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[Deer Hunter]

http://www.afga.org/pdf/Responses-fr...esolutions.pdf

Edited out the fishing and environmental resolutions.

ALBERTA FISH AND GAME ASSOCIATION
2017 RESOLUTIONS
Below are the responses, provided by Alberta Environment and Parks, to the Resolutions submitted by the Alberta Fish and Game Association (AFGA). The Resolution Briefs (in italics) have been added to their responses by AFGA for additional information.
Following these, are the responses provided by the Alberta Conservation Association (ACA) to those Resolutions submitted to the ACA by AFGA.

GENERAL RESOLUTION NUMBER G-1-2017
BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Alberta Fish and Game Association request that the Government of Alberta develop a control program that would reduce the number of Double Crested Cormorants.
BRIEF:
Double Crested Cormorants have a major impact on fish availability in many Alberta lakes. The large numbers of cormorants reduce the amount of fish available to anglers, as they consume up to two pounds of fish daily. Cormorant numbers are significant on many Alberta lakes and could be reduced.
A 10-year cormorant control program in Lac La Biche reduced the population from over 16,000 to 2,500. Similar programs should be developed in other areas. As well Wildlife Damage Permits could be issued to reduce the cormorant numbers.
Cormorant control efforts are occurring in other provinces and northern states and in so doing allowing more fish for human consumers.
RESPONSE:
Cormorants are an indigenous species that have always been part of the aquatic ecosystem in Alberta. During the post-war era, cormorants nearly disappeared from Alberta until dichloro-diphenyl-trichloroethane (DDT) was banned. Cormorant numbers have since recovered though not likely to historic levels.
In North America, many people correlate cormorant recovery with the collapses of fisheries. As a result, some jurisdictions have instituted cormorant culls in an attempt to recover fisheries. However, the majority of evidence suggests that the collapse of fisheries is human-related, cormorants subsequently increase in response to collapsed populations of predator fish (for example, walleye and pike) and that cormorant culling is generally not an effective tool for recovering fisheries in comparison to reducing the harvest of sport fish. A provincial cormorant control program is not being considered at this time; however, it may be identified as a recommended action in specific situations.
The input of the Alberta Fish and Game Association in fisheries management is valued. Nonetheless, consultation with a broader range of stakeholders will be required in order to assess
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and implement options for changes to fisheries management objectives, angling regulations and other management actions.
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GENERAL RESOLUTION NUMBER G-4-2017
BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Alberta Fish and Game Association request that the Government of Alberta establish an annual check-off of $1.00, from existing fees on each wildlife certificate and angling license, payable to the Alberta Fish and Game Association.
BRIEF:
The AFGA believes that our organization, established in 1908, is unique in representing a large number of both hunters and anglers throughout the Province. With over 100 clubs and 6 zones spread across Alberta the AFGA truly represents grassroots citizens throughout the Province. The provincial, zone, and club executives and AFGA members represent the concerns and interests of these Albertans in numerous government, industry, and varied agency task groups, committees, and requests. The AFGA provides this unique service for all Albertans.
AFGA manages large numbers of lands that have been acquired for fish and wildlife conservation and does conduct some habitat programs and projects. Additionally, our role of advocacy is of utmost importance to all Albertans in securing these natural resources in the future.
We believe our organization is unique in Alberta in delivering such a necessary role for Albertans. With 25,000 members across all parts of Alberta, we represent both fish and wildlife interests and thus are unique. Additionally, as Alberta’s representative to the Canadian Wildlife Federation (CWF), the AFGA serves the Province in national issues and interests associated with hunting, angling and conservation. These are unique contributions to the long-term natural resource conservation interests of Albertans.
AFGA believe that there are numerous precedents for establishing such a financial plan and our proposal describes some of those other check-off agreements or grants. Organizations such as the Alberta Professional Outfitters Association, the previous Commercial Fisherman’s Association and the Alberta Trapper’s Association receive annual funds from either license fees or grants. We believe our Association should also receive such consideration.
AFGA have proposed a $1.00 contribution to the AFGA from each wildlife certificate and each angling license on an annual basis. Such a fee could certainly be taken from the existing fees and no increases to license fees would be required.
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RESPONSE:
In 2016, over $14.4 million in license revenue was collected and distributed to the Alberta Conservation Association in the form of licence levy fees. The Alberta Conservation Association employs an annual grant application program designed to allocate licence levy revenue to support a variety of projects involving community education, research and biodiversity. Many of Alberta Fish and Game Association’s valuable programs and projects have utilized this opportunity to leverage licence levy dollars. Alberta Fish and Game Association clubs are encouraged to continue to participate in this valuable program and to continue to leverage licence levy revenue to deliver their programs.
Additional Information:
In recognition of the Alberta Fish and Game Association’s longstanding and important role regarding the programs that the Alberta Conservation Association delivers as a delegated administrative organization, the Alberta Fish and Game Association strategically and intentionally holds a Director position as a member agency on the Alberta Conservation Association’s governance board. This inclusion of the Alberta Fish and Game Association is intended to ensure that the Alberta Fish and Game Association’s membership’s priorities are represented regarding Alberta Conservation Association’s program delivery and ultimately decisions affecting expenditure of annual licence levy revenue.


