ACTION

The OFAH employs a team of professional staff to review policy proposals, changes to regulations and legislation and any other initiatives or programs to advocate for Ontario’s natural resources and the rights and traditions of anglers and hunters.  Your Federation responds to proposed changes that could affect fish and wildlife conservation and angling and hunting opportunities.  The restoration of elk to Ontario is considered a significant wildlife achievement and the OFAH continues to be involved in elk management by:

• Speaking out on regulations and cutbacks affecting licensed hunters
• Continued financial support for elk research
• Helping distribute hunter education materials about elk identification and awareness
• Promoting sound science-based management of elk populations in ON
• Representing elk hunters through the OFAH Big Game Advisory Committee

Listed below are examples of your OFAH hard at work on elk management.

Official Submissions

Oct 23, 2014  EBR 012-2541 Elk population objectives for Lake Huron North Shore herd (Blind River)

Sept 8, 2014  EBR 012-0370 Elk population objectives for Nipissing French-River herd (Sudbury) 

Aug 27, 2014  Update on Aboriginal harvest of elk in the Lake Huron North Shore restoration area

Oct 4, 2013  Expansion of elk hunting opportunities for 2014

• elk management decisions must be made using the best available science
• OFAH will promote elk identification and awareness through the hunter education program
• all penalties for elk-related convictions should be strictly enforced under the FWCA, 1997
• elk herds should be monitored on a regular, long-term basis
• the OFAH supports elk research that focuses on improved elk management
• the OFAH opposes the farming and ranching of elk because of the potential disease threats, escape and hybridization with wild populations
• the OFAH opposes paid, big game hunting on any game farm or ranch
• costs associated with regulating game farms in Ontario should come from the industry, and NOT from taxpayers

Committee Involvement

OFAH Big Game Advisory Committee

MNRF Big Game Management Advisory Committee

MNRF Human-Wildlife Conflict Advisory Group

MNRF Elk Advisory Committee (Lake Huron/North Shore Population)