What's New in 2019?
Licence Refund Policy: The Ministry of Environment will no longer provide any form of compensation for big game meat, game birds, fish or any other harvested animal unfit for human consumption. This includes offering replacement licences or financial refunds. The ministry provides hunters with a regulated opportunity to harvest a big game animal. There is no guarantee as to the success of harvest nor the condition of any animal harvested. [updated October 2019]
Canadian Armed Forces Veteran Licences: In recognition of their service, Saskatchewan will provide free hunting and angling licences for veterans of the Canadian Armed Forces beginning in the 2019-20 season. Licences for regular hunting opportunities will be offered subject to an initial verification process to confirm eligibility. They do not apply to Big Game Draw licences or outfitted licence opportunities. For more information on this opportunity, please see the Licences for Canadian Armed Forces Veterans page.
Amendments to Trespass Legislation: Legislation introduced in fall 2018 will change trespassing laws in rural Saskatchewan. Under the new legislation, hunters and trappers wishing to access private land and leased Crown land will be responsible for seeking permission from the landowner or occupant of the land. These changes will help ensure landowners and occupiers are aware of the presence of others on their property to help improve safety, reduce property damage and decrease the risk of agricultural diseases. The new law will also provide landowners with legal protection by limiting liability. This legislation is not expected to come into effect before the end of 2019.
Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD): CWD has been detected in approximately 75 per cent of farmland wildlife management zones in the province, including part of south-central and eastern Saskatchewan. The disease is present in mule deer, white-tailed deer, elk and moose. CWD-infected animals may appear healthy and show no signs of the disease. The ministry is considering options for CWD surveillance that would align with long-term management goals and provide an assessment of prevalence and distribution that is required to inform risk to big game species across the province. For more information on the 2019 CWD surveillance program, visit saskatchewan.ca/CWD.
Proposed Changes for 2020
The following changes are proposed for the 2020-21 hunting season:
Black Bear
Hunting opportunities continue to be promising with good to excellent populations in the province. It is proposed for 2020 to allow Saskatchewan residents to harvest two bears under their regular bear licence in WMZs 17, 32-47, 53 and 55 excluding Fort a la Corne WMU.
Elk
A two-bag limit for draw antlerless elk is being considered in WMZ 33 (including Moose Mountain Provincial Park) in 2020 to manage the elk population while reducing hunter overcrowding in the region.
Mandatory hunter harvest surveys
Due to low response rates, mandatory hunter harvest surveys are being proposed. Hunter harvest surveys are critical in helping evaluate game populations. Wildlife biologists rely on this information to better understand how game populations are responding to current management strategies.
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.