ABERFOYLE – Hunters are taking advantage of a “loophole” in the law and finding a way to hunt far too close to a densely populated area, says Puslinch Mayor James Seeley.
“They seem to have found a loophole and are taking advantage of it,” Seeley said during a Jan. 22 council meeting.
Grand River Conservation Authority (GRCA) CAO Samantha Lawson and manager of conservation lands Joel Doherty presented the agency’s land inventory and land strategy at the council meeting.
Seeley took the opportunity to ask about a concern that has been raised to him: people hunting along the Speed River in the area of the Niska Road bridge.
The GRCA has also heard complaints, Lawson said, noting hunting is not allowed on lands along the Speed River, which belong to the GRCA.
However, the riverbed itself is Crown land, where hunters are legally allowed to hunt.
Lawson said the GRCA has put “no hunting” signs on their properties and have reached out to Guelph Police, but “they (hunters) have legal access through the road right-of-way.”
The Niska Road bridge is where the boundaries of Puslinch, Guelph/Eramosa and Guelph meet, and the municipalities have signed agreements about snow removal and road maintenance so snowplow routes can be more efficient.
City workers now cross municipal boundaries and plow all of Niska Road.
Seeley hoped the way to deter hunters is to close their access to parking.
He drew Guelph/Eramosa Mayor Chris White, who attended virtually as chair of the GRCA, into the conversation.
“Hunters utilize the snowplow turnaround” for parking, Seeley said. “It was Guelph/Eramosa but now Guelph does the roads.”
He suggested to White that Guelph/Eramosa remove the former snowplow turnaround area, where hunters are currently parking and add a “no parking” sign. That would make the nearest parking on Pioneer Trail.
“If people had to park a kilometer away [and walk] with a rifle on their arm, it would be a deterrent,” Seeley said.
White said he’s willing to work with the township on a solution.
“It might be legal to hunt, but the proximity to the city” makes it dangerous, Seeley said. “And we don’t have willing land owners.
“It all hinges on the City of Guelph partnering with us,” he added. “I’m a hunter, but this is not the best spot to be hunting.”
