In a packed chamber here on Nov. 9, Wellington North council heard six delegations from individuals both for and against Sunday gun hunting in the township.
Wellington North is considering the issue after councillor Steve McCabe introduced a motion on Oct. 5 to allow Sunday gun hunting. Currently the practice is prohibited in the township.
Following the delegations, council decided not to move forward with the issue until after a Ward 3 councillor was in place following the Nov. 16 byelection.
Brian McRae, a zone member and club service liaison for the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters (OFAH), explained to council that 169 municipalities in Ontario have adopted hunting on Sundays. All municipalities in Wellington County prohibit Sunday hunting, but nearby North Perth and Southgate townships allow it.
McRae said council should consider allowing Sunday gun hunting because it will help decrease crop and livestock predation, increase public safety between humans and wildlife, and increase economic activity.
“Hunting is a heritage activity recognized under provincial legislation passed in 2002. There are over 450,000 trained, licensed, responsible hunters in Ontario who contribute hundreds of billions of dollars each year to wildlife programs,” he said.
McRae explained that in the decade since approval for Sunday gun hunting was downloaded to southern Ontario municipalities, “there have been no complaints or incidents, nor has any municipality decided to opt out of the program.”
McRae addressed some of the concerns brought forward by some residents, including public safety. He said, “if the threat to public safety does not exist from Monday to Saturday, why would it be any greater on Sunday?”
Residents were also concerned about a mass influx of hunters into the area.
McRae answered it was “unlikely that everyone will suddenly be drawn to Wellington North to hunt on Sunday, when it is not the only municipality that allows it.”
Hunting in the area would only increase for approximately 20 days, said McRae. Residents countered that adding so few days would not bring the benefits McRae was suggesting.
“He’s suggesting it’s not adding many Sundays. So it’s not going to have much difference or impact on livestock and crop damage,” said resident John Northcote, who’s opposed to Sunday gun hunting.
“We’ve already got six of seven days available for them …whether they have one day or two days, they can be like the rest of us that have to take vacation days to do what we like doing.”
Northcote told council he has called the police on trespassing hunters in the past. He added he would like to go out on his property one day a week “knowing someone isn’t out there hunting.”
Andy Tarc, also opposed to Sunday gun hunting, asked council for a referendum on the issue, rather than letting council make the decision.
“This council has no right to make that decision whether we can hunt on Sundays unless the people here have a referendum,” he said.
Bob Armstrong, who spoke against allowing hunting at the previous council meeting, presented council with a petition of 170 names of residents opposed to gun hunting on Sundays – and seven names of people in favour of it.
Firearms instructor and past OFAH president Bill Blackwell said council should base its decision on facts.
“Those opposed to Sunday gun hunting have presented a scenario based largely on personal bias or perception.
“While I appreciate their point of view, they have not presented any quantifiable safety, legal or justifiable reason why people should not be allowed to Sunday gun hunt in Wellington North,” said Blackwell.
Resident Adrian Wise, who wishes to see Sunday gun hunting allowed, said he puts a lot of money toward conservation efforts through the GRCA and spent money in the area for hunting gear and accessories.
Mayor Andy Lennox thanked all the delegations and said the issue may be brought up again in future meetings – but council would not make a decision that night.
