Complaints common this time of year

Hunters required to be at least 200 metres from nearest home

On Oct. 2, a homeowner in Bedeque called East Prince RCMP because hunters were shooting at geese near their home.

When RCMP arrived and spoke with the hunters, officers found that all their documents and equipment were in order and they were outside the 200-metre distance hunters are required to be from homes before they can discharge their weapons.

They can be closer if they have the homeowner’s permission, so long as they are shooting away from the residence.

“But hunters are still responsible for their own actions. So even at that 200 metres and they’re shooting towards roads or houses they have to realizes that they are still responsible if there was something ever to happen,” said Wade MacKinnon, conservation officer with the provincial government.

MacKinnon added that calls to his office from homeowners concerned about the placement of hunters are common this time of year.

Officers follow up on the calls, as they did in the Bedeque situation.

As of earlier this month, MacKinnon said there had been three such calls made to his office.

All were investigated, but only one was found to actually be too close to a residence.

That hunter was only setting up though, so he was asked to move, however, he was fined for driving an ATV on a sand dune.

Residents can report concerns to either the RCMP or by calling MacKinnon’s 24-hour office line at 902-3684884.

Conservation-related concerns can also be reported at: www.princeedwardisland.ca/en/service/report-violationconservation-officer.

Migratory bird hunting season on P.E.I. closes on Dec. 30.