Johnny Petryshyn, conservation officer stationed in Preeceville, was the guest speaker and touched on a variety of significant topics during the Sturgis Wildlife Federation annual banquet and awards on February 8.
Petryshyn's discussion featured Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD).
"This has been around for a while but the ministry of environment, in partnership with the Saskatchewan Wildlife Federation, is encouraging all hunters to submit the heads of their harvested white-tailed deer, mule deer, moose, elk and caribou,” he said.
“CWD is a fatal infectious central nervous system disease in cervids (deer family) that has no known cure. CWD was discovered in a provincial game farmed animal in 1996. There it transitioned to wild mule deer in 2000 and is now found in white-tailed deer, elk and moose.”
CWD is found in 48 of Saskatchewan’s 83 WMZ (Wildlife Management Zones). With the help of hunters, the ministry has been monitoring the spread and intensity of CWD for more than 20 years. Some key zones where hunters are encouraged to submit their samples are: 9,10,2W,35 and 37.
Overall there have been 3,500 samples submitted for testing this year, which is an
increase of approximately 1,500 from last year.
Petryshyn said there are 13 remaining ministry offices which offer sample drop off services, with Yorkton and Hudson Bay offices being the closest.
“It is recommended that you go online to cwdsk.ca if you are able, to fill out your
submission form prior to bring in your head to the office,” he said. “Ensure the CWD tag
with your tracking number is securely fastened to the bag with the head.
They say allow a minimum of four weeks to get see your results but due to the
increase of submissions that may have taken longer.
"As we all know there hasn’t been a CWD case identified in humans, however the
ministry strongly recommends that hunters should avoid consuming any of the
meat until it is tested and the results known."
Another issue discussed by Petryshyn was the topic of dealing with the
brainworm.
“Over the past few years we have put down several moose. This past year I have shot three. We have also had a mule deer come back positive with brain worm from north of Norquay.”
Scientists believe the brainworm doesn’t affect white-tailed deer. However, it affects mule deer, moose, elk and caribou. It affects the nervous system of the animal causing weakness, fearlessness, lack of coordination, circling, deafness, impaired vision, paralysis and eventually death.
The worm is of no public health significance because it does not infect humans,
therefore, the meat of an infected animal is safe for human consumption.
Petryshyn went to talk about the definition and duties of a Conservation officer.
“We have increased our joint patrols with the RCMP. This past weekend we were able to get out on the snowmobiles and check a few of our warmup shelters and ice fishermen.
Unfortunately, we encountered a lot of unregistered snowmobiles and alcohol.,” he reported.
“A lot of warnings were issued to educate individuals. Another reminder is that anyone born on or after January 1, 1989 in Saskatchewan is required by law to take a snowmobile safety course. Without that you may be charged and your insurance invalid.
While checking anglers they too were reminded that their snowmobiles need to be registered in order to operate on any public lands or waterways. Another thing to be aware of is that we enforce not only the wildlife aspect of things but as well the Traffic Safety Act. This means everything that a RCMP officer may stop you for, we can as well, so be careful. Distracted driving fines have gone up.
“We have teamed up with the RCMP this past fall and conducted hunter compliance checks,” he continued. “Overall the fall went well with a few hunters being educated again.
“We continue to see hunting pressure from unregulated hunters from outside of our Province. We have been successful in some cases but not all, unfortunately.
“We have had our Preeceville office closed to the public this past year and reduced officers from three to two. Dave Knihniski and myself continue to work out of that office but behind closed doors as we no longer provide customer service. However, if you would like to meet with Dave or myself you can call the Saskatchewan Environment
Inquiry center at 1-800-567-4224 to make an appointment. If it is of an urgent
matter that you would like to speak to one of us, please call the tips line @ 1-800-667-7561.
Petryshyn concluded with a brief overview of the operations at Lady Lake.
“Last year’s try at winter killing the lake was unsuccessful. and the lake is trying it again by turning on the aeration system for short times throughout the winter in hopes to stir up the sediment and increase oxygen depletion. Fisheries staff will be evaluating the oxygen content prior to and after this procedure has been completed.”
