scooter
04-28-2008, 01:15 PM
PUBLICATION: The Ottawa Sun
DATE: 2008.03.13
EDITION: Final
SECTION: Sports
PAGE: 62
BYLINE: JEFF MORRISON
COLUMN: Outdoors
WORD COUNT: 340
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Ice hut removal deadline looms
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With the weather more like mid-January in Nunavut, this weekend's mandatory ice hut removal comes with mixed feelings for local ice anglers.
The March 15 removal deadline in Kemptville district always arrives too early for hut operators and anglers alike, and this winter is no exception.
Folks in Pembroke district, however, have until the end of the month to haul their huts away. Remember that MNR law enforcement doesn't take kindly to anglers who allow huts to end up in waterways after ice-out because the huts pose a hazard to anglers and boaters.
After Saturday, anyone who has not removed their ice hut is in violation of the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act and could face charges. Ice fishing itself is still permitted on most lakes and rivers, even after all the huts are gone.
DEER IN PERIL
Local hunter Paul Harris is one of many conservationists who believe that, with the hefty snow accumulation this winter, our deer herd could be in peril. Harris urges all sportsmen who care about the health of white-tailed deer to break trails with a snowmobile to help the animals get to food.
Admittedly, Harris enjoys the benefit of a high local deer population from a hunting standpoint, but his genuine concern about winter kill is now somewhat less selfish.
Since the MNR generally discourages backyard deer feeding, increasing access to natural winter forage and cover is a great way the average person can help. It is still unclear if the ministry will set an emergency deer feeding program, but one would think if an emergency feeding initiative were ever required, it would be this winter.
MAKING THE SAVE
According to the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters (OFAH), it is no coincidence that sportsmen participate in the DeerSave emergency winter feeding program. The DeerSave program is used to co-ordinate volunteers for trail-breaking, browse-cutting and emergency deer-feeding in areas where high snow levels and long periods of extreme weather could potentially cause large-scale starvation in deer wintering areas.
The DeerSave Action Plan and fund applications are available by contacting Ed Reid at ed_reid@ofah.org or the OFAH's head office in Peterborough at (705) 748-6324 or by fax at (705) 748-9577.
DATE: 2008.03.13
EDITION: Final
SECTION: Sports
PAGE: 62
BYLINE: JEFF MORRISON
COLUMN: Outdoors
WORD COUNT: 340
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ice hut removal deadline looms
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
With the weather more like mid-January in Nunavut, this weekend's mandatory ice hut removal comes with mixed feelings for local ice anglers.
The March 15 removal deadline in Kemptville district always arrives too early for hut operators and anglers alike, and this winter is no exception.
Folks in Pembroke district, however, have until the end of the month to haul their huts away. Remember that MNR law enforcement doesn't take kindly to anglers who allow huts to end up in waterways after ice-out because the huts pose a hazard to anglers and boaters.
After Saturday, anyone who has not removed their ice hut is in violation of the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act and could face charges. Ice fishing itself is still permitted on most lakes and rivers, even after all the huts are gone.
DEER IN PERIL
Local hunter Paul Harris is one of many conservationists who believe that, with the hefty snow accumulation this winter, our deer herd could be in peril. Harris urges all sportsmen who care about the health of white-tailed deer to break trails with a snowmobile to help the animals get to food.
Admittedly, Harris enjoys the benefit of a high local deer population from a hunting standpoint, but his genuine concern about winter kill is now somewhat less selfish.
Since the MNR generally discourages backyard deer feeding, increasing access to natural winter forage and cover is a great way the average person can help. It is still unclear if the ministry will set an emergency deer feeding program, but one would think if an emergency feeding initiative were ever required, it would be this winter.
MAKING THE SAVE
According to the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters (OFAH), it is no coincidence that sportsmen participate in the DeerSave emergency winter feeding program. The DeerSave program is used to co-ordinate volunteers for trail-breaking, browse-cutting and emergency deer-feeding in areas where high snow levels and long periods of extreme weather could potentially cause large-scale starvation in deer wintering areas.
The DeerSave Action Plan and fund applications are available by contacting Ed Reid at ed_reid@ofah.org or the OFAH's head office in Peterborough at (705) 748-6324 or by fax at (705) 748-9577.