ANNUAL REPORT, 1939-40 13 



REGULATED GAME PRESERVE AREAS 



The setting aside of certain townships as Regulated Areas had a two-fold 

 purpose, viz: — to ensure a larger measure of co-operation between the farmer and the 

 sportsman through establishing an additional amount of control and avoiding excessive 

 hunting in any one area; and the development of upland game birds, principally 

 pheasants, through intensive propagation and the added degree of protection which 

 pertains in these areas. Co-operation is stimulated by the fact that hunting in these 

 regulated townships is restricted, and control is exercised by the simple expedient of 

 requiring the hunter to provide himself with a special township license. These are 

 limited in numbers so far as non-residents of the township are concerned, so that 

 the general influx of outsiders to any one district is checked. 



It should be noted that these Regulated Townships have been set aside at the 

 request of the municipal authorities concerned, and that they have endorsed the regu- 

 lations provided as tending to eliminate the friction which previously existed. The 

 Township Councils, in view of the restrictons in force, are discouraging the posting 

 of private lands as the success of the scheme depends upon the generous provision of 

 hunting facilities during prescribed open seasons. 



As some confusion still exists in the mind of the sportsman as to the regula- 

 tions which apply, let us briefly summarize these. In the first place, these regulated 

 areas are closed to hunting except as prescribed by the Department. Provision has 

 therefore been made to provide an open season for pheasants and the necessary special 

 licenses are issued for this purpose. Intense propagation of pheasants has been carried 

 on by the Department and hundreds of birds released in each Regulated Township, in 

 order to ensure the success of this open season. Hunters, however, must provide 

 themselves with one of the special licenses for the township in which they desire to 

 hunt, and must confine their pheasant shooting to the township for which the license 

 has been purchased. 



In addition to the pheasant hunting this special township license entitles the 

 holder to hunt rabbits between November 1st and February 28th in any regulated 

 township within the same county as that for which he possesses a pheasant license. 



It will be obvious that such a Regulation provides a measure of control against 

 overcrowding, while at the same time it offers the sportsman extensive hunting facil- 

 ities within a defined area. 



Other forms of hunting in these regulated townships are at the discretion of 

 the controlling organization. Groundhog shooting, for example, may be indulged in 

 only with the written consent of the controlling organization which is usually the 

 township council, and the possession of the groundhog license issued by the Department. 



The controlling organization in each area may also authorize the shooting of 

 woodcock during the open season for same, but the hunter must be in possession of 

 the regular gun license issued by the Department and the written approval of the con- 

 trolling organization. 



There is only one exception to the restrictions. It provides that nothing in the 

 regulations "bhall in any way apply to prohibit the hunting of wild ducks and wild 

 geese on any Regulated Game Preserve Area where such hunting is carried on in ac- 

 cordance with the provisions of the Migratory Birds Convention Act and Regulations 

 and the Game and Fisheries Act; and except that this provision shall not apply in the 

 Township of Scarborough, County of York." The Township of Scarborough is part 

 of the York Sanctuary for Migratory Birds. The onus of proof that he was duck 

 hunting would be on the hunter and the suitability of the area for such must be 

 established. 



The restrictions in these areas do not apply to the trapping of fur-bearing 

 animals, provided such is carried on in accordance with the provisions of the Game and 

 Fisheries Act, and no firearms are used for the purpose. 



