By Ryan Pilon

Farmers ask hunters to wait

Sep 30, 2010 | 3:29 PM

The stormy summer months have resulted in farmers and hunters interacting more than usual this year.

Sloughs that are usually dry by this time are full to the brim, which is attracting waterfowl onto farmland.

Because of the late harvest, it is difficult for some farmers to grant permission for the hunters to hunt on their land, just yet.

Kerry Peterson farms just outside of Shellbrook. He has already been contacted by several hunters asking to hunt on his land.

However, Peterson said he only has about 40 per cent of his crop combined and has had to deny the hunters' request for the time being.

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“If they shoot the waterfowl off a harvested area, (the birds) might look around for a field that maybe isn't harvested and cause a lot of damage,” Peterson explains.

“We're asking them to wait, which I know is hard because they only have a set amount of time to be here, but we're asking them to just wait a few days until more crop gets off.”

Peterson said hunters have been very understanding, and once all the farmers have more of their crop off, he will start allowing hunters onto his land.

“There's an unwritten rule, where we like to see a bit of everyone's crop off first,” said Peterson.

Peterson has heard of some instances where hunters go onto farmland without permission, but hasn't had that happen to him personally. He says for the most part the hunters are very accepting of his request.

He said if the weather holds up, he'll start granting permission within a couple of days.

rpilon@rawlco.com