The game is afoot; the hunt is on.
Across Canada, fall is the time for hunters to head to the bush and try to bring home a deer, elk, or moose to help feed the family. But whether or not the hunt is successful, the time spent in nature during the cool autumn season is a reward in itself.
Nature has sustained people for thousands of years, starting with the Indigenous hunters, fishers, and gatherers. These people taught the European explorers, traders, trappers, and homesteaders how to live off of what the land has to offer.
While few of us now depend on wild game for nourishment, hunting remains an important part of rural Canadian culture. It is part of our heritage and a meaningful connection between the people and the land.
The annual big game season is gradually opening up across Alberta. Depending on the species and region, bow hunting has been open for a few weeks now and rifle-hunting is either underway or about to begin.
Gord Smereka sits on the board of the St. Paul Fish and Game Association as their Hunting chair, and also serves on the Alberta Wildlife Hunting Committee. He says the best part of hunting season is just getting outdoors.
“It’s more of a relaxing thing,” he said. “Then if you get an animal it’s a bonus. It’s just enjoying nature and the outdoors.
“We’ve been going for elk and we’ve come home with nothing the last two years. But it’s a good time to spend with family. This year we’re taking our grandson out, so it’ll be a first-time enjoyment for him, just experiencing the outdoors.
“Hopefully we won’t come back with nothing. But then we’ll just have to buy more meat at the store,” Smereka said with a laugh.
There are animals out there, he said, though some populations don’t appear to be as strong as in previous years. Deer numbers appear to be down, but Smereka said it’s hard to be sure because official surveys haven’t been conducted.
“In the areas around St. Paul, the deer population seems to be down. We’re not seeing as much as normal,” he said. “Moose populations in some zones are higher, some other places lower. But population counts haven’t been done for a few years, so I don’t know how they’re informing people of populations when it hasn’t been done.”
Smereka has seen moose on his own land, which will provide an opportunity for somebody, but not for him—he hasn’t been drawn for a moose tag. He says there is some disagreement over the allocation of draws, with outfitters getting more hunting opportunities than residents.
“This year their tags have stayed the same, but [Alberta Environment and Parks] lowered the numbers for residents.
“That’s what Fish and Game is not pleased about. There’s been ongoing meetings, we’re trying to get that to change because there should be more opportunity for residents,” Smereka said.
Fish and Game Associations across the province advocate for hunters’ and anglers’ interests, promote conservation, and conduct activities for their members. Among the activities of the St. Paul club are shooting meets at their gun range, family fishing at the St. Paul trout pond, and an annual supper and trophy night.
Local associations have been involved in relocating 800 perch from Manatokan Lake to Frenchman Lake, with help from Alberta Fish and Wildlife and the Cold Lake Fish Hatchery. They are also importing wild turkeys from Montana and Quebec to central Alberta to boost local populations and improve hunting opportunities.
But for now, the fall air is crisp and local hunters are looking forward to their annual forays into the forest. Smereka wishes them all good luck.
“Hopefully everybody’s hunting season goes good,” he said. “Enjoying the outdoors is the main thing.”
