Conservation Programs at Barrie District Hunters & Anglers Conservation Club

Since 1953, the membership of the Barrie District Hunters & Anglers Conservation Club has taken consistent, direct action to improve our local wildlife habitats, care for and protect our local environment and increase community awareness for environmental causes.

Our membership is composed of active outdoors people, to whom the care and protection of our wildlife and natural environment are of paramount importance.

As active hunters and anglers, protecting and improving our fragile, diminishing and frequently challenged natural resources, is absolutely necessary to our ability to pass these traditions and environmental appreciation to future generations of Ontarians. As a result of these passions, the Barrie District Hunters & Anglers Conservation Club has been recognized by organizations such as the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry, Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters, The Canadian Federal Government, Nottawasaga Valley Conservation Authority, Food Partners Alliance and more.

We are honored to have been recognized as a leader in the protection and preservation of our local environment and hope that our example will encourage others to accept the challenge and responsibility of caring for all our Province’s Natural Resources.

Our property consists of 247 Acres of land, made up of hardwood and softwood forests, meadows, streams, ponds and marsh.  This varied landscape provides our members the ability to enjoy, study and experience a great many species of plant and animal, within the confines of our property. Many of our conservation projects begin here. 

In 2016, 10,000 trees were planted on our lands.  Part of that process is returning to those areas to determine success rates.  Unexpectedly, given the winter of 2016-2017, we are able to report 1^st year yields of 90% of the Evergreen and 70% of the Oak trees. Initial predictions were significantly lower and we are cautiously thrilled that these high percentages of seedlings have survived.  This evaluation will continue for an additional 5 years and allow us to determine the overall success of this effort. 

On other parts of our property, Barrie District Hunters and Anglers Conservation Club has enlisted the services of a registered forester to assist in the harvest of trees, in order to improve and promote the healthy growth of our forested areas. A forestation plan, consisting of Soil and water conservation and land preparation, reforestation, intermediate treatment (thinning and salvage), as well as targeted harvesting, will ensure the continued development and adaptation of these lands for future generations.

One of our meadows has been selected and club youth have planted raspberry and blueberry bushes. Fruit bearing trees and bushes are a potentially useful food source for local and migratory animals. Deer feeders and mineral blocks, duck boxes, bird feeders, brown bat boxes, stream reclamation, and shoreline improvement, beehives and more, have all found a place on BDHACC lands.

Many of our members continue to participate in Nottawasaga Valley Conservation Tree Planting, Tiffin Conservation area events, Minesing wetlands Conservation area projects, and Scout Tree planting projects. 

Our most recent past president sits on the Simcoe County Forest management board and works to ensure Simcoe forests are adequately protected and maintained while encouraging the Heritage Rights of all hunters and anglers are preserved throughout all County forest management plans.