O.F.A.H. Zone J
Quarterly Meeting
April 1, 2007
Southwest Outdoors Club
65 members present
Meeting called to order by Felix Barbetti, Chair at 9 a.m.
Wilf Cassidy, Past Chair leads the pledge.
Moment of silence observed for our fallen friends.
Dale Pickle, Vice President of Southwest Outdoors Club welcomed
the OFAH and all in attendance
Rick Mosse, Mayor of Pelee Island was introduced and briefly
outlined some of the excellent hunting opportunities available on Pelee Island.
Everyone in attendance introduced himself or herself.
Sign In sheets were passed around.
Minutes of Zone J Quarterly meeting of January 7, 2007 were moved by Secretary/Treasurer Kathy
Moore.
2nd Bruce Chambers
Errors, Omissions, Corrections, Additions: none noted
Carried
Chair Report by Felix Barbetti
Overviewed
highlights of written report:
Membership has increased slightly
Tony and Len are continuing with waving the OFAH banner at
area gun shows
Hamilton Anglers and Hunter Association has pledged $3,500
to support Youth Hunter apprenticeship programs
Zone J Annual meeting will be one day, September 15th
at the Brant Rod & Gun Club
Agricultural Liaison Committee lead by Jim Magee seems to
be having a positive effect in working with several club reps from this sector
Sunday Hunting is still a work in progress
Fisheries management involvement at the Lake Erie Program
table has resulted in positive gains for angling
Our continued representation at the Thames River Fisheries
Management planning table is working towards a plan review and another round of public meetings
Lake Ontario has shifted to OFAH
salmonid initiatives
Ed Reid and the Small Game Advisory Committee are investigating
the municipal small game license system
Bruno and Yolande Vanden Berghe are continuing their hard
work attending key outdoor events and shows
Continued
O.F.A.H. Zone J Quarterly Meeting
April 1, 2007
A few of the activities Zone J has been supporting: an Essex area high school’s aquaculture project, ALSU initiative in Norfolk,
wetland enhancement, waterfowl research and hunting displays at Long Point, traveling teacher in London area, fisheries research
in Thames River Springbank Dam Project, Tequanyah dam removal and site restoration, Sally’s Creek site management
Felix Barbetti moves his report
2nd Don Fairbairn
Carried
Secretary/Treasurer Kathy Moore read the Financial Report
and moved it .
2nd Ed Anson
Carried
Big Game Report by 1st Vice Chair Tony Jackson
Highlights of written report:
Deer Poaching – any questionable activity should be
reported to the MNR Tips 1-877-847-7667
2006 hunter harvests are still being calculated but initial
reports show it was very successful
Trespassing is one of the biggest obstacles to compromise
successful wildlife management and hunter success. Ask Permission, Honor Permission
and Encourage Permission.
Elk herd overall seems to have shown positive gains
Moose tag allocation for 2007 hasn’t been determined
yet
Bear problems continued to persist throughout the province
this year. Your OFAH will continue to lobby and bring a sensible resolve to this
issue
Tony Jackson moved his report
2nd Dan Simpson
Carried
2nd Vice Report by Bruno Vanden Berghe – No Report
Alternate Director Report by Len McPhail
Highlights of written report:
Amnesty for some Long0-Gun owners continues but expires in
May 2007
Government funding to the CFC has been reduced. Some firearms owners were surprised to receive a cheques from the government from renewing their licenses.
A renewed Firearms Advisory committee has been formed comprising
of OFAH representatives, prominent shorts and industry leaders. This committee has a great opportunity to have a significant
input to the Minster of Public Safety and the Federal Justice Department.
Youth and females are a growing segment of the Hunter Education
classes. New instructors are now trained and beginning to come on stream
Haldimand is again looking at the Sunday Hunting issue. Half of the WMU it is in supports Sunday hunting and half doesn’t. Stay tuned for more information soon.
Len McPhail moves his report.
2nd Ed Anson Carried
Fisheries Report by Past Chair Alf Marinelli
Written report read by Felix Barbetti
Viral Hemorrhagic Septicemia (VHS) has caused panic and uncertainty
within the MNR. As of today, MNR has taken the Status Quo route but is watching
the situation carefully
When fishing, do not dump your live bait into the water. Dispose of it away from any watercourse. Live
bait transportation from within the VHS Danger Zone is not permitted
Continued
O.F.A.H. Zone J Quarterly Meeting
April 1, 2007
Fisheries Report Continued
Lake Erie Committee of the Great Lakes Fisheries Commission
has set the 2007 TAC (Total Allowable Catch)
Walleye TAC for 2006 was 9.889 million fish
Walleye TAC for 2007 is
2.321 million fish
Perch TAC for 2006 was 16.48 million pounds
Perch TAC for 2007 is
5.585 million pounds
As of today, the Fishing Regulation changes that were to
take effect January 1, 2007 are still in limbo. Until further is heard from the
MNR, the Fishing Regs for 2005/2006 still apply.
Felix Barbetti moves this report
2nd Dale Pickle
Carried
South East
Leamington Study Area
This involves 2300 acres from Hillman Marsh to Point Pelee to Wheatley
Harbour
316
homes affected and is a very emotional issue because of the unknown future
Whether hunting/access will be allowed depends
on who purchases this area – the government? Ducks Unlimited? Nature Conservatory? Will it become a National park?
O.F.A.H. has been involved with this issue thru
our local members – we need to be kept up to date and involved
15 minute break to set up
presentation
Dr. Ken Abrahams – MNR Waterfowl Biologist, Peterborough, Ontario
has been studying how climate change affects migration routes and areas focusing on the Hudson Bay
lowlands
- Cackling Geese is the new name for the small
bodied Canada goose
Irena Knezevic – York University
Irena discussed how our Culture is transitioning
and seems to base animal rights on Human rights and have lost the perspective that animals are a species and that in the long
run, hunting plays an important role in species survival. Irena also suggests
that we should consider our choices - some of the products we consume and the energy used to produce them.
Ted Barney – Long Point Waterfowl and Wetlands Research Fund
Ted has been working with Dr Scott Petrie studying
the staging ecology, wintering ecology and habitats of waterfowl in the lower Great Lakes
among many other things. Also have graduate and undergraduate programs and are
looking at beginning youth wildlife biologist workshops for youths aged 12 – 16.
Break for 1 hour for Lunch
Old Business: none noted
New Business:
Southwest Outdoors Club is
looking for assistance from OFAH Zone J for their Youth Hunt scheduled for the 2ns Saturday of the season tentatively set
for Hillman Marsh
Youth Campout will be held
at the Port Colbourne and District club on June 1, 2 & 3 this year
The Southwest Outdoors Club
presented Zone J Chair Felix Barbetti with $339.00 raised on the draws. OFAH
Zone J donated $339.00 to the Southwest Outdoors Club for their youth program.
Don Fairbairn moves to adjourn.
2nd Dean Ware
carried
