Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, during my last home visit, I heard a large number of concerns about the lack of moose in the area. There were concerns that some hunters were taking cows and that overhunting is occurring in the areas, as well as the lack of accountability when it comes to keeping track of the number of moose being taken from the region. Mr. Speaker, can the Minister of ENR tell us if his department keeps track of the number of moose being taken yearly during the hunting season, and if not, why? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. Minister of Environment and Natural Resources.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, harvest from licensed resident hunters is estimated from an annual survey. Results are sorted into three large areas: Fort Smith, Yellowknife, and Inuvik, for the whole of the NWT. For the 2015-2016 hunting season, I can inform this House that 182 moose were harvested by residents of the NWT. An additional 76 bulls were harvested by licensed non-resident hunters through outfitted and guided hunts in the Mackenzie Mountains that help bring money into our communities. The moose harvest by general hunting licence holders or people exercising an Aboriginal harvesting right within their traditional area is not tracked, or if it is by an Aboriginal government, it is not shared with the department. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mahsi cho to the Minister for that answer. As I previously stated, there has been a number of cows being taken. This is a huge concern for the community and elders alike. We all know that taking a cow has a huge impact on our moose population. Mr. Speaker, will the Minister have his department look into doing a five-year ban on hunting cow moose to help increase the moose population?
Regular moose surveys in the Deh Cho region have shown a fairly stable trend and no evidence of any decline in the Mackenzie Valley. There was a community meeting in Fort Liard at the beginning of the month, and we actually heard that moose numbers in the Liard area have improved recently. Also, some of the other Deh Cho communities have not raised concerns over the moose population. I can inform the House that the next moose survey in the Deh Cho region is planned for November 2017 and February 2018, after which we will assess the population trend.
I appreciate the answer from the Minister. I guess we are talking to different people, because when I was back home, they were saying there was a huge decline in my area and a number of communities. Fort Liard Road was one of the places where people were taking moose from outside the region.
Mr. Speaker, in the past, there has been a ban from allowing hunters from hunting from the side of the road. It is my understanding from the residents this may have been stopped. Can the Minister advise if the department has revised their policy and regulations to stop hunting from the side of the road?
Specific regulations to ban hunting from the side of the road may not be needed. The Wildlife Act already has provisions to ensure dangerous harvesting practices are not occurring, specifically, no person shall discharge firearm, bow and arrow, or anything that pass along and travel portions of highway while hunting of wildlife.
Also, no person can harvest wildlife without due regard for the safety of others, and that is just common sense as well for property. This applies to all licenced hunters in the GNWT as well as harvesters with Aboriginal harvest right within their recreational area. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. Oral questions. Member for Nahendeh.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I appreciate the answer from the Minister. I guess there are some concerns from the residents of my area. People are hunting from the road and there is a safety concern out there, so I greatly appreciate the answer and understand the rules, but we need to find out how we can enforce it. Is the Minister willing to come to my riding to do a regional tour to meet with the residents to hear about their concerns and other issues they have with ENR first hand? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I would be pleased to accompany the Member on a tour of his riding and hear from the folks in his riding. I will also give the invitations out to all the Members opposite that, if there is an opportunity for you to go to their riding and explain some of the work that we are doing within ENR, I would be pleased to do so. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. Oral questions. Member for Yellowknife Centre.
