ERO # 019-0159 In reviewing…

ERO # 019-0159

In reviewing the “White - tailed Deer Population Objective Setting and Harvest Management Guidelines, I see very little consideration being given to the importance of this resource to the Province and the Tourism Industry. This issue has been brought to the various governments attention over the past 20 years but always seems to fall on deaf ears. There appears to be a real disconnect between the MNRF’s understanding that tourism, contributes as much as forestry and mining to the economy of Ontario.

You do not appear to recognize the legal rape of this resource. Non-resident land owners, that wish to hunt other large game animals are restricted to one license per property. For deer they can have as many hunters as they like staying on their properties and often being eligible for extra tags. Often times one / two individuals will jointly own several sections of land and offer hunts. There is no extra revenue for the province, only the license fee, there are no federal or provincial taxes charged per hunt, any monies/gifts exchanged for the hunt remain undercover. These land owners come up a few times prior to the hunting season to set up multiple baits and stands - they must be recouping these costs somewhere.

It is important, that you maintain the White-tailed deer population but you must also recognize the value of these resources to the province through legitimate tourism outfitters.

Following I have put my comments/suggestions to the MNRF June 2019 draft.

Setting Population Objectives
“What level of deer population can the landscape support and what level meets the nees of Ontarians?” And has the greatest economic impact for Ontario. Hunter reports must be returned before a license can be purchased in future years.

Harvest Management Planning Forest Management plans must recognize the value of this resource to other industries. Leave areas of deer habitat and reduce access to areas to reduce human-deer conflicts

Using Monitoring and Assessment: “How are we doing towards our goal?” Currently POOR

Disease Consideration should be given the continued use of feeding/baiting deer. When deer are herded together in one spot to eat disease is easily spread. Often well intentioned feeding is done close to roadways, with little/no consideration of the human-deer conflict often causing vehicle collisions and also encouraging these animals to visit other yards for feed (flowers, gardens, grain fields, etc. Consider the number of automatic bait stations set up on crown land and also on private land. Consider the bait that is being brought into our area from other areas/countries. Is this part of the invasive species and seem be increasing in our area. Quit discouraging feeding/baiting and ban it.

Biological Rationale: Antlerless deer are more important than antlered deer to population growth...antlerless harvest. I agree but consideration must also be given to maintaining the quality of the herd, don’t reduce our deer to smaller bodied, smaller racks as has been done in some areas... the economic value is the opportunity for large animals with trophy racks Consideration should also be given to Ontario youth,(12-14 years) that have earned the right to purchase a license but are not allowed the opportunity to enter the antlerless draw.

Additional Deer Tags These should not be available to Non-residents, this is a valuable resource and non-resident deer hunters should be treated the same as a non resident hunting any other large game. If there are additional non-resident tags they should be allotted to the tourism industry.

Guides: Deer hunting for non-residents should be the same as any other large game animal. The current guide requirements are a farce, almost anyone can pay the $ and be a guide. As I have repeatedly stated, non-resident landowners should be allowed one license/property, not continue to use their properties as their cash cows, leaving little/nothing to the local economy and only the tag price to the province.

Tourism Industry: Any legitimate business should be able to produce proof of their business, financial statements, hst, income tax etc. These are the businesses that should be provided tags for non-resident hunters.