Regulation - Minister
Amendment of Ontario Regulation 670/98 (Open Seasons - Hunting) made under the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act to change the open season for White-tailed Deer in Wildlife Management Unit 83C
Regulation Number(s):
Ontario Regulation 670/98
Instrument Type:
Regulation - Minister
Bill or Act:
Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act
Summary of Decision:
A decision was made to proceed with the proposal. The proposal was implemented by amendments to O. Reg. 670/98 (Open Seasons) and was created by O. Reg.207/13 filed with the Registrar of Regulations on June 28, 2013 and published in the Ontario Gazette on July 13, 2013.
Further Information:
Link to Environmental Registry
Proposal Number:
12-MNR014
Posting Date:
September 14, 2012
Summary of Proposal:
Hay Island (Georgian Bay just off the Bruce Peninsula) is approximately 750 hectares in size. All land is owned by a single individual. It is designated as a single, stand-alone Wildlife Management Unit (WMU 83C).
The private landowner of Hay Island has requested an extension to the current deer hunting season from 2.5 weeks to 11 weeks to provide additional hunting opportunities and to help the landowner in meeting overall deer population objectives. Presently the deer hunting season for an adjacent island and the mainland is a period of 11 to 13 weeks. The current open season for deer on Hay Island is for the period of October 15th to the Sunday immediately prior to the first Monday in November in any year.
Hunting seasons are regulated under the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act. Under the province?s Cervid Ecological Framework, broad landscape-based approaches to deer management are encouraged to promote consistency among neighbouring Wildlife Management Units and streamline deer hunting seasons where feasible.
This proposal is for a regulation change under the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act to extend the all-firearms open season for deer hunting on Hay Island (WMU 83C) from the existing period of 2.5 weeks to a new open season that would run from October 15th to December 31st (11 weeks), in any year, more consistent with the adjacent island and mainland deer hunting open seasons.
The deer population on Hay Island is healthy and the number of deer harvested is managed to ensure population sustainability. Extending the season will not adversely affect the deer population and is consistent with direction in Ontario's Cervid Ecological Framework in moving toward a more landscape-based management approach. This change may provide additional hunting opportunities that align with biologically-established harvest objectives to sustain healthy deer populations.
The private landowner of Hay Island has requested an extension to the current deer hunting season from 2.5 weeks to 11 weeks to provide additional hunting opportunities and to help the landowner in meeting overall deer population objectives. Presently the deer hunting season for an adjacent island and the mainland is a period of 11 to 13 weeks. The current open season for deer on Hay Island is for the period of October 15th to the Sunday immediately prior to the first Monday in November in any year.
Hunting seasons are regulated under the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act. Under the province?s Cervid Ecological Framework, broad landscape-based approaches to deer management are encouraged to promote consistency among neighbouring Wildlife Management Units and streamline deer hunting seasons where feasible.
This proposal is for a regulation change under the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act to extend the all-firearms open season for deer hunting on Hay Island (WMU 83C) from the existing period of 2.5 weeks to a new open season that would run from October 15th to December 31st (11 weeks), in any year, more consistent with the adjacent island and mainland deer hunting open seasons.
The deer population on Hay Island is healthy and the number of deer harvested is managed to ensure population sustainability. Extending the season will not adversely affect the deer population and is consistent with direction in Ontario's Cervid Ecological Framework in moving toward a more landscape-based management approach. This change may provide additional hunting opportunities that align with biologically-established harvest objectives to sustain healthy deer populations.
Contact Address:
Effective Date:
June 28, 2013
Decision:
Approved