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DEPARTMENT OF GAME AND FISHERIES 



No. 9 



A change was made in the boundaries of the Dumfries Game Preserve by 

 withdrawing therefrom all that portion of South Dumfries Township located within 

 the area. This was made desirable by the fact that the whole township of South 

 Dumfries was established as a Regulated Game Preserve Area. 



At the same time a small Crown Game Preserve was set up within the Township 

 of South Dumfries. 



The designation, location and approximate size of the areas are as follows: — 



DESIGNATION 



Hannah Bay Waterfowl Sanctuary . . . 



xDumfries Game Preserve 



South Dumfries Crown Game Preserve 



COUNTY 



Cochrane District 



Waterloo 



Brant 



EXTENT IN ACRES 



44,800 approx. 

 14,000 

 1,200 



X Reduced in size. 



REGULATED GAME PRESERVE AREAS 



In introducing the subject, it seems desirable to say a few words as to the 

 reasons for the inauguration in 1937 of this system of further control in connection 

 with hunting. 



For many generations the sportsmen of the Province have been privileged 

 through the goodwill of the landowners, to make free use of private property in 

 their pursuit of game. It should be noted, however, that while game is a common 

 heritage, the land which it inhabits, particularly in Southern Ontario, is mostly 

 privately owned. To reduce the game to possession, the hunter must have the good- 

 will of the landowner, failing which, a spirit of antagonism is set up between the 

 two which results in the cancellation of the privileges of entering upon the lands 

 to hunt game. Recognizing this fact, and feeling that any plan which would have 

 the effect of eliminating the grievances of the farmer through more rigid control of 

 the hunter would be in the best interests of the sport, the Department formulated a 

 plan for the establishment of regulated shooting areas in certain Townships. 



To better understand the conditions which apply, it should be noted that in 

 most of these areas the available hunting consists of upland game birds, rabbits 

 and ducks. The latter two are fairly plentiful and provide most of the hunting. 

 For many years the Department has been endeavouring to stock suitable areas of the 

 Province with English Ringneck Pheasants and although the results in certain 

 counties were sufficiently successful to warrant open seasons, in others development 

 was somewhat slow. Most of these latter areas never were opened to pheasant 

 hunting and the good sportsman refrained from molesting the birds. 



The opening of a short pheasant season in a few districts such as the Niagara 

 Peninsula also resulted in a large influx of hunters to these areas. A congestion of 

 hunters in any district leads to many complications and much unfavourable publicity, 

 and in any case, where facilities are limited and many desire to take part, the result 

 is usually unsatisfactory. 



Another situation which frequently created a great deal of annoyance to rural 

 residents was the heavy influx of hunters from urban centres who literally swept over 

 the countryside on jack rabbit drives. These drives were not always well conducted 

 or carried out with a proper regard for the property rights of the farmer. As a 

 result friction sprang up and bad feeling ensued. 



