It is time for change. But I…

It is time for change. But I have some concerns.

I am part of a large camp that is located on private property. I have been a member for 30 years. I do not understand comments about large party hunting conflicts.

Individual applications- It has been disturbing to see multiple tags issued individually to members in one camp and none to group applications because of a flawed draw system. The proposed change will not change this. I can see how one camp gets many tags and dozens of other camps get nothing. I believe some people apply and do not have property to hunt but use the tag as a negotiating tool to get access to land.

What has the greater positive impact on hunters and community one person& one tag or one tag and fifteen people? I respectfully submit that the largest legitimate groups should get one tag. During the past several years our large group has only drawn two tags. We do not always fill the tags. We set rules and manage ourselves such as with the deer season despite our successful antlerless tags draws. We do not fill all our tags in any year. There is more to the sport than just filling tags. But having a tag brings opportunity for the full experience.

An additional week of bow hunting in area 61 will further reduce opportunity for party hunting.

Limiting party hunting numbers. I am struggling with this. Our camp could have two groups. How would the rules apply to a party of ten and six individual hunters on the same property living in the same accommodations? Or two parties? The proposal would Have a significant negative defect on established groups like ours. There are many established camp in our area. We are part of the Limerick Lake Hunting Association which has many similarity established camps. I would ask that you reconsider the maximum number of party hunters.

A system should take into consideration maximizing opportunities for the greatest number of hunters while taking into consideration managing the species and legitimate hunters with legitimate land to hunt before they get a tag.

Also opportunity should only go to Ontario residents as they live here and pay taxes that support the programs that control and monitor the wildlife. Otherwise we risk becoming like other locations like some states that auction off tags to the highest bidder and the residents do not get the opportunity. It becomes the sport of the rich funded by the residents.

Our camp has passed the heritage down through several generations and will continue to do so as long as we are able. I respectfully ask that you reconsider some of the changes as there must be common ground between party hunters and individuals interests.

But it is time for changes to the current system just maybe not everything proposed.

Thank you for the opportunity to comment on the proposal.

M