The provincial government is considering shortening the Bighorn sheep hunting season by a week starting this year, say officials.
The season typically runs from September to the end of November. The option being considered would see hunting cut short by seven days at the end of the season, says Sundre Fish and Wildife officer Adam Mirus.
The matter was discussed at the annual Fish and Game Association meeting at the Legion Hall in Sundre on Feb. 26.
The province is garnering stakeholder feedback on the proposed change, he said.
A decrease in the number of sheep in the province has prompted the province to consider the shorter season, wildlife biologist Chiara Feder told the 30 hunters in attendance at the Sundre meeting.
A number of hunters at the meeting said the population decrease is due to predators, such as bears and cougars, and not due to hunting.
“Everybody's got different ways that they would like to see it managed, but the provincial government is trying to manage for everybody,” he said.
“Not just for the hunters but for the general public, so when they have an expectation to go out to the mountains and see a sheep that there's going to be a sheep there.”
A decision on the proposed change has not yet been made, he said.
“Rather than take more drastic measures to the season, that (shortening the season) is just one of the options (being considered) that seemed the most favourable of all the other options,” he said.
The management of elk, moose, white-tailed deer, mule deer, black bear, grizzly bear, cougar and wolf within the province was also discussed at the meeting.
“National Parks is looking at reintroducing bison into the parks,” he said, noting that this is another controversial topic that is new on the agenda.
There has been a rise in the number of poaching incidents in the province this year compared to last year, which is a concern, he said.
“We are always looking for information on poaching cases,” he said.
The number to report a poacher is 1-800-642-3800.
“People can remain anonymous and receive up to two thousand dollar reward,” he said.
