OFAH Insider: No spring rabbit and hare season in northern Ontario this year

Last March, the MNRF suddenly announced major changes to the snowshoe hare season in northern Ontario, moving the closing date from June 15 to March 31. They purportedly made this change to streamline small game seasons across parts of Ontario. Unfortunately for hunters, the announcement came on March 31, 2017 — the same day the season was scheduled to close, catching many hunters off-guard. Some thought it was a bad April Fool’s joke. Communication necessary At the time, we were concerned that many hunters wouldn’t be aware of the change and would unknowingly be in non-compliance beginning April 1. The OFAH made a desperate attempt to convince the MNRF to suspend their decision to ensure the change could be adequately communicated to hunters. We were successful, and the MNRF maintained the existing date, but only for 2017. Unfortunately, we’ve been unable to convince them to abandon the season change permanently. MNRF claims to have shortened the season to avoid the timing of first litters; although available science suggests spring hunting could occur just prior to parturition (giving birth) in northern Ontario, hunters are asking whether or not harvest has any influence on the sustainability of a species that is subject to pronounced population cycles. Conversation to continue Without an answer to the sustainability question, and the more discretionary debate of when harvest should occur relative to an animal’s reproductive cycle, this conversation will continue for the foreseeable future. In the meantime, the snowshoe hare season — a hunt that is tremendously valuable to many will close March 31, 2018. The OFAH will continue to push the MNRF to give due consideration to all of the necessary factors when making changes like this. Originally published in the April 2018 issue of Ontario Out of Doors For more small game, click here Click here for more outdoors news Watch on-demand videos anytime on OFAH Stream