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Location
Hot Springs, AR
Start Date
6-4-2003 12:00 AM
Description
A study performed in 2000-2001, showed that a large number of Quebec's municipalities have adopted by-laws to control or forbid the discharge of firearms within their territorial limits. Among the aforementioned municipalities, 9% actually forbid or control hunting itself, while 62% forbid or control the use of firearms. Unfortunately, these by-laws are being implemented at a time when territories around cities are facing a substantial increase in wildlife management problems. The issue is compounded by the fact that the majority of these by-laws occur in areas where the incidence of wildlife-related damage to agriculture and vehicles are the highest. These wildlife-related damages are mostly caused by black bears, white-tailed deer, moose and greater snow geese, whose populations are increasing in Quebec. Considering that hunting is recognized as a viable management tool for damage control and wildlife management, these municipal by-laws that further reduce hunting activities around cities, are therefore contributing substantially to this ever increasing problem. This action will impact not only wildlife management issues but Quebec's hunters as well. Indeed, hunters are facing more barriers to their activities, resulting in a desertion of this sport and an aggravation of the problem. Therefore, government wildlife managers along with our Federation are working on legal and other types of solutions to protect hunting activities, based on social realities and their benefits to society.
Recommended Citation
Roy, G., & Hamel, G. (2003). Municipal by-laws against hunting in Quebec: An obstacle to wildlife management and damage control. In Fagerstone, K.A. & Witmer, G.W. (Eds.), The Tenth Wildlife Damage Management Conference (105-113). Hot Springs, AR: National Wildlife Research Center.
Included in
Municipal By-Laws Against Hunting in Quebec: An Obstacle to Wildlife Management and Damage Control
Hot Springs, AR
A study performed in 2000-2001, showed that a large number of Quebec's municipalities have adopted by-laws to control or forbid the discharge of firearms within their territorial limits. Among the aforementioned municipalities, 9% actually forbid or control hunting itself, while 62% forbid or control the use of firearms. Unfortunately, these by-laws are being implemented at a time when territories around cities are facing a substantial increase in wildlife management problems. The issue is compounded by the fact that the majority of these by-laws occur in areas where the incidence of wildlife-related damage to agriculture and vehicles are the highest. These wildlife-related damages are mostly caused by black bears, white-tailed deer, moose and greater snow geese, whose populations are increasing in Quebec. Considering that hunting is recognized as a viable management tool for damage control and wildlife management, these municipal by-laws that further reduce hunting activities around cities, are therefore contributing substantially to this ever increasing problem. This action will impact not only wildlife management issues but Quebec's hunters as well. Indeed, hunters are facing more barriers to their activities, resulting in a desertion of this sport and an aggravation of the problem. Therefore, government wildlife managers along with our Federation are working on legal and other types of solutions to protect hunting activities, based on social realities and their benefits to society.