Results From Sustainable Developments Angling and Hunting Surveys.

From Sustainable Development:

The Manitoba government created three short preference surveys to gather information from anglers and hunters. The information obtained will help inform future fish and wildlife management decisions. The surveys were available online for anyone to fill out and hard copies were mailed out to a random sample of anglers and hunters selected from licence databases (for example, people that had recently purchased a licence to fish or hunt). The following summarizes the results of the survey questions and the path forward.

Angling Preference Survey Review:

1. Should the requirement to keep six square centimetres of skin on each fish fillet for identification and enforcement purposes during transportation be removed?

The majority of survey respondents were opposed to removing this requirement. Conservation Officer Services also had concerns regarding removing this requirement. Therefore, the Wildlife and Fisheries Branch is not considering any regulatory changes at this time.

2. Should the general spring angling closure be open in the spring except for walleye and sauger?

The majority of survey respondents were opposed to opening the general spring angling closure. The Wildlife and Fisheries Branch is not considering any regulatory changes at this time.

3. Should the three-day limit on purchased live bait be removed in Manitoba?

Survey responses to this question were mixed. With the recent introduction and spread of Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) such as zebra mussels in Manitoba, removing the three-day limit would increase the risk of spreading bait and AIS across the province. In addition, by law in an AIS control zone, anglers are required to dispose of live and dead bait in the trash before leaving the shore of a waterbody, regardless of the three-day live bait fish transfer and use receipt.

The Wildlife and Fisheries Branch is not considering any regulatory changes on the three-day limit on live bait at this time. However in light of AIS, the Wildlife and Fisheries Branch is reviewing the risks associated with the use of live bait fish and leeches in Manitoba.

4. Should anglers be allowed to use two rods per angler during the open water angling season?

A majority of survey respondents were opposed to the use of two rods per angler during the open water angling season. The Wildlife and Fisheries Branch is not considering any regulatory changes at this time.

Big Game Hunter Preference Survey Review:

1. Should Manitoba resident hunters have increased black bear harvest opportunities?

Responses to this question were equivocal with a large proportion of respondents indicating no opinion. The Wildlife and Fisheries Branch is not considering any regulatory changes at this time.

2. Are you in favour of a separate wolf/coyote hunting licence?

The majority of survey respondents were not in favour of creating a separate wolf/coyote hunting licence. The Wildlife and Fisheries Branch is not considering any regulatory changes at this time.

3. Should the length of the deer season be increased to the standard season length?

The majority of survey respondents were in favour of increasing the length of the deer season. These results supported the Wildlife and Fisheries Branch’s intentions of enhancing deer hunting opportunities. For 2018, there will be one week added to each of the archery, muzzleloader, shotgun/muzzleloader and general (rifle) deer seasons and the standard deer season bag limit will be ‘one deer’ (not bucks only).

4. Should there be set dates for big game seasons?

The majority of survey respondents did not favour setting fixed dates for each big game hunting season. Given the support for the current system, the Wildlife and Fisheries Branch is not considering any regulatory changes at this time.

5. Should there be a novice deer hunting licence with an any deer bag limit?

The majority of survey respondents were not in favour of creating a novice deer season licence. Expanding the 2018 deer bag limit to include does/fawns will alleviate some concerns for novice deer hunters. The Wildlife and Fisheries Branch is not considering any regulatory changes at this time.

6. Should the use of crossbows be allowed in the archery deer season?

The majority of survey respondents were not in favour of including crossbows in the archery deer season. The Wildlife and Fisheries Branch is not considering any regulatory changes at this time.

Game Bird Hunter Preference Survey Review:

1. Should boats be prohibited on Whitewater Lake for waterfowl hunting?

The majority of survey respondents were not in favour of this change and a large proportion of respondents had no opinion. The Wildlife and Fisheries Branch is not considering any regulatory changes at this time.

2. Should restrictions be placed on foreign resident waterfowl hunters?

Responses to this survey question were equivocal and the Wildlife and Fisheries Branch is not considering any regulatory changes at this time. However, the Wildlife and Fisheries Branch is working with the Manitoba Lodges and Outfitters Association to draft a Waterfowl Outfitting Policy that will place restrictions on the number of waterfowl outfitting businesses operating in individual Game Hunting Areas. Additionally, the Wildlife and Fisheries Branch is reviewing other options to make it more difficult for illegal outfitters to operate.

3. Should restrictions be placed on foreign resident upland game bird hunters?

Survey respondents indicated a preference for placing restrictions on foreign resident upland game bird hunters. However, a recent review determined that foreign resident upland game bird hunters accounted for a relatively small proportion of the annual harvest (for example, 6-10 % depending on species). The Wildlife and Fisheries Branch is not considering any regulatory changes at this time.

4. Should wild turkey hunting seasons be expanded to all areas of Manitoba?

Responses to this survey question were equivocal. The Wildlife and Fisheries Branch has chosen to expand wild turkey hunting seasons into a few Game Hunting Areas including 23, 24, 25B, and 36. Healthy turkey populations currently exist in portions of these areas and there are currently efforts underway to build these populations through the Trap and Transfer Program. There is no concern about the effects of harvest on population growth in these areas.

5. Should a spring conservation season for giant Canada geese be introduced for Manitoba residents?

Survey respondents supported establishing a spring conservation season for giant Canada geese. The Wildlife and Fisheries Branch has recommended regulatory changes to establish a March 1-10 Canada/Cackling goose season for 2019. Furthermore, a Notice of Intent was filed with Canadian Wildlife Service for consideration of listing Temperate Nesting Canada geese as ‘over-abundant’. Research is currently underway to establish timing of spring migration of non-target populations of Canada and Cackling geese, and opening and closing dates for a spring Conservation Season.

6. Should a hunting season for mourning doves be introduced in Manitoba?

Survey responses to this question were supportive with a relatively large proportion of respondents indicating ‘no opinion’. The next opportunity for Manitoba to advance a regulatory proposal change to the Federal government occurs in fall 2019, and so the Wildlife and Fisheries Branch is not pursuing any regulatory changes at this time.

7. Should some refuges be repealed to allow hunting?

The majority of survey respondents opposed repealing refuges. The Wildlife and Fisheries Branch will work with local interest groups (for example, affiliates of the Manitoba Wildlife Federation) to review several refuges.

8. Should a new licence be created for adults who have never hunted and not taken hunter education, to try game bird hunting for one season?

The majority of survey respondents were opposed to creating this new game bird hunting licence with this question generating a large number of comments that supported the hunter education requirement. The Wildlife and Fisheries Branch is not considering any regulatory changes at this time.