The federal government is considering allowing the hunting of sandhill cranes in northern Ontario, potentially starting this autumn. The Canadian Wildlife Service has put forth a proposal for a limited hunting season in specific areas of the north, marking the first time that sandhill cranes could be legally hunted in Ontario. This proposal comes after years of advocacy from hunters and farmers who have expressed concerns about the growing crane populations causing damage to crops.
Christopher Sharp, a population management biologist with the Canadian Wildlife Service, mentioned that stakeholders from the agricultural and hunting communities have been pushing for this since as early as 2003. Extensive data collection by Environment and Climate Change Canada on sandhill cranes in Ontario and Quebec, including their migration patterns and interactions with farmers, has led to the evaluation supporting the proposed hunting initiative.
The eastern population of sandhill cranes in Ontario and Quebec, estimated at around 100,000 birds, has significantly increased in recent decades, allowing for sustainable harvest. The species, once on the brink of extinction due to unregulated hunting and wetland destruction, has made a remarkable recovery, partly due to their adaptability to agricultural environments.
To address conflicts with farmers and manage the crane population, a proposal has been introduced to permit hunting in specific regions of northern Ontario during the fall migration season. The proposed hunting season would last two weeks, with restrictions on the number of cranes that can be harvested per day and the designated hunting areas. The public has until February 12 to provide feedback on the proposed hunting season.
Interest in hunting sandhill cranes is expected to be moderate, with some hunters referring to the crane meat as the “ribeye of the sky” due to its taste and tenderness. The cautious approach taken in implementing the hunting season aims to balance conservation efforts with addressing agricultural concerns.