MARK RYCKMAN Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters SPRING Senior Wildlife Biologist BLACK BEAR HUNTS PERSPECTIVE FROM THE At a time when more and more North American game and fish departments are ONTARIO FEDERATION considering spring and/or fall hunting sea- OF ANGLERS AND HUNTERS sons to manage increasing black bear popu- lations, it is helpful to examine the experiences of other jurisdictions. Ontario has a long and varied history of black bear hunting and management and can provide some useful insight into the state of bear management today. Ontario is blessed with healthy big game populations that support sustainable hunts in every corner of the province’s one million square kilometers. Until 1960, black bears were considered vermin and were persecuted under a bounty system. It wasn’t until 1961 that the province, with encouragement from the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters (OFAH), recognized the black bear as a valuable big game animal that deserved increased protection and management. In that year

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The cancellation of the that only affect hunters and fact that hunters and anglers to the national economies spring bear hunt in Ontario anglers, rather than looking are the ones who called for of our respective countries is symptomatic of a larger for the root causes of wildlife the creation of the North and pay for a majority of the problem facing hunters and or fish population declines and American Model of Wildlife fish and wildlife programs anglers across North America. managing these on the basis of Conservation in response that everyone benefits from. Hunting and fishing seasons for science, not social or political to threats to our wildlife The next time a government certain species all across the pressures. The cancellation of and fish populations; they decides to take the easy way continent are under pressure the spring bear hunt in Ontario ignore the fact that hunters out, or to bend to the will of from a variety of sources, is only one example of how and anglers put their money anti-hunting activists, who including urban-based anti- uninformed governments act where their mouth is and fund contribute little but hot air, hunting, animal rights activists in the face of pressure that on-the-ground conservation they would do well to ask and their political supporters. has little to do with the causal programs to protect and themselves, who’s paying Governments of all stripes factors behind a species restore species throughout the the freight? would rather take the easy decline, and more to do with continent; and they ignore the GREG FARRANT way out, closing seasons what’s politically expedient. fact that hunting and angling MANAGER OF GOVERNMENT or cutting tags or licences In doing so, they ignore the contribute billions of dollars AFFAIRS AND POLICY - OFAH

