Summary of the presentation made by Joel Nicholson with the Fish and Wildlife Office.
WMU732 – Suffield Elk Hunt
*Successful endeavour
*Hunting will persist for 2023/24 season
*Dbl. cow tags will continue
*Capped at 140 hunters per day
*Success rate last season was 100%
CWD … MARCHES ON
*Tested 110,000 head since 2006
*5,455 tested positive
*6 times more in Mule deer then WT
*Now showing in Moose & Elk
*No known risk to humans
*WMU’s 148,150,151 mandatory submission
*Freezer program will be in effect
SAGE GROUSE
*Only 3 sites active – down from 38
*Pop. estimate in AB is 54 birds
*Predators are huge problem
*Planting of Silver Sagebrush now
*Calgary Zoo has approx. 50 birds there
CYPRESS HILLS ELK
*Will do Fly over this year
*700 head is the goal for the park
GENERAL
*Mule buck & doe tags down slightly for the upcoming season
*City of MH deer feeding bylaw coming