Ottawa, 15th September, 1945

Office Consolidation of

Regulations governing hunting

And trapping in Wood Buffalo Park.

Established under authority of the Order-in-Council of the 14th December, 1933, P.C. 2589

Definitions

In these regulations, unless the context otherwise requires:

• “Minister” means the Minister of Mines and Resources.
• “Regulation” means any regulation applicable to the Wood Buffalo Park under the provisions of the National Parks Act or the North West Game Act.
• “Park” means the Wood Buffalo Park.
• “Superintendent” means the Superintendent of the Wood Buffalo Park or any person acting that capacity.
• “Game” means all wild mammals and wild birds and the heads, skins, and every part of such mammals and birds.
• “Close Season” means the period during which the hunting, killing, destroying, injuring, trapping, taking, capturing, selling, trading in or molesting of game is prohibited or restricted by any Regulation.
• “Open Season” means the period during which such game may be hunted, killed, destroyed, trapped, taken, captures or possessed.

Permit Required to Enter Park

No person shall enter the Wood Buffalo Park unless he holds a permit or license from the Superintendent authorizing his entry to the said Wood Buffalo Park. Any person found within the park boundaries without the necessary permission from the Superintendent may be summarily removed from the park by the order of the Superintendent.

Hunting, Trapping and Trading in

Park Governed by these Regulations.

Holders of permits to carry on the occupation of hunting or trapping and trading or trafficking in game in Wood Buffalo Park shall do so subject to the provisions of these regulations.

Close Seasons

Except with the permission of the Minister or of an officer authorized by him the following shall not be killed, hunted, trapped, taken, shot at, wounded, injured or molested in any way during the following times of year respectively: -

• Beaver – Throughout the year.
• Fox (Any colour) – From the first day of March to the thirty-first day of October, following, both days inclusive.

Lynx, Mink, Fisher and Red Squirrel

• – From the first day of April to the thirty-first day of October, following, both days inclusive.

Marten

– Throughout the year.

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Muskrat – From the sixteenth day of May to the last day of February, following, both days inclusive.

Otter

– From the first day of May to the thirty-first day of October, following, both days inclusive.

Bear – From the first day of May to the fourteenth day of September, following, both days inclusive.

Moose – From the first day of April to the thirty-first day of August, following, both days inclusive.

Barren Ground Caribou and Mule or Jumping Deer – From the first day of April to the thirty-first day of August, following, both days inclusive.

Ducks and Geese – From the fifteenth day of November to the thirty-first day of August, following, both days inclusive.

Ptarmigan – From the first day of May to the thirty-first day of August, following, both days inclusive.

Partridge, Prairie Chicken and other Grouse – From the first day of January to the thirty-first day of August, following, both days inclusive.

Wild Swans, Cranes and White Pelicans – Throughout the year.

Buffalo and Woodland Caribou – Throughout the year.

Wild Swans and White Pelicans

Except under permit from the Minister of an officer authorized by him no person may hunt, trap, shoot at, wound, injure or molest any wild swan or any white pelican or take, destroy or molest the eggs or nests of such birds at any time of year.

Buffalo

Except under permit from the Minister of an officer authorized by him no person may hunt, trap, kill, shoot at, wound, injure or molest any buffalo at any time of the year and no person shall at any time trade or traffic in any part or parts thereof, and the finding of any of the skins or pelts of the said animals in the possession of any persons shall be prima facie evidence of the guilt of such person and the onus of proof to the contrary shall rest upon him.

Beaver Dams and Muskrat Houses Protected

Except under permit from the Minister, or an officer authorized by him, no personal shall cut, spear, break, destroy or at any time interfere with a beaver house or beaver dam, or muskrat house.

Shooting Beaver

The shooting of beaver is prohibited. The finding of the skins or pelts of beaver bearing the marks, or evidence of having been shot, in the possession of any person shall be prima facie evidence of the guilt of such person and the onus of proof to the contrary shall rest upon him.

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Dogs – Not to be used for Hunting game

No person shall use dogs for the purpose of hunting, taking or capturing any game.

