Bow Hunting Prohibited on Larch Island
Essential Information
- Hunting is permitted in Bow Valley Wildland Provincial Park between Sept. 6 and Nov. 30.
- During hunting season you may notice some hunters walking through neighbourhoods to gain access to legal hunting lands in the Bow Valley Wildland Provincial Park. This activity is not illegal. For public safety reasons, bow hunting is prohibited on Larch Island.
- Hunting in the Larch Island area of Canmore is prohibited in the areas shown in red on the map.
- If you see someone hunting in these areas please call Kananaskis Dispatch at 403.591.7755.
Background
The Town of Canmore requested that the Province ban hunting in this area for public safety due to the proximity to homes and significantly high use by a variety of recreation enthusiasts. While the Province did not formally prohibit hunting in this area, a legal review was conducted and the Province acknowledged that as per Section 7a of the Municipal Government Act, the Town has the ability to pass bylaws for the “safety, health, or welfare of people, and the protection of people and property.” The Town of Canmore Bylaw 19-2011, Section 5 was considered sufficient to prohibit discharging firearms within Larch Island.
Larch Island lies within the Town of Canmore municipal boundary, it is also part of Bow Valley Wildland Provincial Park and Wildlife Management Unit 410, in a designated bow hunting zone.
The Town of Canmore and residents have expressed concern regarding bow hunting being allowed in the area of Larch Island; these concerns are mainly due to public safety as the discharge of firearms is in proximity to neighborhoods. Following a legal review of the Town’s Bylaw in February 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.
Hunting on Larch Island been identified as public safety issue, and Town of Canmore has the ability to pass bylaws for the “safety, health, or welfare of people, and the protection of people and property” (Municipal Government Act Sect 7a). It was determined that under the Town of Canmore Bylaw 19-2011, the clause 5 prohibition; “No person shall discharge a Firearm within the Town” would be sufficient to prohibit discharge of weapons within the Town of Canmore.
No. There has not been a change to Wildlife Regulations, rather an acknowledgement of the Town’s right and ability to uphold a bylaw similar for all other communities and municipalities in Alberta.
Alberta Environment and Parks and the Town of Canmore have worked to cooperatively communicate this message to the hunting community using MyWildAlberta.ca, note in the hunting regulations, and local information before and during hunting season.
As this is a Town bylaw, this will be enforced by the Town’s Municipal Enforcement team. It is possible that Provincial officers may become involved depending on the situation.
Some hunters walk through Larch neighbourhood and Larch Island to gain access to legal hunting lands in the Bow Valley Wildland Provincial Park. This activity is not illegal.
If you see someone hunting in these areas please call Kananaskis Dispatch at 403.591.7755 and they will determine who to dispatch to conduct an investigation. Depending on the circumstance, you may be asked to call Municipal Enforcement at 403.678.4244.