It’s no secret that hunting, trapping and sport shooting are part of our country’s heritage, as Canada itself is a nation carved out of the wilderness. This is especially true out west, and in Saskatchewan itself, as hunters and trappers were among the first Europeans to make contact with the First Nations peoples in the region and ultimately explore the province and beyond.
In modern times, at least according to current trends, that heritage is still expressed by a large—and ever growing— number of Saskatchewanians. A little over one tenth of the province’s 1.25 million residents currently hold a Possession and Acquisition License (PAL) and are vetted and permitted to possess firearms.
Robert Freberg, commissioner of the Saskatchewan Firearms Office, has noticed an increase in individuals looking to acquire a license in the province, attributing it to a number of factors.
He said that one of the factors was the in-person nature of firearms training courses, which caused many to delay getting a PAL during COVID, and with the pandemic in the rear view, numbers are once again on the rise.
“There was some confusion in regard to gun bans and things like that, I think there was a lot of people that didn’t realize they could still actually get a license, what their responsibilities were, or what the process was,” he explained.
“That created a bit of a delay, and then once people got more comfortable with the messaging or got more information about what was required on involved, that caused people to start registering for the classes (again).”
There are two primary firearms licenses in Canada, one being the standard PAL, which allows the ownership of non-restricted firearms such as rifles and shotguns, and the RPAL which is for those who wish to own restricted firearms such as handguns and certain models of rifles.
“The interest in the RPAL course has dropped off quite a bit, but it moved some of the applications to the PAL side—which you have to have in order to the RPAL—as it’s kind of a supplement to that PAL license,” said Freberg.
“So, we’ve seen an increase, we’ve also seen a little bit of an increase in the minor’s licenses, because there’s youth that want to go hunting or target shooting with their family or relatives.”
Freberg said they have been experiencing a surge in interest in the 18 to 35-year-old demographic, from both men and women. This is a source of excitement for Freberg as the increased participation from younger generations helps keep the sport, and by extension, the province’s heritage at the forefront.
He noted that the goal of continuing the hunting, trapping and sport shooting heritage of the region through responsible firearms ownership is also evident in the work his office is doing with First Nation and Metis communities.
“We have signed a MOU (Memorandum of Understanding) with the Metis nations here—actually it was our second MOU—we started one a couple of years ago and it was quite successful,” explained Freberg.
“A part of that is to (work with) some of their knowledge keepers and have them offering courses and training so we can get them licensed as well. I think that is going to create a big uptick as well.”
While busy year-round, interest in firearms ownership and licensing peaks in summer and fall for Freberg’s office and Saskatchewan firearm course instructors, which Freberg attributes to a combination of favourable weather for outdoor activities, renewals and, of course, the start of many hunting seasons.
Freberg notes that there are over 300 firearms instructors in the province, and those interested in taking Hunter Safety, PAL or RPAL courses have several options for finding a trainer in their region.
Prospective PAL and RPAL holders can get more information by calling 1-833-792-2706 toll-free or inquire via email at sfpinfo@gov.sk.ca.
In the southeast area, there are several options for taking a firearms safety course. Visit the South Saskatchewan Wildlife Association website or SaskPAL.com to learn more.