PARTRIDGE FOREVER SOCIETY

P.O. Box 89, Bay Roberts, NF A0A 1G0

Contact: Raymond Anthony, President

Phone: (709) 722-5550 (office) or (709) 437-1264 (residence)

Fax: (709) 753-1744

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 5, 2001

Subject: Opening Dates for Ptarmigan (Partridge) Hunting Season

The Partridge Forever Society, on behalf of many of its members, has been lobbying government for a number of years to adjust the opening date for the Partridge Season. We have expressed the wish that a date closest to October 1^st would be best. We also know that the closing dates would have to be adjusted to maintain the current season length. This has been the view expressed to the society by the majority of Partridge hunters who have had the opportunity to speak the issue.

Over the last year through multiple meetings with various members of the Inland Fish and Wildlife Division, the Society has made much progress concerning this issue. We thank the officials in the Division for their continuing open lines of communications. In fact, we feel that had there been a more significant positive response by the Partridge hunters to last years small game questionnaire published in the 2000-2001 Hunting and Trapping Guide, a change may have resulted for this years season. Through our consultation with the small game biologists in the Wildlife Division, we understand that an earlier opening date (ie. September 15) or a later date (ie. October 1) would not adversely affect the Ptarmigan resource. It is the Society’s contention that the later season will be the best to provide a more sporting hunt by 1) allowing the birds time to grow and mature and 2) allow birds to disperse from their breeding areas. With the cooler weather in October, long hard walks on the barrens and marshes are certainly more enjoyable to both hunter and their dogs.

The Society realizes that there are other small game resource user groups in the Province that have been consulted by Inland Fish and Wildlife Division on this issue. Maybe they have different view points then that of the Partridge Forever Society. In the end we would hope to have a win-win situation in which the majority of Partridge hunters are given due consideration. Therefore, as President of the Partridge Forever Society, I strongly encourage all Partridge hunters who are interested or concerned with this issue to please express your view by writing to the:

Inland Fish and Wildlife Division

You may also send your views by email to :mikecahill@gov.nf.ca

Yours very truly,

Raymond Anthony - President