The president of the Northwestern Ontario Sportsmen’s Alliance says a limited reintroduction of a spring bear hunt is a step in the right direction.
But John Kaplanis says the two-year program, designed to control increasing numbers of nuisance bears, isn’t broad enough. For starters Kaplanis said Thursday, the hunt should be expanded to include non-resident hunters.
“We’re encouraged, but at the same time there are components of the pilot project that we don’t feel really measure up over the long-term for black bear management,” Kaplanis said.
“We’re hoping over time we can work with the minister and his office and his staff to bring in effective measures that would see black bear management done comprehensively and the way it should be done.”
James Malcolm, the owner operator of a hunting outfit who specializes in out-of-province outings, agreed the province is letting a huge tourism opportunity slip through its fingers by not including non-residents in the revamped hunt.
Ask any hunter, he said. There’s an overabundance of nuisance bears in the wild, a number that’s steadily grown since the spring bear hunt was cancelled. A top predator of moose calves, the overpopulation is starting to have a negative effect on moose populations.
Adding out-of-province hunters to the mix will ensure enough bears are culled to keep their numbers at a manageable level.
“I thank the government for giving us this opportunity to get back into it, but I think they’re missing a key element of not having non-residents involved with it right now,” Malcolm said.
When the hunt was still in effect, he said the outfitter he worked with would regularly bring in as many as 25 out-of-province hunters each year.
Generally up to 80 per cent of those hunters would kill a bear.
“I’ve definitely seen the population of bears increase in our area. You’d normally drive down the highway and see moose everywhere. Now you see bears. It’s definitely a big difference the last few years,” Malcolm said.
Natural Resources Minister David Orazietti announced Thursday the province would reinstate the spring hunt on a limited basis in 2014 and 2015. The proposed hunt would be limited to Ontario residents and municipal councils would have to opt in and pass a resolution to join the program, which includes eight wildlife management districts, including Thunder Bay.
Mayor Keith Hobbs said the issue isn’t on his radar, but he’s sure someone on council will raise the issue.
In a release, Orazietti said the proposal was made in the name of public safety.
“Public safety is paramount and Ontarians should feel safe in their communities. We have heard increasingly from some northern municipalities that they are concerned about public safety and human-bear conflicts. In response, we are taking action in a strategic way to address the areas of highest incidence,” the minister said.
Under the program’s stipulations, hunting bear cubs or females with cubs would remain illegal.
The decision has raised the ire of animal-rights groups, including Zoocheck Canada, whose campaign director Judy Woodyer said the measure was likely a way for MPP Bill Mauro (Lib., Thunder Bay-Atikokan) to curry votes. Earlier this year Mauro introduced a private members bill seeking to reintroduce the spring bear hunt.
Kenora-Rainy River Conservative candidate Randy Nickle called it a “sad delay tactic” designed to avoid social and economic issues facing the North and questioned why the hunt is being limited to just a select few communities an Ontario residents only if it’s such a good idea.
“The Ontario PC party has committed to enable all local governments to make the best decisions on wildlife management for their regions. We won’t be cherry picking winners and losers for our own political gain,” Nickle said.
