May 2009 Newsletter

[soaadmin]

SCOTLAND SCAM
Anyone receiving an email from Glasglow Scotland trying to book a hunting/fishing trip please be aware that this is possibly a fraudulent scheme. The scenario goes as follows:
a. Individual makes an inquiry about an outfitting package
b. Upon receipt of information the would-be clients book the trip but explain that the air fare is being taken care of by a separate travel firm who does not have credit card processing facilities. The client asks the outfitter to bill the client’s card for the full amount (hunt/fishing trip plus the air fare) and then forward a cheque for the air fare to the transportation consultant. (Usually 4-5 thousand)
c. Outfitter eventually finds out that the credit card number is non-existent but will be out the 4-5 thousand for air fare.
This scam has recently been mostly coming from Scotland but also has originated from England and various African countries.

ATV POLICY
Recent amendments to the policy relative to ATV’s will have some benefit to outfitters, beginning in 2009.
In Zones 48, 49, 56 – 61 and 68 during the regular moose seasons, ATV’s may only be operated between noon and one hour before sunrise for the purposes related to hunting. An ATV may be used at any time in these zones to retrieve legally taken big game. Other than this time ATV’s may be used.
Please note the following:
• This applies to both the archery and rifle season seasons for moose.
• There are currently no regular moose seasons in WM2, 48, 49, 60 and 61 and consequently the time of day restriction does not apply. However this restriction would apply in the event of an implementation of a regular moose season in these zones.
• The regular rifle moose season has been extended to 10 days in some zones. The white tail deer season has also been extended in some zones i.e. Zone 56 – 66, 69 Greenwater, Meadow Lake and Wildcat Hills will see the seasons lengthened with archery and muzzleloader from September 1to October 31 and rifle from October 1to December 7.
• In zones 60 – 61 the designated trail system is no longer in effect. ATV’s in there zones may be used as in all other zones.

TREATY LAND ENTITLEMENT
There have been some requests under the Treaty Land Entitlement settlement for land in the East Central area. The land has also been designated as Critical Wildlife Habitat.
The Ministry of the environment indicates that prior to lands being re-assigned all “third party interests” must be addressed. Indications are that there are a number of third party interests in reference to the land in question. Unless there is agreements buy all parties, then the status quo will exist.


LICENSE RENEWALS
Most outfitters should have received their outfitter license renewal form by now. However a number of licenses have not been sent out involving outfitters who are in contravention of particular policies which could include;
1. Failure to provide proper samples
2. Non-completion of required forms
3. PST delinquencies
4. Failure to submit license vendor fee
5. Failure to submit licence fees
6. Others
If you have not received your license renewal forms we suggest you contact:
Bob Skaftfeld: 787-4652 Bird Outfitters and Northern Fishing Outfitters
Nelson Ackerman: 953-2518 Big Game Outfitters

NEW POLICY DEVELOPMENT
The SOA will be meeting with the Ministry of the environment to look at development of new allocation policies. Most of the work in this area has been done in the fishing sector and is well advanced in the bird sector. The big game sector needs to be looked at again after the lack of any agreement on a white tail deer policy. This process will begin this summer and is expected to be very involved.
As with any policy development the SOA membership will be kept informed and provide approval prior to any final policy be accepted.
Two other policies are being looked at by MOE; namely establishment of shooting lanes and marking of outfitters equipment. Information will be forwarded when it becomes available.

INDUSTRY LICENSING INITIATIVE
The outfitting industry will be surveyed prior to May 24, 2009 on their views on industry governance. The survey is being conducted for the Ministry of the Environment by Meyers Norris Penny.
The survey will speak to the present governance model in addressing poor industry practises, insufficient training, outfitter disputes and concerns by clients. Even though the survey says that the existing model doesn’t provide authority for the province to address these issues it asks for a comment on how effective the current model is.
By definition the current model does not address these issues and consequently is ineffective. (Some of these challenges are being addressed by the SOA in a limited fashion)
The survey also asks “What is the desired action to be taken?” The SOA is asking for a regulatory structure independent of government that is responsive to the needs of the industry; in other words “for industry/by industry”.
If requested please take the time to fill out the survey prior to May 24th, 2009.

GREAT CANADIAN ADVENTURE
All Canadian provinces and territories belonging to the Canadian Federation of Outfitters Associations will be participating in the Great Canadian Adventure in 2010.
Safari club International has agreed to feature this dream package as one of the major promotions at the 2010 Safari club Convention in Reno. All provinces will a provide hunt or fishing trip to be marketed as “the best Canada has to offer”. This has never been done before by the Safari Club.
The entire package of trips will be auctioned at the Saturday night Gala of the convention with 75% of the proceeds going to fund the CFOA.
To date the contributions to the auction package includes; BC Bison Hunt ($15,000), Newfoundland/Labrador Fly-In Fishing trip for Two ($18,000), Alberta Moose Hunt ($10,000), Quebec Caribou Hunt for Two ($10,000).
Saskatchewan is open to providing a hunt that represents our great Saskatchewan product. This would be a good year to donate seeing that there could be some client openings given the state of the US economy.


OUTFITTER REPORTING FORMS
New outfitter reporting forms have/will be available to outfitters for 2009.
Please note that there are some changes from the 2008 forms. Failure to submit these forms as providing inaccurate information could result in MOE not issuing an outfitters license.
Outfitters are also reminded to keep a copy of these forms for their own records.

SOA FUNDRAISER
The SOA has initiated a program called the Non-Resident Assurance Fund to raise much needed funds for the Association and raise the awareness of our non-resident clients on the various things that outfitters do to ensure their clients have a positive hunting and/or fishing experience in Saskatchewan.
The SOA did a trial run of the program to determine its viability with guests. This proved successful to the degree that the decision was made to expand the program industry wide for 2009.
This program consists of the sale of Wildlife Prints to guests while at outfitting camps. Prints valued at $50 each or a set of 4 for $150 will be shipped directly to your clients from the SOA office. In addition clients will be eligible for a trip to be taken at the host outfitter, the costs not to exceed $5,000.
From the experience in 2008 two themes emerged:
• Clients are willing to make donations to this fund if they understand that the fund is meant to insure their future opportunities to hunt and fish in Saskatchewan.
• Receiving wildlife prints is secondary to the idea that they are taking direct action to assure that their trips meet their expectations.
British Columbia has a similar Non-Resident Hunting Preservation Fund. BC’s program is somewhat different in that it creates a compulsory levy of $150 per license for big game which is collected by the outfitter. BC outfitters also donate a hunt each year for their annual auction.
The SOA has printed supporting posters and brochures and guidelines that are in a form of a kit. To receive your package contact the SOA office to make arrangements for delivery.
We encourage all outfitters to participate in this program in order to maintain SOA membership fee at the present rate.