Hunting and Discharge of Firearms in Cowichan Bay
Re: Action taken to prevent illegal hunting in Cowichan Estuary within the Municipality of North Cowichan The fall and winter of 2014 has resulted in an increase in the number of complaints from Khenipsen Road residents about the disturbance caused by the discharge of firearms associated with waterfowl hunting in Cowichan Estuary. Waterfowl hunting seasons for both ducks and geese are opened annually and were most recently opened from October 12, 2013 to January 24, 2014. The Municipality of North Cowichan is closed to the discharge of firearms by authority of Bylaw 3077. The Municipality extends southward 1000 feet into the Estuary from the northern foreshore and covers the delta and marshes at the mouth of the North Arm of the Cowichan River. Despite the closure, hunters have been observed on numerous occasions hunting within the closed area. Cowichan Bay and Estuary are situated within Region 1, Management Unit 04 (MU 1-04). A check of the 2012-2014 BC Hunting and Trapping Regulations revealed that Map A11 on Page 30 of the synopsis titled: “Cowichan Bay Area (situated in MU 1-4) Seasonal No Shooting Area & Firearms Using Shot Only Area,” erroneously depicts the entire Bay and Estuary with the noted exception of Indian Reserves open to, “…Firearms Using Shot Only….” Municipal Administrator, Mark Ruttan was contacted on January 28,, 2014 and provided with the necessary details and contact information to request a revision of Map A11 to exclude the Municipal lands from the open area shown on the map. An official request with a corrected version of the map attached was submitted by Administrator Ruttan January 29, 2014 and to Ian Hatter, Wildlife Management Manager, Victoria with a copy to South Coast Regional Fish and Wildlife Section Head, Mike Stalberg, Nanaimo. It is expected that this request will result in a correction to the hunting regulations synopsis for 2014-2016 which is due to be published in early July 2014. Note: Mark Ruttan has been advised that there will be a need to inform hunters of this correction in the hunting regulations to prevent hunters from erroneously hunting in an area which they previously believed was legally opened to the discharge of firearms. Ray DemarchiCERCA Member and CSRT Representative