More Canada Restrictions Against US Hunters

Eric Patterson

Eric Patterson

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Staff member
In the past we discussed the changes in Manitoba concerning US hunter access to waterfowl, especially freelance hunters. Now Alberta has done something similar.

The below quote is from the following:

"If you hunt game birds without the service of an outfitter you must purchase the Unguided NRA Game Bird License. The Unguided NRA Game Bird License is valid in 3 WMUs and for 7 continuous days. A person may purchase 2 of the Unguided Game Bird Licenses during a year."

Yet another wall is going up that limits freelance hunters and protects the locals. Both Canada provinces and US states are playing the "They're mine, keep your hands off." game with waterfowl. At this rate it won't be long before you can hardly freelance unless it's in your own home state. Terrible stewardship by these entities as they protect their own at the expense of hunter participation and all the benefits it brings to waterfowl. You can't manage a continental resource locally and you can't do it at all for very long with a disenfranchised declining user-base.
 
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You can call it what you want for whatever reasons that you want. It all boils down to a Grass Roots agenda. When the folks that live and farm where folks hunt get upset and feel abused by folks that do not treat them and their land well. $hit Happens. Sadly the economy of that area and the waterfowl/resource suffer. Hopefully a balance can be struck before the tipping point goes over the edge.

For many years my hunting partners and I freelance hunted waterfowl and upland birds in Canada in Ontario, Manitoba & Sask. We were always welcomed and did our best not to be Ugly Americans. We were Guests and acted accordingly. The Grass Roots system worked for both sides very well. Then the SNOW GOOSE hunting abomination began. Large trucks with trailers full of decoys. None resident "guides" with non resident hunters. Then it spread to all watrerfowl hunting, and we new that the $hit was gonna hit the fan. It was just a matter of time. Greed and $$$$$$$$$ for a few and not many upset the grassroots balance that did work for years. These are different times for many different and new (for better or worse) reasons. I do know that I Thank God that my partners and I got to enjoy being there and experience all the wonderful things that we did. I miss the friendships that we had in Canada... What a wonderful place it was.

my 2 cents
 
Vince

You bring up a really interesting point I hadn't considered before. That being the snowgeese conservation hunts had a larger impact on waterfowl hunting Canada than just snowgoose reduction.

That begs the question. Does one's respect for the quarry translate to their respect for the land they are utilizing? Seems as though it would but certainly it is a deeper question when you stop and think about it. I know there has been a lot of criticism about the attitude some snowgeese hunters project. Perhaps this is a much more important topic and illustrates how hunter conduct has far reaching implications.
 
I live in Minnesota where ther are few ducks but good fishing. Our state allows nonresident anglers to fish year long and without a guide. I always thought it would be a good bargaining chip to arrive at a reciprocity agreement with North and South Dakota for similar hunting privileges for its residents.
 
Eric,

It began with the higher limits on Snow Geese/White Geese during the fall season. My partners and I participated in the Light Goose Management study by providing our info and thoughts on the subject. When the Spring Conservation Season began (we were never in favor of it) with electronic callers, unplugged shotguns, sky high limits, and large groups of Shooters (NOT HUNTERS) All Hell Broke Loose. Lines were crossed in the name of Conservation that can not be put back into the bottle.

Like it or not ethics got shot to hell and not just for White Geese. Waterfowling lost some of the luster that it had gained after a history of market hunting, outlaw tactics and poaching. I doubt no one will ever admit to the fallout that White Goose Hunting in the modern age took on our lifestyle and Sport. It sure as Hell made a mess of things as far as I'm concerned. I can tell you true stories as to how it went from Good to really $hitty. Please tell me what was accomplished that helped waterfowling as a whole not just one part.
 
Eric Patterson said:
In the past we discussed the changes in Manitoba concerning US hunter access to waterfowl, especially freelance hunters. Now Alberta has done something similar.

