News Releases

Media Bulletin - Manitoba

October 14, 2020

Manitoba Conservation and Climate Enforcement Update

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Conservation Officers Continue Enforcement of New Night Hunting Legislation in Moose Closure Areas

Manitoba Conservation and Climate advises that ongoing enforcement by conservation officers under the new Wildlife Amendment Act continues to address illegal hunting at night and in moose closure areas. In the early hours of Wednesday, Oct. 14, officers encountered a group of hunters using a spotlight to hunt from a provincial road near Springer Lake in Nopiming Provincial Park. 
 
Five men were arrested and their vehicle, a 2010 Dodge Ram truck, as well as a rifle, a spotlight and various other hunting items, were seized. The men, all from Sagkeeng First Nation, were issued appearance notices for night hunting and hunting in a moose closure area. 
 
On Saturday, Oct. 10, the Wildlife Amendment Act (Safe Hunting and Shared Management) took effect with the goal of protecting Manitoba’s moose population and ensuring a safe hunting environment. Night hunting is now illegal in Manitoba for all licensed hunters and on private land. 
 
The province is implementing a permit system to allow opportunities for rights-based hunting on some Crown land, and is putting in place different requirements for northern and southern Manitoba based on extensive Crown-Indigenous consultations that contributed to the development of the legislation. 
 
In northern Manitoba, Indigenous hunters may hunt on Crown land and do not need to apply for a permit, though night hunting by rights-holders is prohibited near occupied sites and roadways for safety reasons. In southern Manitoba, night hunting is banned except with a permit that allows rights-based hunting on Crown land, subject to terms and conditions establishing where it can be done safely.
 
Anyone with information on illegal hunting activities is asked to call their local Manitoba Conservation and Climate office or the toll-free Turn In Poachers (TIP) line at 1-800-782-0076. 
 
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