Big Game animal numbers in Manitoba have been on the decline, and this is a reason for concern to the Manitoba Wildlife Federation (MWF). For example Moose populations in the Province have been hindered significantly, and MWF feels this is because of night lighting hunters, and poaching.

To help the fight against the illegal harvest of big game animals in Manitoba the MWF has created a Big Game Crisis Committee.

"We are rolling out the committee to help sustain big game populations within the Province of Manitoba," shared MWF President Brian Strauman.

There are a number of different ways you can attack and try to resolve this crisis/situation, and this committee has a pair of initiatives it's moving forward with. One is to completely ban night lighting/night hunting.

According to Strauman night lighting/night hunting is currently illegal for licensed hunters. Meanwhile, for rights based hunters it is legal.

"Within the hunting regulations it clearly stats that a Status Indian may not discharge a rifle or shot gun at night, where it is unsafe to do so. I'm not sure where in the Province it is safe to discharge a firearm at night," explained Strauman.

The other initiative the Committee is spearheading, is to get more Conservation Officers in the Province to help combat the night lighting/night hunting issue.

Strauman noted a resolution was passed this year at the AMM Conference in Brandon, which saw all parties ban night lighting in their respective regions. He added the next step is to put together a strategy of how to eliminate night lighting, along with AMM, and then present it to the Manitoba Government.