Hunting license applications are up almost 20,000 year over year. Increases were all across the board for every animal, in every zone. 

Different animals in different zones are constantly adjusting: 

Pronghorn populations continue to slowly increase in part due to favorable winter conditions. In response, new zones are proposed. Hunters are reminded that the draw quotas listed are tentative and may be adjusted after population surveys are completed in early July. Please note that the zone combinations have changed this year to more accurately capture the home range of these highly mobile animals. Applications for the pronghorn draw will be accepted during the normal May application period, but the draw will not be conducted until July. This delay is required to ensure appropriate quotas are implemented.

Mule deer populations are still in the process of recovering from a recent series of severe winters that have impacted the reproductive age classes of age 2 through 5. As a result, population recovery will take time. Either sex draw mule deer opportunities will continue in 57 zones as was the case in 2015, with small quota adjustments in some zones to reflect changes in local mule deer populations. Antlerless mule deer quotas are very similar to the 2015 season. A number of zones will once again offer a two antlerless mule deer licence option. 

Elk numbers in wildlife management zone 46 are above target levels and a longer season with increased antlerless quotas will be offered. Elk populations have stabilized in the Moose Mountain Provincial Park area and the draw season structure and quotas have been revised accordingly. Elk have large home ranges and therefore wildlife managers may combine a number of wildlife management zones in order to ensure harvest objectives are met. A number of these zone combinations have been revised for 2016 to better manage local herds. Please note the changes and quotas for new zones in this guide. The antlerless elk season dates in the West Block of the Cypress Hills (WMZ 7W) have been changed to overlap with the season dates in the adjoining Alberta hunting area. This synchronizing of season should aid in meeting population targets for the area. Regular season elk opportunities across the province are unchanged from last year.

Moose populations are identified and managed as northern (forested) populations and southern (farmland) populations. The overall quota in farmland zones remains the same in 2016. However, individual quotas in select wildlife management zones have been lowered as a result of reduced moose numbers while other zones have warranted an increase, especially in east-central zones. Moose quotas in the popular Melfort/Nipawin hunting area have been revised with separate quotas established for WMZs 43, 50 and Fort à La Corne Wildlife Management Unit. Other quota changes are listed in the guide. Forest moose populations appear to be experiencing a general decline and quotas have been adjusted in response. Regular moose hunting opportunities in the forest remain unchanged for 2016. The 2016 season dates for draw moose and regular moose have not been changed.

White-tailed deer numbers continue to be below the longterm average. The winter of 2015-16 was mild with less than average snow cover, which will support population recovery. However, a full recovery of white-tailed deer populations will take a few more years with favorable winters. The 2016 season structure will be identical to last year's, both for either-sex and antlerless white-tailed deer.

For more information on the Saskatchewan Big Game Draw, click here.

For the 2016 Saskatchewan Resident Big Game Draw Overview, click here.

For results of the Big Game Draw, click here.