Canada, where's the Meat?
Shawn Swearingen for SPLIT REED
Chances are you’ve heard the news from the U.S. Department of Agriculture on the halt of bringing raw game bird meat and game birds for taxidermy purposes back from Canada or Mexico to the United States this season. While we have some clarifications, there are still plenty of questions. If you are planning on going abroad, what does this mean for you? The announcement comes from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) as part of the international effort to limit the spread of avian influenza (HPAI). The U.S. Department of Agriculture is charged with regulating meat, dairy, and plant matter across the borders [think of them when all of those exotic plants and animals are caught in people’s luggage].
If you take waterfowl (or other gamebirds) in one of the 63 regions identified by the Canadian federal government, this ruling is going to apply to you. You can find those regions by provinces online here. This site is going to be updated to reflect reports on outbreak progress. So, be sure to check as the season approaches and during your trip if there are any changes.
There is one caveat to the rule, for Canada at least, that fully-finished birds from an APHIS-approved taxidermist may be imported. But, if you don’t plan on mounting all of your birds, what are you going to do? If you are hunting with an outfitter there are likely more options. They will know of places to donate to and families that appreciate the additional game bird meat. After speaking to a few that operate in Canada, they are sensitive to where they have access and where they cannot distribute game bird meat from.
For freelance hunters? You can also look to donate birds as well to the local area. While knocking on doors and finding permissions, ask to see if they would like any of the meat as well. Chances are they won’t take 80 assorted ducks and geese but a portion of it I’m sure they would appreciate. As you prepare to travel throughout the provinces check where you have permission against the outbreak map on the Canadian website.
There have been other changes on regulations north of the border in regard to possession limits. While your outfitter will be up to speed for packaging for you if you are in the DIY crowd make sure you read before you go.
Regardless, this certainly raises more questions and complications for those wingshooters that want to experience hunting in Canada. Chances are the list of 63 restricted zones for bringing game birds back from will grow, but should this be a blanket ban for the ease of compliance and enforcement? Speaking of enforcement, how are border agents going to check and verify those bringing game bird meat against those zones that are banned? For those freelancers, will they look for a workaround so they can be in the clear to bring their coolers home full, or is this going to drive up wanton waste and bird abandonment?
While we await clarifications to be released and comments from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, we will continue to share information with waterfowlers.
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