For the first time in history, sandhill cranes will be available for hunting in specific regions of Quebec and northern Ontario. In Quebec, the hunting season will run for 14 days from September 12 to September 25, confined to farmland in Abitibi-Témiscamingue and Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean. These regions were selected following a comprehensive evaluation conducted by the Canadian Wildlife Service for Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) over almost a decade to assess the species and its population growth.
According to Mathieu Tétreault, a game bird biologist with the Canadian Wildlife Service, the assessment was prompted by concerns raised by agricultural unions about the damage caused by the birds to farmers’ crops. Hunting organizations also expressed interest in the opportunity to pursue the new game. After eight years of study, the team determined that a controlled harvest of the birds would be sustainable in both provinces.
The sandhill crane population has significantly increased from around 30,000 birds to over 100,000 in two decades. Kyle Elliott, an ornithology professor at McGill University, highlighted that the species was on the brink of extinction a century ago due to unsustainable hunting practices. However, Elliott expressed confidence that such a scenario is unlikely to recur due to the stringent regulations enforced by the government for the fall hunting season.
Hunters possessing migratory bird and small game permits will be allowed to hunt one bird per day, with a possession limit of one at a time, necessitating the consumption of the bird before hunting another. Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) has developed a visual aid to aid in distinguishing sandhill cranes from other bird species, reducing the risk of mistakenly targeting other birds.
The ECCC assessment indicates that the hunting activity is not expected to significantly reduce crane numbers to prevent agricultural harm but rather aims to provide recreational opportunities for hunters, noting that sandhill cranes are considered excellent table fare. Wallace Metcalfe, president of the Union des producteurs agricoles for Témiscamingue, expressed optimism among farmers despite the restrictions, emphasizing that the daily limit of one crane should help mitigate crop damage.
In addition to the hunting season, farmers will have the option to request a Damage and Danger permit outside the harvest period to manage disruptions caused by cranes. These permits are granted as a last resort to eliminate birds, with permit holders required to report the number of cranes they have culled.
Looking ahead, the Canadian Wildlife Service plans to reassess the hunting season after four years, as is customary for new hunting initiatives. Tétreault mentioned the potential for expansion beyond the current restricted regions in Quebec, depending on the sustainability of the harvest season and the crane population’s trends in the future.
