Too Late For 2013, But Big Buck Contest Will Be Back

Jeff Green | Oct 17, 2013

Late this summer, when members of North Frontenac Township staff found out that they were not in a position to issue licenses for contests where there is any element of skill involved in determining a winner, it caused the Conservationists of Frontenac Addington (COFA) to wonder if their popular Big Buck Deer hunting contest was legal.

Since the tickets are generally sold in September and October in the run-up to the deer hunting season in November, COFA ended up cancelling this year’s contest. They are still holding their raffle, and it has been licensed by the township.

However, behind the scenes the emails have been flying between municipal officials, Dave Shostal of MPP Randy Hillier’s office, and provincial ministries.

The conclusion that was drawn by Dave Shostal, which is being adopted by North Frontenac Township as well, is that skill contests such as fishing derbies, the Big Buck contest, and others, do not require licensing at all.

In a report to Council on the issue, Deputy Clerk Tara Mieske, whose duties include the issuing of lottery licenses, outlined research she has done into the matter and made reference to the research done by Dave Shostal, Randy Hillier’s executive assistant.

“He [Shostal] advised me that it has been difficult to determine the requirements for a hunting contest because there is no legislation for same. The Attorney General’s Office, being the provincial authority, has advised David this is not regulated by them or the Ministry of Natural Resources; however a municipality may choose to require a license for hunting contests. At this time, North Frontenac does not require hunting contests to be licensed.”

The upshot is that municipalities, as a licensing authority for the province, cannot issue a provincial license for skilled contests such as fishing derbies, hunting contests, and poker runs. However, since there is no legislation on the books that talks about these kinds of contests, they do not seem to require licensing at all.

This news comes too late for COFA’s 2013 Big Buck contest. COFA President Ron Pethick said the Big Buck contest, which is 14 years old and has become a tradition in the region, generally raises about $1,500 to $1,800 each year.

“The shame of it all is that it will effect our ability to donate money for youth activities this year,” Pethick said.

Barring any further interventions from any level of government, the Big Buck contest will be a go in 2014.