THUNDER BAY – Rick Williams says it’s not often hunters shoot the wrong target.
But it does happen.
As a result the Ministry of Natural Resources, in conjunction with the Northwestern Ontario Sportsmen’s Alliance, has begun an awareness campaign to coincide with the start of this year’s rifle moose hunt, encouraging outdoor types to make sure they know what they’re shooting at.
The goal is to educate all hunters so they know the difference between a calf, a cow and a bull.
“It’s another step toward moose sustainability,” said Williams, a long-time conservation officer, standing near a billboard placed alongside Highway 527 encouraging hunters to report abuse they may see while wandering the wilderness.
“This gives us the opportunity to tell hunters, as they’re heading up to go hunting, to be aware of their responsibilities, to jog their memories and give them a visual to compare (too show) that they’re shooting the proper animal.”
The billboard depicts an adult cow alongside a calf.
The main difference is size, though younger moose have smaller, less bulbous noses and have long gangly legs, not proportional to their height.
Williams said they come across cases every year of the wrong target being shot, whether on purpose or by accident.
The best scenario for a hunter who does shoot the wrong animal is to self-report, he added.
“We encourage people to call into our tips line. It’s 1-877-847-7677. It’s easier to self-report so a proper investigation can be done while people are here. It generally gives the officer good information on how he would proceed.”
The penalty for shooting an animal one’s not tagged for could range from a ticket to a hefty fine, Williams said.
John Kaplanis, who heads up NOSA, said it’s important for hunters to know what they’re shooting.
“Most, if not the majority, of hunters are very good at identifying correctly their target in the field. I think the enforcement statistics would support that claim,” Kaplanis said. “However, there have been occasions in the past couple of years where moose were incorrectly identified and shot incorrectly.
“In this case, we want to encourage moose hunters to take the pressure off cows and calves in the field and specifically calves.”
Kaplanis explained that shooting too many calves will only add to the declining moose population in future years, which could lead to a further lowering of the number of tags issued each fall.
