Some 3,000 black bear hunters will be contacted this winter as part of the Ministry of Natural Resources’ first survey on the species in eight years.
From January to March, some 2,000 hunters living in Ontario and 1,000 non-resident US hunters will be randomly asked to participate, the ministry announced in a Jan. 6 email to partners, including the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters (OFAH).
The analysis is part of a regular cycle of surveys of hunters, recreational anglers, and other nature-based recreationists, and trappers, officials stated. They are in addition to mandatory hunter activity and harvest reporting.
Invited hunters will be able to complete the survey online at ontario.ca/BearHunterSurvey using the unique access codes provided in their invitation letters or by filling out and returning a paper questionnaire using a provided postage-paid return envelope.
“These surveys complement the information we receive from other sources — like mandatory hunter reporting – to provide a richer understanding of who is engaging with these activities in Ontario and how, as well as insights into the perspectives and preferences of participants and the types of benefits that these activities provide to individuals and to the province,” Fish and Wildlife Policy Branch Director Christie Curley wrote.
Last survey in 2017
The last survey of black bear hunters was conducted in 2017. It was primarily designed to estimate the economic contributions of the spring and fall black bear hunting seasons to Ontario from hunter expenditures. Other goals included assessing awareness of, participation in, and barriers to participation in the voluntary black bear premolar teeth submission program, and profiling Ontario’s black bear hunters.
The 2024 survey is also designed to enable economic expenditure estimates by hunting season, profile Ontario’s black bear hunters, track awareness and participation with the voluntary black bear premolar teeth submission program, and learn about current hunting styles and preferences, officials stated.
The scope of the survey has also been expanded to include additional questions about hunting styles (such as methods for identifying female bears) and preferences (such as travel and location preferences), and hunter experiences hunting with licensed bear operators. Hunter perspectives on black bear management in Ontario (such as barriers to reporting of bears taken in protection of property), will also be sought.