FAIR CHASE | SUMMER 2015 19 YOU CAN FIND OUR PRODUCTS AT hundreds of jobs and $40 mil- the Supreme Court of Canada male bears) immediately prior AUTHORIZED DEALERS AND ONLINE AT WWW.SWAROVSKIOPTIK.COM. lion in annual economic con- refused to hear our final to the peak human-bear con- SLC 42 SPRING tributions. Public consultation appeal. By that point, our co- flict period, reduces cannibal- revealed that the majority (64 litigators had abandoned the ism by male bears on females BLACK percent) of comments sup- case, leaving the OFAH to and cubs, and reduces preda- ONE FOR BEAR ported maintaining the spring shoulder the burden of pro- tion on deer fawns and moose bear hunt. Wildlife manage- tecting our hunting heritage. calves. Ontario’s spring bear ALL ment decisions were being It was a direct attack on hunt- hunt was a proven example of HUNTS made based entirely on emo- ing, and remains one of the sustainable development in tion, as opposed to sound and greatest anti-hunting victo- practice, where the benefits defensible science. ries in the history of North from a renewable resource the black bear was listed as a The OFAH, along with America. Despite losing the were maximized and costs to game mammal and the bounty representatives from the tour- case, the OFAH is proud to society were minimized. was revoked, increasing the ist industry and academia took have challenged the govern- Ironically, our opponents’ goal black bear’s value to both the Ontario Ministry of Natu- ment, reminding them that of saving bear cubs by abolish- hunters and the province’s ral Resources to court in an wildlife management deci- ing the spring bear hunt likely overall biodiversity. In 1980 attempt to have the decision sions must be evidence-based resulted in the death of even the province created a sepa- overturned. As the largest and not determined by those more cubs as a result of can- rate black bear license, re- non-profit, conservation- with the deepest pockets. nibalism by large male bears, quiring deer and moose based organization in Ontario Over the past 15 years because these boars were no hunters to purchase a sepa- and Canada, the OFAH re- the OFAH has never given up longer being targeted by hunt- rate licence to hunt bears. mains the only stakeholder the fight for full reinstate- ers in the spring. For over 60 years On- group with the capacity to ment of the spring bear hunt, In early 2014 we re- tario enjoyed the benefits of fight this type of injustice. We because of the suite of benefits ceived news that, in response both spring and fall hunting argued that the purpose of it provides. The spring bear to increasing human-bear seasons. For much of that Ontario’s Fish and Wildlife hunt provides significant per- conflicts, our provincial gov- time, the spring bear hunt Conservation Act is restricted sonal, social, economic, and ernment was considering re- catered mostly to non-resi- to conservation and safety biological benefits. Spring opening the spring bear hunt dent hunters. Resident par- issues where game popula- bear hunters are rewarded on a limited basis to address ticipation was insignificant tions are managed, and that with the riches of the hunting concerns about public safety. in the early season (most the government’s objective of experience—spiritual fulfill- Not surprisingly, animal- hunted strictly in the fall), but individual animal welfare was ment, self-improvement, con- rights activists were furious began increasing after black contrary to the basic princi- nection to nature, as well as at the government’s proposal bears were listed as a game ples of conservation and natu- wholesome food and valuable and launched a legal challenge, animal. By the early 1990s, ral resource management. We hides. Government informa- and even received an endorse- resident hunters accounted feared that if the law permit- tion shows that for the 12-year ment from former Price is for approximately 50 percent ted the government to cancel period 1987-1998, the spring Right host and animal rights of bear licence sales, but only the spring bear hunt to pre- bear hunt generated $350- advocate Bob Barker. In part, 25-30 percent of the spring vent the accidental and al- $500 million in direct and they claimed that the spring harvest. The difference in ready illegal orphaning of a indirect economic benefits, bear hunt would result in cub harvest is owing to the higher single bear cub, then it could and 2,600-3,600 person-years orphaning, and therefore con- success rates of outfitter-led, easily be extended to moose, of employment. A spring bear travened Canada’s animal non-resident hunters. All deer, duck, or wolf seasons. hunt successfully reduces cruelty legislation. Apparently told, 6,000 bears were har- Government data estimates bear densities (particularly they weren’t aware that the vested by over 20,000 hunters that on average, a maximum each year. of 27 bear cubs were acciden- But this proven wildlife tally orphaned by hunters per management tool came to a year, which is significantly screeching halt in 1999 when less than the number or- then Premier Mike Harris phaned by vehicle collisions Many hunters feel that the pilot project was caved to pressure from a and about ten times fewer wealthy industrialist and than what the anti-use activ- designed to fail. Annual variations in weather animal rights activists and ists falsely claimed. But this will continue to contribute to the number of Come rain or