O.F.A.H. congratulates Minister for announcement on limited Sunday hunting

O.F.A.H. congratulates Minister for announcement on limited Sunday hunting

On Friday, February 18, 2005, the Honourable David Ramsay, Minister of Natural Resources, gave a keynote address to the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters’ 77th Annual General Meeting and Wildlife Conference in Toronto. In his remarks, the Minister noted that with the consent of municipalities, he would be prepared to look at extending hunting on private property in southern Ontario during regular seasons to include Sundays.

“We appreciate the Minister’s commitment to look at this issue,” said Mike Reader, O.F.A.H. Executive Director. “Hunting on Sundays already occurs in northern Ontario and some parts of central Ontario. Not only would this provide for additional hunting opportunities, something to which the Minister has committed, but it would help to address a serious growing public safety issue and harmful impacts of wildlife overpopulation on the agricultural community.”

According to recent statistics, in Peterborough County alone, 1 in 4 automobile collisions involves wildlife, most commonly deer. In other areas around the province, some municipalities have reported upward of 700 deer/car collisions in one year. The threat this poses to the public safety, and the cost in terms of rising insurance costs, suggests that, by expanding hunting on private property to include Sundays during the regular hunting season in traditional areas, this will assist the Ministry of Natural Resources to control the wildlife population and help to avoid accidents. The extension of Sunday hunting would also help to alleviate the increasing amount of damage to crops and livestock by wildlife, which exceeds $45 million each year.

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