OFAH membership - worth it?

[madtrapper143]

The magazine is 90% fishing related. Alot of us in the north (Ontario) feel somewhat left out by the ofah until moose season when all of southern Ontario shows up. Our dues went to Turkeys and Elk same as the southern members but we don't have them. (some Elk around Sudbury?) I don't see any effort to put some money in our native species like moose and deer. The MNR has turned the moose hunt into a group affair with the OFAH standing by watching because, " traditionally people hunt moose in groups" again maybe people from the south. I hunt alone and have not seen an adult tag in over 10 years. I don't feel that the OFAH represents all hunters in Ontario, just the ones they are surrounded with in the south. Rant off.

Darryl

 

[blasted_saber]

The magazine is 90% fishing related. Alot of us in the north (Ontario) feel somewhat left out by the ofah until moose season when all of southern Ontario shows up. Our dues went to Turkeys and Elk same as the southern members but we don't have them. (some Elk around Sudbury?) I don't see any effort to put some money in our native species like moose and deer. The MNR has turned the moose hunt into a group affair with the OFAH standing by watching because, " traditionally people hunt moose in groups" again maybe people from the south. I hunt alone and have not seen an adult tag in over 10 years. I don't feel that the OFAH represents all hunters in Ontario, just the ones they are surrounded with in the south. Rant off.

Darryl

The turkey restoration has been a phenomenal success and shouldnt be looked down on in any way. Say what you will about the OFAH but thats one project they can hold their heads high on.

As for elk, they partially funded the release of elk in Kenora. As you're from NWO I needn't remind you thats not in southern ON. I also shouldnt have to remind you that Elk are a native species to Ontario.

As for deer and moose work, you dont see it because you dont look for it. The OFAH are a massive organization and have had input and consultation with MNR on game management for many years. They also have performed independent research projects.

They have the DeerSave program which provides emergencey feeding in hard winters.

They provide research grants to students performing studies on fish and wildlife anywhere in ON.

 

[madtrapper143]

If the OFAH is your outdoor organization, feel free to support it. I don't. I am a proud NOSA member and supporter.

Darryl

 

[pikesroad]

If you are a farmer you should be very careful about supporting OFAH. They work with the conservation authority and are anti property rights. They help restrict property owners right of land use.

On the up side there is the insurance and the protecting of hunting and fishing traditions.

 

[dannymat]

The swag is great, magazine is pretty good too
Its not a bad deal, I support them

 

[Bigbubba]

I am a member through the gun club I belong to. I dont think it is that great a deal but anyway I get the magazine which for sure is 90% fishing.

The insurance is not that good, the insurance through CSSA is better - the other gun club I beling to switched their members over from OFAH to CSSA for that very reason.

So since i belong to 2 clubs I have both sets of insurance......

Personally I dont see the OFAH being as politically active as I think they need to be regarding hunting (& fishing) for Ontarians. Some of the things the LIB GOV are doing is anti gun & anti hunter.
For examples:
1) cancelled spring bear hunt, now bear problems everywhere, but no thought reinstating the hunt
2) CFO takes his damn sweet time approving restricted transfers other provinces are 1 day or same day
3) Increased hunting (& fishing) fees but the $$$ goes to general revenue vs outdoor programs
4) reduced numbers of CO's to address poaching etc.

Why doesnt the OFAH attack some of these issues? Because all they do is FISH

 

[the spank]

They did turn their backs on us. I tried to contact them, both via email and phone and even explained when they called asking for the renewal. No emails or calls have ever been returned.

As far as insurance, my CFI insurance through the gun club covers me whenever I'm involved in shooting activities so no need for OFAH....

Agreed and thanks to them they are the reason you need a separate wolf license to hunt coyotes and wolves with a two per year tag limit in Northern Ontario. It was a proposal they made to assist the MNR to get funding to find out how many people actually hunt wolves in Northern Ontario and what the annual kill amounted to......information they claimed they could not glean from the sales of small game licenses as it was too broad to know just which species people were targeting with their small game license.
I was privy to this information as I sat sharing dinner with a couple individuals who are higher up in the organization and the outfitter( a friend of mine) whose services they were using for a guided wolf hunt.

I have not renewed my membership for a few years now for other reasons aside from this one but I feel they are not always out there for "our" best interests.

Primarily I hunt waterfowl, a little grouse thrown in once or twice per season so I send my $$ to Delta and D.U. (and of course Federal Ammo). Their work gives me more bang for my buck................

 

[tactical870]

I wonder how many guys here were present at the sportsmans show when the Minister of Natural Resources attended and the OFAH cowered and pulled their signs and posters in support of the spring bear hunt before he got there.

 

[asclarke]

I am a member through the gun club I belong to. I dont think it is that great a deal but anyway I get the magazine which for sure is 90% fishing.

The insurance is not that good, the insurance through CSSA is better - the other gun club I beling to switched their members over from OFAH to CSSA for that very reason.

So since i belong to 2 clubs I have both sets of insurance......

