Use of Radios While Party Hunting in Ontario
09-16-2002, 08:05 PM
#1
Fork Horn
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Manotick Ontario Canada
Posts: 115
Use of Radios While Party Hunting in Ontario
A few years ago, the MNR tried to enforce party hunting in a way that would have required hunters to be holding hands and skipping through the bush. <img src=icon_smile_8ball.gif border=0 align=middle> <img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle>
Several more recent court decisions have given it a more reasonable interpretation, which is probably part of the reason for the current government initiative to review party hunting. (survey is at www.ofah.org/index.cfm?Section=Survey)
Two years ago a couple of guys I hunt with tried to direct each other to a deer using radios. We got into a heated discussion on hunting ethics, which I attempted to resolve by calling the MNR. The opinions I got from 3 different MNR sources at that time was that there was no problem with what they did, but using radios to prevent the over-killing of party hunted animals was strictly verboten.
In the last 2 years, the mention of not using radios to communicate about restricted kills made while party hunting has disappeared from the summary of the Regs. I haven't been able to get a clear answer from an MNR official on this issue since then.
I just picked up this quote over at huntontario, and it seems to open up the use of radios for coordinating permits while party hunting.
"Be sure you know the game laws regarding party hunting before you use two-way radios, so you can stay within the law. Bill Fisher, enforcement supervisor for the Ministry of Natural Resources in Peterborough, said, "While there was some talk of introducing regulation on communication equipment in the past, nothing to date has become law, so the act of using a radio is not regulated with regard to game laws." However, when party hunting for big game, all hunters involved must be "actively hunting" in a particular area to be legal. Just having a two-way radio doesn't mean you can sit in town while your buddies hunt.. "
Edited by - Rick Teal on 09/16/2002 21:08:22
Several more recent court decisions have given it a more reasonable interpretation, which is probably part of the reason for the current government initiative to review party hunting. (survey is at www.ofah.org/index.cfm?Section=Survey)
Two years ago a couple of guys I hunt with tried to direct each other to a deer using radios. We got into a heated discussion on hunting ethics, which I attempted to resolve by calling the MNR. The opinions I got from 3 different MNR sources at that time was that there was no problem with what they did, but using radios to prevent the over-killing of party hunted animals was strictly verboten.
In the last 2 years, the mention of not using radios to communicate about restricted kills made while party hunting has disappeared from the summary of the Regs. I haven't been able to get a clear answer from an MNR official on this issue since then.
I just picked up this quote over at huntontario, and it seems to open up the use of radios for coordinating permits while party hunting.
"Be sure you know the game laws regarding party hunting before you use two-way radios, so you can stay within the law. Bill Fisher, enforcement supervisor for the Ministry of Natural Resources in Peterborough, said, "While there was some talk of introducing regulation on communication equipment in the past, nothing to date has become law, so the act of using a radio is not regulated with regard to game laws." However, when party hunting for big game, all hunters involved must be "actively hunting" in a particular area to be legal. Just having a two-way radio doesn't mean you can sit in town while your buddies hunt.. "
Edited by - Rick Teal on 09/16/2002 21:08:22
09-17-2002, 01:15 AM
#2
Typical Buck
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Rocky Mtn. Hse. Alberta
Posts: 823
RE: Use of Radios While Party Hunting in Ontario
Alberta has one legal "party hunting option". It is called an antlered moose partner license. If a hunter gets drawn for a special antlered moose permit, they can designate another hunter as their "partner" and then the "partner" can buy a "partner license" and hunt moose WITH the holder of the special permit. One tag is issued. The two hunters are hunting together for one animal.
Now a quote from the regs. "...the partner...must be in direct communication(not including the use of electronic devices) with the primary license holder while hunting moose to ensure that both stop hunting when one of them kills a moose."
I have been told that this is to prevent the partner from hunting by them selves with a cell phone or radio, to keep in direct contact with the holder of the permit who could be at home or at work. The odd dishonest character may pull a trick like this but the majority of hunters and partners are now denied the best way to comunicate to each other if a moose is down and they are a couple hundred yards apart.
Robin
Now a quote from the regs. "...the partner...must be in direct communication(not including the use of electronic devices) with the primary license holder while hunting moose to ensure that both stop hunting when one of them kills a moose."
I have been told that this is to prevent the partner from hunting by them selves with a cell phone or radio, to keep in direct contact with the holder of the permit who could be at home or at work. The odd dishonest character may pull a trick like this but the majority of hunters and partners are now denied the best way to comunicate to each other if a moose is down and they are a couple hundred yards apart.
Robin