The below quote is from the following:

"If you hunt game birds without the service of an outfitter you must purchase the Unguided NRA Game Bird License. The Unguided NRA Game Bird License is valid in 3 WMUs and for 7 continuous days. A person may purchase 2 of the Unguided Game Bird Licenses during a year."

Yet another wall is going up that limits freelance hunters and protects the locals. Both Canada provinces and US states are playing the "They're mine, keep your hands off." game with waterfowl. At this rate it won't be long before you can hardly freelance unless it's in your own home state. Terrible stewardship by these entities as they protect their own at the expense of hunter participation and all the benefits it brings to waterfowl. You can't manage a continental resource locally and you can't do it at all for very long with a disenfranchised declining user-base.
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Eric, I quit going to Canada years ago. I think the last time was when I was living down by you. Fishing up there is just as bad. Hope the kids are doing well, and not costing you too much money! Really miss Steve, and the talks we had, especially about home made peach ice cream.
 
Eric Patterson said:
In the past we discussed the changes in Manitoba concerning US hunter access to waterfowl, especially freelance hunters. Now Alberta has done something similar.

The below quote is from the following:

"If you hunt game birds without the service of an outfitter you must purchase the Unguided NRA Game Bird License. The Unguided NRA Game Bird License is valid in 3 WMUs and for 7 continuous days. A person may purchase 2 of the Unguided Game Bird Licenses during a year."

Yet another wall is going up that limits freelance hunters and protects the locals. Both Canada provinces and US states are playing the "They're mine, keep your hands off." game with waterfowl. At this rate it won't be long before you can hardly freelance unless it's in your own home state. Terrible stewardship by these entities as they protect their own at the expense of hunter participation and all the benefits it brings to waterfowl. You can't manage a continental resource locally and you can't do it at all for very long with a disenfranchised declining user-base.
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Eric, I ran across this last Sunday. I plan to hunt with an outfitter in Alberta this October; Alberta's Fall Flight looking forward to the trip! It sure seems like they are "cashing out" as much as possible on these incoming duck hunters like myself... the migratory bird license is now $175+ many other additional stamps / permits that amount to well over $250.00 with the WIN card & other extras...

The locals I've talked too in that area are strongly against visitors like myself as they have noticed a sharp uptick in unruly hunters who seem to make a name for us all unfortunately...
 
As with most outdoors "destinations", sooner or later, too many people and too many inconsiderate people, wreck the whole experience.

I am not informed enough to have an opinion on the white geese conservation order and its impacts on hunting in Canada or if it has really had an impact on white goose numbers & lessoned their impact on the breeding grounds habitat. I'd like to see data on both aspects.
 
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Gene

What a nice surprise. Glad to see you are still on board. Yes, kids are expensive. At least one is off the books and another on her way.
 
Anthony

How come you skipped over MB and SK to hunt AB? I have been under the impression the folks who visit AB to hunt are from the western half of the US. I also have been led to believe AB gets less US hunters than the other two. Perhaps AB sees a lot more US hunters than I ever realized. I really thought SK was going to be the next to limit US hunters.
 
It only takes a few Bad Apples to ruin the bunch. Just to put things into perspective. My old hunting partner and I considered hunting Alberta many years ago. As at that time we were told the farmers supplied ammo for waterfowlers to help keep the waterfowl from devastating their crops. Can you imagine that.

Each fall when we arrived in Sask there were farmers awaiting our arrival. So many that we had a list to Please help them out. They were our friends and we had earned their trust. Oh my the Crop Harvest Parties that went on for days that we all enjoyed, plus Thanksgiving. As camp cook I was given a healthy supply of moose & elk meat "just in case you don't have enough waterfowl." We fed lotta folks including Game Wardens, nothing was wasted. My Crane Leg Soup was gone not long after it was ready by all at the old motel. The drive there was hell on earth but we knew that heaven awaited once we got there. That's the Canada that I know, and want to remember until my dying day.
 
I would say the anti-outsider sentiment had more to do with the DVDs of the late 90s early 2000s, then transitioning to social media and the ever more mobile hunters That wanted to recreate the scenes they saw in video.