Personally I dont see the OFAH being as politically active as I think they need to be regarding hunting (& fishing) for Ontarians. Some of the things the LIB GOV are doing is anti gun & anti hunter.
For examples:
1) cancelled spring bear hunt, now bear problems everywhere, but no thought reinstating the hunt
2) CFO takes his damn sweet time approving restricted transfers other provinces are 1 day or same day
3) Increased hunting (& fishing) fees but the $$$ goes to general revenue vs outdoor programs
4) reduced numbers of CO's to address poaching etc.

Why doesnt the OFAH attack some of these issues? Because all they do is FISH

The spring bear hunt was cancelled by Mike Harris' Conservative government in 1999.

 

[blasted_saber]

I am a member through the gun club I belong to. I dont think it is that great a deal but anyway I get the magazine which for sure is 90% fishing.

The insurance is not that good, the insurance through CSSA is better - the other gun club I beling to switched their members over from OFAH to CSSA for that very reason.

So since i belong to 2 clubs I have both sets of insurance......

Personally I dont see the OFAH being as politically active as I think they need to be regarding hunting (& fishing) for Ontarians. Some of the things the LIB GOV are doing is anti gun & anti hunter.
For examples:
1) cancelled spring bear hunt, now bear problems everywhere, but no thought reinstating the hunt
2) CFO takes his damn sweet time approving restricted transfers other provinces are 1 day or same day
3) Increased hunting (& fishing) fees but the $$$ goes to general revenue vs outdoor programs
4) reduced numbers of CO's to address poaching etc.

Why doesnt the OFAH attack some of these issues? Because all they do is FISH

1) Spring bear hunt was cancelled by the Harris Conservatives, not the Liberals
2) No issue with your statement. Its true as far as I know.
3) The money does go towards the special purposes account for F&W. The audits are available if you so wish to see (they were floating around here not that long ago
4) Poaching hurts fishing just as much, if not more then hunting. MNR staff across all fronts (enforcement, forestry, admin, science whatever) is being reduced because of the massive provincial dept. The OFAH cant really say much about MNR reductions when things of precedence like hospitals and roads need to be built and maintained.

 

[gps]

. Is it a worthwhile membership? Id like to hear everyones opinions on it.

I would have to say yes. The liability insurance, annual subscription to OOD Magazine, hunting/fishing advocacy and other added value make it worthwhile.

 

[ALLS London]

They did turn their backs on us. I tried to contact them, both via email and phone and even explained when they called asking for the renewal. No emails or calls have ever been returned.

As far as insurance, my CFI insurance through the gun club covers me whenever I'm involved in shooting activities so no need for OFAH....

One of the first times I went fishing as an adult after taking my teen years 'off', some moron came out onto the platform I was fishing from and hooked my ear while casting.

Had I sued her, her insurance would have covered that... not so much my CSSA insurance though.

 

[cager]

I just signed up for their Turkey package
http://www.ofah.org/membership/turkeyhunter

Seems like a good deal, its basically $35 for
-An Ontario Turkey Hunt 25th Anniversary edition waterproof box call from Quaker Boy
-An anniversary edition hunting knife, crafted by Buck Knives
-A ThermaCell - the incredible Mosquito Area Repellent. ThermaCell creates a 15 by 15 foot bug free zone.
-Team OFAH all day cooler, proudly sponsored by TSC Stores - partners in conservation.

 

[2tall2]

I got pissed off with them 15 years ago, and haven't renewed since. Giving it some thought again, but they really seem to divide the community more than bring it together.

 

[ALLS London]

I got pissed off with them 15 years ago, and haven't renewed since. Giving it some thought again, but they really seem to divide the community more than bring it together.

When's the last time CSSA did any fishing conservation work? Or re-introduced elk to Ontario for hunting?

That's not their mandate, just like OFAH's is to protect HUNTER'S interests, not SHOOTER'S interests.

Different focuses for different organizations, there's nothing wrong with that.

 

[Kru81]

Has anyone signed up for the membership with the Deer package? Just wondering if any of the "free swag" is any good. The turkey pack looks good.

 

[longbranch*]

Ofah

I got pissed off with them 15 years ago, and haven't renewed since. Giving it some thought again, but they really seem to divide the community more than bring it together.

I was a member for many years until they built that splashy new HQ and a few other things that pissed me off. Live in BC now.

 

[tactical870]

When's the last time CSSA did any fishing conservation work? Or re-introduced elk to Ontario for hunting?

That's not their mandate, just like OFAH's is to protect HUNTER'S interests, not SHOOTER'S interests.

Different focuses for different organizations, there's nothing wrong with that.

The difference is I don't see CSSA or NFA taking a stand against any type of hunting activities. When OFAH decided that handgun hunting was not something they wanted to see in Ontario, and made that clear to MNR, they lost all of my support.

 

[koesdibyo]

With everyones comments, a lot of positive seems to come from the support of them, so I have opted to go for it. Just a matter of deciding which package to get now!

 

[ALLS London]

The difference is I don't see CSSA or NFA taking a stand against any type of hunting activities. When OFAH decided that handgun hunting was not something they wanted to see in Ontario, and made that clear to MNR, they lost all of my support.

That is a fair point. I concede my previous statement.