I have lived in Northwestern…

I have lived in Northwestern Ontario since 1974 and am married to a man who was born in Northwestern Ontario. We have three sons and two grandchildren. None of us are bear hunters. We are all outdoor enthusiasts, spending time wildlife viewing, hiking, paddling, fishing, snowshoeing, camping and cross-country skiing. We don't want to see hunters returning with loaded guns and other dangerous weapons to our forests in the spring. It is bad enough that our forestry roads and forests are crawling with hunters and their loaded guns in the fall. During hunting season, we have to avoid hiking and wildlife viewing where hunters are staked out or driving through.

I am a naturalist and an avid bird watcher. I belong to a group of naturalists and also a ladies' hiking group. Spring is the best time for birders. We love to explore different areas and record the bird species as we hike, mainly identifying birds by their song. I am now a senior and have covered many kilometres through forests on and off trails. I am expert at exploring off trail with a GPS. I have never had a problem with a bear. I am more terrified of people with loaded guns. Spring should be a time for ecotourism in Northwestern Ontario, not the return of American hunters in camouflage clothing bearing dangerous weapons.

Bear hunters place stinky bait to attract bears. Not only is this unfair to bears but bear baiting makes it dangerous for naturalists like myself. Twice I have found bear bait on different islands. One was on a canoe trip, the other on a fishing trip. Both islands were good destinations for hiking and camping. Bear baiting should never be permitted on sites that are hiking, picnic or camping destinations.

I was overjoyed when the spring bear hunt was stopped. I am very upset that this government has given in to a small number of gun lovers who want more months of the year to kill our wildlife. Not only will the spring bear hunt result in orphan bear cubs but it will increase wildlife poaching on our Crown forests. Most likely many of the bear hunters are not ethical hunters and will use birds and other wildlife for target practice. Spring is the time of the year when moose and deer give birth. Returning the spring bear hunt will add to their stress. We have a dog who is terrified whenever he hears a gun fired. You have to ask yourself, what kind of human being, puts out bear bait and sits in a tree stand waiting to pull the trigger on some unsuspecting bear. If that person were respectful of wildlife, they would be trying to capture a close-up photo of a bear eating natural food in its habitat. Capturing a close-up of a bear , armed only with a camera would take real guts. I detest the kind of tourists that the spring bear hunt attracts.

Northwestern Ontario has more than enough tourism in the spring with all the fishing lodges. Not only will gun-loving tourists be returning if the spring bear hunt goes ahead, but spring hunting will provide an opportunity for local poachers and other disrespectful gun activity to occur. Twice a summer a visiting relative of a neighbour across the bay from our cabin shoots off a gun that sounds like an assault rifle, terrifying us, our dog and our neighbours. If the spring bear hunt returns that idiot will be hunting bears in the spring. The Americans who own hunting property near our cabin most likely will be returning for a spring bear hunt. We don't mind the American fishermen but a return of the spring bear hunt will have a negative impact on our outdoor life and a negative impact on wildlife populations.

If the spring bear hunt returns, many more conservation officers should be hired to enforce the laws and monitor the hunt. Returning the spring bear hunt is not a good wildlife policy. It is entirely political to appease the gun lobbyists of the right wing.