shine, day or night, SWAROVSKI OPTIK’s slim, abolished the spring bear hunt case was about much more compact SLC 42 binoculars provide maximum comfort regardless of in Ontario. These groups pres- than the spring bear hunt—it human-bear conflicts in a given year, but a whether you are carrying them or glassing with them, and even on lengthy sured Harris with an emotion- was about our rights as Cana- hunting trips. They also impress with their outstanding optical quality. Their ally charged and scientifically dians to ensure that govern- spring bear hunt can certainly help by perfect contrast, high color fidelity, and large field of view make them a inaccurate tagline that “Even ment policy is not based on pleasure to use when dealing with diverse challenges faced while hunting. one orphaned bear cub is too misinformation. The case reducing the density of bears that are Reliable, multipurpose binoculars that will accompany you for many many.” With the stroke of a worked its way through the typically involved in conflicts (males years. SWAROVSKI OPTIK – allows you to determine the moment. pen, anti-use activists were provincial court system, but successful in eliminating was ultimately defeated when between one and five years old). SEE THE UNSEEN 20 FAIR CHASE | SUMMER 2015 WWW.SWAROVSKIOPTIK.COM legislation is limited to willful and deliber- were valid for both the 2014 spring and ate acts of neglect and abuse, and there- fall bear seasons. Preliminary data indi- fore doesn’t apply to the accidental cates that about 850 hunters actively shooting of encumbered sows (nor would hunted in the spring season and those it apply if you accidentally hit a sow ac- hunters harvested 193 black bears. On- companied by a cub with a vehicle). The tario’s Ministry of Natural Resources and court dismissed the case and Ontario’s Forestry is assessing the success of the bear hunters were set to experience their pilot project by monitoring the number first spring bear hunt in 15 years. of nuisance bear calls to Ontario’s police But this spring bear hunt looks detachments and Bear Wise Reporting very different from what occurred in the Line; the number of bears harvested; as The Art of the Gun 1990s—it is being reinstated as a two- well as stakeholder and municipal per- year pilot project, it is limited to residents spectives on bear conflicts. Ontario’s Magnificent Colts of Ontario, and it only applies in eight black bear population is stable at 95,000- Two-Volume Book Set Wildlife Management Units (all of which 100,000 animals, and the current harvest are in northern Ontario), instead of the rate of 6-8 percent of the bear population 70+ units that had a spring hunt prior to is well within sustainable limits. 1999. Candidate Wildlife Management By limiting the hunt to Ontario Units were chosen based on the number residents and only eight Wildlife Manage- of bear conflicts in those areas and in- ment Units, it’s doubtful that the pilot cluded the areas around Thunder Bay, project will accomplish the stated goal Sault Ste. Marie, Sudbury, North Bay, and of decreasing bear conflicts, mainly be- Timmins. Municipalities in these Wild- cause it was not properly designed for life Management Units were required to that purpose. Many hunters feel that the opt-in to the pilot project. Like the fall pilot project was designed to fail. Annual season, use of baits and hunting with variations in weather will continue to dogs is permitted, and shooting cubs or contribute to the number of human-bear females with cubs is illegal. conflicts in a given year, but a spring bear Classic Cloth Edition It’s all well and good to have a hunt can certainly help by reducing the Limited to 5000 Sets spring season on the books, but we feared density of bears that are typically in- that if hunters didn’t capitalize on the volved in conflicts (males between one $318.75 $375/set opportunity to participate, then the gov- and five years old). ernment could take it as a sign of low As I write this, we are only weeks support for spring bear hunting. So the away from opening day of the second year OFAH used all possible forms of commu- of the spring bear hunt pilot project. It’s nication (print, radio, television, and not the full reinstatement that Ontario’s direct mailing) to their fullest extent, bear hunters have been justifiably clam- encouraging hunters to show their sup- oring for, but it’s a step in the right direc- port by buying licences early and partici- tion. Now we just need to convince the pating in the hunt. The first season of the government that proper black bear man- two-year pilot project ran from May 1 to agement requires both a spring and fall June 15, 2014. Over 3,200 black bear li- hunt. This valuable resource and the cences were sold at this time, all of which people of Ontario deserve nothing less. n

Deluxe Leather-Bound Edition Ned A. Haas took this black bear in Signed, Numbered & Limited to 500 Sets May, 1996, while hunting near Lake of the Woods, Ontario. The Boone and $2465 $2900/set Crockett Club has 82 black bear listed as taken from Ontario. Out of the 82, 17 were harvested in May or June. Use Code ‘BC15’ When Ordering (866) 520-2001 or visit our website at yellowstonepress.com It might take decades for your tag to be drawn. But some experiences

©2015 ROBERT M. LEE TRUST • ALL RIGHTS RESERVED • FC SUMMER are worth the wait. When you get that chance, make it count.

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