The impact of the decision to shut down walk-in service at 19 Saskatchewan Ministry of Environment offices will become more clear as the hunting season continues. That’s from Darrell Crabbe, Executive Director of the Saskatchewan Wildlife Federation. He says the offices issued several permits to hunters and anglers and now those requiring documentation will have to travel greater distances. “For an example Estevan and Moose Jaw here, a lot permits were written out of these offices and now these folks have to go to travel several hundred kilometres in some cases.” Crabbe says they expect about the same number of hunters coming from the U.S. to Saskatchewan to hunt this season compared to the previous year, even though some hunters and anglers may have to travel longer to receive their permits. Crabbe adds some offices could have remained open, given that places like Humboldt, Lloydminster and Estevan were seeing a good number of people using the offices. “There was about 5 or 6 of them, we felt, justified being maintained, you know having a presence maintained at those locations.” Earlier this year, it was announced that the 19 offices would be shutting down walk-in service over the course of the year. The latest and last one to close was Southend on October 1st. Crabbe says hunting and angling generate over $600 million dollars each year in the province and that it’s the only economic activity that moves money from the urban centres to the rural areas.

With the 19 closures, only two Ministry of Environment offices remain open south of Highway #1. Regina and Swift Current will both continue to have walk-in service.

Below is a list of the offices in Saskatchewan that still offer walk-in service…

– Beauval
– Creighton
– Hudson Bay
– La Ronge
– Meadow Lake
– Melfort
– Nipawin
– North Battleford
– Prince Albert
– Regina
– Saskatoon
– Swift Current
– Yorkton