Cochrane resident Eric Gerstenbuhler and his team have developed a new app that makes it easier and safer to access privately-owned land for recreational purposes.
Canadian Land Access Systems (CLAS), a communication platform, provides users a simpler method for contacting landowners while providing owners greater control over how and when their land is used, according to Gerstenbuhler, who is one of the four founding partners of the online tool.
The company has recently partnered with the Alberta Conservation Association (ACA), providing CLAS system users with information on more than 600 properties across the province.
“The goal with having the ACA on board is to make it easier to search for which properties are accessible for users,” said Gerstenbuhler of the association that has been helping Albertans explore the great outdoors safely and sustainably for more than 20 years.
For users – largely of the recreational varieties such as hunters, horseback riders, fishermen, campers and photographers – it takes any awkwardness or potential conflict out of asking permission from landowners to gain access to their lands.
For landowners, it fosters privacy – no more dinnertime knocks on the door from camouflage-clad strangers.
It’s also secure, as the platform (a downloadable app) keeps track of the permitted users on site, notifies the landowner if users have not checked out upon departure and lets the landowner know exactly who is on their land and for what purposes.
“We were out hunting one day and thinking how hard it was to get a hold of people to gain land access … that’s where CLAS was born,” said Gerstenbuhler, adding that he and his partners are all passionate outdoors enthusiasts.
Last fall’s soft launch registered more than one million acres to the system and counting, including nearly 200 landowners – farmers, ranchers and Hutterite colonies – and more than 1,000 land users.
This hunting season, the team is looking to launch across Western Canada and nationwide by next year.
The creators hope the system will eventually lead to fewer offences, as they work closely with provincial fish and wildlife officers.
“Hunters are required by law to ensure they have permission from the landowner before they hunt on private land – the same is also true of off-highway vehicle use,” explained Brendan Cox, public affairs officer with Justice and Solicitor General.
“Traditionally, hunters can inquire at the county office for a landowner map and then write a letter. Anything that helps facilitate compliance with the law regarding obtaining permission would generally be a good thing.”
Cox said since 2015, fish and wildlife officers have issued 249 charges and warnings through the Wildlife Act for entering, hunting or discharging a firearm on occupied land without permission.
In that same time, officers have issued 426 charges and warnings under the Petty Trespass Act.
The added user accountability and comprehensive waiver to take liability off landowners is what Gerstenbuhler said will result in better compliance.
Pincher Creek-area landowner and hunter Corey Jarvis is one landowner who has signed onto the new service.
He came online last fall as a user seeking a more non-intrusive way of gaining land access for hunting. He as a landowner last month to better manage potential users on his land this season.
“Accessibility is a big issue in rural parts of the province, not just for hunters,” said Jarvis. “It helps to manage our time better, to know who’s on your land and for how long … you can make any conditions you want.”
Jarvis said the program is user-friendly and is ideal for landowners. The app’s functionality allows landowners to tailor access to such details as type of users, number, and when and at what times land can be used.
“I think it puts the onus back on the land users and creates more respectable land users,” said Jarvis, who believes the program will encourage people to inform landowners of potential concerns, such as species abundance or property hazards.
Gerstenbuhler said to the best of his knowledge, this is the only system of its type and membership costs are competitively priced.
Visit canadianlandaccess.com to learn more.
