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       #Post#: 113--------------------------------------------------
       ON Spring black bear hunt.
   DIR By: allmanav
       Date: March 9, 2020, 12:53 pm
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       A generation of hunters will soon experience something they’ve
       never had the opportunity to do in Ontario.
       The Spring Bear Hunt is back.
       The Province of Ontario announced the official expansion of the
       Spring Bear Hunt pilot project on Feb. 19, 2016. The expansion
       provides hunting opportunities in 88 Wildlife Management Units
       and includes the participation of non-resident hunters effective
       May 1.
       This return of a lost opportunity serves as a reminder that
       things that are easily lost are not always easily returned.
       The provincial government, amid pressure and propaganda from
       animal rights activists, originally canceled the Spring Bear
       Hunt in 1999. A three-year court battle ensued and the OFAH was
       the only group left defending the rights of black bear hunters
       across Ontario.
       For 17 years the fight continued to have the hunt reinstated and
       no one worked harder in that timeframe to bring back the Spring
       Bear Hunt than the OFAH. Years of advocacy on this file resulted
       in the introduction of a pilot project two years ago and the
       five-year expansion of the pilot, which was initially announced
       in the fall of 2015 and finalized last week.
       While the expansion of the Spring Bear Hunt pilot project is a
       huge step in the right direction, the OFAH will always push for
       sustainable bear management to include a spring hunt.
       “We’re pleased that Minister of Natural Resources and Forestry
       Bill Mauro and the provincial government have recognized the
       value of a Spring Bear Hunt in Ontario by expanding the pilot
       project for another five years,” says OFAH Executive Director
       Angelo Lombardo. “The OFAH remains committed to ensuring that
       Ontario always has spring bear hunting.”
       Baiting regulations announced as part of the expansion will
       apply to both the spring and fall seasons and will be set by
       distance. Bait cannot be placed within 500 metres of a residence
       unless written permission from the owner is obtained, while bait
       cannot be placed within 500 metres of a public building.
       Additionally, bait cannot be placed within 200 metres of a right
       of way for public vehicle traffic or a marked recreational
       trail.
       “We will monitor the impact of those restrictions to ensure that
       they are having the desired effect without unnecessarily
       limiting bear hunting opportunities,” says OFAH Senior Wildlife
       Biologist Mark Ryckman. “We will also do our part to educate and
       inform hunters on these regulations.”
       The Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters is Ontario’s
       largest, non-profit, fish and wildlife conservation-based
       organization, representing 100,000 members, subscribers and
       supporters and 725 member clubs.
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