The fallout from the World Trade Centre disaster has spread to prairie forests and lakes.
American hunters have cancelled hunting trips to Canada in the wake of the disaster, said Owen Voaklander, managing director of the Alberta Professional Outfitters Society.
“There were cancellations, especially last week,” said Voaklander, of the week following the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Centre.
While he doesn’t have solid numbers, he estimates 10 to 20 percent of the hunts were cancelled. About 85 percent of the 8,000 hunters that come to Alberta each year are American.
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Many U.S. hunters couldn’t fly out of Canada when the airlines were grounded, nor could new hunters fly in.
“It’s things that are really out of their control,” said Voaklander of the 375 Alberta outfitters and their clients.
A 1997 survey estimated the economic impact of the 5,000 big game hunters to the Alberta economy to be about $48 million each year.
They estimate another 3,000 clients come to Alberta for bird hunts and would add another $20 million to the economy.
Hal Stupnikoff, executive director of the Saskatchewan Outfitters Association, said it’s too early to gauge the effect the terrorist attacks have had on business.
Stupnikoff said one outfitter had cancellations, another had no cancellations and another had an increase in business.
Outfitters offering migratory bird hunts, now in season, were hit hardest.
“There may be some leeriness by people in the eastern seaboard getting on planes,” said Stupnikoff of Prince Albert, Sask.
There appears to be no added difficulty carrying guns across the border, he said.
“Saskatchewan is still open.”
There are 650 outfitters in Saskatchewan. It’s estimated the economic impact of hunting is $40 million each year.
Jim Ticknor of the Manitoba Outfitters and Lodges Association said the terrorist attacks are likely having an impact in his province.
“There’s going to be some problems,” he said.
“Everybody recognizes why there are concerns about flying.”
Among the 302 licensed outfitters in Manitoba, almost all clients come from the United States, where they add about $50 million a year to the rural economy.
“Most of that impact is in rural and remote areas that can really use the work,” said Ticknor of Beausejour, Man.
Dave Ealey, with the Alberta government’s Alberta Sustainable Resource Development, said it’s more than fear of flying keeping American hunters away.
“These are very big business people and their businesses are hurting. It’s not a good time to go on a personal vacation,” said Ealey.
