Hunting program to support Sask. farmers

Five municipalities will pilot the Big Game Management Extended Hunt

The Saskatchewan government is launching a new pilot program in five rural communities to support farmers experiencing wildlife damage.

The rural municipalities of Livingstone, Hazel Dell, Kelvington, Bjorkdale and Leask will participate in the Big Game Management Extended Hunt from Nov. 1 to 10.

Each RM will receive 50 antlerless elk licenses in addition to what they received during the Big Game Draw.

The licenses are available through the online Hunting, Angling and Trapping system.

"Regardless of population status, deer and elk are attracted to and may congregate in areas with easy access to unprotected agricultural products, especially during severe winters," Environment Minister Christine Tell said in a Sept. 20 statement. "This hunting opportunity will allow us to mitigate damage from wildlife while also ensuring their populations remain sustainable into the future.

An extended hunt is implemented if certain criteria are met, including:

• Damage by game species (mule deer, white-tailed deer, or elk) to agricultural products has been reported to Saskatchewan Crop Insurance Corporation (SCIC) through wildlife damage claims; and
• Producers in the RM have exhausted all other preventative measures or agree to implement preventative measures.

Wildlife can cause significant damage to farm fields.

By March 31, 2024, Saskatchewan Crop Insurance Corporation (SCIC) received 3,091 big game claims and paid $27.9 million in compensation, an SCIC document says.

As of March 31, of the previous year, SCIC received 2,412 big game claims and paid $25.8 million in compensation.

“One thing that has grown is the deer and elk population. They’re decimating feed stacks. In my area, hay — if you can get it — is $200 a bale, delivered. The deer are moving in and taking their share first and what’s left they urinate on and defecate on, and destroy it,” Larry Grant, the reeve of the RM of Val Marie, said during the Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities convention in 2023, CKOM reported.