Migratory Birds Hunting Regulations, 2012–2013: Saskatchewan

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Watch for this loon on blue signs marking National Wildlife Areas and Migratory Bird Sanctuaries.

• Summary
• Hunting Districts
• Helpful Tip
• Open Seasons in Saskatchewan
• Bag and Possession Limits in Saskatchewan
• Measures in Saskatchewan Concerning Overabundant Species
• Report Your Migratory Bird Bands

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Summary

The information presented here is a summary of the law. For complete information on fines, general prohibitions, permitted hunting methods and equipment, the requirement to have adequate means to retrieve birds immediately, restrictions on the use of bait, the description of hunting zones and other restrictions on hunting, please refer to the Migratory Birds Convention Act, 1994 and Migratory Birds Regulations. These, along with other useful information for hunters, can be found on the Environment Canada website (www.ec.gc.ca) on the Migratory Birds page in the Nature section, or you may contact:

Environment Canada
Canadian Wildlife Service
115 Perimeter Road
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan  S7N 0X4
Tel.: 1-800-668-6767
enviroinfo@ec.gc.ca

You are required to possess a valid federal Migratory Game Bird Hunting Permit with a Canadian Wildlife Habitat Conservation Stamp to hunt migratory birds in Canada. This permit and stamp are valid in all provinces and territories. Most provinces and territories have additional licence requirements for hunting migratory birds and/or to carry firearms. To know what you require, and if there are further restrictions for hunting migratory birds, please verify the applicable regulations for the province/territory where you will be hunting. Note that all required permits and licences must be in your possession while you are hunting.

Non-toxic shot must be used to hunt migratory birds in all areas of Canada. Within National Wildlife Areas, the possession of lead shot is prohibited for all hunting, including the hunting of migratory birds and upland game birds. Hunters should consult provincial or territorial regulations for additional restrictions.

Cranes
Where the Director General of the Canadian Wildlife Service or the Chief Provincial Game Officer of Saskatchewan is of the opinion that Whooping Cranes may be in the Saskatchewan Sandhill Crane Management Area during the open season for Sandhill Cranes in that area, such officer may prohibit the hunting of Sandhill Cranes in that area, and thereafter no person shall hunt or kill Sandhill Cranes in that area in that year.

 

Helpful Tip

Canadians may be exposed to avian-borne viruses when hunting or handling migratory birds and other wild game. Environment Canada recommends the following website, maintained by the Public Health Agency of Canada, for information about minimizing the risk of exposure: www.phac-aspc.gc.ca

Open Seasons in Saskatchewan

District	Ducks, coots and snipe	Geese RESIDENTS OF CANADA	White geese (Snow and Ross’s geese) NON-RESIDENTS OF CANADA	Dark geese (Canada, Cackling and White-fronted geese) NON-RESIDENTS OF CANADA	Sandhill Cranes
No. 1 (North)	Sept. 1 to Dec. 16, 2012	Sept. 1 to Dec. 16, 2012(b)	Sept. 1 to Dec. 16, 2012(b)	Sept. 1 to Dec. 16, 2012	Sept. 1 to Dec. 16, 2012
No. 2 (South)	Sept. 1 to Dec. 16, 2012(a)	Sept. 1 to Dec. 16, 2012(b)	Sept. 1 to Dec. 16, 2012(b)	Sept. 10 to Dec. 16, 2012	Sept. 1 to Dec. 16, 2012(c)

(a) Falconry season is open from September 1 to December 16, 2012, inclusive.
(b) Snow Goose call recordings may be used.
(c)  The Last Mountain Lake National Wildlife Area is closed to all Sandhill Crane hunting.

Note
The open season for geese for residents and non-residents of Canada in District No. 2 (South), and the Provincial Wildlife Management Zones 43, 47 to 59 inclusive, and 67 to 69 inclusive, of District No. 1 (North), includes only that part of each day from one half-hour before sunrise to 12:00 noon, local time, from September 1 to October 14, 2012, inclusive, and on and after October 15, 2012, geese may be hunted from one half-hour before sunrise until one half-hour after sunset, except east of 106 degrees west longitude, where, on and after September 1, 2012, white geese (Snow and Ross’s geese) may be hunted from one half-hour before sunrise until one half-hour after sunset. Last Mountain Lake National Wildlife Area is closed to all hunting until September 20, 2012.

Bag and Possession Limits in Saskatchewan

Limits	Ducks	White geese (Snow and Ross’s geese)	Dark geese (Canada, Cackling and White-fronted geese)	Sandhill Cranes	Coots	Snipe
Daily bag	8(a)	20	8(c)	5	10	10
Possession	24(b)	60	24(d)	15	30	30

(a) Not more than 4 may be Northern Pintails.
(b) Not more than 12 may be Northern Pintails.
(c)  For residents of Canada, not more than 5 may be White-fronted Geese. For non-residents of Canada, not more than 4 may be White-fronted Geese.
(d) For residents of Canada, not more than 15 may be White-fronted Geese. For non-residents of Canada, not more than 12 may be White-fronted Geese.

Measures in Saskatchewan Concerning Overabundant Species

Area	Period during which Snow Geese may be killed	Additional hunting method or equipment
East of 106°W longitude	Apr. 1 to May 31, 2013	Recorded bird calls(a)
West of 106°W longitude	Apr. 1 to Apr. 30, 2013	Recorded bird calls(a)

(a) “Recorded bird calls” refers to bird calls of a species referred to in the heading of column 2.

Note
Hunters interested in participating in the conservation harvest of Snow Geese next spring should keep their 2012–2013 federal permits.

Report Your Migratory Bird Bands

Call 1-800-327-BAND (2263) or go to: www.reportband.gov