Chronic wasting disease (CWD) is a chronic degenerative and ultimately fatal prion disease of cervids (primarily deer and elk). It is not known to infect humans. The disease has been found in a few mule deer and white-tailed deer along the Alberta/Saskatchewan border in relatively small portions of WMUs 119, 150, 151, 152, 163, 200, 202, 232, 234, 236, 256, and 728 (see page 29 of this guide for a map of CWD cases in wild deer in Alberta).

Hunters and outfitters play a key role in assisting CWD management by helping to reduce deer numbers and by providing heads from harvested deer for the ongoing CWD surveillance program. Alberta began looking for CWD in wild deer in the hunting seasons in 1998. Since then we have tested over 30,000 heads of hunter-killed wild deer and elk and have found CWD in only 47 of them. Additional cases of CWD (n=47) were found as a result of government control programs implemented in 2005 to 2008.

Landowner quota licences will continue to be available. Resident landowners and/or their immediate family are required to apply for their quota licence through the local Fish and Wildlife office. Once approved they can purchase their licence online or at any licence issuer beginning the following day. Landowner licences will be valid for titled or leased land in WMU 119, 150, 151, 152, 162, 163, 200, 202, 232, 234, 236, 256 and 500.

• Season dates for WMU 150, 151, 162 and 163 are archery only season September 1-October 14, primitive weapon season October 15-October 31, general season November 2-5, November 9-12, November 16-19, November 23-26, November 30-December 3, December 7-10, December 14-17 and from December 19, 2011 to January 14, 2012 (Monday to Saturday only).
  
• Season dates for WMU 200, 234, 236, 256 and 500 are archery only season September 1-October 14, primitive weapon season October 15- October 31 and general season from November 1, 2011 to January 14, 2012.
  
• Season dates for WMU 119 are archery only season September 1-November 1, general season November 2-5, November 9-12, November 16-19, November 23-26 and November 28, 2011 to January 14, 2012 (Monday to Saturday only).
  
• Season dates for WMU 202 and 232 are archery only season September 1-October 31 and general season November 1, 2011 to January 14, 2012.

Once the tags are filled and all three heads submitted, another licence may be purchased (for the same area as the first licence with 3 more tags). The Quota Deer Licence does not count in the maximum licences or combination of licences a hunter may hold.
All heads for testing, including the partial skull samples (as above), must have a green CWD label which gives each head a unique identification number. Be sure to include either GPS or land location as well as WMU and your WIN number for each head. When available, test results for each head will be accessible online via your WIN number at albertarelm.com.

Note : It is a mandatory requirement to submit the head of all deer harvested in the following WMUs: 102, 116, 118, 119, 124, 144, 148, 150, 151, 152, 162, 163, 164, 200, 202, 203, 232, 234, 236, 238, 254, 256, 258, 500, 728, and 730. Antlers and skull plate can be removed from bucks before the head is submitted. For European mounts, keep the top portion of the skull and submit the lower portion including the lower jaw, the tissues at the back of the throat, and the part of the skull that contains the connection between the spinal cord and the brain.

For more information about CWD, contact your local Fish and Wildlife office or visit srd.alberta.ca.

Deer hunting opportunities have been expanded within the eastern border regions in order to maintain hunting pressure on deer populations and to standardize seasons and opportunities. Check carefully for the changes being implemented in 2011.

MARKED WILDLIFE

Some species of wildlife are banded, collared or marked by other means in an ongoing effort to gain additional population biology information. You can assist and cooperate in these programs by reporting encounters with any marked animal to the nearest Fish and Wildlife Division office.

Some of these marked wildlife, as well as certain nuisance animals (e.g., some black bears), may have received drugs for research purposes or to facilitate their capture and handling. Any such animal will be marked with a tag advising that the meat of the animal should not be consumed before contacting the Fish and Wildlife Division of Alberta Sustainable Resource Development.

Report Waterfowl Leg Bands by Telephone
All waterfowl leg bands recovered in North America can now be reported by telephoning the toll-free number 1-800-327-BAND (1-800-327-2263). Calls can be made from anywhere in Canada or the United States, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. However, operators are only available from 7:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. eastern time, Monday to Friday. After-hours and weekend callers will hear a recorded message requesting they leave their name and daytime telephone number so that the Bird Banding Lab can call them back. Band recovery can also be reported by internet at the website www.reportband.gov. Recovered bands can still be reported by mail, or to the nearest office of the Fish and Wildlife Division, if you do not wish to report the band by telephone or internet.

USE RESPECT PROGRAM

The Use Respect program encourages recreational land users and landholders to understand and respect each other’s rights and needs.

