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Wildlife Federation working with hunters to collect unused game for P.A. Food Bank

Dec 9, 2017 | 8:24 AM

The Prince Albert Wildlife Federation is working to give a literal meaning to the phrase ‘pass the buck’.

The non-profit organization dedicated to supporting wildlife and habitat conservation is working with a number of regional partners, hunters and outfitters, asking them to donate any unused or unwanted wild game to the Prince Albert Food Bank for distribution.

“[It is a way to say] if you have extra that you are not going to be requiring or using, don’t waste it,” Vice President Don Erhardt said. “We have a use for it.”

This is the first year the local federation has embarked on the program, inspired by various others across the province who conduct similar collections.

The federation has partnered with Community Mobilization — who are key drivers behind the project — the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society (CPAWS), Caribou Transport L.P. and Saskatchewan Polytechnic to help roll out the collections. 

Any hunters or outfitters who have wild game or complete animals they wish to donate can contact the organization and fill out some paperwork before the carcases or meat is stored at Caribou Transport and then processed by students at the Sask. Polytechnic.

“Primarily, the focus is on venison, but if people have elk meat or moose meat or whatever, obviously, as long as we have the correct information on where [the animal] was harvested and the hunters licence number [to] ensure all the legal bases are covered, [we will accept it],” Erhardt said.

Though hunting season ended Thursday, Erhardt is confident many hunters will opt to make some last minute donations.

“You can’t force people to donate…but it is a good thing to do,” he added, while expressing a desire, partners willing, to continue the program next year.

 

 

tyler.marr@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @JournoMarr