30 banding stations across the Province in 1970. This was an 

 increase of more than 2,000 over the previous year. 



GIANT CANADA GOOSE PROGRAM 



For the third consecutive year, giant Canada geese were 

 propagated and held at several game management areas in 

 southern Ontario. The Counties of Wellington and Waterloo, 

 the three southern townships of Grey County, East Luther of 

 Dufferin County, and South Dumfries of Brant County re- 

 main closed to goose hunting to protect goose breeding 

 stock. 



Forty-six pairs of Giant Canada geese were released in 

 1970. Larger releases are planned for future years. The pro- 

 gram to establish the Giant Canada goose, a southern breed- 

 ing race, was begun in 1968 in association with the Ontario 

 Waterfowl Research Foundation atGuelph. 



Single pairs were released initially on small water areas on 

 pri\ate lands, but there was trouble associated with keeping 

 birds on the area, and the release method was changed in 

 favour of larger numbers of geese on larger bodies of water. 



WILDLIFE EXTENSION PROGRAM 



The Wildlife Extension Program has been designed to ac- 

 complish three things. Primarily, it seeks to provide access 

 to private lands for public recreation based on wildlife 

 resources; it encourages private landowners to implement 

 wildlife management practices on their properties; and it 

 seeks to strengthen public appreciation of wildlife resources 

 through interpretive programs which point out the value 

 of wildlife to modern man. 



The program is tailored to southern Ontarion where the 

 need is most acute. Because southern Ontario is for the 

 most part composed of privately owned properties, access 

 problems to rural land have hindered wildlife oriented, 

 public, recreational opportunities. 



During the 1970-1 hunting season, four Wildlife Extension 

 Agreement Areas were in operation for hunting and viewing. 

 Law enforcement and wildlife management assistance is 

 offered to landowners as an incentive to allow public access 

 to their properties. 



Ancasler Township Wildlife Extension Area, the first Agree- 

 ment area in Ontario, continued to provide hunting oppor- 

 tunity in the crowded Golden Horseshoe area of southern 

 Ontario. Under agreement with the Minister, 61 landowners 

 allowed public hunting on their properties. A deputy-con- 

 servation officer patrolled the Township during peak hunting 

 periods of the small-game season. Restricted zones were 



posted by sportsmen around farm headquarters to restrict 

 hunting access in areas where landowner-sportsman con- 

 tlicts often arise. In addition, sportsmen assisted in the plant- 

 ing of wildlife shrubs offered free of charge through the 

 Program to co-operating landowners. A Zenith telephone 

 line was used in Ancaster to allow easy communication with 

 the Hespeler office when problems arose from the public 

 use of private lands. Landowners continue to receive this 

 program enthusiastically. 



A)7mer Ponds Wildlife Extension Agreement Area. This 106- 

 acre parcel is owned jointly by the Town of Aylmer in Elgin 

 County and the Ontario Water Resources Commission. 

 Hunting access was controlled for the first time during the 

 1970 hunting season. By regulating hunter numbers, the 

 number of waterfowl harvested from the ponds has been 

 increased substantially, and the quality of the recreational 

 experience has been correspondingly upgraded. Plans are 

 under way to provide a permanent parking lot, waterfowl 

 hunting blinds, and a law enforcement observation tower 

 on the property. 



Waterford Lakes Wildliie Extension Agreement Area. This 

 750-acre area has 11 ponds and provides a substantial 

 amount of hunting and viewing opportunity for waterfowl. 

 It is owned in part by the Long Point Region Conservation 

 Authority, the Town of Waterford, the Township of Towns- 

 end, and several private landowners. Controlled hunting 

 was provided on this area for the first time during the 1970 

 season. Waterfowl hunting from blinds and shooting posi- 

 tions was offered five days a week. Additionally, a flock of 

 Giant Canada geese was introduced to the area. A large 

 parking lot was built, and a waterfowl observation blind for 

 public viewing was constructed within the sanctuary area. 

 Future plans call for a Wildlife Management Demonstration 

 area, and the construction and emplacement of several 

 waterfowl nesting boxes and platforms. 



Valens Wildlife Extension Agreement Area. This 450-acre 

 property is owned by the Hamilton Region Conservation 

 Authority. It provides waterfowl hunting and viewing oppor- 

 tunities on an area that is used inlenstively during other 

 periods of the year by outdoor recreationists. Seven blinds 

 have been constructed and placed on the Valens Reservoir 

 for hunter use. Access to the blinds is controlled by the 

 Conservation Authority. A baited area is located on the south 

 end of the reservoir. Waterfowl hunting is permitted during 

 the mornings of Monday, Wednesday and Saturday during 

 the hunting season. In 1970, the area supplied recreation for 

 249 hunters who hunted a total of 1,298 hours, averaging 

 5.21 hours per hunter. A total of 378 ducks were harvested, 

 an average of 1 .52 ducks per hunter. 



12 



