The Municipality of West Gray has voted in opposition to permitting Sunday gun looking, bucking a rising pattern in southern Ontario.
In a 4-3 determination on Could 6, council rejected a movement after listening to a mixture of assist and opposition, together with arguments lengthy dismissed by looking advocates as outdated and inaccurate.
Delegations in favour included representatives from the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters (OFAH), South Gray Hunters Affiliation, Sydenham Sportsmen Affiliation, and a veteran hunter security and firearms teacher. They highlighted hunter security normally and the rising variety of municipalities embracing Sunday looking.
Movement narrowly defeated
Opponents cited security considerations for hikers and different out of doors fanatics, together with potential impacts on wildlife. One native hunter additionally shared how looking enriches her household’s life and the way the additional day would offer extra alternative to hunt on their property.
When the movement got here to a vote, two councillors spoke in assist, 4 — together with Mayor Kevin Eccles — opposed it, and one didn’t remark.
Coun. Joyce Nuhn voiced considerations over security.
“Six days is kind of enough, I really feel,” she mentioned, suggesting approval might carry an “inflow” of hunters and contribute to the struggling of wildlife.
“Like if some folks aren’t paying consideration and so they simply stroll away from that animal,” Nuhn mentioned. “We don’t want looking in West Gray, on Sundays.”
OFAH urges provincial motion
OFAH Wildlife Biologist Matthew Robbins expressed disappointment on the end result, notably the repetition of what he referred to as long-debunked arguments.
“Though any determination in opposition to looking alternative is disappointing, what’s most alarming about this result’s the continued use of outdated and lengthy since disproven arguments,” he acknowledged after the choice. “We all know looking shouldn’t be a menace to conservation or public security in Ontario, and this data is freely obtainable for any who search it out. We additionally know that hunters should not ‘simply strolling away’ from injured wildlife and that, in the event that they had been, this is able to be a problem any day of the week. With these items in thoughts, the OFAH is renewing our earlier calls for the province to take possession of this subject and make a province-wide allowance for Sunday gun looking.”
Mayor: Province ought to lead
Deputy Mayor Tom Hutchinson mentioned Sundays ought to stay open for different actions like mountaineering, birdwatching, and fishing. Mayor Eccles, himself a long-time hunter, additionally voted in opposition to the movement, citing custom and the assumption that looking coverage ought to be managed provincially.
“I’ve been lethal against downloading … and that is one other time the place the province must be taking their ministerial duties the place it belongs,” Eccles mentioned. “If Sunday looking is nice in Ontario, then personal it.”
At present, the Ministry of Pure Assets doesn’t individually approve Sunday looking requests however contains them in regulatory updates twice per 12 months.
In April, Frontenac Islands Township joined the greater than 180 municipalities south of the French River to allow Sunday gun looking. Puslinch Township additionally just lately handed a decision that ought to be in place September 1.
West Gray, situated in northern Gray County and surrounding however not together with Owen Sound, carries the tagline “Nestled in Nature.”
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