Hunter Image

Hunter image and how the public view hunters’ activities is important.  Here are some of the things that hunters should do to keep a positive image and foster a constructive relationship with the public:

• Properly dispose of game animal parts.
  • Discarding game heads, hides, bones and other parts in a discrete manner out of public view is a responsible thing to do.
  • Disposed material will attract pests and predators.
  • Offal (organs, waste materials, etc) can be unsightly and unpleasant as it decomposes and shouldn’t be left along roads or around cabins or properties.
• Be careful with your garbage.
  • Do not litter, and consider picking up litter you find.
  • Clear up camp sites and areas you spend time in and leave them as naturally as possible.
  • Clear up bear sites regularly so that garbage doesn’t blow around or get left in the woods.
• Be considerate with your placement of traps and snares, and make use of selective harvest techniques.
  • Be conscious of other resource users like hikers, mountain bikers and others that use trail systems.
  • Avoid residential areas with pets where possible and/or use selective harvest equipment or methods.
  • More information can be found here.

 

Hunter Responsibilities

 Wildlife management is the use of ecological principles to maintain and manage wildlife populations based on the wise use or conservation of the wildlife resource and involves balancing people, wildlife and habitat.  Management goals for game species are to allow for continued consumptive use while distributing hunting pressure more evenly, and keeping populations in balance with available habitat.

Hunters play a crucial role in wildlife management and their contributions are vital to understanding trends and changes.  Some of the valuable input from hunters includes:

• Licence Returns
  • Completed licence returns provide information on many of the factors that are considered when seasons and quotas are adjusted.
  • Information on hunter success, effort and locations help determine trends and are integral to game management and planning.
• Submission of Biological Samples
  • The submission of samples such as moose and caribou jawbones, coyote carcasses and black bear teeth allow wildlife managers to look at general population dynamics and specific localized factors.
  • Biological samples are used in conjunction with licence return data to build better understanding of wildlife populations.
  • Drop boxes are available throughout the province.
• Reporting of Marks and Collars
  • When animals are marked with tags or collars they are usually a part of a study and have information that is important to managers.
  • If you see marked animals consider not harvesting them as the study may still be collecting information and they may have been immobilized and not recommended for consumption.
  • If you do harvest a marked animal please report it, more information can be found here.
• Participation in Programs
  • Surveys, consultations, and voluntary programs for collection of information and biological samples occur periodically and depend on cooperation of hunters and trappers to collect information, recent moose consultations for example.
  • When asked to participate please consider your inputs and get involved.
  • Take care to preserve samples for collection and take notes to be sure you have a clear record of your information.