Spring elk hunt in Saskatchewan raises concerns

Large elk herds have become a big problem for farmers, but a plan to tackle the issue has raised ethical concerns.

The province recently allowed a spring hunt in wildlife management zone 39, which is west of Yorkton to near Foam Lake and north to Kelvington, and the rural municipalities of Stanley and Leask. Licences were available for antlerless elk from March 10-31.

However, the Saskatchewan Wildlife Federation opposed the move, as did farmers who said shooting pregnant females is unethical.

The SWF posted on social media that none of its habitat trust lands would be open for the hunt.

Executive director Darrell Crabbe said the board made the decision “based on the ethical concerns of harvesting cow elk who are just a few weeks away from calving.”

The SWF supports compensating producers who lose feed to elk herds and said hunting opportunities next fall should be implemented in accordance with the game management plan.

Some landowners in the regions said they would also close their lands to the hunt, with one saying it’s cruel to kill a pregnant cow and then her calf, too.