O.F.A.H. applauds expanded deer hunt

O.F.A.H. applauds expanded deer hunt

The Ministry of Natural Resources’ announcement of additional deer hunting opportunities is welcome news for anyone who cares about conservation, property values and public safety, says the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters, the organization largely responsible for pursuing additional deer hunting opportunities in the first place.

“The O.F.A.H. is pleased that the Ministry of Natural Resources is improving wildlife management through promotion of additional deer hunting opportunities,” said Dr. Terry Quinney, O.F.A.H. Provincial Manager of Fish and Wildlife Services.

“Ontario’s 170,000 plus deer hunters congratulate Natural Resources Minister David Ramsay for acting upon what he has heard from the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters and M.N.R. biologists,” Quinney said.

Yesterday the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources announced expanding deer hunting opportunities in an effort to reduce crop damage, habitat degradation and deer-vehicle collisions. Throughout the province, collisions with wildlife is increasingly becoming a major public safety issue. In Peterborough County alone, police report that over 20 percent of vehicle crashes are deer related. Wildlife experts conservatively estimate that, without the annual deer hunt, deer-car collisions would triple.

“In the past 20 years, Ontario’s deer population has quadrupled, putting more emphasis on the virtues of the annual deer hunt — by far the most effective wildlife management tool. The hunt is also an important economic boost, and it provides delicious game meat for thousands of families,” added Quinney.

The Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters is the province’s largest nonprofit, nongovernment fishing, hunting and conservation organization. For more information, visit www.ofah.org

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• Expanded hunting opportunities help manage wildlife
• Open season on deer hunting