Albertans can reduce highway collisions by killing more deer and moose, according to Ted Morton.

[mooseburger]

Bag a moose for road safety!
By BROOKES MERRITT, SUN MEDIA




Albertans can reduce highway collisions by killing more deer and moose, according to Ted Morton.

That's one of the ways Alberta's Minister of Sustainable Resource Development tried to sex-up hunting yesterday, as he announced Sept. 22 as the province's first official "Hunting Day."

"Hunting also helps with reducing vehicle collisions," Morton said in a press release.

WORRIES

He worries Alberta is "losing the next generation of hunters to television, computers and shopping malls." And so he's created Provincial Hunting Day.



Its goal? To "give young Albertans the opportunity to experience the outdoors and build a greater respect for wildlife.

"Provincial Hunting Day ... (will) educate Albertans about the important role hunting plays in wildlife management and conservation," Morton said.

He goes on to say that a day dedicated to killing game animals "will help change the negative perception held by some non-hunters."

Ministry spokesman Darcy Whiteside said Morton's comments were directed to rural populations for whom "animal collisions are quite high."

He admitted Morton's comments may have struck a better chord if they'd focused on the financial benefits of hunting, which sees money raised from the sale of hunting tags reinvested in animal and land conservation.

"But we specifically wanted to address a different aspect of hunting. We're always talking about conservation," he said.

"The fact is the most dangerous animal in the province is the moose, which usually kills at least one family per year in collisions. It's rare for a Grizzly to kill someone. And deer contribute to an alarming cost of vehicle repairs."

REMINDED

Whiteside also reminded urban residents who might snicker at Morton's comments that conservation groups such Hunters for Tomorrow, Ducks Unlimited and Alberta Fish and Wildlife are among the recipients of game hunting revenues.

Those funds also go into the provinces hunters education program, which recently celebrated its one million-graduate milestone, Whiteside said.


This guy's got my vote..... now watch all the tree huggers kick up a protest.

[BigRackLover]

Allow Sunday hunting so most of the hunters get 2 days a week to get a crack at something ... shoot a deer, save a life.

[RandyBoBandy]

So what is this ALL ABOUT??? Is there a site explaining what this free day of hunting is all about? I've checked with Alberta SRD site and the Winrelm etc?

[MathewsArcher]

It is not a free day of hunting, but a day set aside to promote and recognize hunting as a valued heritage and management tool within the province and to promote it as an ethical and honest recreational pastime.

I am fairly certain your not going to be able to go out hunting without a tag that day like the free fishing weekend we currently have.

[altaberg]

Albertans can reduce highway collisions by killing more deer and moose,

twist my arm, I'll try to do my part for traffic safety

Originally Posted by altaberg

twist my arm, I'll try to do my part for traffic safety

X2, there, Altaberg!

Hey! Maybe I can use that one for when I'm asking my dear wife for some huntin' time... Hmmmm.... Now you got me thinkin'!

[Deer Hunter]

Getting a moose with my truck is the only chance I have with the draw system being so tight.

"First Annual Alberta Hunting Day" do you think that line would work when I'm gutting an elk on the fairway of the Banff Springs?

Geez, I need to get out of this office and go hunting. I'm losing my mind. Maybe I should try politics?

Good luck this weekend everyone!

[rugatika]

I see tons of moose all over the place. Why is the draw system so tight with moose licences?

[HuntingWife]

Does'nt anyone think that hunting is a great thing to do but you got to realize that ever since ted morton made those comments about a "free hunting" day all the tree huggers will have their knickers in a twist. But this Day is also a good thing because then we all get to put more meat into our freezer and more antlers on our walls

[Mintaka]

*

[mud slug]

how about lowering the price of a tag so the average hunter could get a few more tags or let us buy one or more general tags so we can add more maet to the freezer

[59whiskers]

Way to go Ted we need to restore hunting in Canada as a socially acceptable pasttime. For the last 30 years governments have told us hunting and gun ownership is bad. We need a massive PR campaign to undo the 30 years of nonsense by re-educating the public why hunters are the real protectors of wildlife resources.

[bullwinkle]

Finally a politician with some balls!Willing to stick his neck out for something he believes in.Way to go Ted!

[TreeGuy]

Did you know that the Whitetailed deer is the animal that consistantly kills the most humans in North America anually? In the US I belive it is over 120 deaths a year attributed to the WT in car/animal collisions. I think that if someone put the time into it, the monetary value of car/animal incidents in a year would be in the hundreds of millions of dollars in NA.

What Mr. Morton has done here is quite interesting. In what would seem like a largely symbolic but precident setting political anouncement, he has given hunters rights groups a strong issue to embrace. The huggers love all critters until one of 'em eats their organically grown garden, or puts a dent into their smart cars! We as hunters, are simply trying to protect the environment by reducing flatulating game animals, while at the same time saving lives and organic veggies! Think about it.

Tree

[Grizzly Adams]

Around here, this is kind of personal. A good friend of ours was killed last fall, when she was hit head on, by another vehicle, swerving to avoid a moose.
Grizz

[HuntingWife]

Does Anyone know exactly what the terms of this "hunting day"? because everyone that i have talked to is really confused about this day that ted morton announced. if anyone knows the particulars then would you please let me know. My husband is hunting in the porcupines right now and he would love to be able to hunt on the supposed hunting day