Medicine Hat Fish and Game Association
PO Box 883 LCD 1
Medicine Hat , Alberta T1A 7G8
[email protected]
Honourable RJ Sigurdson
Minister of Agriculture and Irrigation
131 Alberta Legislature Building
10800 – 97 Avenue NW
Edmonton, AB T5K 2B6
Dear Minister Sigurdson,
I am writing to you on behalf of the Medicine Hat Fish and Game Association (MHFGA) to express our strong opposition to cervid harvest preserves in Alberta. As a long-standing organization dedicated to wildlife conservation, ethical hunting practices, and the protection of Alberta’s natural resources, we have significant concerns regarding the introduction and operation of such facilities in our province.
Cervid harvest preserves contradict the principles of fair chase, a core value upheld by Alberta’s hunting community. Fair chase hunting ensures that wildlife has a reasonable opportunity to avoid pursuit, which maintains the integrity and ethical standards of our hunting traditions. In contrast, enclosed hunting operations, where animals are confined, undermine these principles by prioritizing guaranteed success over genuine wildlife stewardship.
Furthermore, cervid preserves pose a serious threat to wildlife health, particularly due to the risk of Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD). This fatal neurological disorder, already present in many parts of Alberta, can spread more easily in confined populations. The introduction of cervid preserves increases the likelihood of disease transmission from captive animals to wild herds, threatening the long-term health and sustainability of Alberta’s wildlife populations.
There are also concerns regarding the genetic integrity of wild cervid populations. Animals bred in captivity for hunting purposes often undergo selective breeding for traits that do not reflect the natural genetic diversity of Alberta’s wildlife. Should captive animals escape, they could interbreed with wild populations, potentially compromising their genetic health and resilience.
Moreover, the commercialization of Alberta’s wildlife through hunting preserves undermines the public trust doctrine, which holds that wildlife is a public resource managed for the benefit of all citizens. The privatization of wildlife for profit conflicts with Alberta’s long-standing tradition of responsible, conservation-focused wildlife management.
The MHFGA firmly believes that wildlife management and hunting practices should be guided by principles of conservation, sustainability, and respect for Alberta’s natural heritage. Cervid harvest preserves, by their very nature, conflict with these values and pose risks to both our wildlife and the reputation of ethical hunters across the province.
We respectfully urge you to continue prioritizing Alberta’s successful wildlife management practices by opposing the establishment of cervid harvest preserves. Thank you for your attention to this important matter, and we would welcome the opportunity to discuss our concerns further.
Sincerely,
Glenn Heather
President
Medicine Hat Fish and Game Association