Those speaking out include John Perret, a hunter from Saskatoon. The Saskatchewan Wildlife Federation, which represents more than 32,000 members in Saskatchewan, also wrote that they were "stunned" by the move and that the timing of this decision was "the worst."
"This is the kind of thoughtless decision, without any engagement or respect for those that will be impacted," said Associate Shadow Minister of Agriculture Trent Wotherspoon. “This is a backwards move without consultation with hunters that hurts hunting in our province by the Sask. Party government that’s grown out entitled and out of touch.”
"Ever since this senseless decision was made, I have been inundated with messages from rightfully upset fellow hunters who feel that Scott Moe and the Sask. Party have pulled the rug out from under them in the middle of the season and without respect for the impacts and risk."
One of the impacted hunters is John Perret, who after years of applying and was finally drawn for and intended to participate in the 2026 elk and mule deer hunts prior to the announcement of the decision of the government to eliminate the testing program.
"For the hunter the costs keep adding up. The licenses alone, application fees and habitat certificate generate hundreds of thousands of dollars. Gas, food, lodging, accessories, butchering, all of which the government receives taxation and is paid for by the hunter. With the increase in CWD we are seriously concerned about the CWD problem and we will not be hunting any more if this program discontinues," said Perret.
Even though chronic wasting disease has been found in three quarters of Saskatchewan's wildlife management zones, the Sask. Party claimed that it would be more efficient to shut down the program.
"Cutting the program takes away the sense of security many hunters look for to ensure that they aren't putting themselves or their families at risk," said Shadow Environment Minister Jared Clarke.
"This will also hurt the data collection needed to monitor chronic wasting disease. It is telling that the Sask. Party ignored those who relied on this hunter-funded, voluntary program when claiming they were finding efficiencies.
The funding for the CWD testing program comes largely out of the Fish and Wildlife Development Fund, paid for out of hunting and fishing licenses.
Wotherspoon committed that a Carla Beck government will keep fighting into the coming fall Legislative session against these cuts until they are reversed.
“The good people of Saskatchewan deserve so much better than what they’re getting from this government,” Wotherspoon said. “They need wake up, respect the value of hunting in Saskatchewan and to listen hunters and immediately reverse their damaging elimination of the voluntary CWD testing program.”
“It’s time for change.”
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