A cull by any other name is still a cull

from this morning's Herald:
Province revamps hunting regulations
Biggest change involves deer hunting zones
By IAN FAIRCLOUGH Staff Reporter
Fri. Jun 25 - 4:54 AM More deer-hunting zones, a doubling of the limit on the number of bears that can be snared and the ability to hunt with a crossbow are among several changes to hunting regulations that the province has announced.

The most extensive change is a redrawing of the existing deer hunting zones, turning eight areas into 12.
That change, made after public consultation, is designed to increase the possibility of hunters bagging two deer a year in zones where the deer population is high. The goal is to cut down on the number of collisions between deer and cars and to reduce other problems associated with deer increasing in number and coming into contact with humans.
Another change creates a non-motorized moose hunt in Cape Breton.
Separate from the regular moose hunt, it will take place Sept. 20-25 and Oct. 11-16 in the Pollets Cove-Aspy Fault Wilderness Area.
The Natural Resources Department wants to gauge from the trial hunt how much interest there is in a non-motorized hunt and to evaluate hunting and hauling techniques before a ban on motorized vehicles in the wilderness area comes into effect in 2012.
Only 20 special licences, to be drawn in the coming months, will be available for the trial hunt.
Mike O’Brien, acting manager for the large mammals program with Natural Resources, said the trial hunt will determine if it’s feasible for hunters to bag a moose and then get it out of the wilderness to a place where they can use a vehicle.
"This is much different than the other hunt, where you’re allowed to use motorized vehicles," O’Brien said.
"You have to think about where you’re going to hunt, how far you are capable of going in (the woods) with the gear you are going to need, and more importantly, how far you are capable of carrying out a 75- or 80- or 100-pound backload of moose meat when you successfully get an animal," he said.
"You’re going to need help, you’re going to need three or four or more other people who understand what they’re getting into and are willing to help you get that animal out through difficult terrain."
People who snare bears will be allowed to bag two instead of one because of an increase in the bear population, O’Brien said. He said there has been a gradual increase in problems and complaints involving bears.
Among other changes to the regulations:
•Teenagers aged 16 to 19 can be licensed to guide when supervised by a licensed guide older than 19. Hunters aged 12 to 15 can take guide courses.
•Hunters with a disability can hunt on their own, as long as someone is available to help retrieve game.
•Camouflage orange clothing is permitted while hunting.
•Crossbows can be used for any hunt in which conventional bows may be used, except the special open season for hunting deer with a bow.
•Hunters can use .410 slugs for deer hunting and larger buckshot sizes for big game, coyotes, fur-bearing animals and certain small game.
( ifairclough@herald.ca)
Well then.  Sandwiched right in the middle ... where perhaps they are hoping nobody will notice, is the tidbit about the increased bear limit. 
I'm a middle aged grandmother not a simpleton and so coming out of the gate, I tend to get a little irritated at this kind of thing.
Small children bringing home notes from school often slip them in for signature when busy parents aren't paying attention.   Adult politicians and bureaucrats should be better than that.
( The subject of how The NDP Bobsled Team may be hoping to minimize negative publicity in the wake of the latest news of the Scanwood layoffs scant months after receiving a government loan is a topic for a blog with a different focus than mine, eh? )
To be perfectly honest, this really isn't any different from the time a couple of years ago when the (then) PC government tried to sneak BSL into Nova Scotia undercover of a municipal housekeeping bill.
What time is it?  Like the commercial says ... its time for a little clarity.  Trying to hide the unpopular bits is just greasing the bobsled.