GENERAL RESOLUTION NUMBER G-6-2017
BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Alberta Fish and Game Association request that the Government of Alberta maintain the practice of legal spear and atlatl hunting in the Province of Alberta.
BRIEF:
These forms of hunting have been used traditionally by the native population in the Province of Alberta for hundreds of years.
RESPONSE:
Currently, the Wildlife Act (and Regulation) identifies items prohibited for hunting big game in Alberta. As a component of the Wildlife Regulation review which was undertaken in 2014, Albertans were consulted on developing a list of permitted weapons for the hunting of big game in Alberta. The majority of respondents did not support the use of spears and atlatl for hunting big game.
In the spring of 2016, a video was posted on YouTube of a hunter legally harvesting a black bear in Alberta using a spear. Alberta environment and Parks received a substantial number of comments regarding the use of spear for hunting in Alberta.
As a result of stakeholder input obtained during the Wildlife Regulation review and from the negative public reaction to the YouTube video which was posted, Alberta Environment and Parks explored two options; a) creating a permitted weapons list, and b) developing a regulation specific to the prohibition of spear hunting. At this time, no decision has been reached on
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whether to adopt either of the two previously outlined options or to maintain the status quo of listing items prohibited for hunting big game in Alberta.


GENERAL RESOLUTION NUMBER G-7-2017
BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Alberta Fish and Game Association support all legal forms of hunting outlined in the most current hunting regulations booklet.
BRIEF:
Some types of hunting may not be what each of us would choose to participate in. This does not and should not preclude us from supporting all other legal means.
RESPONSE:
See the response to resolution G-6-2017.
GENERAL RESOLUTION NUMBER G-8-2017
BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Alberta Fish and Game Association support all legal forms of fishing outlined in the most current fishing regulations booklet.
BRIEF:
Some types of angling may not be what each of us would choose to participate in. This does not and should not preclude us from supporting all other legal means.
RESPONSE:
This is acknowledged. Alberta is not undertaking a review of the legal forms of fishing as outlined in Alberta’s Guide to Sportfishing Regulations.

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WILDLIFE RESOLUTION NUMBER W-3-2017
BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Alberta Fish and Game Association request that the Government of Alberta add a fall cougar season to all 300 series WMU's.
BRIEF:
Many hunters in these zones are seeing increased cougar activity on trail cams and also having encounters while calling elk. We would like the opportunity to harvest cougars during these
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times of the year and hopefully reduce their numbers to help with the reduced ungulate populations in these zones.
RESPONSE:
In Alberta, the use of fall cougar seasons is limited to those regions of the province where our annual harvest objectives are not met or where population limitation is the management objective (for example, the 200 and 100 wildlife management units). Over the past three years in 300 series wildlife management units, cougar harvest objectives have been met or exceeded. A sustainable harvest model of this valued game species does not support introducing additional human caused mortality into the population.
However, if harvest objectives in the 300 units are not met for a number of consecutive years, addressing this through a fall season would be an option.


