SWF asks members to wear camo on November 15, to celebrate Saskatchewan’s Hunting, Trapping and Fishing Heritage Day

The Saskatchewan Wildlife Federation is asking its members to wear camouflage apparel on November 15 to help celebrate the province’s Hunting, Trapping and Fishing Heritage Day. First established in 2010, the commemorative day offers a chance to publicly promote the three outdoor pursuits, says the SWF’s executive director, Darrell Crabbe.

“Not only do these activities provide huge quality of life benefits to the people of our province,” Crabbe says, “they also generate over $650 million to our provincial economy each year.”

In contrast to the National Hunting, Trapping and Fishing Heritage Day, which takes place annually on the third Saturday of September, Saskatchewan chose November 15 to celebrate its provincial version because it aligns with the first day of deer season. “White-tailed deer hunting in Saskatchewan is somewhat sacred,” Crabbe explains, “and because the world-record typical whitetail deer was harvested here, the deer-season opener was the day we decided to recognize.”

As well, November 15 was chosen because it lines up with the provincial government’s calendar. “The legislature sits during that period of time in November,” Crabbe says. “We and a few other hunting and angling organizations go to the legislature to provide all of the MLAs with camouflage of some kind, from scarves to wristbands.”

In the days leading up to November 15, the SWF is inviting its members to e-mail photos of themselves wearing camo to sask.wildlife@swf.sk.ca. “We get hundreds of submissions, everything from babies and dogs to whole families in camo,” Crabbe says, noting the images are then posted on the federation’s social media channels. “It’s really heartening to see the acceptance of it, and people participating.”

Learn more about the SWF’s programs and positions at www.swf.sk.ca.