Edmonton Boat and Sportsmen's Show

Countdown to the Edmonton Boat and Sportsmen's Show begins...see you all March 14-17 http://www.edmontonboatandsportshow.ca/

Hunting Opportunity in Alberta

Here is what ESRD has to say about the allocation of hunting opportunity for the coming years:

Currently, Environment and Sustainable Resource Development is finalizing the outfitter allocations for 2013 to 2018. Due to the hard winter of 2010-11, some wildlife populations in certain wildlife
management units have declined. We are reducing the outfitter allocations in the wildlife management units of high concern.

The department is also starting a policy review on hunting allocations, and our goal is to come up with allocation numbers that are fair for resident hunters and outfitters. We are looking at ways of reducing non-resident allocations when we see sudden wildlife population reductions. This would include instances like the severe winter conditions we saw in 2010-11, which had a major impact on wildlife populations and the number of resident hunter tags issued in some areas. As part of this process, we are also reviewing the allocation process for landowner tags.

The Pack Dog Saga

For those that have been following the pack dog saga in Alberta for the past two years...here is where we are at. I'm not optimistic but I'm not going to let it die either. I suspect another letter writing campaign will be in order shortly but let's hear what Pat has to say because he's the guy that can make the change.

Dear Pat Dunford:

I spoke with Jim Allen regarding pack dog regulations in A...lberta and he said it was all in your hands now. I hope you can appreciate my frustration to this point as I’ve had assurances for the past two years that ESRD was working on allowing the use of pack dogs during big game hunting season in 2013 when in fact it appears that nothing was done. I am writing to you to try and get a straight and honest answer as to where this is at and what the near future holds. As you are aware I’m sure, this regulation change has received support all the way through the process and in your own words, current legislation was never meant to prohibit their use. So my question is, are you going to take steps to rectify this in the very near future or is it going to continue to be buried in bureaucracy? I hope to not have to involve the Minister and media in this yet again but unfortunately it seems to be the only way to move this forward. I’d appreciate a quick response from you regarding this matter so I can plan my next steps in furthering this important regulation change.

Yours truly,

T.J. Schwanky