BY LORNE YEO
GUEST OPINION
An open letter to all MLAs of the P.E.I. Legislature re: Private Members Bill #107 - Sunday Hunting.
Hunters for Conservation (P.E.I.), an active advocacy group for wildlife and responsible hunting practices, is opposed to Sunday hunting being proposed in legislation now before the P.E.I. Legislature.
Bill 107, an Act to Amend the Wildlife Protection Act, was introduced as a private member’s bill last week by Jamie Fox (PC), District 19 Borden-Kinkora, and seconded by Darlene Compton (PC), District 4 Belfast-Murray River.
If approved, this legislation will legalize Sunday hunting on P.E.I. for the first time.
We believe that most conservation-minded hunters and the vast majority of non-hunting Islanders who value, share and enjoy wildlife resources in various ways, will oppose Sunday hunting.
Sunday, as a day of waterfowl rest, should continue to be accepted in P.E.I. for conservation reasons favouring wildlife protection and giving wildlife a needed break.
P.E.I. is a province that has plenty of hunting opportunity. Considering what’s available with a three-month waterfowl season (October 1 to December 31) and a special two-week season in mid-September to hunt resident wild geese, waterfowl needs and deserves to have hunting pressure relaxed at least one day of the week.
Islanders who live in close proximity to wildlife, waterfowl included, like to see it around, not pursued, over seven days.
There appears to be too much emphasis on creating opportunities to hunt and not enough consideration for wildlife conservation and protection when our black duck population, for instance, on the Atlantic flyway, is showing a 12 per cent decline on a 24-year average.
Hunters for Conservation, formed April 11, 2013, represents active hunters and those who enjoy wildlife in other ways besides harvesting it . . . people who like to observe wildlife in its natural environment, including bird watchers, those who feed it, and others who photograph wildlife.
There are many people, including hunters, who look forward to getting outdoors on weekends, to enjoy a peaceful experience, observing wildlife in its natural environment. They will not want to see it subjected to Sunday hunting pressure.
This issue has surfaced before but didn’t fly because public sentiment went against it. Hunters for Conservation wants to see Sunday hunting turned down to give wildlife a break.
- Lorne Yeo, president, Hunters for Conservation, an avid hunter for 63 years
