Cape Breton moose hunt ends with 37 animals killed over 13 days

A controversial moose hunt has concluded for the season in the Cape Breton Highlands National Park.

The harvest ended Monday, after 37 moose were killed by aboriginal hunters over 13 days.

Derek Quann, a Parks Canada resource conservation manager, said park wardens and RCMP monitored the hunt "for the safety of all the public and the harvesters that were involved." 

The hunt was temporarily suspended last month after non-aboriginal hunters staged a protest. Some were opposed to the hunt, while others wanted to be included. The protest was called off after Eric LeBel, a Parks Canada superintendent, sat down with the hunt opponents to hear their concerns.

Quann said there were no issues of that kind when the hunt resumed.

Aboriginal people have a treaty right to make a moderate living by hunting and fishing. The harvest was co-ordinated for Parks Canada by the Unama'ki Institute of Natural Resources, based in Eskasoni.

The hunters had a few options for distributing the moose meat. Quann said they could bring it back to their communities, to non-aboriginal communities, or put the meat in special storage "for future food, ceremonial or social purposes."

Quann said the plan is to conduct a similar harvest next year, as part of a four-year pilot project to regenerate the boreal forest.