- Location
- The Conservative part of Ontario
From the CFD:
Date: Wed, 14 Jun 2006 12:16:28 -0600 (CST)
From: owner-cdn-firearms@sfn.saskatoon.sk.ca (Majordomo User)
Subject: Non-native moose hunters call for changes
PUBLICATION: The Chronicle-Herald
DATE: 2006.06.14
SECTION: NovaScotia
PAGE: B2
BYLINE: Jocelyn Bethune
ILLUSTRATION: Moose hunters from across the province gathered at
theannual Natural Resources moose licence lottery in Baddeck on Tuesday.
Walter Keeping of West Chezzetcook picked several winners but went home
empty handed this year. (JOCELYN BETHUNE)
WORD COUNT: 435
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hunting rights draw fire; Non-native moose hunters call for changes
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------
BADDECK - Tensions over native hunting rights boiled over into the
annual moose lottery Tuesday when a hunter began questioning
conservation officers as the draw got underway.
"That's why your applications are down," Bill MacCormack shouted to
Department of Natural Resources personnel as they stood before an
estimated 75 moose hunters waiting to see if they would be one of the
345 chosen few to win a licence.
"Nobody wants to spend the money anymore because you are not controlling
the native hunt. It's time you people stepped in and did something about
it," he said to a round of applause from the gathered hunters.
"The native hunt isn't a hunt anymore, it's a slaughter," he said later.
Last week, the provincial department announced it was extending its
moose licence application deadline because only 7,000 hunters had
applied. In the four extra days, 3,000 more names were entered in the
lottery. According to the Natural Resources website, the draw usually
attracts 13,000 to 15,000 entrants.
Non-natives with a licence can hunt moose in Victoria and Inverness
counties during three separate periods between Sept. 25 and Dec. 14.
Natives can hunt at any time but must abide by conservation and safety
rules.
"We were concerned that people didn't know about it," said Dougal
MacNeil, responding to Mr. MacCormack's questions, adding that "there
are other hunting issues, but this isn't the time to get at it."
"When?" said Mr. MacCormack.
"There will be some changes up there (in the Highlands moose hunting
grounds) this year but they are not being announced today."
And with that the draw began.
The moose draw is normally a jovial affair, with hunters lined up at one
of four spin drums, awaiting their turn to pick a winning name, while
others stand off to the side, eagerly anticipating as each name is
called.
But the game show-like atmosphere belied what many hunters were feeling
about the hunt this year.
"It's getting worse," said Walter Keeping, a hunter from West
Chezzetcook who last won a licence in 1998 and was successful in bagging
a moose.
He and his hunting buddies make the four-hour trip to Baddeck every year
for the lottery.
"The moose are getting very hard to find. We're sort of getting the raw
end of the stick. There should be a season for natives and a season for
us," he said, pausing to listen to the conservation officer call out
another name.
Watching the draw was Tony Nette, a provincial wildlife manager with
Natural Resources in Kentville and a specialist in managing the moose
population. He's attending an annual conference of moose researchers
from Canada, the U.S. and Europe that is also taking place in Baddeck
this week.
"What has been happening in the Highlands in terms of an unmanaged
native harvest is going to change," he said.
Those changes will be implemented before the start of this year's moose
season, he said, and more details will be made available at a later
date.
"We are working closely with the Mi'kmaq community," he said.
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 14 Jun 2006 12:16:28 -0600 (CST)
From: owner-cdn-firearms@sfn.saskatoon.sk.ca (Majordomo User)
Subject: Non-native moose hunters call for changes
PUBLICATION: The Chronicle-Herald
DATE: 2006.06.14
SECTION: NovaScotia
PAGE: B2
BYLINE: Jocelyn Bethune
ILLUSTRATION: Moose hunters from across the province gathered at
theannual Natural Resources moose licence lottery in Baddeck on Tuesday.
Walter Keeping of West Chezzetcook picked several winners but went home
empty handed this year. (JOCELYN BETHUNE)
WORD COUNT: 435
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hunting rights draw fire; Non-native moose hunters call for changes
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------
BADDECK - Tensions over native hunting rights boiled over into the
annual moose lottery Tuesday when a hunter began questioning
conservation officers as the draw got underway.
"That's why your applications are down," Bill MacCormack shouted to
Department of Natural Resources personnel as they stood before an
estimated 75 moose hunters waiting to see if they would be one of the
345 chosen few to win a licence.
"Nobody wants to spend the money anymore because you are not controlling
the native hunt. It's time you people stepped in and did something about
it," he said to a round of applause from the gathered hunters.
"The native hunt isn't a hunt anymore, it's a slaughter," he said later.
Last week, the provincial department announced it was extending its
moose licence application deadline because only 7,000 hunters had
applied. In the four extra days, 3,000 more names were entered in the
lottery. According to the Natural Resources website, the draw usually
attracts 13,000 to 15,000 entrants.
Non-natives with a licence can hunt moose in Victoria and Inverness
counties during three separate periods between Sept. 25 and Dec. 14.
Natives can hunt at any time but must abide by conservation and safety
rules.
"We were concerned that people didn't know about it," said Dougal
MacNeil, responding to Mr. MacCormack's questions, adding that "there
are other hunting issues, but this isn't the time to get at it."
"When?" said Mr. MacCormack.
"There will be some changes up there (in the Highlands moose hunting
grounds) this year but they are not being announced today."
And with that the draw began.
The moose draw is normally a jovial affair, with hunters lined up at one
of four spin drums, awaiting their turn to pick a winning name, while
others stand off to the side, eagerly anticipating as each name is
called.
But the game show-like atmosphere belied what many hunters were feeling
about the hunt this year.
"It's getting worse," said Walter Keeping, a hunter from West
Chezzetcook who last won a licence in 1998 and was successful in bagging
a moose.
He and his hunting buddies make the four-hour trip to Baddeck every year
for the lottery.
"The moose are getting very hard to find. We're sort of getting the raw
end of the stick. There should be a season for natives and a season for
us," he said, pausing to listen to the conservation officer call out
another name.
Watching the draw was Tony Nette, a provincial wildlife manager with
Natural Resources in Kentville and a specialist in managing the moose
population. He's attending an annual conference of moose researchers
from Canada, the U.S. and Europe that is also taking place in Baddeck
this week.
"What has been happening in the Highlands in terms of an unmanaged
native harvest is going to change," he said.
Those changes will be implemented before the start of this year's moose
season, he said, and more details will be made available at a later
date.
"We are working closely with the Mi'kmaq community," he said.
------------------------------
