Land Use Access

Land use planning in Ontario plays a significant role in determining the variety, quality and even the availability of hunting and fishing opportunities. The plans, strategies, guides, policy, regulations and legislation provide direction that not only shapes the protection and productivity of important game species, but also influences the availability and access to high quality hunting and fishing opportunities.

On behalf of OFAH members, the OFAH Fish & Wildlife Department reviews all relevant plans, strategies, guides, regulations and legislation that have the potential to impact fish and wildlife conservation and/or access for fishing and hunting. The OFAH Land Use Specialist provides full-time staff support to complement the hard work and dedication of the many volunteers from the OFAH Board of Directors, OFAH Zones and OFAH member clubs. These individuals represent OFAH on local committees, during planning exercises and other forms of public consultation. They help to provide invaluable insight to ensure that land use planning exercises adequately protect and promote our hunting and fishing heritage. The OFAH also benefits from the expertise and advice of the OFAH Land Use/Access/Trails Advisory Committee.

Here is a sample of Land Use concerns that OFAH routinely provides input for:

• Forest Management Plans
• Forest Management Guides: Development and Review
• Independent Forest Audits
• Crown Land Use Planning
• Crown Land Access Issues
• Non-crown Public Hunting Opportunities (i.e. Municipal Conservation Authority Lands)
• Provincial Parks, Conservation Reserves and National Parks Planning
• General Land Use Planning Exercises
• Natural Heritage Assessment (including Municipal Planning)
• Renewable Energy Development
• Aggregate Resource Extraction
• Roads, Trails & ATV Use

You can find OFAH submissions on these and other topics related to hunting and fishing on the OFAH on Policy, Regs and Legislation page.

Other resources:

Crown Land Use Policy Atlas (CLUPA)
Forest Management Planning in Ontario (MNR)
Hunter/Angler Landowner Agreement Form
MNR Landowner Consent Forms
Simcoe County Forests