Game Birds
You do not need an Outfitter or guide to hunt Upland or Waterfowl Birds in Saskatchewan. You can still do it yourself hunt and be successfull. The province is in the central flyway of the annual migration of waterfowl. Basically everywhere you go you will find birds, however, some areas are better than others. This has a lot to do with water and food conditions at time of migration. The following regualtions are only a condensed partial listing of the regulations, but the main regulations for Bird Hunting in Saskatchewan. For a digital complete version click on this link: Hunter’s & Trappers Regulations
Hunting includes: taking, wounding, killing, chasing, pursuing, worrying, capturing, following after on the trail of, searching for, shooting at, trapping, setting snares for, stalking or lying in wait for any wildlife, whether or not the wildlife is subsequently captured, wounded or killed.
Hunting Licenses are available at:
SERM (Saskatchewan Environment Resource Management) department offices and authorized vendors across the province. Native people, as defined and required under section 12 of the Natural Resource Transfer Agreement, do not require a licence when subsistence hunting.
A Canadian Resident is a person who is a Canadian Citizen and lived in Canada 12 Months prior to obtaining a licence. Saskatchewan Residents are defined as individuals who are a Canadian Resident and have resided in Saskatchewan for 3 months immediately preceding the issue of the licence.
Saskatchewan residents must provide a valid Health Services card when purchasing a game licence (habitat certificate). Non-Residents do not require a health card to obtain a certificate, but to speed up the process of getting your license have a valid ID or Driver’s license ready to give to the sales clerk when they start to fill out your license. Residents may purchase a habitat certificate, game licence and migratory game bird permit for visiting hunter(s) before that person’s arrival but will need to supply the hunters name, date of birth and address. NOTE: This Habitat Certificate is Mandatory for all hunters to have. It alone DOES NOT give you the right to hunt in Saskatchewn. Your Habitat Certificate (hunting license) is NOT VALIDto hunt anything in Saskatchewan. You must obtain individual species licenses to hunt.
To hunt any bird (upland or waterfowl) you need a Game Bird License. This game bird license allows you to hunt Upland Game Birds ONLY. To hunt Migratory Game Birds (waterfowl) you must also obtain the Federal Migratory Bird Stamp. This stamp is ONLY available at a Federal Post Office or Post Office Designated Location. All waterfowl hunters either resident or non-resident must have this Migratory Stamp to validate the Game Bird License. To legaly hunt ONLY Waterfowl even if NOT hunting Upland Birds YOU MUST have both portions.
Youth 12 – 15 years of age must have a guardian or parent complete the consent portion of the Saskatchewan Wildlife Habitat Certificate. While hunting they must also be under the direct supervision of an adult who is at least 18 years of age. People born after January 1, 1971 must graduate from a Firearm Safety/Hunter Education course in order to hold or apply for a Saskatchewan game or fur licence.
Migratory game birds can be given away as long as each bird is tagged with the name, address, Migratory Game Bird Permit number, date taken and the signature of the hunter that took the bird. Electric calls can be used for snow geese hunting but all decoys must be full white or blue geese only.
There are 2 Game Bird Districts in Saskatchewan these are, Northern and Southern Districts.
Before October 15, hunting for all geese is restricted to morning only (one-half hour before sunrise to 12:00 noon) in the South Game Bird District and zones 43, 47 to 59 and 67 to 69. All day hunting for all geese begins October 15. Exception: beginning September 1, White geese may be hunted all day EAST OF THE 106 degrees longitude.
Spring Snow Goose Hunt: Hunters are not required to have a provincial game bird licence or a habitat certificate for this hunt. Hunters are required to have in their possession a current Federal Migratory Game Bird Permit and Stamp. Snow geese may be hunted all day during the spring season. Spring snow geese include white and blue phase snow geese but NOT Ross` Geese.
