Saskatchewan’s big game draw opens on May 1 and hunters have until midnight on May 25 to submit their online applications.
“Saskatchewan’s big game draw continues to be very popular and remains an important milestone for the hunting community,” Environment Minister Dustin Duncan said. “The Ministry of Environment continues to work with stakeholders to improve the process and encourages all hunters to apply early.”
Changes to the big game draw pool system were implemented in 2018 when the draw was expanded from four to six priority pools. Beginning this year, all first-time applicants will be placed in the D pool. They will be joined in that pool by all successfully drawn applicants from 2018 in an effort to reduce the number of applicants entering the Super A pool each year.
The application process remains unchanged and information regarding the application, priority pools, wildlife management zone (WMZ) quotas and detailed application instructions can be found online at www.saskatchewanlicences.active.com.
Apply early and use the online residency verification tool to avoid complications. Draws for several of the species receive a high number of applications compared to the number of licences available. For these species, the odds of being drawn will be low, even for applications in the top priority pool.
The big game draw is administered through the Saskatchewan Hunting, Angling and Trapping Licence (HAL) system. Clients can submit, review and update their applications, check pool status history and purchase a draw licence through their HAL accounts.
Draw results will be available through the HAL accounts around mid-June, with the exception of pronghorn, which will be available around mid-July. Applicants are responsible for checking their own draw results.
Successful applicants will be able to purchase licences through their HAL accounts beginning August 1, 2019.
For information on your HAL account or assistance with completing an application, please call 1-888-773-8450. If you have questions about your pool status or hunting in Saskatchewan, call the Ministry of Environment’s Inquiry Line at 1-800-567-4224. Further information about the big game draw is available at www.saskatchewan.ca/hunting.
