Sandhill cranes will be available for hunting in specific regions of Quebec and northern Ontario for the first time ever. In Quebec, the hunting season will span 14 days, running from September 12 to September 25 and will be limited to farmland in Abitibi-Témiscamingue and Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean. The selection of these regions followed a comprehensive assessment by the Canadian Wildlife Service for Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) over nearly ten years to evaluate the species’ status and growth.
Mathieu Tétreault, a biologist specialized in game birds at the Canadian Wildlife Service, mentioned that the assessment was prompted by concerns raised by agricultural unions about the birds’ impact on crops. Hunting groups also expressed interest in pursuing these new game birds. After eight years of evaluation, the team determined that a controlled harvest of sandhill cranes would be sustainable in both provinces.
The sandhill crane population has surged from around 30,000 to over 100,000 in two decades, as highlighted by Tétreault. Though the population is now thriving, McGill University’s ornithology professor Kyle Elliott pointed out that the species faced near extinction a century ago due to unsustainable hunting practices.
Elliott expressed confidence that history would not repeat itself, thanks to the government’s stringent regulations for the fall hunting season. Hunters possessing migratory bird permits and small game permits can target one crane per day and can only possess one at a time, emphasizing the need to consume the bird before pursuing another one.
ECCC introduced a visual aid to assist in distinguishing sandhill cranes from other bird species to prevent accidental targeting by hunters. The purpose of the hunt, as per ECCC’s assessment, is not primarily to reduce agricultural damage caused by cranes but to enhance outdoor recreational opportunities for hunters, given that sandhill cranes are considered to be excellent for consumption.
Farmers, such as Wallace Metcalfe, president of the Union des producteurs agricoles for Témiscamingue, remain positive despite the restrictions imposed. Metcalfe acknowledged the challenges posed by sandhill cranes damaging crops and expressed satisfaction with the one-crane-per-day limit during the hunt. Additionally, farmers can request a Damage and Danger permit outside the hunting season to address disruptions caused by cranes, with a requirement to report the number of cranes culled.
In 2024, Quebec issued eight permits resulting in the harvesting of eight cranes, allowing locals to sample the bird’s meat. Metcalfe described the sandhill crane as the “champagne of birds,” reflecting the quality of its meat.
As anticipation builds for the upcoming hunting season, Marc Renaud, general manager of the Fédération québécoise des chasseurs et pêcheurs, anticipated a high interest in hunting sandhill cranes across Quebec, emphasizing the importance of respecting farmers’ land during the hunt.
While the current hunt is limited to Quebec’s two regions, Tétreault mentioned that the Canadian Wildlife Service would evaluate the season after four years, with the possibility of expansion in the future to other areas if deemed sustainable.