by JENNIFER LAVIOLETTE

American hunter, author and wildlife television personality Dan Gapen Sr’s letter has left local outfitters and hunters with some cause for concern. His comments regarding Manitobans making hunting difficult for Americans by restricting them to certain times to hunting snow geese and the insulting reference of classifying them as “non-resident aliens” on licenses were some of the main issues addressed within the letter.

Statements in Gapan Sr’s letter, although expressed in a personal manner, to some are felt to be unjust and not clearly explained. Boissevain outfitter, Craig Barwick says the hunting restrictions and seasons for both residents and non-resident aliens are set up for a reason. It’s to control all hunting and by having the seasons in place, it helps protect the number of waterfowl in the Mississippi flyaway. Without this control the number of birds can go way up or down creating a large impact on local upland game. By allowing morning hunting of snow geese, the risk of disrupting their nesting pattern comes into effect. Once that pattern is disrupted, the snow geese will move out of the region and may not return or will leave earlier from their staging areas. Thus creating a shortage in birds for the region or a shorter hunting season and hunters will not come here if there is nothing to hunt.

Barwick isn’t sure why a hunter would want an earlier time frame to start hunting snow geese when there is currently an abundance of them and not so many hunters go for snow geese as much as ducks. As it stands non-resident alien hunters can take a limit of 25 snow geese a day with a total of 75 birds when they go back across the border.

 “Who needs over 75 birds?” questioned Barwick.

None of the Barwicks received any feedback from American hunters this past hunting season. None were displeased with seasons and the restrictions or how they have been received or treated here in Manitoba.

“Not one hunter complained about the way the seasons are set up,” noted Barwick. “They know why they are set up that way. There has been some talk about the number of birds being low and how hunters had to work harder to get their duck limits, but nothing in terms of what Dan Gapen Sr has made reference to.”

In Barwick’s opinion, there are several factors that could be attributed to why there weren’t as many American hunters this year as before. There has been reference to the number of birds being down as opposed to other years, the US dollar isn’t worth as much right now as it was last year and the rising costs of fuel could be factors for this.

Barwick received some feedback about the comments Gapen Sr made in regards to his father, Bert Barwick and his outfitting business.

 “Some people really felt those statements were uncalled for and slanderous,” said Barwick. “Dad has been the main promoter of American hunting in the Whitewater Lake area. He has worked hard to build up his outfitting business and has kept the American hunters coming to the area.”

In regards to the term “non-resident alien”, Barwick couldn’t say if the term has or has not offended hunters.

“I think most of them understand it’s a term referring to them being alien to the country,” noted Barwick.

The term “alien” is explained in the Winston Canadian Dictionary as being: “1, a foreigner”.

To address the Barwicks’ concerns, Craig attended the Chamber of Commerce meeting on Tuesday, December 12. He was concerned about the letters the Chamber were writing and wanted to inform them about why the seasons and restrictions are in place and to hopefully prevent them from sending the letters.

“What Craig had to say was very good,” noted Linda Ransom, President of the Chamber of Commerce. “A lot of people were concerned over this issue. Several people didn’t see the problem about the use of the term “alien”. Canadians have been called that and it’s not something the Chamber is going to deal with.”

Ransom noted that the Chamber would hold over their decision until their next meeting in January 2007.

“We want to handle this properly,” explained Ransom. “Instead of rushing into a resolution, we want to review the facts and then make a decision.”