First introduced in 1983, the Use Respect program was designed in response to the concerns of farmers and ranchers about the general public accessing their land. Many groups, including outdoors people supported the campaign that appealed to all Albertans to act responsibly by observing the rights and property of others.

Use Respect signs, which provide people with information about limited access, restrictions on motorized vehicles, and who should be contacted for permission, are available at no charge at local Fish and Wildlife Division offices.
Please begin your hunt by obtaining permission from the landholder.

Use Respect. All you have to do is ask!

REPORT A POACHER

Alberta Conservation Association's REPORT A POACHER program provides Albertans with the opportunity to report suspected violations using a toll-free number: 1-800-642-3800 or #3800 on the TELUS Mobility network (courtesy TELUS Mobility). The line is in operation 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Fishing or hunting out of season, night hunting, exceeding bag limits, illegal sale of fish and wildlife and deposit of harmful substances in lakes and rivers are violations that seriously affect fish and wildlife in Alberta. If you see or know of a violation, you should record all information, including

• date
• time
• location
• vehicle licence number
• vehicle description
• description of person(s) involved
• details of violation, and any other details, no matter how insignificant they may seem. You should then contact the nearest Fish and Wildlife Division office or call 1-800-642-3800 as soon as possible.

If the information provided concerns a resource violation and results in the laying of a charge, the reporter may be eligible for a reward. If you have any questions about this program, please contact the nearest Fish and Wildlife Division office.

WILD GAME PUBLIC HEALTH ADVISORY

The wild game public health advisory for the Swan Hills area — originally issued on December 13, 1996, by the Provincial Health Officer — has been revised as a result of more extensive wild game testing. While recent test results confirm that eating wild game from the Swan Hills area poses no immediate threat to human health, it is recommended that individuals limit the amount of wild game eaten.

For more information contact Alberta Health and Wellness at 780-427-7164.

COMMON LICENCE MISTAKES

GENERAL MULE DEER LICENCE
This general licence is valid during the “archery only” season, which precedes the general season. It is valid during the general season in the following WMUs: 316, 339-344, 347, 349-356, 412, 414, 432, 440-446, 511-520, 524, 525, 528-534, 536, 539-544 and 841. This licence is not valid during a season in which a Special Licence is required. In the Alberta Guide to Hunting Regulations, special licences are required for all seasons where a small black box is located beside the season date.

SUPPLEMENTAL ANTLERLESS MULE DEER LICENCE
This licence is issued with two tags and is only valid in WMUs 200, 234, 236, 256 and 500. It is a general licence and does not require a draw application.

SUPPLEMENTAL ANTLERLESS WHITE-TAILED DEER LICENCE
This licence is issued with two tags and is only valid in WMUs 200-208, 214-238, 244, 246, 254-258, 300, 310-314, 322-357, 360, 436-446, 500-503, 505, 507-531, 534-544. It is a general licence and does not require a draw application.

YOUTH MULE DEER LICENCE
This general licence is available for resident hunters who are 12-17 years of age and who are eligible to hunt. It is a general licence that is valid during the “archery only” season, which precedes the general season. It is valid during the general season in the following WMUs: 316, 339-344, 347, 349-356, 412, 414, 432, 440-446, 511-520, 524, 525, 528-534, 536, 539-544 and 841. This licence is not valid during a season in which a Special Licence is required. In the Alberta Guide to Hunting Regulations, special licences are required for all seasons where a small black box is located beside the season date.

YOUTH WHITE-TAILED DEER LICENCE
This licence is valid for resident hunters who are 12-17 years of age and who are eligible to hunt. It is a general licence and is valid during a general season (archery or rifle). Because it is a general licence, it can not be used during the rifle season in WMUs 404, 406 and 408 (a special licence is required). In the Alberta Guide to Hunting Regulations, special licences are required for all seasons where a small black box is located beside the season date.

SUPPLEMENTAL BLACK BEAR LICENCE
This licence is only valid in WMUs 224, 250, 258, 260, 320-360, 429, 445, 500-544 and 841.

SPECIAL LICENCES
If you are drawn for a special licence, your draw priority returns to zero and that draw cannot be cancelled. You may not be able to purchase a particular general licence once you have been drawn for a special licence of that same species. Example: if you are drawn for Antlered Mule Deer, Antlered White-tailed Deer or Antlered, Antlerless, or Calf Moose you will not be able to purchase a general licence for that species. If you are drawn for Either Sex Elk, WMU 300 Elk, Antlered or Antlerless Elk, you will not be able to purchase a general elk licence. Resident hunters are able to purchase an elk licence in combination with the WMU 212 Antlerless Elk Archery and the WMU 212 Antlerless Elk Special Licence. See licence combinations.