By Lara Fominoff @LaraFominoff on Twitter

Province announces seniors hunting license discount, extended elk hunting season

Aug 1, 2018 | 1:10 PM

LETHBRIDGE – Starting this fall, Seniors who hunt in Alberta will enjoy discounted rates on their licenses, as part of a larger initiative the Provincial Government is introducing.

Environment Minister Shannon Phillips was in Lethbridge Wednesday, to make the announcements.

“We are extending elk seasons to provide more flexibility for both hunters and rural land owners to harvest elk to minimize degradation of stored feed and damage to fencing. This is something I’ve heard from northwest and southeast Alberta landowners and ranchers many, many times and so we’re responding.

“Something also heard quite a bit about locally, and so we’re responding. A special winter hunt will be set up near Magrath to address their urban deer issues.”

Programs already established, will be bolstered she says to monitor chronic wasting disease in elk and deer populations and will make a few boundary changes for hunters near more populated areas, at the request of residents in Canmore and Strathcona Counties.

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Phillips says beginning this fall, there will also be a seniors’ discount on hunting licences, and a mentoring program they can take part of, in partnership with the Alberta Hunter Education Instructors’ Association, to create mentorship opportunities for seniors to pass along their experience to younger generations.

“By significantly lowering the price for hunting licenses, helping keep more senior hunters active and participating in a pastime they love, we’re ensuring that the entire hunting community benefits.”

According to the province, Alberta is one of the only places in North America where hunting is increasing in popularity, and there are more than 18,500 hunting license holders that are 65 years and older. 

The prices for seniors hunting licenses will be as follows:

• $8.25 for a combination wildlife certificate and bird game permit, down from $44.02
• $8.25 for a white-tailed deer license, down from $39.95
• $12 for partner licenses for senior Albertan hunters