(Submitted/Saskatchewan Wildlife Federation Facebook)

By Nicole Reis

Donate Unwanted Firearms

Saskatchewan Wildlife Federation requesting gun donations for fundraiser auction

Mar 19, 2020 | 5:21 PM

The Saskatchewan Wildlife Federation (SWF) is bringing back their Guns for Habitat donation program calling the program an environmentally-friendly way to donate unwanted guns.

Director of Habitat Lands Darren Newberry told meadowlakeNOW the federation auctions firearms off to raise money to buy habitat lands.

“Every year in the spring, police put out their gun amnesty program which allows you to turn in unwanted or unused firearms,” he said. “They’re mandated to destroy them.”

Newberry said the profits from the auction are put toward purchasing habitat lands in the province.

Once lands are in STF possession, the federation makes improvements to help at-risk species.

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“STF owns over 70,000 acres of land in the province,” Newberry said. “The land we buy which has existing wildlife habitat and we save it from development.”

SWF said in a press release, the Guns for Habitat Initiative has raised over $80,000 over the last 20 years.

Newberry provided an example of those with unwanted firearms may be widows left with firearms or people who have no use for an old shot gun.

“We’ll collect [guns] year-round, but we do a push in the spring to put in people’s minds while they’re doing their spring cleaning, if there is a firearm they no longer wish to have, we can take it,” he said. “Last year we had over 40 firearms donated and auctioned off at our annual convention.”

Neil Suttill, owner of Suttill’s Gunsmithing in Meadow Lake said the program may be suitable for a member of the public who doesn’t want a firearm anymore.

“The public would be giving them up voluntarily,” he said. “If you’re going to donate them, donate to the wildlife federation.”

Jerry Fischer, former member of the Macklin Gun Club, said he hasn’t been out hunting in years though still owns several high-powered rifles for recreational shooting.

“If I had extra firearms, I would likely keep them within my family, but to give it away or donate them, I’d sell them before I did that,” he said.

A tax-deductible receipt is issued to the donor upon sale of the firearm. If the firearm cannot be sold, it may be deactivated for use in firearms safety instruction.

The SWF will make arrangements to pick up firearms anywhere across Saskatchewan. The SWF will not accept handguns or prohibited firearms.

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nicole.reis@jpbg.ca

Twitter: @nicolereis7722