FACT #1

HUNTING IS NOT JUST FOR MEN!

Despite what people may believe, hunting is not a sport reserved solely for men. Women and youth can be just as passionate about hunting and harvesting their own game and tracking targets. As the statistics show, the love for hunting among the female and young population in Canada keeps growing year after year.

For Julie Migneault, co-owner of Boutique l’Archerot, hunting had never even crossed her mind. “It wasn’t until I met Daniel Larocque (owner of l’Archerot) that I became interested in hunting. I used to work on Parliament Hill!” She retells a story about her first successful hunt where afterwards, she cooked the meat and made a delicious meal out of it. “It was so satisfying because I was responsible for it, from start to finish.”

Hunting is also a sport that brings families together. It can teach children about discipline, patience, and survival. No, it’s not what you usually think of when you think “family-friendly”, considering the number of families that come through our hunting store, it certainly has become a positive bonding experience for families. In fact, it is becoming more and more a family tradition like it was in the past.

FACT #2

VENISON MEAT IS A VERY HEALTHY CHOICE.

Venison meat (meat that comes from game animal, especially deer) has become the choice for health-conscious individuals as it is low in fat and cholesterol and high in protein and vitamins. Leaner and richer in taste, it is the healthiest choice when it comes to red meat and just as delicious, if not more so, as beef at your local supermarket. If you’re not so keen on gamey-tasting meat, don’t worry, well-butchered cuts will solve this problem. Foodies will be happy to know that the options are endless when it comes to creating mouth-watering dishes!

FACT #3

HUNTING IS VERY WELL-MANAGED IN QUÉBEC.

In Québec, like in other provinces, there are several rules and guidelines that each hunter must adhere to. This includes the seasons when hunting is allowed, the related restrictions (e.g. which type of animal you can hunt and where), guidelines for the use of authorized arms and ammunitions, hunting big game, maps of hunting zones and more.

How hunting zones are divided will give you an idea of the intricacies and complexities of hunting laws and regulations. The province of Québec’s is divided into 29 areas. In several cases, the areas are subdivided to apply specific rules pertaining to a species. Hunters must obey the specific hunting rules in these areas and the requirements applicable to the territories.

Poaching, the illegal hunting of animals that exceeds what is allowed by the law, is also taken very seriously and is not tolerated.

If you’re looking for more detailed information on the rules for sport hunting in Québec and Ontario, give us a shout!

FACT #4:

MYTH-BUSTING: THE NATURAL ORDER OF THE FOOD CHAIN SUFFERS DUE TO HUNTING.

People often say that hunting hurts the natural order of the food chain, but this is simply untrue. While the related concerns of non-hunters are understandable, regulated hunting actually helps control overpopulation of species, especially in areas where there is a lack of natural predators. There are several negative consequences that stem from overpopulation, which causes animals to fight over food. If they fight over food, they start venturing outwards into different areas which includes the city and busy roads. That, or they starve to death.

FACT #5:

OFTENTIMES, HUNTERS ARE REQUIRED TO WEAR ORANGE CLOTHING.

In many cases, licensed hunters are required to wear hunter’s orange. The purpose of this clothing requirement is to avoid unnecessary injuries by letting other hunters know that you are also out hunting.

The rules and regulations for hunter’s orange varies from province to province. To find out more details on this clothing requirement in your area, please visit the respective website for the Ministry of Natural Resources in your province.