there and Land owners are seeing fewer or no bear issues where before spring hunt, there were issues.

I have debated and converted many people who didn't want the hunt to happen,, represented us as a hunter, taken reporters on a hunt so they could share our side of the story and done well I might add and truth be told,, If there is someone out there who has no personal gains who wants to take up the fight I have done. I'll add there name to mine.
All I'm trying to do is make sure we have a real voice who is actually in the ring for the fight.
Not looking for fame or I would have been done long ago.
Thanks

[bigr]

And Sawbil, I do remember our debates over the years where you didn't think we should have a spring hunt. Is that still your opinion?