Outdoor Pursuits

I was today-years-old when I learned about “train and trial” areas for hunting dogs. Well, not completely true—I did know there are train and trial competitions for bird dogs in Alberta, and sheep dog trials are also big. However, what I didn’t know is that in Ontario, train and trial areas for hunting dogs allows for the chasing down of coyotes and red foxes, which have been captured by trappers on registered traplines in that province.

According to the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry, “Train and trial areas are enclosed areas on private land where certain wildlife (i.e. cottontail, snowshoe hare, red fox or coyote) are kept captive for the purposes of teaching dogs hunting skills such as picking up scent trails, tracking, and pursuing game at a safe distance. They are also used to conduct hunting dog competitions (known as “trialing”). The fenced areas are designed to keep both the wildlife and the dogs confined to the area (not allowing for the free passage of wildlife).

“New train and trial areas were last approved to be established in 1997 and were intended to be phased-out over time. At one time there were 50-60 train and trial areas in Ontario; currently there are 24 licenced train and trial areas in the province.

“Over time, the ministry has received requests for changes to allow dog train and trial areas to continue to persist, including allowing for licence transfers in response to aging licence holders, as well as new licences to be issued.”

And, much to the chagrin of Animal Justice—a group of lawyer’s in Toronto who “believe that animals need lawyers, and our legal team works to protect animals from cruelty and neglect”—the Ontario government has indeed lifted the ban on new “train and trial” areas where dogs learn to hunt captive coyotes, foxes and rabbits in Ontario.

Of course, Animal Justice has no use for hunters and trappers and clearly say so on their website, so it only makes sense that they’d be against train and trial areas.

But are they correct in this case?

Animal Justice, like so many animal-rights activists, went undercover to a train and trial area and witnessed a competition in which hunting dogs were set loose on coyotes. According to Animal Justice, “In so-called ‘train and trial’ competitions (a euphemism for sport hunting), our investigator witnessed the heartbreaking, frightened faces of coyotes who are forced to run for their lives, week after week, in the cruel competitions. Participants often competed for cash prizes, spoke coldly of their animals, and threatened violence toward dogs who didn’t perform well.” After watching the video, I too was a little disturbed by what I saw—and I am a trapper holding a registered trapline in Alberta who has captured hundreds of coyotes over the years. The video, which can be found at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Am1S3Znut2E&t=622s, showed disturbing content of coyotes being killed by hounds, and owners of the dogs suggesting it’s common, with some even encouraging their dogs to kill.

According to Animal Justice, “Hunting lobbyists defend penned dog hunting by denying that animals are ever hurt or killed in these pens. But this is false—the participants that our investigator spoke with were very clear that the dogs regularly catch, maim, and kill coyotes throughout the season. They explained that pen owners had to bring in new coyotes to stock the pens, because dogs catch them throughout the year.

“This perverse form of sport hunting is illegal everywhere else in Canada, and in most US states.”

Animal Justice, along with World Animal Protection, The Fur-Bearers, Humane Canada, Zoocheck, Humane Society International/Canada, Animal Alliance of Canada, and Coyote Watch Canada are now taking the Ontario government to task, sending the video, images from social media sites, and a letter asking for the end of train and trial areas to the government.

In a statement from the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry, a spokesperson said, “The ministry cannot verify the origin of the media content that was shared, including whether it originated from a licenced train and trial facility in Ontario.

“We encourage anyone with any information to report it to the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry tip line or their local district office.”

Now, I’m far from one to agree with the above-mentioned groups, but often we hunters and trappers are our own worst enemy when it comes to posting stuff on social media—TJ Schwanky has been sounding this alarm for years now, but few appear to be listening.

Penned dog hunting areas, legal or not, for the betterment of hunting’s image, might not be the best practice out there. In fact, I’d suggest it’s harming hunters everywhere.

For the previous Outdoor Pursuits article, click here.