ACA Hunter Access Survey: Your Land, Your Voice

As a producer, you depend on the land as your sole source of income and livelihood. It is no surprise that a landowner’s decision to grant access takes some consideration. The Alberta Conservation Association (ACA) is looking for landowners who are willing to participate in a short survey on hunter access. Whether you’re a producer who is skeptical about granting permission to access your land or someone who encourages access as a wildlife management tool, ACA wants to understand the factors you consider when allowing or denying access.

Recognizing that landowners and hunters play vital roles in conservation, the recent decline in numbers of active hunters could lead to a breakdown of licence-funded conservation. This is a concern for conservation organizations who rely on hunting data to guide wildlife population and habitat management decisions. Additionally, finding a location to hunt seems to be increasingly difficult even though data suggests most landowners are willing to allow some form of access.

If you’re a landowner, ACA invites you to take part in a short, voluntary online survey. In collaboration with university researchers and agriculture industry groups, the survey has been designed for you to answer questions about your property, the number of hunting requests you receive, how many hunters you say yes to, and the factors you consider when allowing or denying access. They want to know what is working for you and what could be done better.

ACA will publicly share survey results to initiate open discussion, input, and collaboration. Agricultural producer groups and hunting associations may also use these results to inform decision making and support calls for action.

Are you a landowner willing to contribute? Take the short survey right now: www.albertahunteraccess.com