Hunters Extras

The Government of Saskatchewan employs several survey types to help sustainably manage game species and their habitats. Wildlife managers rely on survey information to inform management decisions for game species and public participation in wildlife data collection is important.

CWD has now been detected in 55 WMZs in the province, including much of southern Saskatchewan. The disease is particularly prevalent in mule deer but is also present in white-tailed deer, elk and moose. CWD-infected animals may appear healthy and show no signs of the disease. The ministry is working on surveillance and management options to help reduce the spread of CWD, and as a means to better manage big game species across the province. For more information on the 2023 CWD surveillance program, visit saskatchewan.ca/CWD.

The Saskatchewan Wildlife Management Zones map will help you identify important boundaries for areas where specific wildlife regulations may apply, including wildlife management zone boundaries.

Hunting, Angling and Biodiversity Information of Saskatchewan (HABISask) is a client-centred, online mapping application that consolidates new information and existing applications.

HABISask may be used to access the Saskatchewan Conservation Data Centre (SKCDC)'s species occurrence data and to obtain information on species at risk as part of your planning efforts. As you conduct project screenings to assess for at-risk species and/or related habitats, HABISask will replace the SKCDC's Wildlife App, already used for this purpose. HABISask will provide a much improved platform including species and habitat information, basic spatial analysis tools and enhanced reporting capability.

The Fish and Wildlife Development Fund directs 30 per cent of the revenue from the sale of hunting, angling and trapping licences to secure and protect wildlife habitat, support research and data collection and promote public awareness of our wildlife resources. Through partnerships with Ducks Unlimited Canada, Nature Conservancy of Canada and the Saskatchewan Wildlife Federation, 641 hectares (1,583 acres) of land were purchased and 157 hectares (387 acres) were protected through conservation easements in the last year. Consider making a tax-deductible donation to the fund through HAL.

To continue our hunting traditions for future generations, we should be aware of the important of good hunting ethics. Responsible hunters conduct themselves in a manner that consistently demonstrates respect for tradition, other outdoor enthusiasts, landowners and the general public, as well as all wildlife resources and the environment.

Since most hunting in Saskatchewan takes place on private land, hunting activity is visible to many people, including other hunters, landowners and the non-hunting public. Public perception of hunting is often determined and influenced by hunter behaviour. Continued access to land depends on the actions of all hunters. Ethical hunting practices include:

Respect for the landowner

• Permission is mandatory to access private land.
• Abide by the landowners' requests while on their property and follow all posted instructions.
• Minimize vehicle use on all lands.
• Refrain from travelling on roads when they are prone to damage.
• Always thank landowners for the privilege to hunt on their land.

Respect for the resource

• Properly identify game and follow all wildlife regulations.
• Do your part by participating in hunter harvest and game observation surveys.
• Ensure your firearm is properly sighted in and always strive for humane dispatch of your game.
• Follow the principles of fair chase and report any illegal activities.

Respect for others

• Practise safe firearm handling at all times.
• Use discretion in transporting game animals from your hunting area to your home.
• Respect all viewpoints of hunting.

Individuals exercising constitutionally protected Treaty or Aboriginal rights to harvest fish and wildlife for food purposes are exempt from certain provincial hunting and fishing laws. However, individuals exercising Treaty or Aboriginal rights are expected to comply with specific land, safety and conservation laws and are encouraged to support fish and wildlife management programs.

More information about Treaty and Aboriginal Hunting and Fishing Rights can be found on our website.

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).

Read the news release for more information.

Informational supplements are available in our Publications Centre, including:

• 2022 Saskatchewan Resident Big Game Draw Supplement
• 2022 Saskatchewan Spring Black Bear Supplement
• 2023 Saskatchewan White Geese Supplement
• 2023 Canadian Resident White-tailed Deer Supplement

Conservation officers are responsible for handling requests for permits pertaining to sale of wildlife. Completed applications should be taken to the nearest Ministry of Environment field office for consideration.

All-terrain vehicle (ATV): any motorized vehicle designed for off-highway travel, on or over natural terrain, water, snow, ice, marsh or swamp land and includes amphibious, ground effect, air-cushion or low-pressure tire vehicles; motorcycles and elated two-wheel vehicles; snow or track vehicles; any toboggan, trailer or other attachment to an all-terrain vehicle; or any other means of motorized transportation, not including motor boats or four wheel passenger highway vehicles unless the front bumper is more than 75 cm off the road or a wheelchair as defined in The Traffic Safety Act.

Big game: includes pronghorn; black bear; bison, other than domestically raised bison; any member of the deer family, whether known as caribou, deer, elk, moose or otherwise; and wolf.

