New Wildlife Management Survey App - Preeceville's Main Street with the Mayor Garth Harris for Thursday October 12th, 2017 8:35 am

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Working Draft for:

Preeceville's Main Street with the Mayor Garth Harris for Thursday October 12th, 2017 8:35 am

With GX94's Craig Wallebeck > see him @ http://www.gx94radio.com/craig-Wallebeck


This week we focus on:  New Wildlife Management Survey App

 "The Ministry of Environment has launched a new mobile application called the Saskatchewan Co-operative Wildlife Management Survey (SK CWMS) for Saskatchewan’s people to record wildlife observations.  Species include moose, elk, deer and select upland game birds, which helps the ministry manage wildlife decisions.

“The SK CWMS app, which is compatible with Apple and Android smart phones, will make recording wildlife information much easier,” Environment Minister Dustin Duncan said.  “This modern platform not only simplifies the recording of wildlife sightings, but also increases the accuracy and timeliness of information provided to the ministry.”

The Saskatchewan Co-operative Wildlife Management Survey began in the 1980s as a way to better understand herd structure for deer.  Today, the survey is used as a tool to gather population information for moose, elk, deer and select upland game birds across the province.  This long-standing, volunteer-based survey provides valuable information to guide the management of game species.

“Wildlife sightings provide important information indicating population growth and survival for big game and upland game birds, to help wildlife managers with their planning,” Duncan said.

 

Although observers are encouraged to record observations for all species throughout the year, each game species has the following key observation periods when it is particularly important to record your observations:

• White-tailed deer and mule deer: September 1 to November 30
• Moose: September 1 to December 31
• Elk: September 1 to February 28
• Sharp-tailed grouse: March 1 to July 15
• Wild Turkey: December 1 to March 1

Everyone from across the province is invited to join the community of volunteer wildlife observers by downloading the app (SK CWMS) on GooglePlay or the Apple store.  Once the app is downloaded, call 1-800-567-4224, for your participant number and activation code.

The traditional paper booklet will remain available for those who prefer this method of recording information.  To receive a traditional survey booklet, please call 1-800-567-4224 "

For further information, please visit www.saskatchewan.ca/residents/parks-recreation-heritage-and-arts/hunting-trapping-and-angling/wildlife-population-surveys.

Wildlife Population Surveys

The Government of Saskatchewan aims to sustainably manage game species and their habitats including white-tailed deer, mule deer, moose, elk, pronghorn, caribou, bison, upland game birds, waterfowl, bear, wolf, cougar and furbearers. To help wildlife managers better understand the many aspects of wildlife populations, such as population size, herd structure, productivity (e.g., young per female), impact of disease, harvest and hunting effort and human-wildlife issues that impact wildlife populations, several survey types are employed.
Ground-Based Trend Surveys
Spotlight Deer Surveys
Pronghorn Herd Structure Survey
Aerial Population Density Surveys
Citizen Science Surveys
Hunter Harvest Survey
Co-operative Wildlife Management Survey
Annual Status of Furbearers Survey
Ground-Based Trend Surveys


Spotlight Deer Surveys

Each October, the Ministry of Environment conducts ground-based spotlight deer surveys on established routes in select wildlife management zones (WMZs) across the province. Observers record the number, age and sex of game species that they detect. Routes are approximately 160 kilometres and run through a variety of habitats. Data in each WMZ is considered comparable to other years’ data for the same WMZ, thus yielding a population trend for game species of that region.


Pronghorn Herd Structure Survey

The pronghorn herd structure survey monitors the changes in pronghorn populations over time. Seventy 80-kilometre routes are established across the pronghorn range in Saskatchewan and staff complete each one annually between July 1 and July 21. Two surveyors record the number, age and sex of all pronghorn observed within 800 metres either side of the road.


Aerial Population Density Surveys


The Ministry of Environment conducts aerial surveys using a stratified random block design to determine density and generate population estimates for select regions across the province. These surveys, typically conducted in winter when snow cover and lack of foliage make observations easier, are designed to estimate age (i.e. adult vs. young) and sex composition of ungulate populations. Structures are usually presented as adult males or young per adult female.


Citizen Science Surveys


Hunter Harvest Survey 

Hunter harvest surveys are an important component of managing game in Saskatchewan and provide valuable information for quota and season setting for the upcoming year. You will find detailed information about this survey and an annual summary of results here.


  Saskatchewan Co-operative Wildlife Management Survey


The Saskatchewan Co-operative Wildlife Management Survey, formerly the Co-operative Deer Management Survey, is a long-standing, volunteer-based survey that provides the ministry with valuable productivity and herd structure information. In 2017, this survey was expanded to formally include moose, elk and select upland bird observations. Also new for 2017, participants have the opportunity to conveniently record observations using the new mobile SK CWMS application, that is compatible with both Apple and Android smart phones.


Annual Status of Furbearers Survey


The Annual Status of Furbearers Survey asks trappers to assess the abundance of local furbearers. Each species is assigned a number between 0 and 4, with 0 corresponding to never being found in the area, 1 to sometimes being found but not present in the year of interest, 2 to being scarce, 3 to being common and 4 to being abundant. The average of all trappers reporting on the species is summarized in order to determine if the species is abundant (>3.3), common (2.8 – 3.2), fairly common (2.3 – 2.7), uncommon (2.0 – 2.3), scarce (<2.0) or never found (0). Similarly, trappers are asked to identify if the abundance of each species is lower, similar or higher than the previous year. In 2017, this survey was transitioned into the HAL system and will be available to all trappers purchasing a Northern Fur Conservation Area or Southern Fur Conservation Area trapping licence.

http://www.saskatchewan.ca/residents/parks-recreation-heritage-and-arts/hunting-trapping-and-angling/wildlife-population-surveys

- Town of Preeceville Official Community Plan

The Town is initiating a planning review project to adopt a New Official Community Plan and a New Zoning Bylaw to better guide development within our community. The Town’s Zoning Bylaw is outdated and does not reflect the changing needs of the Town and provides almost no direction on growth. In order to update the Zoning Bylaw, the Provincial Government requires the Town to adopt an Official Community Plan. The benefit of having an overall plan with “Action” items will assist Council in planning cost effective infrastructure and balancing residential, commercial, recreational and industrial development. Town Council has engaged Tim Cheesman, M.C.I.P. and his Planning Team to prepare the Plan and Bylaw.
The Planning Team has completed the Town’s Draft Official Community Plan. The Draft OCP and the Results of the Public Consultation Process are available for viewing by clicking the links below:
Town of Preeceville Draft Official Community Plan about 73 pages
Preeceville Public Consultation Responses about 35 pages
You may provide your feedback/comments on the Draft OCP by emailing tcheesman@accesscomm.ca or  preeceville@sasktel.net.


Events:

 - Ongoing

- Preeceville & District Lions Club Chase the Ace.
"So far Preeceville Lions (Chase The Ace) has paid out $11,263.00 in weekly prize money and a lucky winner won the Jack Pot of $18,137 last week. A total prize pool of $29,400.00 as of Sept. 21st
-  The Jackpot this week is  $2500.  Draws every Thursday night.
Watch their Ad's.   Follow the ACE on Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/PreecevilleChaseTheAce/
Each week the Lions post photo's of the draw and sometimes the winners. Check it out!

- Oct 22nd - Kelsey Ecological Presents: Travels in Tanzania and India - Jasmine Knihniski presenting 2:00 pm Club 60

 

- And as always if you wish to have an event promoted visit and post it to our Community Events Calendar at www.townofPreeceville.ca


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