PUBLICATION The Edmonton Journal
DATE Sat 27 Feb 1999
SECTION/CATEGORY News
PAGE NUMBER A1/ Front
BYLINE Don Thomas, Journal Staff Writer
HEADLINE: Hunters becoming an endangered species
The popularity of hunting is declining so rapidly in Alberta that within 15 years the government could yield to pressure to ban it, says the head of a hunters' group.
The number of hunters dropped 42 per cent between 1980 and 1997 -- from about 160,000 hunters to only 90,000 -- a study commissioned by the Alberta Fish and Game Association shows.
More than 8,000 leave the sport each year and only 7,000 join, says the report by Gerry Kemp, a former wildlife director for Alberta Fish and Wildlife.
"If it's not turned around we could see the demise of hunting within Alberta in 10 or 15 years," said association president Dave Powell.
As the balance tips in favour of those against hunting, "then others will dictate to us our social behaviour," he said in an interview at the association's annual convention.
With more deer available to fewer hunters, it's now theoretically possible for a hunter to legally shoot up to 14 deer a year in Alberta, compared with only two in Saskatchewan.
"The demographic reality of the baby boomers moving through the primary hunting age category (45-55) would suggest continued downward pressure on hunting licence sales," says the report.
"This, combined with changing social attitudes and institutional obstacles to making hunting an affordable and satisfying outdoor recreation opportunity, would suggest that arresting the current trend will be a challenging task."
Land use changes that resulted in poorer hunting in the 1980s for waterfowl and upland birds such as pheasants and grouse caused the greatest drop, says Kemp.
A doubling of the fee for basic permits in 1990 and a tripling of big game permit fees prompted more than 21,000 hunters to give up the sport for good.
As Alberta becomes more urbanized, fewer children are growing up in homes where guns are present and hunting is accepted. Higher fees, more complex regulations and tougher rules for qualifying hunters discourage new hunters and cause others to drop out.
And the new Bill C68 gun control rules just add to the hassle and discourage new hunters, says Powell.
"I'm not entirely convinced that gun control isn't an engineered situation. I honestly believe that Bill C68 is a hassle factor to reduce those who favour hunting and increase the number opposed to it."
The Alberta Fish and Game Association is joining with other pro-hunting groups such as Ducks Unlimited, the Canadian Wildlife Service, the Alberta Conservation Association and others to try to reverse the decline.
Among things they have considered is allowing Sunday hunting, making rules simpler and reducing licence fees, which are now the second highest in Canada. The groups are also proposing a mentor program, where experienced hunters would offer advice to new hunters on how and where to hunt. Expanded hunting opportunities might see deer hunting allowed at Canadian Forces Base Wainwright with pistols.
While there as been a general decline hunting popularity nationally, the drop is most pronounced in Alberta and B.C., says Kemp. It has generally remained flat in Saskatchewan but has increased in Ontario.