Important Information for Non-Resident Game Bird Hunters
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has specific instructions for hunters looking to bring meat from game birds hunted in Canada back to the United States.
Unprocessed hunter-harvested wild game bird carcasses, originating or traveling from Canada, must meet the following conditions:
- Head, neck, feet, skin, innards and one wing have been removed;
- Feathers have been removed, except for one wing – as required by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for species identification;
- Carcasses must be rinsed in fresh, clean, potable water prior to packaging and must not have visible evidence of contamination with dirt, blood or feces;
- Carcasses must be imported in leak-proof plastic packaging and stored in a leak-proof cooler or container during transport and import; and
- Carcasses must be chilled or frozen during transport and import.
The USDA also recommends that boots and any equipment used to process the carcasses should be clean and visibly free from dirt, blood and tissue.
Hunters cannot bring cooked or cured meat and meat products (such as sausage or jerky) back to the U.S. because there is no way to identify the species of wild bird.
These restrictions are subject to change. For current information on the import of harvested meat, refer to: USDA APHIS | Allowance of Hunter Harvested Wild Bird Game Carcasses from Canada or contact APHIS Animal Product Imports at 301-851-3300 option 4, or at apie@usda.gov.
Exercising Treaty Rights in Saskatchewan
An individual exercising the Treaty right to hunt, fish and trap for food in Saskatchewan must:
- be a registered Indian, as defined by the Government of Canada's Indian Act;
- carry a valid Certificate of Indian Status; and
- be a member of a First Nation signatory to Treaties 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 or 10, or a First Nation located within Saskatchewan that has not signed a Treaty.
What's New in 2022?
Changes to Trespass Legislation: The rules for accessing land for hunting have changed. As of January 1, 2022, it is illegal to enter any land without the consent of the owner or occupant of the land. You must obtain consent for land access prior to entry. This requirement does not apply to vacant provincial land as defined in The Provincial Lands Act, 2016 or other land or Crown land that is in the regulations (road allowances).
SK Hunt and Fish Mobile App: The SK Hunt & Fish Mobile App provides essential fishing, hunting and wildlife information, and conveniently stores all your purchased licences. The app is available in the Apple App Store and Google Play Store.
Fall Black Bear Hunting Season: The fall black bear season has been extended to provide additional hunting opportunities. It will now close Oct. 31 in all WMZs.
Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD): CWD is widespread south of the boreal forest across the province and has been found in 59 WMZs. It is common in mule and white-tailed deer, and has also been found in elk and moose. This year, we will be accepting sample submissions province-wide, with a specific focus on samples from zones 2W, 9, 10, 35, 37 and boreal transition zones 50 and 55.
For more information on CWD, dumpster locations and results of the 2021-22 CWD Surveillance Program, visit saskatchewan.ca/CWD.
Buy a Hunting Licence
Buy a hunting, angling or trapping licence through HAL – the government's hunting, angling and trapping licence system.
Regulations
Regulations that apply to hunting and trapping in Saskatchewan are The Wildlife Act, 1998; The Wildlife Regulations, 1981; The Open Season Game Regulations, 2009; The Wildlife Management Zones and Special Areas Boundaries Regulations, 1990; The Fur Animals Open Seasons Regulations, The Firearm Safety/Hunter Education Regulations, 2009, The Dog Training Regulations 1982, the Outfitter and Guide Regulations 2004; The Migratory Birds Convention act, 1994; and The Migratory Birds Regulations. A summary of the regulations is available, and hunters should review the document.