Hunting on Sundays is allowed in some jurisdictions in northern Alberta, but not others. One where it isn’t is in Wildlife Management Unit 510, around Smith. At least one farmer from the area would like Sunday hunting to be allowed, and his request was on the M.D. #124 council agenda on Jan. 30.
The request came by way of the M.D.’s Agricultural Service Board, before which Rick McKnight had appeared with his request. McKnight is apparently suffering significant losses of livestock feed due to depredation by wild animals such as deer and elk. His proposal is that allowing hunting on Sundays in the area might reduce the number of marauding ungulates.
Presenting the proposal and explaining the situation to council was M.D. manager Allan Winarski. He said that the animals “really make a mess” of farmers’ haystacks, silage pits and hay swaths.
And it’s not just one or two animals.
“Most farmers don’t mind feeding a bit of wildlife,” Winarski said. “But not 20 or 30 at a time. Sunday hunting may take care of some of it.”
Why not build fences?
McKnight had addressed that issue at the ASB meeting. He told the board that fencing is expensive – especially the type of fences it would take to discourage deer. There is apparently compensation available where farmers can prove loss of bales, but not for silage or swath grazing.
The ASB recommended that council submit a letter to Alberta Sustainable Resource Development in support of Sunday hunting in WMU 510.
Judging by the discussion around the council table, there are fairly strong points of view both ways.
“I’ve had a lot of people speak against it,” said councillor Debbie Parsons. “Including hunters.”
Councillor Tim Walmsley – who supports the notion – had an answer to that.
“Most of the people against it are hunters who don’t want competition,” he said.
Not so, Parsons said.
“People like a day of peace from hunters,” she said. “I
know a lot of people are looking for one day of reprieve.”
Walmsley made another point in favour of Sunday hunting. Hunters with an elk tag need more than one day on a weekend to find their animal. Sunday hunting would work well for them.
“Would you okay Sunday hunting and take one or two days off during the week?” Walmsley asked Parsons.
“A break (from hunters) would be nice for everybody,” Parsons said.
Councillor Darcie Acton pointed out that it must be confusing for hunters to have Sunday hunting in one area (WMU 511, just across the river from Smith) and not in another.
Councillor Mike Skrynyk was unwilling to vote on the question without more information. He said he’d like to know something solid about the game animal populations in the area concerned, and would also need to know more about what residents think. Parsons said she too would like to know what people want. Council voted to table the question pending more information. Winarski said he’d find out from SRD about ungulate populations in the area. He also said that a questionnaire on Sunday hunting could be circulated to residents.
Winarski also advised council that he has the impression that SRD is ‘pro-hunting’, and that populations – especially of deer – are increasing.
Sunday hunting already exists in many – perhaps most – areas, council heard, although not in Athabasca County. Westlock County council had approved it, Walmsley said.

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