Low dollar attracting more American hunters to Saskatchewan

It appears a cheapCanadian buck is helping bringback American hunters looking to snag a buck of their own.

The Saskatchewan outfitting industry is seeing an increase in U.S. hunters coming to the province after alowwhite-taileddeer population affected interest.

"It's definitely the product that we have to offer and the marketing and advertising that the individualoutfitters provide," saidHarveyKrollpresident of the SaskatchewanOutfitters Association.

Kroll credits the strength of the U.S. economy and the efforts of those in the industry in Saskatchewan attractingAmerican hunters from all over the U.S.

"We have some of the best fishing in the world. We have some of the best birdhunting and we have some of thebestbig game hunting that you can find anywhere in the world," Kroll said.

Rough wintersaffected deer

Part of the reason hunting numbers were down:scarcity of the prized buck, which was caused by a couple of nasty winters.

"We've had two major winter events, which really decimated the white-tail population,and white tail is the primary target that a lot of American hunters might focus on Saskatchewan for," saidDarrell Crabbe of the Saskatchewan Wildlife Federation.

"Those mature bucks the American clients would try to be focused on are usually some of the first to perish in some of those winter events," Crabbe said.

According to Tourism Saskatchewan's most recent numbers, there has been an increase in licences to American hunters.

• In 2015, Americans purchased 13,224 hunting licences in Saskatchewanan increase of 2.4 per cent over the 2014 season.
• In 2015, Americans purchased 1,583 guided bear licences, 1,748 guided white-taileddeer licences, 110 guided moose licences and 9,783 game bird licences.
• The number of licences purchased increased across all species and from all major markets.
• Most American hunters who come toSaskatchewan are fromTexas, Michigan, Wisconsin, North Dakota, and Pennsylvania.

Saskatchewan deer some of the best in the world

"The genetics in Saskatchewan for white-tail deer is really second to none," said Crabbe, noting that the highest scoring white-tail deer ever huntedwas in Saskatchewan.

Crabbe said resident hunting numbers have been steadily rising for the past 10 years.

All big game hunters who arenon-residents of Canadaneed to use an outfitter.

Crabbe said behind gaming, hunting and angling areSaskatchewan's nextbest tourist attraction, bringing$500 million into the province.

American hunter chooses fall in Sask. over a trip to Tahiti

Bob Farrell has been travelling to Saskatchewan from his home in Montana to hunt snow geese and ducks since 2000.

"I started coming because the hunting opportunities are incredible and the landscape this time of year is awesome," said Farrell.

"I have friends up there that are really like family."

Farrell said the dollar doesn't really affect him because he drives from his home in Livingston, Montana. Bird hunters do not need to use outfittersto hunt in the province.

"Folks from Saskatchewan are some of the finest people I've ever met.There's really noplaceI'd rather be at that time (fall) than Saskatchewan," Farrell said.

"You could say, 'would you like togo to Paris for a week?Nope I'd rather be in Saskatchewan. 'You want to go to Tahiti?' Not in October or November," Farrell said.