Use of Taps in Close season Prohibited

Except under permit from the Minister or an officer authorized by him, no trap or other contrivance shall be used for the capture of coyotes, wolves, wolverines or other predatory animals during the period April 1 to October 31.

Females with Young at Foot

No person shall at any time take, kill or molest any female moose, caribou or deer with young at foot or any of the young at foot of these mammals.

Sale of Meat Prohibited

The meat of game killed within the boundaries of Wood Buffalo Park shall not be sold nor offered for sale.

Use of Snares Prohibited

Except with special permission of the Superintendent, no person shall set out, use or employ any snare for the capture or destruction of any game other than rabbits and no person shall set out, use or employ any snare constructed of wire heavier than No. 22 gauge for any purpose.

Shooting Muskrats

The shooting of muskrats with shotguns is prohibited. Provided that the Superintended may issue a permit to any incapacitated, aged or infirm resident of the Wood Buffalo Park authorizing the person named in the permit to shoot muskrats for food purposes during the open season with a .410 gauge shotgun.

Exportation of Furs from

Northwest Territories.

The holders of permits to hunt and trap game in that portion of the Wood Buffalo Park situate in the Northwest Territories shall comply with the provisions of the Northwest Territories Fur Export Ordinance.

Permits

No person shall hunt, trap, trade or traffic in game in the Wood Buffalo Park without a permit from the Superintendent. Such permit shall expire on the 30th June next following the date of issue and shall be returned to the Superintendent as soon as practicable following its expiry with a statement showing the number and kinds of game taken or traded thereunder.

Illegal Possession of Game

It shall be unlawful for any person to have in his possession any game taken in violation of the provisions of the regulations.

Eligible for Permits

The following shall be eligible for permits to hunt and trap game during the open seasons provided under the regulations:

Throughout the Park

Treaty Indians who had hunted and trapped therein prior to the date the area was set aside as a park.

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In that portion of the park south of the Peace River;

Any person who had hunted and trapped

In that area prior to the 24th September,

Permit Fee

Permits in favour of Treaty Indians and Half-breeds leading the lives of Indians, to hunt and trap in Wood Buffalo Park shall be issued without charge – all other persons shall be required to pay a fee of $2.00 for such privileges.

Privileges under Hunting

And Trapping Permit.

Subject to the provisions of these regulations the holder of a hunting and trapping permit may

• hunt, kill, take or trap game during the open season;
• have in his possession at all times the pelts and skins of

such game as he has legally trapped killed;

• sell, trade, ship or remove such pelts and skins.

Subject to the provisions of those regulations any permitee shall, in case it is necessary so to do at any time of the year, be entitled to kill and take caribou, mule or jumping deer, moose or bear for the purpose of providing necessary food for himself and family. Every permittee who kills game under this section shall report as soon as practicable to the Superintendent the number and kind of game taken and furnish such other information relating to the killing as may be required.

Traps to be Removed or Sprung.

Any person using traps or other contrivances for trapping, taking or killing game shall remove or spring the same before the close season and no person shall set or reset during the close season, any trap or contrivance used in connection with the trapping, taking or killing of any game protected by the regulations.

Use of Poison Prohibited

Except with the permission of the Minister no person shall have in his possession any poison that may be used for the purpose of taking or killing game or other mammals or birds.

Search for Poison

The Superintendent or any warden or other office acting under his instructions who has reasonable grounds to suspect that any person has used poison for the purpose of taking or killing game or has poison in his possession, may, in search of poison, enter any premises or tent or board any vessel or conveyance of any common carrier or search any kit, parcel, chest, box, receptable, outfit or other belongings of such person.

Cancellation of Permit

Violation of these regulations by any permittee shall result in immediate cancellation of his permit or license.

Penalties

• Penalties for the violation of these regulations will be found in the North West Game Act, Chapter 141 of the Revised Statutes of Canada 1927. These vary from five ($5.00) to five hundred ($500.00) dollars fine with or without imprisonment up to six months, according to the offence.