A voluntary initiative by Lacombe County makes it so that you can provide ownership to your second home on the ice this winter.

The ‘Take it off’ program is a way to register your ice fishing shack with the county, so in the event it needs help being taken off or gets vandalized they can take the proper steps to help.

It also is a way for them to tell if a shack has been abandoned on the ice or neglected in the spring time.

Lacombe County Environmental Coordinator Jennifer Berry is in charge of the program and says although it isn’t often that they have to deal with unplanned mishaps, it still provides some guidance when it does come up.

“Last year we had some people that were having trouble getting it off and they contacted me to let me know they were having trouble and then we just know, were aware that it’s not just left out there.”

She says the process is quick, easy and free of charge.

Making sure the shacks are taken off also makes sure that any debris left in or around them doesn’t make its way into the water.

“People leave garbage, jerry cans things like that, so it all depends on what’s inside as well and it also becomes a risk to boaters in the summer time”

To register an ice hut visit the Town of Sylvan Lake website.

Anglers on both Gull Lake and Buffalo Lake can register their ice hut online by visiting the Lacombe County website or by calling the County Office at 403 782 8959.