(File photo/ CKOM News Staff)

By Nigel Maxwell

Wildlife populations

Sask. Government called on to increase deer hunting limits

Mar 13, 2021 | 10:00 AM

Concerns related to the increasing populations of mule and white-tail deer in the province were among the talking points during this past week’s Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities (SARM) convention.

The increased numbers have caused damage to crops, gardens, hay bales, etc., as well as having caused numerous traffic accidents. According to a resolution brought forward by the Rural Municipality (RM) of Blaine Lake, they would like SARM to lobby the Ministry of Environment to have an open season for mule deer in Wildlife Management Zones 54 and 44, and/or increase the draw limits for these deer populations for the 2021 season.

According to background information provided by the RM, several ratepayers approaching council to seek assistance in this matter. There have also been several vehicle accidents on Highway 12 and Highway 40 with deer.

Darrell Crabbe, executive director of the Saskatchewan Wildlife Federation (SWF), told paNOW the rise in the deer population can be attributed to a number of fairly mild winters.

“Normally, it’s snow depth that causes a lot of winter mortality and we haven’t had that. Certainly, populations are above the 10-year average by a fair amount,” he said.

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Crabbe noted the SWF had passed a similar resolution at its own convention last February, requesting increases in mule deer harvest allocations.

“I’m confident that we are going to see a large increase, either in the number of opportunities for individuals or increased allocations per hunter,” he said.

Response from the government

According to a statement provided to paNOW by the Ministry of Environment, the Ministry confirmed it has a responsibility to ensure Saskatchewan’s wildlife resources are managed sustainably.

“The ministry uses a science-based approach to set hunting quotas, seasons, and regulations using the best available population information for each game species,” the statement said.

The statement also confirmed the ministry will consider the RM’s request in the 2021 mule deer hunting season setting process, other stakeholder interests, available mule deer population data, and region-wide harvest strategies.

“Based on currently available data, additional hunting opportunities are being considered in the region for 2021,” the statement said.

The ministry explained they use the big game draw to allocate hunting opportunities when the demand for licences is greater than the supply of animals.

“The big game draw is a fair and transparent process that allocates opportunities based on a random selection of applicants, with a preference given to individuals who have not been drawn for a number of years,” the Ministry said.

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nigel.maxwell@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @nigelmaxwell