I am a hunter and grew up in…

I am a hunter and grew up in a hunting family. And I am deeply troubled by this proposed legislation on many levels.

First of all, the very idea of allowing anything that is shot to “spoil” goes against everything that a true hunter believes in or was ever taught. My Dad had an absolute rule: If you shoot something, then you eat it! There were no exceptions. Otherwise, hunting degenerates to killing just for the sake of killing. This is morally wrong and should never be allowed legally under any circumstances. Please do not change the laws to allow this to happen.

Second, allowing the killing of young cormorants still in the nest is again contrary to everything hunting stands for. It is a disgusting and abhorrent thing even to consider let alone actually propose.

Thirdly, while many blame cormorants for the decrease in gamefish stocks, this is simply not true. Please take into account the careful scientific research that has been done on this exact thing. Contrary to what so many people “believe” to be true, this research clearly shows that cormorants do NOT eats significant amounts of gamefish and, in point of fact, cormorants only thrive where there is an abundance of coarse fish that are of no interest to anyone who fishes.
Please look at the scientific facts rather than respond to unfounded opinion and prejudice.

And finally, my cottage is on the southern part of Georgian Bay. I watch cormorants throughout the season. They spend much of the day on small rocky islands and are almost always to be found with seagulls, terns and often ducks as well. If hunting cormorants is permitted, then these other species of birds will also be killed, perhaps in large numbers. Do we just dismiss this as “collateral damage”? Killing seagulls and terns and ducks out of season is illegal but it will happen. Are you prepared to take responsibility for this? Because whomever allows this will be held responsible for the consequences, morally and especially legally.

I submit these comments in the hope that they will be taken seriously by those making decisions in this very important matter.