Hunting and fishing enthusiasts got the chance to enjoy a meal while learning about the oldest and largest conservation organization in the province.
The Beaver River Fish and Game Association (BRFG) hosted their first breakfast and information open house for residents on Saturday, April 28.
“We're trying to promote the benefits of belonging to a fish and game organization,” said Doug Butler, president of Alberta Fish and Game Association (AFGA). “With the urbanization of Alberta right now, it’s important for conservative groups to try to maintain a balance so that we have natural places for wildlife to be.”
AFGA started back in 1908. It’s a volunteer-based, not-for-profit charitable organization advocating the common interests of ethical hunters, anglers, and outdoor enthusiasts.
“I believe if you hunt, fish, camp, or enjoy outdoors, you should belong to a conservation group in Alberta,” expressed Cy Hallett, member and fundraising chair at BRFG.
The open house, which was hosted at the Beaver River Fish and Game hall, had stations for different outdoor activities from archery and shooting to wildlife photography contests and programs for becoming an outdoor woman. Volunteers provided information on what's available through the association and helped to spread the message that the organization is about more than just hunting.
“We are way more than fishing and hunting, we are just outdoor people and most of us do hunting and fishing in a sustainable manner," Butler detailed.
He continued, “The most important thing to us is that our generations are able to do it too, so we are not just out killing everything, we are conserving wildlife and habitat that it needs to live on. We want to maintain a good balance and still able to utilize the wildlife.”
Running an organization that holds strength in the name itself, AFGA has challenges to deal with the government regarding wildlife and its conservation. They work to maintain a strong communication with them on a regular basis, relaying concerns regarding the preservation of nature.
“There’s always challenges, it’s never going to end,” said Butler. “We believe a balance in economy, industry, and population of mankind, but we also have to make sure the government realizes that there has to be room for our natural resources, and the utilization of it.
People sometimes get a bad rapport when they talk about hunting. One of the things that BRFG and AFGA are doing to change that is spreading the knowledge on the importance of a balanced habitat for mankind and wildlife.
“We got pretty good record serving for 110 years. We provide a lot of training courses by certified trainers,” said Hallett.
Butler said that hunting is one of the best management tools in the world, as it controls population and slows down the conflict between man and wildlife.
The AFGA holds more than 100 properties across the province, serving over 25,000 memberships through over 80 affiliated fish and game clubs and 450 communities across the province.
