Local conservation groups are speaking out about reports that a Chatham-Kent couple is being subjected to trespassing and illegal hunting spillover from a tract of crown land near their Pinehurst Line home.
Malcolm and September MacAlpine went public with their concerns last week and have filed suit against the provincial government, alleging illegal hunting activities are making it impossible to enjoy their property that adjoins the Harwich Tract Crown Forest.
The couple claim hunters have trespassed on their land, disregarded restrictions on the use of guns on the crown land, ignored hunting regulations and engaged in vandalism.
Sean Miller, president of the 400-member strong Kent Cloverleaf Conservation Club, visited the site and said while the public shouldn’t jump to conclusions, he’s troubled by actions noted in the article.
“Anyone who is trespassing on private property or shooting up signs or possibly drinking alcohol when hunting shouldn’t call themselves a legitimate hunter,” he said. “If we had a member who was doing that, we’d kick them out of the club.”
Miller said the club, now in its 51st year, stresses the key points of safety and conservation.
“It gets back to proper ethics.”
He said proper signage and enforcement should weed out “a few bad apples.”
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Joe Pinsonneault, president of the Dover Rod and Gun Club, said his group was founded more than 60 years ago with the idea of teaching safety and conservation, a goal that hasn’t changed.
“You need to respect nature,” he said. “There is no excuse for violating the rules of common decency and safety. If we want our children and grandchildren to hunt and enjoy the outdoors, we need to be good stewards and good examples.”
He said the club holds hunter education programs twice a year and stresses the importance of obeying the law.
“There are proper places to shoot and a right way to go about it,” he said.
Former Chatham-Kent councillor Art Stirling said he feels the frustration of the MacAlpines.
“I’m flabbergasted that this issue has gotten to this point,” he said. “I was asked by the MacAlpines to become involved and met with several parties including the MNR,” he said. “I thought that with local support from the Chatham-Kent Police and municipality, the matter could have been handled. In the end, I get the sense the natural resources people and the MTO (Ministry of Transportation) just blew them off.”
He said with re-construction of the 401 overpass looming, the area will be teeming with workers.
“Construction people will be at risk because government ministries aren’t taking action.”
He said the MacAlpines are the last people he expected to take action.
“All they want is to be left alone to enjoy their property.”
Mr. Miller if you read the previous articles that have been posted, it states the MNR is not handling the issue.
They have put signs up and people have shot the signs up, so much for the signage doing there job.
MNR obviously over the last 3 yrs. has ignored the MacAlphine's and do not want to do anything.
It is not a priority to them and obviously they don't care.
If you think you can enforce the rules all the power to you.
Or maybe you can contact the MNR and let them give you all the excuses for not reacting to the MacAlpine's concerns.
Maybe the mcaplines should have chosen a different location to live seeing as the crown land was already identified as hunting property!
They have lived there for over 27 yrs. if you read the article. This has never been a problem until the last 3 years. When the MNR decided to turn into a wetland which was suppose to be for the wildlife. You should read all the articles and understand what is going on.