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In the November/December 2020 issue of
Outdoor Canada, contributor T.J. Schwanky praised Jason Nixon, Alberta’s Minister of Environment and Parks, for implementing a hunting season for sandhill cranes (www.outdoorcanada.ca/albertacranehunt). I believe Schwanky made several unfounded statements and allegations, however, which I will address.
The proposal for a sandhill season never collected any dust, as suggested. Rather, each time the proposal was received, it was reviewed. In 2007/8, the minister of the day wanted such a season, so the formal proposal went forward. The department didn’t consult anyone outside a narrow group of hunting organizations and a few others. When the general public and interested non-hunting outdoor organizations and enthusiasts learned of the proposal, they encouraged the minister to withdraw it. The same process happened again in 2011/2. That is not public backlash; it is democracy in action.
The Alberta outfitting industry has been enduring a tough year in 2020 with international tourism down and far fewer guided hunting opportunities, but it is looking forward, hopefully, to a bounce-back year in 2021, says Alberta Professional Outfitters Society (APOS) managing director Jeana Schuurman. “We bring in guided hunters from around the world to enjoy a hunting experience in Alberta,” she explained. “It has been a tough year for members this year, and we’re looking at next year with fingers crossed.” In the meantime, said Schuurman, APOS is doing what it can to continue to advocate for sustainable-use hunting in Alberta, and to help educate young people on the value of proper wildlife resource conservation.