Thank you for your continued…

Thank you for your continued support of the bear outfitting industry and for the opportunity to comment on this proposal

Implementing a regular spring black bear season

I welcome and support this proposal as a licensed bear operator.
This will result in continued economical benefits and opportunities and a stable business environment.
I also support the continued prohibitions re. cubs and females with cubs during the spring season

Shortening the Bruce Peninsula black bear season

In general I support science based management decisions that benefit the resource. I will not comment on this specific proposal as I have no knowledge of the bear population and management in this area.

Making minor regulation updates to improve fairness

Eliminate special black bear hunting opportunities
 Although the number of non-resident landowners and non-residents hunting with relatives is low, following the moose hunting example and have them get there forms through a licenced outfitter is appropriate. I support this change
 The Form 33's should be redistributed to licenced outfitters.

Licence to Provide Black Bear Hunting Services’ to provide guiding services to residents within a Bear Management Area (BMA)

Requiring anybody that guides commercially on Crown Land to have a Licence to provide Black Bear Hunting services and a BMA is a long overdue change. I support this change.
In the past many outfitters throughout the Northeast area have had residents guiding residents on Crown Land within their BMA's. This has caused user conflicts, enforcement issues and in some cases overharvests. Some outfitters were forced to give up or abandon their areas due to severe competition from unlicenced outfitters operating in their licenced areas. This change will allow existing BMA operators to properly manage their licenced areas and it will also provide additional business opportunities guiding resident hunters. Properly managed and controlled BMA's provide the best management information to MNRF to adequately assess populations and harvest.

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