as far as reg.s,,rules and enforcment people,,what is it like to be a gunowner/hunter/trapper,,etc. in THE GREAT WHITE NORTH?,,,I ask because I am looking at some property in s.Sask. and some in Alberta,,for a move to T.G.W.N.,from the U.S.,,,looking for more room to roam.Thanxx Guys

I was talking to a fellow from down your way. He moved to Paradise valley in Sask. Says it was the best move he ever made. He works as a manager of a pig barn of all things. Anyway he loves goose hunting and he's sure getting his fill where he is. The geese aren't nearly as shy up north because they haven't been shot at much yet. His kids walk to school and are happy as any little urchins can be. Sask has the same hunting as Alberta with the exception of mountain sheep-that's what keeps me here.

the chef

Moved to Alberta from The Netherlands four years ago, and haven't looked (or been) back.

I'm with the chef... I'm hanging around where the sheep are.

I just hope to convince my family to move one province North with me, where the grizz roam and can be hunted, and the white sheep.

Rules for long guns are pretty lenient compared to Europe. Handguns can be owned but not carried (except to ranges, matches, etc). Hunting seasons are long, and lots of tags go over the counter. Enforcement staff is probably comparable to other places, some are good to deal with, others are a PITA. Much like in other professions.

Frans

Go here. http://www.cfc-cafc.gc.ca/factsheets/moving_e.asp

If you want wide open spaces and everything that goes along with that, you can still find it here. Just don't bring your Handguns.
Grizz

I may be biased, but my vote is one for moving to Alberta. We have a bigger variety of game species and prettier geographic scenery than Sask.

If you dont mind my asking...what made you want to move to western Canada?

If Alberta is better than Saskatchewan,then BC HAS to be better than Alberta!Seriously any of the 3 Western Provinces offers great hunting opportunities and lots of wide open space!Monashee

The only thing Saskatchewan has going for it is that they are practically giving it away for free. Lots of Albertans movimg there, because they can buy three times as much land as in Alberta. Of course there isn't the infrastructure [roads are notoriously poor] or economic opportunity we have here. If you just want to get away, that's probably the place to go and northern Sakatchewan is very much like northern Alberta, ie. boreal forest.
Grizz

HEY GUYS,,,thanxx for the come-backs,,,'08,,growin'up in montana i always read about huntin' & fishin' UP-NORTH,,,and as much as I love my home state,,I really want more room to roam,,more forests to trek thru and water to canoe,,of late I have had some chances to buy substantial acreage at very good prices,,and it got me to considering a move.

Seeing as you mention paddling and buying land, Saskatchewan is a great option. Pasture can be had for 1/4 or 1/6 of the cost of that in southern Alberta (I've been looking for a while). Sask also has 1/3 the population. Being from Sask. but living in Alta. I really notice the increased population density in Alta. If you are a white water paddler/day tripper, Alberta is great, but wilderness tripping is far easier and better in Sask. Alberta has oil and gas over almost all of the province, so it is harder to really get away from people. Alberta has the trout streams, but the walleye and lake trout fishing isn't (for the most part) in the same league as that in Sask. The fisheries in Sask seem to have been better managed too. The Alberta fisheries managment has turned for the better over the years, but was a bad joke for quite a while. Hunting is a different story, with Alberta having incredible diversity and opportunity. Sask. has great hunting for fewer species in fewer types of habitat. Saskatchewan is a little short of mountains.

I agree with the person above who said you can't go wrong with any of the western provinces (I'd add Manitoba too). The economies in the west are booming, and shortage of labour is such that people are making $12/hr flipping burgers in places. Saskatchewan's economy is pegged to be the fastest growing in the country this year and Saskatoon grew at a faster pace than Calgary last year. The hardest part, besides leaving home, will be deciding what your priorties are. Mountain, forest or prairie? Whitewater or tripping? 1/4 section or 2 sections? What great problems to have!

Cheers,
Dean

Best places in Canada to live for hunting:

1) British Columbia
2) Yukon
3) Alberta
4) NWT (Nunavut)
5) Saskatchewan
6) Manitoba


B.C. has the most varieties of big game; mega mulies and whitetail deer, plus enormous elk. Black bear, moose, caribou, stone sheep, bison. It also has the best fishing for salmon, trout, steelhead, halibut etc...
The only thing it doesn't have is antelope.

Yukon you can hunt grizzly, dall sheep, plus the biggest moose in the world. Not sure about caribou and I don't think there's any deer in the Yukon.

Alberta has monster whitetails, mulies, elk, antelope and black bear. Good moose. Most reknowned for big horn sheep I suppose (I live here and have never hunted them).
Wood Bison in the north are considered a varmint...

NWT is great for moose, caribou and grizzly. But there's no deer or antelope. I think there is also dall sheep.

Saskatchewan is a deer hunters paradise; enormous whitetails and mulies but also has great moose, elk, black bear and fantastic fishing.

Manitoba has whitetails, moose, black bear, elk, caribou and even better fishing then Saskatchewan.


I suppose where you go is going to depend upon the family situation, how old you and yours are and their needs.
If you're solo then heck, why not just live in whichever province/territory that floats your boat and move if you feel the urge?

You need to be aware that in most provinces residency is required for a certain period before you are able to hunt. I think this might be as long as 3 years in the Yukon, so you might check that sorta thing before you make a move.

Yeah, but where are the mountains?

Frans

a
And what about the floods? God really seems to have it in for you guys at times.
Grizz

What you really mean is there is no place like home. I've lived within sight of the Rockies, since I was 7 years old and the skyline always looks empty without them. Alberta's climate has got to be the best on the average. Sure we get our occasional flood and extreme snow storm, but as a rule, things don't get too bad. Powers been out, but I haven't had to leave home in the canoe yet.
Grizz

I know that here in Alberta it is not enough to own property. You must actually live here as your primary residence to be eligible to hunt as a resident hunter.