The Manitoba government has taken the first steps toward banning penned hunting operations in the province, making good on an election promise made earlier this year.
Last month, the government introduced legislation that would enable the conservation department to regulate or ban penned hunting operations for wild or exotic animals.
Presently, exotic animals like wild boar fall into a grey area of the law. They are not part of the province’s Wildlife Act, so penned hunting operations for the animals cannot be regulated.
The conservation department will hold a series of meetings with hunters, trappers, conservation groups and farmers.
Ian McKay, the department’s problem/captive wildlife manager, said the consultations will help the department draft its regulations.
There are five penned hunting operations in the province. Most have wild boar, but one includes bison.
McKay said the new regulations will only affect penned hunting operations and will not affect livestock operations.
