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 Federation represents small game hunters through the OFAH Sporting Dogs/Small Game/Migratory Birds/Wetlands Advisory Committee.
Listed below are examples of your OFAH hard at work on small game management.
Official Submissions
Apr 19, 2022 OFAH supports the re-instatement of the pheasant hunt at the Grand River Conservation Authority
Jun 7, 2021 ERO 019-3468 Ontario’s strategy to address the threat of Invasive Wild Pigs
Oct 5, 2020 ERO 019-1806 Proposal to expand the live capture of wild raptors by licensed falconers
Jul 21, 2020 ERO 019-1407 Proposal to reduce regulatory burden within the wildlife management program
Nov 28, 2019 Bill 136 – An Act to enact the Provincial Animal Welfare Services Act, 2019
Aug 16, 2019 OFAH comments on the Draft Recovery Strategy for Northern Bobwhite in Ontario
read the OFAH/Ontario Hawking Club review
Nov 2, 2018 OFAH advocates for province-wide extension of the snowshoe hare season
Feb 20, 2018 OFAH comments on the proposed Recovery Strategy for Northern Bobwhite Quail in Canada
Jan 27, 2017 OFAH comments on the Small Game & Furbearer Management Framework for Ontario
May 27, 2016 OFAH responds to Management Plan for Snapping Turtles in Canada
May 9, 2012 Mandatory reporting of snapping turtle harvest activities EBR# 011-6043
May 25, 2011 Proposal to create a youth trapping/license fur manager mentor program EBR# 011-3177
Apr 11, 2011 Proposed agriculture-wildlife conflict strategy EBR# 011-2677
Oct, 2009 OFAH requests a complete review of the small game regulations
Where we Stand
- Small game decisions must be made using the best available science
- small game should be managed and harvested according to specific population objectives set by the province with input from resource users
- small game hunting regulations and policies should reflect current populations
- the OFAH supports efforts to maintain or enhance sustainable populations of naturalized small game species (ex: European Hare, Ring-necked Pheasant, Hungarian Partridge)
- MNRF should consider streamlining and simplifying small game hunting seasons (ex: is it feasible to have 12 different seasons for Ring-necked Pheasants?)
- the OFAH supports applied wildlife research for small game species
- the OFAH recognizes the value of community knowledge relating to small game
- Licensed small game hunting should be better-promoted in Ontario
Committee Involvement
OFAH Sporting Dogs/Small Game/Migratory Birds/Wetlands Advisory Committee
Provincial Falconry Advisory Committee