Doreen Sliworsky near bullet hole (Photo courtesy MWF).

The Manitoba Wildlife Federation wants the Province of Manitoba to ban spotlighting. A media conference in Winnipeg on Tuesday was held to highlight the extent of the problem.

On September 10, 2015, 4:00 AM, ranchers Victor and Doreen Sliworsky of Winnipegosis were fast-asleep in their bed. Both were abruptly awakened by a violent ‘BANG’ with a rifle bullet flying through their window frame missing Mrs. Sliworsky’s head by a mere two-feet.

The MWF says the Sliworsky’s were victims of spotlighting – the practice of hunters using a spotlight at night to shoot wild game. The Sliworsky’s son-in-law and family spokesperson, Wayne Lytwyn, says the incident has adversely affected everyone in the family. “Spotlighting is an all too common occurrence in rural Manitoba,” said Lytwyn. “Not only does it pose a significant risk to public safety, the damage done by poachers and night hunters puts people’s lives at risk.”
The Manitoba Wildlife Federation (MWF) is taking the lead in calling for a ban on spotlighting in the populated portions of Manitoba to protect people, pets, farm animals and private property.

“The government needs to take action because of safety concerns and worries over a rapidly declining animal population” said Rob Olson Managing Director of the Federation.

The death in January 2010 of a hunter from Sagkeeng First Nation was preventable and MWF Board Member and Hunter Education Instructor, Fred Tait, says it’s time for the Manitoba Government to stop spotlighting where it is unsafe before someone else is killed. “Allowing anyone to hunt at night in populated areas of the Province flies in the face of universally accepted safe hunting practices and puts people in danger,” said Tait.

Joining the MWF in the call to ban spotlighting are the Association of Manitoba Municipalities, Manitoba Beef Producers and Manitoba Natural Resource Officers’ Association, who have passed resolutions supporting the ban. Nineteen individual Rural Municipalities have passed anti-spotlighting resolutions.

Enhanced enforcement by Manitoba Conservation is also needed. According to the Manitoba Natural Resource Officers’ Association, there are approximately 104 field staff which they believe is not nearly enough to provide adequate enforcement. Approximately 12 of those positions are currently vacant. The MWF is calling for a strong commitment from the Province to properly fund and support Natural Resource Officers so they have the resources for effective enforcement.

Current Manitoba hunting regulations state night hunting is legal for First Nations hunters, however, they are not permitted to discharge a firearm in areas “where it is dangerous to do so.” Night hunting and spotlighting is banned for non-Aboriginals. Fred Tait emphasized the need for a discussion with all parties to determine where night hunting should and should not be allowed. “From our early discussions we strongly believe the Aboriginal community understands the problems with spotlighting in populated areas,” said Tait. “We are calling on the Province to seriously commit to conducting the necessary consultations with Indigenous hunters to make rural communities safer.”