WILDLIFE RESOLUTION NUMBER W-4-2017
BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Alberta Fish and Game Association request that the Government of Alberta increase resident waterfowl hunting opportunity by restricting the number of days, or the timing of the hunting season, or other means, that an outfitter may operate and in so doing, reduce the conflict and competition for receiving access to hunt on private lands.
BRIEF:
In the last 15 years, the amount of pressure on Alberta’s waterfowl resource by waterfowl outfitters has increased dramatically. This increase has led to unfair and intolerable competition with resident waterfowl hunters – especially young, inexperienced want-to-be hunters. According to AEP statistics, non-resident alien hunters made up 14% of the 14,000 total waterfowl hunters in Alberta in 2013 but managed to harvest 31% of all waterfowl harvested in the province. Nearly all those NRA hunters hunt with the services of 120 outfitters registered with the province. The waterfowl outfitters are managing to get sole access to private lands by various means including virtual leasing of land access from landowners.
This problem has resulted in resident hunters in the east central area of the province (most notably WMUs 204, 206, 226, 230, 240 and 242) and the Peace River country not being able to get permission to hunt public birds on private lands. A reduction of the huntable days for outfitters to operate, or reducing non-resident alien seasons would be the first step in alleviating this problem.
RESPONSE:
Alberta Environment and Parks is currently reviewing hunting pressure, competition between commercial and recreational hunters, as well as options to alleviate competition in areas of the province. Hunter day restrictions on outfitters is one tool that is being considered on a wildlife management unit by wildlife management unit basis.



WILDLIFE RESOLUTION NUMBER W-5-2017
BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Alberta Fish and Game Association request that the Government of Alberta establish a partner license for elk be established similar to the current partner license system for moose draws.
BRIEF:
This would increase hunting opportunities and promote hunter participation.
RESPONSE:
This matter is currently being discussed as a potential change to the regulations as per the allocation policy development process. Most stakeholder groups are in agreement that this is a reasonable exchange for consideration. Once the policy recommendations are submitted to Alberta Environment and Parks by the Alberta Game Policy Advisory Council in September, we will consider this as a potential regulation change.


WILDLIFE RESOLUTION NUMBER W-6-2017
BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Alberta Fish and Game Association request that the Government of Alberta amend legislation to allow hunters to use leashed dogs to track and recover downed game in the field.
BRIEF:
Alberta government legislation currently prohibits the use of dogs in the field, however the legislation is poorly worded and should be amended in order to allow a dog and/or tracking dogs to accompany hunters or recover downed game, in particular, on multi-day hunts. Dogs used in this manner are not intended to pursue game. The use of dogs will allow for more game to be recovered. We therefore, request a review and revision to existing Alberta legislation prohibiting the use of dogs to recover downed game.
RESPONSE:
During the consultation portion of the Regulation Amendment (Wildlife Act) in 2015, it was expressed quite strongly that the use of dogs while hunting big game was not supported. There was, however, more tolerance for the use of dogs while tracking wounded game. Overall, the use of dogs in the field to recover big game is a proposal requiring considerable support from the hunting public, with training standard, regulation for leash requirements, handler requirements, and other elements to ensure public and wildlife safety. If here is enough public support on this issue on a provincial basis, however, we will revisit this proposal in the future.


WILDLIFE RESOLUTION NUMBER W-7-2017
BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Alberta Fish and Game Association request that the Government of Alberta introduce a policy for mandatory head submission for any ungulate harvested in a CWD zone by all harvesters.
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RESPONSE:
Currently the regulation for compulsory head submission is for deer, which are the primary vectors and hosts for chronic wasting disease in Alberta. Monitoring deer will provide an accurate distribution and prevalence of chronic wasting disease on the landscape. Beginning this year, additional support for testing all cervids within CWD infected zones will commence. Pronghorn are not susceptible to chronic wasting disease at this time and do not require head testing.


WILDLIFE RESOLUTION NUMBER W-9-2017
BE IT RESOLVED THAT if the Government of Alberta will not shorten the game bird season to end November 30 that they limit the pheasant hunting extended season beyond November 30 to release sites only after that date.
BRIEF:
The extended bird-hunting season places stress on bird populations and therefore, have a negative impact on conservation efforts conducted throughout the province. Over-harvest and stress from the cold can cause high mortality and the extended hunting season also diminishes the effectiveness of bird release programs funded and managed by fish and game clubs like Calgary’s. The extended season also creates greater stress on landowners.
RESPONSE:
Areas of Alberta that are open to pheasant hunting from November 30 to January 15 are not capable of supporting wild pheasant throughout and between years. In essence, resolution number W-9-2017 is already in place by virtue that only released birds are available to those hunting in a wildlife management unit with open season beyond November 30.