The use of non-toxic shot is required for hunting migratory game birds in Saskatchewan infact all of Canada. Lead shot can still be used for hunting upland game birds except in national wildlife areas.
NEW FOR 2009
SUNDAY HUNTING, will be allowed for the province of Saskatchewan. During open seasons, hunters will be allowed to hunt on Sundays in all wildlife management zones.
LICENCE FEES: All licence fees listed include GST,
Wildlife Habitat Certificate
Game Birds: A Federal Migratory Game Bird Permit, a Saskatchewan Game Bird Licence and a Wildlife Habitat Certificate are required to hunt waterfowl.
Migratory Game Bird (at Post Office only) $ 17.85
Saskatchewan Resident Game Bird Licence $ 10.79
Canadian Resident Game Bird Licence $ 56.91
Non-resident Game Bird Licence $113.83
Youth Game Licence (residents only) $ 8.80
SEASONS & LIMITS:
SHARP TAIL GROUSE: ALL HUNTERS
Residents, Canadian Residents & Non-Residents
Bag limit Daily 3 Possession 6
North Game Bird District Sept 15 – Dec 7
South Game Bird District Sept 15 – Nov 14
HUNGARIAN PARTRIDGE: ALL HUNTERS
Residents, Canadian Residents & Non-Residents
Bag limit Daily 8 Possession 24 Season 24
Residents North & South Game Bird District Sept 15 – Dec 31
Canadian & Non Residents
North Game Bird District Sept 15 – Dec 7
South Game Bird District Sept 15 – Nov 14
RUFFED GROUSE & SPRUCE GROUSE: ALL HUNTERS
Residents, Canadian Residents & Non-Residents
Bag limit Daily 10 Possession 20 Season 24
Residents
Canadian & Non Residents
North Game Bird District Sept 15 – Dec 7
South Game Bird District Sept 15 – Nov 14
PHEASANTS: SASKATCHEWAN RESIDENTS ONLY
Bag limit (cocks only) 3 daily Possession Limit 6 Season Limit 6
South Game Bird District Oct 1 – Dec 31
PTARMIGAN: ALL HUNTERS
Residents, Canadian Residents & Non-Residents
Bag limit Daily 10 Possession 20 Season 20
North Game Bird District Nov 1, 09 – Mar 31, 2010
DUCKS, COOTS, SNIPE: ALL HUNTERS
Residents, Canadian Residents & Non-Residents
North and South Game Bird Districts Sept 1 – Dec 16
Ducks Limit (3 Pintail) Daily 8 Possession 16 Season 16
Coots & Snipe Daily 10 Possession 20 Season 20
SPRING SNOW GOOSE: ALL HUNTERS
Residents, Canadian Residents & Non-Residents
Bag limit Daily 20 Possession 60 Season 60
North & South Game Bird Districts
West of 106 degree longitude Apr 1 – Apr 30, 2010
East of 106 degree longitude Apr 1 – May 31, 2010
GEESE & SANDHILL CRANES: ALL HUNTERS
Residents, Canadian Residents & Non-Residents
North Game Bird District
All Geese and Sandhill Cranes Sept 1 – Dec 16
South Game Bird District
Saskatchewan & Canadian Residents
Canada & White(Snow) Geese & Cranes Sept 1 – Dec 16
White-fronted Geese Sept 10 – Dec 16
Non-residents of Canada
White(Snow) Geese & Sandhill Cranes Sept 1 – Dec 16
Dark Geese(Canada & White Front) Sept 10 – Dec 16
BAG LIMITS GEESE & CRANES
Residents, Canadian Residents & Non-Residents
Sandhill Crane Daily 5 Possession 10 Season 10
White Geese Daily20 Possession 60 Season 60
Dark Geese (4 white front daily, 8 white front possesion and season)
Saskatchewan Residents Daily 8 Possession 16 Season 16
Dark Geese (3 white front daily, 6 white front possesion and season)
Non-residents Daily 8 Possession 16 Season 16
