The federal government is considering allowing the hunting of sandhill cranes in northern Ontario, potentially starting this autumn. The Canadian Wildlife Service has proposed a controlled hunting season in specific northern areas for the first time in Ontario, responding to concerns from hunters and farmers about crop damage by increasing crane populations.
Christopher Sharp, a population management biologist at the Canadian Wildlife Service, mentioned that they have received requests from the agricultural and hunting communities since 2003. Extensive data collection in Ontario and Quebec revealed the impact of sandhill cranes on farmers and their migration patterns, leading to an evaluation supporting a potential hunting season.
There are two main sandhill crane populations in Canada: the larger mid-continent population, and the smaller eastern population in Ontario and Quebec. The eastern population, consisting of around 100,000 birds, has significantly increased over the years, reaching sustainable levels for hunting due to successful population management efforts.
Sandhill cranes have thrived in agricultural landscapes, with their population in Ontario and Quebec growing to about 50,000 birds during fall staging. Despite being nearly extinct in the past due to hunting and habitat destruction, sandhill cranes have rebounded, posing challenges to farmers in northern Ontario during migration periods.
The proposed hunting season would be limited to certain northern Ontario regions where sandhill cranes are abundant during fall migration, such as Algoma, Nipissing, and Temiskaming. The season would last two weeks, allowing hunters to harvest one crane per day in designated areas, primarily on farmland to avoid disturbing cranes in the boreal forest.
Interested hunters have shown enthusiasm for the opportunity to hunt sandhill cranes, often referring to the bird’s meat as the “ribeye of the sky.” While the expected harvest is moderate, precautions are being taken to ensure sustainability and conservation of the sandhill crane population. Public feedback on the proposed hunting season is welcome until February 12.
