Hunting is among the lengthy list of reasons some people seek to live in a community like Sundre.
Nestled perfectly in the foothills with the nearly limitless bounty of the West Country within immediate reach, it should come as no surprise the extent to which this area beckons outdoor recreational enthusiasts, which of course includes hunters.
With hunting season well underway, a number of people have already been heading out on excursions to the backcountry. Locally speaking, the season has so far been fairly busy, “but I wouldn't say it's been busier than average,” said Adam Mirus, district Fish and Wildlife officer.
Authorities issued a statement last week urging hunters to plan properly as well.
“The RCMP is reminding Alberta's outdoor adventurers and hunters to take the steps required to ensure their safety when they venture off the beaten track,” said a press release dated Oct. 17.
“Every year we do have instances when people do get stranded and they need help for whatever reason,” said Mirus.
He stressed the importance of planning and preparing for any and every excursion into the backcountry, regardless of whether the trip's planned duration is for an afternoon or a weekend. That means having emergency survival gear in the event of a worst-case scenario — regardless of whether it's to go hiking or hunting.
“It definitely helps to have a plan of where you're going and that somebody knows to check on you if you're not back in your timeline. Too many guys just go off without telling anyone when they'll be back.”
If anyone was to go missing in such an instance, it could be days before any sort of response were mustered, and crews would not even have an accurate starting point from which to launch the search once it finally got underway, he warned.
There are also certain regulations and restrictions regarding the use of drones and off-highway vehicles that the Fish and Wildlife officer discussed. Click here for that story.
However, hunters are not the only ones keen to plan a trip into the backcountry. Hikers or other recreational land-users are also encouraged to take measures to ensure their own safety this hunting season.
“Make yourself highly visible,” said Mirus, who recommends people make sure to wear fluorescent colours when heading out in the West Country.
Fortunately, there are rarely any conflicts between hunters and other recreational land-users, and hunting season has remained safe to date. The Fish and Wildlife officer said he hopes everyone makes an effort to keep it that way.
We at the Round Up do too.
There's plenty of space for everyone out there. So long as people are careful, courteous and respectful of one another, we're sure everyone will be able to enjoy some time in the bush and make it safely home to tell the tale.
