Legalizing hunting in wheelchairs among 24 proposed amendments to Alberta's Wildlife Act

Jack Farrell · The Canadian Press

· Posted: Mar 12, 2025 6:13 PM EDT | Last Updated: 6 minutes ago

New authorities projected by Alberta's authorities would marque hunting successful a wheelchair ineligible and licence kids arsenic young arsenic 12 to usage guns without adults around.

Hunters would besides not person to deterioration high-visibility clothing, though authorities officials accidental that request hasn't been enforced for years.

The caller rules are among 2 twelve changes successful a measure introduced by Parks Minister Todd Loewen to modernize hunting laws nether the Wildlife Act.

"As hunting and trapping proceed to evolve, it's indispensable that Alberta's regulations bash arsenic well," Loewen told reporters Wednesday.

Hunters presently cannot hunt from a wheelchair due to the fact that the chairs are legally defined arsenic a vehicle. The measure volition alteration that.

"We're ensuring that Albertans with disabilities tin proceed to bask this important taste contented portion utilizing mobility aids," Loewen said.

He said removing the request for adults to supervise youngsters hunting with guns volition bring Alberta successful enactment with national firearms legislation.

Loewen's measure would besides licence hunters to termination achromatic bears and cougars for nutrient without having to sphere the hides.

He said removing the request for hunters to support and process the hides made consciousness considering the aforesaid request doesn't beryllium for animals commonly hunted for meat, specified arsenic cervid oregon moose.

"If we person idiosyncratic that wants to hunt [black bears and cougars] just for the meat, past I deliberation they should beryllium allowed to person that accidental and not beryllium forced to process a fell that they person nary tendency to keep," Loewen said.

The measure would besides let hunters to usage leashed dogs to way wounded large crippled animals similar deer, and sprout waterfowl from motorized boats arsenic agelong arsenic the vessel isn't successful motion.

"The projected changes volition simplify regulations, sphere just pursuit practices, and guarantee that our wildlife absorption practices are some sustainable and adaptable to caller challenges and opportunities," Loewen said.

His authorities would besides let radical to transport definite injured animals to a veterinarian oregon rehabilitation installation without a licence arsenic is presently required, arsenic agelong arsenic the carnal doesn't airs a menace to the person.