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Remember safety first when bear hunting

MNR News Release *********************** The Ministry of Natural Resources will be conducting heightened enforcement activity in the northeast region during the black bear hunting season as part of a safety-first campaign starting on August 15, 2011.
MNR News Release

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The Ministry of Natural Resources will be conducting heightened enforcement activity in the northeast region during the black bear hunting season as part of a safety-first campaign starting on August 15, 2011.

Conservation officers will be checking hunters to ensure compliance with all applicable regulations. Fines range from $150 to $300 for some offences, while in more serious cases, offenders could face fines of up to $25,000 or imprisonment or both.

To ensure a safe and lawful hunt, hunters are reminded of the following:

- All black bear hunters are required to wear hunter orange except when in a tree stand. All hunters must wear solid hunter orange clothing covering a minimum of 2,580 square cm (400 sq. inches) and a hunter orange cap. Mesh type construction vests are not acceptable.

* All persons in possession of a firearm for the purpose of hunting shall not handle or discharge it or cause it to be handled or discharged without due care for persons or property.

* When in an area inhabited by wildlife, or on the way to or from an area inhabited by wildlife, hunters cannot have a loaded firearm in a vehicle, motorboat or aircraft. It is illegal to discharge a firearm from any of these modes of transportation.

* It is not legal to shoot from, down or across a public road.

* For half an hour after sunset to half an hour before sunrise, it is not legal to be in possession of an uncased or loaded firearm in an area usually inhabited by wildlife.

* Since black bear hunting starts in the summer months, hunters should be aware of campers, berry pickers and hikers who are enjoying the outdoors in August and September.

* Black bears may not be hunted within 400 metres (1312 ft) of a waste disposal site as defined in the Environmental Protection Act.

* Harvested black bears must be immediately tagged with the hunter's game seal at the kill site. The seal must be notched indicating month, day and time of kill.

* Hunters must ensure that all meat from the harvested black bear is processed as quickly as possible to avoid any spoilage in hot weather. It is an offence under the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act to allow the flesh of a game animal to spoil.

Under the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act, a firearm includes air guns, bows and crossbows, along with traditional rifles and shotguns. A firearm is considered loaded if there is a cartridge in the chamber or a magazine that is attached to the firearm. Bows, crossbows, and muzzleloaders have various definitions of 'loaded'. Conservation officers may also enforce Small Vessel Regulations and sections of the Liquor Licence Act.

For further information on hunting regulations, please consult the 2011 Hunting Regulations Summary, available at ServiceOntario/Government Information Centres, from licence issuers and at ontario.ca/hunting.

To report a natural resources violation, call 1-877-TIPS-MNR (847-7667) toll-free any time or contact your local ministry office during regular business hours. You can also call Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).

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