GAME FARM FOES
AWF says game farms increase the risk of infecting wild ungulates with chronic wasting disease
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Acting on recent reports the Alberta government is poised to allow penned hunts on elk and deer farms, the Alberta Wildlife Federation is reiterating its position that so-called cervid harvesting preserves should not be allowed to operate in the province.
Not only do hunts on fenced-in game farms run contrary to the principles of fair chase, argues AWF CEO Kelly Carter, the farms themselves increase the risk of infecting wild ungulate populations with chronic wasting disease. In fact, CWD first appeared in the province via game farms in the early 2000s. Allowing hunters to pay to kill fenced-in animals will also do immeasurable damage to the public perception of hunting overall, he adds.
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“The AWF is asking for cervid farms to be phased out and closed with fair compensation for producers, and help to transition to alternative revenue sources,” Carter says. “We want to see them shut them down, not given additional economic benefits that might encourage more to open up.”
Since at least 2001, the Alberta Elk Commission and Alberta Whitetail and Mule Deer Association have been lobbying the province to legalize hunt farms. The proposal has been rejected a few times, but according to a guest post from retired biologist Lorne Fitch on albertapolitics.ca, the current United Conservative Party government plans to change the regulations this year to allow penned hunts.
“Elk farming is one of those get-rich-quick schemes first promoted by the government of Alberta,” Fitch wrote. “Except that it didn’t turn out as planned for most and now it’s a failing industry clawing at anything to stay afloat.” Currently, Alberta elk farmers sell trophy animals to hunt farms in Saskatchewan and some states, where they’re legal.
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While there has been no official government announcement on impending regulation changes, Carter says the AWF wants to get the word out now that the idea is even being considered. “If we can get ahead of it and make sure the public is aware and try to engage on the front end,” he says, “maybe we can prevent that legislation from even being tabled in the spring.”
Learn more about the AWF’s programs at www.albertawildlifefederation.ca.