Canadian resident: A person who has their principal residence in Canada and who is a Canadian citizen or who has resided in Canada for 12 months immediately preceding the date of applying for or purchasing a licence.

Encased: in relation to a firearm, means a firearm that is completely enclosed in a fastened gun case or wrapped in fabric, plastic or similar material in a manner that makes the firearm not readily available for use.

Firearm: any device from which any shot, bullet or other missile can be discharged and, includes but is not limited to a rifle, shotgun, pellet gun, air gun, pistol, revolver, spring gun, longbow, compound bow or crossbow.

Game: big game or game bird and includes any part of any big game or game bird.

Game bird: migratory game bird and upland game bird.

Game preserve: any are designated as such in regulation, in which hunting or trapping of any kind is not allowed.

HAL Identification Number: means the valid and unique identification number issued to a person by the ministry.

Harvest ledger: a document that is associated with a licence on which a person records information related to the taking or killing of an animal (date and species) as required by regulation.

Hide: the skin or pelt of an animal, but does not include the other attached parts of the animal, such as horns, antlers, claws or skull.

Hunter harvest survey: a document that is associated with a licence in which a person is required to record and submit information related to hunting activity and the taking or killing of wildlife.

Hunting: includes taking, wounding, killing, chasing, pursuing, worrying, capturing, following after or on the trail of, searching for, shooting at, trapping, setting snares for, stalking or lying in wait for any wildlife, or attempting to do any of those things, whether or not the wildlife is subsequently captured, wounded or killed.

Immediate family member: an individual's father, mother, grandfather, grandmother, brother, sister, child, grandchild, spouse or common-law spouse.

Migratory game bird: includes any game bird protected by the Migratory Birds Convention Act (Canada), as amended from time to time, or the regulations made under the act.

Muzzle-loading rifle: a rifle that is loaded through the front opening of the barrel.

Non-resident: A person who is not a Saskatchewan or Canadian resident.

Pelt: means the skin or hide of a fur animal or a portion of the skin or hide, complete with any natural fur, hair or wool, but does not include parts of the animal such as the claws, skull, bones or carcass.

Provincial or municipal road: a road shown on the most recent version of the Saskatchewan Official Road Map.

Power snare: a mechanically activated neck snare that is immediately drawn closed by the force of a spring no less than 30 cm in length that is used for the taking of fur animals.

Processed: in the case of a big game hide or pelt, a tanning or similar treatment to preserve the hide but does not include drying the hide or rubbing it with salt and in the case of a meat carcass, means cut up and preserved for consumption.

Road: a prepared surface designed for vehicle traffic.

Saskatchewan resident: A person who is a Canadian resident, has their principal residence in Saskatchewan and has resided in Saskatchewan for three months immediately preceding the date of applying for or purchasing a licence, or regular members of the Canadian Armed Forces stationed and residing in Saskatchewan, or who were Saskatchewan residents when recruited or deployed from the province.

Seal: a document (tag) associated with a licence that must be cancelled immediately after wildlife is killed.

Snare: a device for the taking of any wildlife in which the animal is caught by a noose.

Stand: any stand, blind, platform, tree seat or other similar structure used for the purpose of assisting a person while hunting or viewing wildlife, and includes any structure commonly known as a tree stand.

Trail: means a route regularly traveled by vehicle.

Trap: includes a spring trap, snare, deadfall, box or net or any other device used to capture any wildlife.

Upland game bird: includes ruffed grouse, spruce grouse, sharp-tailed grouse, ring-necked pheasants, gray (Hungarian) partridges and ptarmigans.

Vehicle: includes a motorized, conveyance, trailer, tractor, snowmobile, aircraft of any other conveyance, other than a boat, that is drawn, propelled or driven by any mechanical means and includes any accessory attached to a vehicle.

Veteran: means a Saskatchewan resident or Canadian resident who is a former member of the Canadian Armed Forces, has successfully underwent basic training and has been honourably discharged.

Wildlife: a vertebrae animal of any species, excluding fish, that is wild by nature in any part of Saskatchewan and includes any part, tissue, genetic material, eggs, sperm or embryos and any exotic wildlife found in Saskatchewan.

Wildlife management unit (WMU): any area designated as such in regulation in which special regulations apply.

Wildlife management zone (WMZ): identifiable boundaries across the province to help direct hunting opportunities and better manage wildlife populations.

The following areas are closed to hunting all year:

The following water areas are closed to game bird hunting in, on, or within 500 metres of the water's edge from June 16 to November 9 inclusive: