why can't i hunt in SE Saskatchewan?
- Thread starter kevin.303
- Start date
More general ranting, a history lesson, and a prediction. (It's a slow morning)
There are some zones that have more antlerless mulie tags than applicants. These are offered to Saskatchewan residents over the counter and after a certain date Canadian residents can buy whats left over. At first glance that may seem fair enough, but some view it as a step toward more and more non-resident hunting. The outfitters organization also wants to start guiding big-game in the south where they are not allowed now, and for more species too. Many locals are livid about that.
Just like gun-control nibbles away at rights, we are concerned that our game-department is slowly giving away our hunting opportunities for a couple of dollars. Some don't want to give that first inch, least they take a mile.
I would be less bitter about non-resident hunting if the other provinces would allow us to go there. That isn't going to happen. Whitetail may be common here, but they are also the best hunting we have, and maybe the best trophy whitetail hunting there is. I don't see any other provinces saying "This is our best, come and take it".
The South East corner of the province which I just happen to be working in right now is an interesting case. Decades ago (40s?) Americans used to be able to come up and hunt, and likely thinking that the whole world works like at home started leasing hunting rights for deer in an area that is fantastic, closer, and relatively open country that can be easier for some to hunt compared to the big bush up north. When those down to earth, pragmatic country boys got up one fall morning and saw "no hunting" signs where they used to go hunting because someone had more money than them the #### hit the fan. By the time the dust had settled Americans could only hunt in the north which is almost all crown land that can't be leased, and then only with guides. Leasing hunting rights is flat out illegal as well. A law was made that absolutely no outfitting can be done on posted land, because that would be a back-door way of leasing the same hunting rights. The rest of the province followed suit. The non-resident Canadians being able to hunt in Saskatchewan was primarily so those that left home for work could still come home and hunt with Dad and the family. Nobody ever thought that a Canadian would travel any distance to shoot a jumper if he didn't have a personal link to the area, but that has changed now. Look for the loophole to close as well. Besides, the guys can work rigs at home so why move away?
If I had to guess why South-east Saskatchewan isn't following this "let everyone with a pulse go hunting plan" that SERM cooked up it's because they went through this bull#### before most of us were born, and found the cure. They don't want to let SERM or anyone else screw up their hunting for them for any reason, new or old. If history repeats itself the idea will spread throughout the province. If the outfitters and SERM trying to make payroll have their way things will get ugly.
He built a huge lodge in Northern Sask, Loon Lake area IIRC, put up a bunch of timed feeders and cleared a bunch of land that he had leased from farmers.
All without a single permit.
I think he was in about $300k-$400k when they booted him out.
All without a single permit.
I think he was in about $300k-$400k when they booted him out.
I hadn't heard that one, but like it! Funny stuff. What's even funnier is that after he illegally leased the land for outfitting purposes, it would be illegal to post it. Therefore, if outfitting is taking place everyone else can hunt it as well. It would seem that Ray Scott isn't as smart as he thinks he is, if he spent a lot of money before he read the regs.
I'm almost positive that Alberta doesn't allow leasing huntings rights either, but won't swear to it.
Mike
Last edited:
Ratherbefishing, this is not meant for you personally, just a general rant.
I have a better idea, why don't all of you lobby your provincial game departments to allow all Canadians to hunt without guides or permits in your provinces? I'd like to hunt NFL and BC for moose, the territories for caribou, anywhere for sheep, goats and grizzlies. Guess what? No-can-do, not allowed, get a guide and pay through the nose. But you want to hunt in Saskatchewan? Pardon me if I don't throw you a parade.
All that would do is give Ontario another reason to whine when no one came there to hunt!
(oh go ahead and say good riddance, but you know it would hurt....)I hadn't heard that one, but like it! Funny stuff. What's even funnier is that after he illegally leased the land for outfitting purposes, it would be illegal to post it. Therefore, if outfitting is taking place everyone else can hunt it as well. It would seem that Ray Scott isn't as smart as he thinks he is, if he spent a lot of money before he read the regs.
I'm almost positive that Alberta doesn't allow leasing huntings rights either, but won't swear to it.
Mike
No Alberta doesn't, and it needs to be enforced a little better in the north...
The guides/outfitters would never allow it here...they'd be outta business.
Thanks for the history lesson,I've always been a bit bewildered as to why SK allows CDN non-res to hunt un-guided.....that explains it.Sounds like I maybe should get Northern Sask checked off on my to-do list someday soon before the laws change?
If I'm understanding your post,it appears that there is no non-res hunting or outfitting allowed in the south??Or is it just not allowed on private land?Would that mean also that no American has ever hunted legally anywheres near Biggar?That must really burn the antler junkies asses,eh?
Last edited:
I could stand to see a few more outfitters go out of business, it wouldn't hurt my feelings a bit. Oddly enough I kinda like most of the American hunters that come up, hunters on their dream holiday are usually fun to be around, and there just aren't that many of them. It's the outfitters that act like they own the bush that piss me off.When they start eyeballing the south and the mulies and antelope it must be stopped.
Non-resident Canadians can hunt whitetail practically anywhere. The Americans can only hunt deer in the northern zones. North is a relative term, what we call north is more like central. They can't hunt anywhere near Biggar, except for some Indian Reserves and their white partners that are only too happy to take their money.
They make their own rules.The only outfitting that is allowed in the south is for birds, and nobody, not even the Americans needs a guide for that. It is probably worthwhile for the few bucks, just to have someone else doing all the scouting, securing permisssion and supplying a few thousand decoys. The limit is 28 geese and 8 ducks a day if anyone cares. Bloody pests.
I have a memory of several hunters being charged and penalized for taking deer out of province and in this case it was one of the prairie provinces. The deer had been legally shot but apparently could not be removed.
cheers mooncoon
cheers mooncoon
Sounds like a CWD related thing. Did I mention I hate elk farms?
Ratherbefishing, this is not meant for you personally, just a general rant.
I have a better idea, why don't all of you lobby your provincial game departments to allow all Canadians to hunt without guides or permits in your provinces? I'd like to hunt NFL and BC for moose, the territories for caribou, anywhere for sheep, goats and grizzlies. Guess what? No-can-do, not allowed, get a guide and pay through the nose. But you want to hunt in Saskatchewan? Pardon me if I don't throw you a parade.
An old, but excellent post.
Very interesting thread! The only thing I'd like to add is if they were to open up Mule Deer/Antelope in SK to Canadian residents, I would be furious. I also know that the vast majority of the SW would instantly get shot up by locals. The old "if I can't have it no one can!" attitude! As childish as it sounds, I"ll be one of em..
The real threat is not the opening of muledeer and/or antelope to CDN residents (though it would be bulls**t considering most provinces are closed to us SK residents as Dogleg so eloquently pointed out) but rather the lobbying of SERM by APOS for the opening of the southern zone (agri-SK) to outfitting & NRA, along with changing the regulations to permit the leasing of private land for the purpose of hunting.
What did they open up exactly? Are you referring to the whitetail hunting in S.E. Sask. for non-residents from your opening post?
And APOS can pretty much f**k off. The last thing we need is more outfitters. I know there are lots on this board that make a living guiding and outfitting, however the outfitters tend to be far too territorial. They tend to sidestep laws, such as paying farmers $250 per year, per deer stand, provided the farmer posts his property. It's blatantly illegal, but common practice in Northern Saskatchewan. Look at the outfitters around Hudson Bay.
yes, the nonresident season is nov 25-30
