2024-03-05 05:00:00
Although hunting has long been a man’s world, for several years, women have increasingly been registering to obtain their certifications in order to be able to hunt.
The results of the last period of hunting training given by the Quebec Federation of Hunters and Fishermen (FédéCP) show that women and those under 18 are more present than these gentlemen.
“Women are featured and it’s very nice. This is a trend that we have noticed for several years,” explains the general director of the Federation, Maxime Jean.
“During the pandemic, we recorded very interesting figures due to the fact that people wanted to get back to activities at home. It is certain that this year’s numbers are lower than during the pandemic, but as far as the trend for ladies and young people is concerned, it is holding up. If we take this year’s figures, adding young people under 18 and women, we arrive at the percentage of 51% of the total courses given for firearm hunting. »
For him, this trend undoubtedly represents a very good sign for the future. “As a joke, I told people back home that it marked the end of hunting widows. So much the better if amateurs now practice hunting in pairs. So much the better if many young people take the courses because they represent the next generation. I believe that these figures reflect the efforts we have put into advertising the practice of hunting. Also, we have different activities annually, such as Fauniqué femme, which have certainly contributed to creating this movement. The Federation has really democratized the different training courses,” continues the general director.
MORE FREEDOM
We must also take into account another very important factor to explain the fact that ladies want to hunt more and more. They now have the freedom to do so.
Previously, when the man went hunting, the woman stayed at home to take care of the children and continue working at her job. Today, the children are grown up and often leave home. Also, they have retired, which means they have more free time.
“I think yes, the ladies now have more time, but I also believe that they have the taste to do it and to accompany their man hunting,” mentions Maxime Jean. I believe that once they have had the experience of a hunting trip, many women decide to go further by taking their courses in order to become professional hunters. »
He also explains that they often went hunting with their children. Indeed, we see more and more small families practicing small game hunting.
NUMBERS
By consulting the FédéCP report concerning the various courses for firearm hunting and for bows and crossbows, we see that the total results show 54,553 people who took courses. This is an average figure for normal years before the pandemic.
Since some of the training courses are offered online, their popularity continues. In 2023, nearly 15,000 participants completed the Introduction to Firearm Hunting (ICAF) course and 10,032 people completed the course for bow and crossbow hunting.
Across Quebec, the Federation’s volunteer instructors, who do extraordinary work, have trained more than 24,000 people for the Canadian Firearms Safety Course (CCSMAF) and that for restricted weapons. These two parts of the course must be done in class.
An important fact to highlight is that the specific wild turkey hunting training attracted 5,608 people. Since the establishment of a regular wild turkey hunt in the spring of 2008, more than 82,000 people have been introduced to this hunt which is growing in popularity.
The saga of the wild turkey
Screenshot taken from Facebook, Jacques Houle
The events in Louiseville went around Quebec as these images were broadcast of a male turkey running following a man.
With the early spring we are experiencing, this young male seemed to have territorial behavior as for the mating season. The wild turkey population exceeds 70,000 individuals. Winter is the number one predator of this species. The depth of snow on the ground will make the difference. The favorable conditions that we experience allow the species to reproduce without problem. A female can give birth to 10 to 12 young per year. The population might reach peaks soon. Perhaps the authorities concerned should consider taking a certain number of females, via a draw as for the roe deer.
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