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, 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 2023?
Expanded wolf hunting opportunities: A guided wolf licence has been added to offer non-resident hunters an opportunity to harvest a wolf as an add-on to select guided big game licences. This licence will help support the outfitting industry and provide greater opportunities for outfitters. Opportunities for Saskatchewan residents have expanded to align with the changes. See page 33 for details.
Chronic wasting disease (CWD): CWD is established south of the boreal forest across the province and has been found in 60 of the province's wildlife management zones (WMZ). It is common in mule and white-tailed deer and has also been found in elk and moose. The ministry continues to accept sample submissions province-wide, focusing on samples from zones 2W, 9, 10, 35, 37 and boreal transition zones 50 and 55. Hunters can visit cwdsk.ca to submit animals for testing.
For more information on CWD, drop-off and disposal locations, and results of the 2022-23 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.