 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
VOLUME 24 NO. 01 January 2005
THE PRESIDENT'S CORNER Ill-founded rumours may occur in any organization, and we get our share You may recall that, at our November meeting, I brought it to our members' attention that certain hunters were promoting the outlawing of deer hunting with rifles in Grey and Bruce counties. Now, the rumour mongers have it that "I am the one pushing for shotgun-only deer hunting, because this is what they say I have been promoting as far back as when I was employed by MNR". What complete and utter bunk! Grey and Bruce counties cover the last areas in southwestern Ontario to allow rifle-hunting for deer, and that is something we certainly don't want to lose. Strip development in our rural wooded areas (which I have fought for many years) may eventually signal the end of our rifle-hunting for deer, but you can rest assured that it will not be me that helps to bring it about. Our shooting ranges are coming under scrutiny once more. There have been certain safety-related range practices that must be addressed. The most contentious will be whether or not any guests of members will be able to use these ranges. Some of our members would prohibit anyone except members from shooting, while others would like to see some provisions made for guests. The range committee, the executive and general membership will have to give this issue some well thought out recommendations. In the meantime, your executive voted to have new signs put up, and to have a locked fence/gate combination at both the .22 and high-power ranges. At the November OFAH Zone H meeting, it was announced that our club won The Derlin Valley award for doing the most for conservation in Zone H; Sarah Stephenson won the Gord Maher Junior Conservationist Award, and Gerry Powers once more picked up the Senior Conservationist Award. Congratulations to Gerry, Sarah and all of our club members who put so much effort into all of our club activities. These three categories will now compete in the OFAH provincial contests, the winners to be announced at the OFAH Convention in February 2005. The January meeting will complete our executive elections, and the first executive meeting in January will determine your new president. I wish the new person the best in presiding over the greatest outdoor club in the province...the Sydenham Sportsmen's Association. Happy New Year, everyone. Blake Smith, President Fisheries Advisory Committee To date about half of our salmon eggs have hatched out with normal mortality rates. Late November saw our volunteers release 35,000 rainbow trout at Harrison Park. These fish had the right pectoral fin clipped. The remaining rainbows are continuing to be clipped and we are holding over a few more than usual as our reduced salmon egg collection has given us more tank rearing space. The M.N.R. has advised us that we should be getting our brown trout eggs between December 20th to 22nd. Coy Currie has advised the executive that he will be stepping down as the Hatchery Chairman in the new year. For the past ten years Coy has played a major role in the establishment and maintenance of our hatchery. He certainly deserves a break. It will take his continued advice and several of us to fill his shoes. Thanks for all that you have done Coy. Thank you also to the Rainbow Boat Club who generously donated $1000. dollars to us at our December general meeting for the purchase of fish food at out hatchery. Mike Prevost F.A.C. Chairman FORESTS & WILDLIFE After a slow start, the deer hunt in our area generally went well. There were reports of deer being smaller than normal. This might indicate that there are too many deer. (Deer and salmon may have something in common) .On the other hand, there were a few reports of some of the biggest deer that have been seen in a very long time. The last general meeting of the OFAH indicated that several changes may come about in either 2005 or 2006: In the interest of increasing hunting opportunities, the Sunday hunt prohibition may be finally dropped in southern Ontario. Combined with the probable Saturday deer-hunt extension, this would be a real boon for working people and school kids. Many areas may have the rabbit season extended till the end of March. There has been considerable controversy over a proposed wolf/coyote protection law. The original quite restrictive proposal has been watered down significantly and mostly through OFAH intervention, and now will probably come through as...north of what we consider to be southern Ontario. There will be a closed season from April 1 to September 14 for wolves and coyotes. (Please note that our area will be exempt) ; two wolves/coyotes per year per person only, and with a $10.00 fee for each; use of dogs will be allowed; mandatory reporting will be required. Of course, the above is all subject to change and will have to pass in the legislature. It was noted by the OFAH that Manitoulin Island was not in the exclusion zone. along with southern Ontario, even though land form, farming practices and coyote problems mirrored areas such as Grey and Bruce counties. The OFAH has approached the MNR about this oversight. In order to rectify the above, the SSA requests that all those who have Michael Brown, MPP, Blake Smith, Chairperson. Member Profile Lorne Smith; Retired school teacher and now conservationist of distinction. Lorne is responsible for much of the recovery of Bluebirds in Southern Ontario and is now having notable success in enhancement efforts with Bats and Bumble Bees.
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
© 2001, Sydenham Sportsmen's Association |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||