After years of pressure from hunters and farmers, the federal government is considering allowing sandhill cranes to be hunted in northern Ontario, possibly as soon as this autumn. The Canadian Wildlife Service has put forth a proposal for a controlled hunting season in specific areas of the north, marking the first time that sandhill cranes could be legally targeted in Ontario.
Christopher Sharp, a population management biologist at the Canadian Wildlife Service, stated that the initiative came about due to ongoing concerns raised by the agricultural and hunting communities since 2003. Extensive data collection by Environment and Climate Change Canada on sandhill crane activities in Ontario and Quebec enabled an evaluation to be conducted.
Sandhill cranes, a species that was almost wiped out in the past due to unregulated hunting and wetland destruction, have seen a significant population resurgence in recent decades. The eastern population in Ontario and Quebec, which totals around 100,000 birds, has notably expanded. The proposed hunting plan aims to address the rising conflicts with farmers, especially in northern Ontario, where the birds cause damage to crops.
The potential hunting season would be limited to specific regions in northern Ontario where sandhill cranes are most prevalent during their fall migration. The proposal suggests a two-week hunting period, with a restriction of one crane per day per hunter and a focus on farmland areas to minimize disturbance to cranes roosting in the boreal forest.
Public feedback on the proposed hunting season is being accepted until February 12. Interest in hunting sandhill cranes is anticipated to be moderate, with some hunters referring to the bird’s meat as the “ribeye of the sky” due to its quality and taste. Sharp emphasized the need for a cautious approach to ensure sustainability in any potential hunting activities.