Province's approach to spring bear hunt had outfitters 'bouncing on one leg'

A Canadian company planned to mix bear hunting and business this spring.

It booked rooms at the Bear's Den Lodge in the French River area and invited some of its best American customers.

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But then lodge owner Brenda Barefoot found out she was limited in the number of tourists she could bring in... and thought she might have to cancel.

"And so we were just bouncing on one leg."

She finally got the okayfrom the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry with days to spare... but isn't sure she wants to go through this again.

Conservative MNR critic Todd Smith figures the Liberals are trying to please everyone -- bring back the hunt, but quietly limit it.

"They're probably being tugged in both directions."

Former natural resources minister Bill Mauro promised last week to fix this foreignhunter problem by next spring.

"Next year, we will have landed this in a much better place for everyone."

Now the issues rests with new Minister of Natural ResourcesKathryn McGarry

That job now rests with the new MNR minister, Kathryn McGarry, who isthe fifth person to hold that portfolio in the last five years.

As for Barefoot, considering the hassles faced this year, she's unsure about next year's plans.

"[I have] mixed feelings at this point in time," she said,"we're feeling we've not hadhonest information put out to the public. Feeling nervous about doing spring hunt again in the future."