The VOICE of Anglers and Hunters since 1928

ACTION

The OFAH employs a team of professional staff to review policy proposals, changes to regulations and legislation and any other initiatives or programs to advocate for Ontario’s natural resources and the rights and traditions of anglers and hunters.  Your Federation responds to proposed changes that could affect fish and wildlife conservation and angling and hunting opportunities.  The OFAH continues to be involved in deer management by:

  • Recommending licensed hunting in protected areas experiencing overabundant deer and habitat degradation.
  • Advocating for additional deer seals where deer populations are overabundant.
  • Advocating for increased transparency and accountability in the deer tag allocation process.
  • Advocating to keep Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) out of Ontario
  • Collecting donations through the DeerSave program for emergency winter conservation activities.
  • Encouraging municipalities to adopt deer management strategies to deal with overabundant deer populations (ie: Thunder Bay hunting by-laws)
  • Representing deer hunters on the OFAH Big Game Advisory Committee

Listed below are examples of your OFAH hard at work on deer management.

Official Submissions

Apr 29, 2022  ERO 019-5034  Proposal to align white-tailed deer hunting seasons in WMUs 91 A-B and 92 A-D

Mar 25, 2022 ERO 019-4970 Strengthening guide requirements for non-resident white-tailed deer hunters in Northern Ontario

Mar 21, 2022  ERO 019-4995 Conservation Agreement for Boreal Caribou

Jan 4, 2022  ERO 019-4637 Proposal to simplify and align provincial white-tailed deer hunting seasons

Apr 7, 2021 OFAH opposes the proposal to repeal section 76 of the Health of Animals Regulations – The authority for cervid movement

Aug 26, 2020  Proposal to reduce the risk of CWD in Ontario

July 25, 2019  OFAH supports new CWD plan and recommends adopting it immediately

July 25, 2019  OFAH generally supportive of the proposed white-tailed deer population and harvest guidelines

Sept 21, 2017  OFAH supports EHD research in Ontario

Apr 18, 2017  OFAH comments on the White-tailed Deer Management Policy for Ontario

Oct 8, 2015  OFAH supports UofG research on Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease

Sept 26, 2014  OFAH requests participation in the annual deer tag allocation process

Jan 10, 2013  OFAH letter to MNRF re: Controlled deer hunt program

May 4, 2012  Whitetail deer population management in Pinery and Rondeau Provincial Parks

Where we Stand

  • deer management decisions must be made using the best available science
  • deer hunting is economically important, generating over $60 million in hunter expenditures annually
  • deer harvest is important in terms of crop damage reduction and highway safety
  • sustainable deer management requires annual population assessment
  • protection of deer habitat must be a primary consideration in Crown Forest Management Planning
  • regulated hunting can be used as a tool in maintaining deer densities and deer habitat
  • the OFAH supports mandatory deer harvest reporting to optimize deer management and conservation
  • the safety and benefits of deer management by licensed hunters should be promoted

Committee Involvement

OFAH Big Game Advisory Committee

MNRF Big Game Management Advisory Committee

MNRF Human-Wildlife Conflict Advisory Group

MNRF Hats for Hides Steering Committee

 

Do NOT follow this link or you will be banned from the site!