Changes to Ontario Hunting Regulations

canadian hunter312

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Looks like they went ahead with the proposed new regulations for small game, not sure if they changed anything else.





h ttps://www.ebr.gov.on.ca/ERS-WEB-External/displaynoticecontent.do?noticeId=MTMxMDUy&statusId=MjAwNjQw&language=en

Decision on Regulation:

A decision was made to proceed with the proposal as described, subject to the following changes:

• No open season for Snapping Turtle across all of Ontario.
• Ruffed Grouse daily bag and possession limits are 5 and 15 respectively for Wildlife Management Units 68, 73 to 76, 82 to 84.
• Ring-necked Pheasant daily bag and possession limits are 3 and 10 respectively for Wildlife Management Units 68, 69A, 70 to 94.
• An amendment to O. Reg. 666/98 will allow possession of an Otter pelt that is incidentally trapped (outside the open season for otter) during the open season for Beaver, without obtaining a licence to possess a pelt. Amended in response to comments received on the proposed (different) seasons for Otter and Beaver
• A consequential amendment to O. Reg. 667/98 was required to reflect the modernized approach of describing areas where furbearing mammals may be trapped in Ontario using existing Wildlife Management Unit (WMU) boundaries.

The decision was implemented by an amendment to O. Reg. 663/98 (Area Descriptions) by O. Reg. 86/17, by an amendment to O. Reg. 665/98 (Hunting) by O. Reg. 87/17, by an amendment to O. Reg. 666/98 (Possession, Buying and Selling of Wildlife), by O. Reg. 88/17, by an amendment to O. Reg. 667/98 (Trapping), by O. Reg. 89/17, and by an amendment to O. Reg. 670/98 (Open Seasons), by O. Reg. 85/17.

These regulations were filed in the Office of the Registrar of Regulations on March 30, 2017. These regulations are effective on April 1, 2017.
 
The closure of the snapping turtle season is reminiscent of the spring bear hunt closure.

IMHO there is almost no effect on the snapping turtle population from humans harvesting a limited number of them.

Knee jerk reaction which panders to special interest groups. I do not believe this decision is based on facts.
 
The closure of the snapping turtle season is reminiscent of the spring bear hunt closure.

IMHO there is almost no effect on the snapping turtle population from humans harvesting a limited number of them.

Knee jerk reaction which panders to special interest groups. I do not believe this decision is based on facts.

I don't know anyone who harvest turtles.
 
They also closed Rabbit & Hare season in most of Northern Ontario.

Can someone post a link to this decision please? From a government website?

ETA: Here's a link to the proposal: https://www.ebr.gov.on.ca/ERS-WEB-External/displaynoticecontent.do?noticeId=MTMxMDUx&statusId=MTk4NjY3

I can't find anything else online about it and I can't find anything that says Rabbit season is going to be closed in most of Northern Ontario. I'd like to see it though if anyone can find it.
 
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I understand the rabbit closure as of Apr 1 is in effect and CO's if contacted will confirm this. As to the snapping turtles it was just a matter of time after COSSARO put them on the threatened list. The Ont MNRF Wildlife Div has been taken over by anti hunters and Species at Risk people.
 
The Ontario Fed of Anglers and Hunters sent out an email to members reporting this. Sorry, I didn't verify their report just repeated info they submitted.
 
The Ontario Fed of Anglers and Hunters sent out an email to members reporting this. Sorry, I didn't verify their report just repeated info they submitted.

I believe you and I've seen the copy of the email in the other thread about this. I'd just like to see it in writing from the government itself. :yingyang:
 
Can someone post a link to this decision please? From a government website?

ETA: Here's a link to the proposal: https://www.ebr.gov.on.ca/ERS-WEB-E...ontent.do?noticeId=MTMxMDUx&statusId=MTk4NjY3

I can't find anything else online about it and I can't find anything that says Rabbit season is going to be closed in most of Northern Ontario. I'd like to see it though if anyone can find it.


Please see post #1 where it says a decision was made to proceed with the proposal with the changes also in post #1. Not sure why the link I posted isn't working, but neither is yours for some reason. Anyways, here's a working link to the proposed changes:

http://apps.mnr.gov.on.ca/public/files/er/proposed-sgfb-regulations.pdf



EDIT: I guess links aren't working because they're making changes. Here is a working link to where you can see they say a decision was made to proceed with the changes.

https://www.ebr.gov.on.ca/ERS-WEB-E...ontent.do?noticeId=MTMxMDUy&statusId=MjAwNjQw





The first link shows the proposed changes and the second link shows they've decided to proceed with the proposal with the listed modifications. So, the proposal is the new regulations with the changes listed.
 
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So they closed down rabbits to help feed the wolf's or just because they are cute?

They didn't close varying hare/snowshoe season all together. The huge difference is previously the varying hare/snowshoe daily limit for WMU's 1 through 59 was unlimited and now there is a daily limit of 5 with a possession limit of 15 with the season being cut from 9 1/2 months to 6 1/2 months.
 
They didn't close varying hare/snowshoe season all together. The huge difference is previously the varying hare/snowshoe daily limit for WMU's 1 through 59 was unlimited and now there is a daily limit of 5 with a possession limit of 15 with the season being cut from 9 1/2 months to 6 1/2 months.

Thanks for posting that pdf. I hadn't seen it yet. It's too bad because most of my rabbit hunting in the past has been done in the spring. It's the best time, really. Let's hope there's enough of an outcry over this that the MNR will consider reversing their decision on this particular issue. There's no logical reason for the change.
 
With the now reduced limit on snowshoes it will complicate my snaring. I guess you can only now place 5 snares in case you hit the jack pot. Why do things have to be so difficult.

Darryl

OFAH had a big article defending snapping turtle hunting related to the proposed changes, wonder why they wouldn't have focused on something more important like highlighting the changes to northern Ontario seasons and limits.
 
I do know that the illegal harvest of turtles of all types in southern Ontario was a factor. (info from a CO) Trouble is illegal harvest will continue, season or no season for turtles. Some folks have a taste for frogs, turtles just about anything they can catch and they don't really care about laws. Still it is plainly obvious that there is no science behind these reg changes.

Darryl
 
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