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Bow hunting remains prohibited on Larch Island

“Following a legal review of the Town’s bylaw, which was done in 2018, Alberta Environment and Parks agreed to recognize the Town of Canmore’s bylaw to restrict bow hunting in Larch Island as part of public safety."
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The entrance to Larch Island along the Town of Canmore’s trail network. TANYA FOUBERT RMO PHOTO

CANMORE – Nearly a year ago bow hunting on Larch Island was prohibited, however months after the new rules came into force residents continued to see hunters on the island and confusion reigned about who was in charge of enforcement.

 

It appears the confusion has now been clarified after the province confirmed the Town’s hunting and trapping bylaw, which prohibits people from discharging a firearm within the Town’s boundaries, supersedes the province’s regulations.

 

MLA Miranda Rosin said the confusion appears to have been caused by uncertainty around whether the province’s or the municipality’s rules were the law of the land.

 

“It appears as though Environment and Parks did not review our own provincial regulations surrounding bow hunting on Larch Island, but rather reviewed the Town of Canmore’s bylaws in 2018 regarding the discharge of weapons within Town boundaries to ensure the bylaws included the Larch Island area,” wrote Rosin in an email.

 

“Under the Town’s bylaw 19-2011 clause five prohibition it states ‘no person shall discharge a firearm within the town.’ In this context, ‘firearm’ includes bows, and as Larch Island falls within the town boundaries, this bylaw is sufficient to prohibit bow hunting.”

 

She said the provincial government has updated its websites and its hunting draw booklet to reflect the new rules and any further enforcement will be left up to the Town.

 

Part of the confusion stems from the fact that Larch Island, which is part of Bow Valley Wildland Park, was also located within the Bow corridor wildlife management unit as well as the municipality’s boundaries, allowing bow hunters to legally hunt near residential homes.

 

This raised concerns from area residents who feared the remains of a dead animal left behind by hunters could draw carnivores, such as cougars and wolves, into residential neighbourhoods. There was also concern a stray arrow could accidentally injure or kill someone.

 

In August 2018, the province announced bow hunting would no longer be allowed on Larch Island, however residents continued to see hunters on the island and lodged complaints with both levels of government, creating confusion as to who was actually in charge of enforcing the new rules.
 

Sally Caudill, general manager for municipal services, said there was never any confusion about the new regulations from the Town’s perspective.

 

“Following a legal review of the Town’s bylaw, which was done in 2018, Alberta Environment and Parks agreed to recognize the Town of Canmore’s bylaw to restrict bow hunting in Larch Island as part of public safety,” said Caudill.

 

That being said, she acknowledged the situation has been confusing for the public because hunters are still allowed to walk though the island to get to legal hunting ground.

 

“There has been some confusion from members of the public around people who are hunting and walking through Larch Island and that is not illegal,” said Caudill.

 

“People may not like that hunters are walking around there, but the act of walking there to get to legal hunting grounds is not illegal.”

 

Bow hunting season for the wildlife management unit that includes areas surrounding Canmore runs each year from the beginning of September to end of November. 

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