The Alberta government recently passed shocking laws to let hunters shoot and kill caged deer and elk. This move was introduced through Bill 10, an omnibus “red-tape-reduction” bill. By amending the Livestock Industry Diversification Act, the province has ended a long-standing prohibition on the devastating bloodsport of “canned hunting” or “enclosed hunting.”
Alberta legalized cage hunting despite decades of recognizing this practice as unethical and cruel. These hunt pens, euphemistically called “harvest preserves” will allow bloodsport hunters to pay cash to shoot farm-raised animals trapped within high-fenced enclosures. This troubling move prioritizes the profits of a few game farm operators over the lives of vulnerable animals.
The Cruelty of Enclosed Hunt Pens
In these “shoot farms,” animals will experience immense distress as they are tracked and killed. They have nowhere to run and no chance of escape. Because the animals are raised in captivity, they are often less fearful of humans. This makes them especially vulnerable, as easy targets.
Even many hunters oppose hunt farms, arguing that the concept of “fair chase” is non-existent when animals are fenced in. Furthermore, a 2024 poll shows only eight percent of Albertans support trophy hunting.
Disease Risks & Ecological Dangers
Beyond the ethical concerns, Alberta legalizing hunt farms also brings disease risk. Enclosed hunt farms can increase the spread of Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD). This fatal neurological disease threatens both captive cervids and wild populations, including caribou.
Animals may be infected and die from CWD without displaying any clinical signs of infection, and testing only happens after an animal is dead. The government claims strict testing will be in place, however, disease cannot reliably be detected in young animals and false negatives are possible. Further, the disease can persist in the environment for years after an infected animal dies.
A Call for Compassionate Policies
Alberta has disallowed hunt farms for deer and elk since at least 2002. Past governments recognized that the practice did not align with public values. Instead of reintroducing this cruelty, Alberta should be a leader in wildlife protection and should work to end hunt farming entirely. Protecting vulnerable animals from being gunned down must be a priority, instead of appeasing the special interest bloodsport hunting lobby.
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