The federal government is considering allowing sandhill cranes to be hunted in northern Ontario, potentially starting this fall. The Canadian Wildlife Service is proposing a limited hunting season to manage the growing crane populations that are causing crop damage. This would be the first legal hunting opportunity for sandhill cranes in Ontario.
Christopher Sharp, a population management biologist with the Canadian Wildlife Service, mentioned that the proposal comes after years of requests from the agricultural and hunting communities. Data collection on sandhill cranes in Ontario and Quebec revealed increased conflicts with farmers and highlighted migration patterns, leading to the evaluation supporting a potential hunting season.
Sandhill cranes in Canada consist of two main populations. The eastern population, found in Ontario and Quebec, has grown significantly in recent decades to about 100,000 birds. The species has rebounded from near extinction in the past due to unregulated hunting and habitat destruction.
The proposed hunt would target areas in northern Ontario 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 select farmland areas while avoiding disturbances in the boreal forest.
Interested hunters have shown curiosity in harvesting sandhill cranes, often referring to the meat as the “ribeye of the sky.” While the demand is projected to be steady but limited, precautions are being taken to ensure a conservative approach to hunting these birds.
Public feedback on the proposed hunting season will be accepted until Feb. 12.