I made a career choice to live in rural areas and accept the costs and benefits associated with my choice. i don’t really care for traveling hunters and occasionally I travel to hunt but I would really rather just hunt close to home.

the world would be a better place if more people chose to live in rural areas and reinvigorate our rural communities but there’s always an excuse …

I have no qualms with telling outsiders to hunt close to home. Lay in the bed you made, as they say.
 
Rod VanZile said:
That's a new one. A crane season in Michigan or Indiana would be helpful. If they open one would you share the recipe?
RVZ
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There's lots of meat on Sandhill Crane legs (in my way of thinking waste not want not) and while we were dressing the birds a old time farmer fellow hunter in our group said. "Shame to waste these legs can ya use em?" I'll make soup with em.

Slow roasted the legs in the evening with some veggies from the local garden and grocery store and put em in the fridge. Sectioned the meat early in the morning and put it all in large slow cookers before we went to hunt. Made a fine mid day meal when we returned hungry for something warm and tasty.

If ya like to make and eat soup ya just use what ya like, taters ,maters, onion, wild rice, etc. Fresh crusty bread from the local bakery in the small town, and yer good to go. Oh, and some bottled hot sauce for those that like it. The more slow cookers ya got the more ya can make and more folks ya can feed. There was a community kitchen well equipped plus what the hunters brought cuz we cooked everyday. You shoot it You eat it or ya don't hunt... 1995 was first year non residents were permitted to hunt Sandhill Cranes in SASK, and my oh my what a thrill it was.

I gotta chuckle cuz I recall the same man also mentioned a few days later at the butchering table. "What about these long necks?" He was one of the founding members of DU in western PA. A very Good Man. We took him to several DU projects. He wept when he saw them and said. "I never thought I'd see these places with my own eyes." Man that broke me down, cuz men like that don't weep easily.

Best regards
Vince
 
Eric Patterson said:
Gene

What a nice surprise. Glad to see you are still on board. Yes, kids are expensive. At least one is off the books and another on her way.
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Eric, I lurk around here a lot! Was fly fishing Taneycomo, and dropped by 4 Rivers, and was surprised to see quite a few teal in the area. With the rains we have been having, water levels are quite good. If you know anyone that wants to build a Devlin Broadbill, I have a complete set of plans that has never had a boat built from them at an insane price point. Contact gene.walk@sbcglobal.net.
 
Rod VanZile said:
That's a new one. A crane season in Michigan or Indiana would be helpful. If they open one would you share the recipe?
RVZ
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This brings back memories. I lived in Michigan for a few years after college, teaching at an Environmental Educaton Center near Jackson Michigan on Storer Lake. I have no idea how widespread the population was, but Storer had a huge population of cranes--so many that the calling from flocks overhead was a distraction from out outdoor classes. (Though more interesting than what we were often teaching, I think.) Some 30 years later a growing breeding colony is on several lakes near me in Maine. But nothing like those big flocks. There was a wet field where we could watch the crane dance just about any day during breeding season.
 
Last time I went to Canada to hunt was at least 15 years ago. At the time, I was coming back with my dogs in their kennels in the back of my truck. I came back thru a small checkpoint in Maine. I went in and declared my shotguns. On the way back a Customs agent took his drug dog to my truck and stopped. He asked me if I had dogs in the truck. I said "yes, sir". He said Ok, turned around and went back inside. Learned something that day!
 
As the resource population declines, you are going to see more of this type of thing and it's not limited to Canada. I believe Kansas has some new rules in place for OOS'ers, and of course SoDak has had restrictions for years on OOS'ers, unless you want to pay for pheasant hunting then everyone has their hand out. Out of state license prices are obscene and will continue to rise so that in itself is a deterrent for some folks. I used to have an Ohio license since I only live 13 miles from the Ohio line, but it's almost 200.00 now. I can't justify the cost for a few days of hunting in Ohio. Luckily I live in Pa.. No one in their right mind would ever come here as a waterfowl destination hunt so I don't worry about OOS guys.
 
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