Written by Mitchell Wrishko
Hunters in the province will get their shot at a wolf starting December 15th.
The Ministry of Environment will offer wolf hunting opportunities in wildlife management zones 49 and 53 to help reduce wolf populations in these agricultural areas.
The objective is to push the wolves back into the forest, into their natural habitat, and away from farms and ranches.
This program will supplement the work of trappers, which is the primary method of controlling the wolf population across the province.
The wolf hunt will run until March 31, 2016, only in zones 49 and 53. Zone 49 is in the Weekes and Hudson Bay area while zone 53 is in the Big River and Shellbrook area.
There will be a total of 200 licences available in Big River, Spiritwood, Nipawin, Hudson Bay and Greenwater Lake Provincial Park. Each licence will entitle the holder to harvest two wolves.
Licences will be available on a first-come, first-served basis and must be picked up in person. One licence will be available per person, but a second licence may be purchased if the first one is filled and there are still licences available. Licences are restricted to Saskatchewan residents only.
As a condition of their permit, licence holders will be provided with a reporting sheet and required to report hunting results to the Ministry of Environment.
Hunters are reminded that wolves are considered a big game species and all regulations around weapon type, clothing requirements and baiting that pertain to big game apply for this hunt.