The Minister's Permit, in case you haven't heard, was turned back in by the original buyer because he was not happy to hear that provincial authorities had issued nine permits for the important Cadomin area this season, some of them authorizing residents to hunt during the most desirable time. The permits were issued after the Minister's Permit had been sold.
The Alberta Minister's Permit, which once sold for as much as $405,000, sold this year for $150,000. In the past, it has allowed hunters to take some extraordinary sheep. Most noteworthy is Hunting Report subscriber Guinn Crousen's World Record 208 3/8-inch bighorn. Up to now, hunters who have bought the Minister's Permit have focused exclusively on the Cadomin area. But that may not be the case this year, given the new resident permits issued for that area. There is also some concern about the impact on the Cadomin area of hunting by Metis, or Indians of mixed heritage. As we have reported extensively, Metis have been granted rights to hunt pretty much wherever and whenever they want in the province of Alberta. There have been continuing reports that Metis shot sheep in the Cadomin area last season and plan to do so again this year.
What will be interesting to see this year is where the Minister's Permit holder decides to hunt and how good a sheep he takes. Importantly, the permit allows the possessor to hunt a........(continued)
