People in Saskatchewan who are going out to hunt should be aware of some updates to the Wildlife Amendment Act, which came into effect on July 1.
The provincial government conducted a survey of hunters and anglers in 2012 to see what could be improved in the province around hunting and angling.
“One of the key messages we heard back at that time was that we needed to do more to protect our wildlife resources,” said Chuck Lees, provincial wildlife manager.
To that end, most of the changes have to do with harsher penalties for those who violate hunting rules and regulations. The following are new rules laid out in the Act:
- The most serious conservation offences will have an automatic two-year suspension
- Anyone convicted on three separate occasions for wildlife offences will receive a lifetime ban
- Anyone with outstanding wildlife-related fines will not be able to get a license until their fines are paid
- Anyone banned from hunting in other places will not be able to get a licence in Saskatchewan
- Wildlife officers have up to three years to investigate violations and lay charges.
“We see these changes as sending a strong message to those that might abuse them,” Lees said.
He added that one of the biggest deterrents to hunters is prohibiting them from hunting, which is why many of the punishments have to do with a ban from wildlife-related activities, though he acknowledges that most hunters follow regulations in order to preserve the resource. The main purpose of the change in the Act is conservation, but it also helps to keep hunters safe.
The survey came as a result of the provincial Red Tape Reduction Initiative. Eventually, 3,622 responses were received and analyzed.
“It was quite a big undertaking,” Lees said.
It’s important in a big hunting province like Saskatchewan. Unlike other jurisdictions, Saskatchewan’s number of hunters has been increasing by about one half of one per cent annually.
“We are kind of bucking the trend,” he said.
This year with the big game hunting application, Lees said, “We broke all the records again” in terms of numbers. Lees attributes this partially to an increased population. Another reason is just the amount of animals here to hunt. For example, he said that right now the province has good migratory bird populations, which brings in people from other provinces.
And of course, with more people hunting, it’s important to remember safety. The biggest things to remember are to follow proper hunting dress codes to make sure other hunters see you, and practice proper gun handling techniques.
For more information, hunting guides and supplements are posted on the Ministry of Environment website at www.environment.gov.sk.ca.
