Hunting In Saskatchewan, Canada
February 19th, 2010 | 
Author: I just received a question, Can you hunt on any land in Saskatchewan without permission?
The quick answer to this is NO. The land Owner has complete control of their land and access to it.
There are several types of land with different hunting regulations for hunting in Saskatchewan.
First, Parks Wildlife Refuges, Government Areas set aside as habitat or endangered species locations, there is no hunting on these lands or areas unless a specific licence has been issued for that area. Cypress Hills Provincial Park allows elk hunting but only to keep the elk population in check and only a very specific number of tags are issued and then hunters are limited to specific dates only.
Second, Land Owners who have posted their land as no hunting. As this implies the landowner does not want anyone hunting on their land. Many will post their land Hunting with permission only. It is best to always ask the landowner even if it is not posted. Most will allow hunting and many are happy to have you there to control birds and animals, just be careful of buildings, livestock and the Golden Rule: If it was closed and you opened it, then you close it, DO NOT leave it open. Livestock may be in area and if you leave a gate open, MAN someone help you.
Third, Native Lands or Reserves. These are native lands and are subject to aboriginal rights as such the Band Council controls if and who can hunt on their land.
Fourth, Public Lands. These are govenment lands that anyone can access. Usually along roads and right of ways and government pastures. However, be aware that someone may be leasing these lands and as such they have control on access and hunting.
Finally, there is lots of opportunities for hunting in Saskatchewan. Most land owners will openly allow you to hunt on their land all you need to do is ask. When in an area go to the RM Office or City/Town Hall and purchase or ask to see the district RM map for the area. This will show you the name of the person who owns the land you are wishing to hunt on and will show you where there main residence is. Couple this with a local phone book and you can get permission almost anywhere.
Copyright © PRACTICAL SPORTMAN Practical Sportman: Home Main Blog
Practical Sportman: Fishing Blog
Practical Sportman: Fish & Wild Game Recipes
How To Hunt And Get Your Whitetail Buck
Chances are you won’t get that trophy monster buck of your dreams out your truck window. First, it is illegal to shoot from a vehicle and second Is road hunting ethical? Even if you see him from the truck chances are you are going to have to work for him. Put on a stalk or try to figure out where you can ambush him. You may not even get him this year but you do know where to begin to find and patern him. So in order to do this you are going to have to do a few things. Let the Practical Sportman help get that buck of your dreams.
Get into Shape
Get off the couch and actually do some walking a couple or three months before hunting season starts. You are going to have to do some leg work and scout out your buck. Probably even more leg work trying to get your buck. If you live in the city then start off walking a couple of blocks. Wait a day, do again, but add another block. Wait a day, do again, this time walk last block at brisk pace. Gradually work your way up so you are walking for 30 minutes at brisk pace every 2 to 3 days.
Do some extra work out activities:
Begin with knee push ups, then go to full push ups. Throw in some sit ups (3/4). Start at two sets of 8 to 10 of each. Gradually work up to 3 or 4 sets. Add weights if too easy. Find an old gunny sack and fill it with rocks about 150 lbs and drag it around. This is good practice for the actual drag of a deer.
If you have any chest pain, stop and get medical help immediately. Heart attack or stroke, do not make for a good exercise or a good hunting day, and tends to scare any potential or current hunting partners.
Do Some Scouting
Get some maps! Go to RM office and get a RM map. This will show you the different sections, water bodies, land owners and access roads. Both grid and main roads are shown. Next go to Google and download a Topological map for the area you want to hunt or hunt. Learn to read the map the draws, streams, fields, high points, hills, coulees, and all surface landmarks.
Get physical detail! How, you ask? Before, during and after hunting season.
The deer you seen or to have a chance at a Dream buck is probably living in an area of about 6 square miles, this is his territory and he will mark, protect and travel inside this area.
Before season starts in the spring: before all the snow is gone drive the roads you can and mark down trails, crossing areas, bushes used for bedding, fields used for feeding, type and quantity of deer seen and any movement tracks you see. Later in spring do some shed hunting in the area you will hunt, any horns found will tell you what to expect or can expect for a buck that fall. Also good time to follow trails to see where they go and find ambush areas.
Before season starts in the fall: go to the actual location and drive all the roads in and around this area. Note on paper where you find does, where you see the buck, where they go when you scare them.
Get permission from the land owner and walk or if allowed drive within the hunting area. Again watch for sign, trails, rubs, actual deer, escape routes, hidden food sources, types of food available, location of water and wind conditions. Mark on your map areas where you see rubs and scrapes. Mark any trails you find where they go or come from, trees, fields, draws, bedding area, another piece of land, fence line crossing, going to water. Mark what fields they are going to feed at.
Find the bedding areas – thickest brush or highest area will hold bucks
Locate all travel hubs – watch backs of hills with swale from bedding to food areas
Identify all Food types – grain, grass, bales, open fields, grass pockets
Identify and monitor all water sources – ponds, streams, springs
Study their movement during all seasons – every time of year, the deer still travel, eat and sleep
During the season: take note of wind and weather each day out and where you see deer
Start your hunting season by hunting the food source. The rut probably has not started so deer are still stuck in the food-bed mode getting ready to rut. At this time they have had little pressure for a while and are easier to stalk and ambush. Find an ambush spot. As your map completes with info you will find a natural ambush site, back of a hill in a ditch or low area along a fence where many trails meet, or where heavy cover meets such a spot. Watch where you walk, where did they come from or go, when you jumped them, chances are they will use that route again. Be prepared the next time you are in that area.
Before the rut:
work the water, rattle and grunt at these, create your own scrapes apply some scent, hunt the travel routes, find where they are coming from or going to, big deer will travel during midday so watch for them.
During the rut:
hunt the Does, find the does and wait for the buck to appear, this is his stupid time you never now when or where you will see him. As the rut and season progresses, plan drives, in late season bucks have been pushed hard you will need to move them get help pushing bush. Hunt further back from roads as the deer get wise to vehicles and disappear quickly when one slows down or stops.
After the rut:
hunt the food again, the buck either lays up or starts feeding to gain back the reserves lost during rut and he is still looking for the odd doe in heat.
After hunting season: give it a couple of weeks after hunting then start scouting for winter yard areas. Look for new areas with lots of deer sign. Find new areas to hunt next year and start all over with the steps again.
While you were hunting you probably traveled some new areas, hunted with someone new who showed you a new area or you seen or heard of a big deer from someone and want to check it out in more depth.
My hunting season really never ends just the actual time harvesting an animal during the hunting season. At all times of the year I carry a camera and take pictures of wildlife, even while on fishing trips. In summer and the dog days of winter I watch the tv shows and read magazines for new ideas and products. In the fall even while bird hunting I am watching for sign and areas with deer I want to hunt. Also, most farmers will not mind if you hunt varmints and will give permission to do so, what an excuse for deer scouting. If you never quit at end of each hunting season, you will increase your odds and reduce the luck of finding, seeing and you probably will get that monster buck everyone wishes they shot.
Author: Greg Parkin, A PracticalSportman