Game Bird Seasons & Bag Limits
Where a dash (-) is used between WMUs in the following table, the dash is to be interpreted as including all WMUs that have numbers falling between the two WMU listed.
■ Indicates seasons that apply only to hunters with applicable Special Licences. Refer to the 2025 Alberta Hunting Draws booklet for details.
Species |
Daily Limit |
Possession Limit |
WMUs |
Season
Date |
Requirements |
Snow or
Ross’s Geese |
50
combined |
No Limit |
200-208, 216-260, 316-544, 841, 936 |
S1 - D16 / M15 - Ju15 |
(a) of which not more than two ducks may be goldeneye for non-resident aliens. (b) of which not more than six ducks may be goldeneye for non-resident aliens. (c) may harvest with a special licence only. Month Abbreviations
|
102-166, 210-214, 300-314 |
S8 - D23 / M15 - Ju15 |
||||
Canada or
White-fronted Geese |
8 combined |
24 combined |
200-208, 216-260, 316-544, 841, 936 |
S1 - D16 |
|
102-166, 210-214, 300-314 |
S8 - D23 |
||||
Ducks, Coots, Snipe, Cormorants |
8 (a) each |
24 (b) each |
200-208, 216-260, 316-544, 841, 936 |
S1 - D16 |
|
102-166, 210-214, 300-314 |
S8 - D23 |
||||
Sandhill Crane |
5 |
15 |
200-208, 220, 222, 226-244, 247-260, 500 |
S1 - D16 |
|
102-106, 112-166, 210 |
S8 - D23 |
||||
Male Pheasant |
2 |
6 |
200-260, 314-402, 412-544 |
S1 - J15 |
|
102-166, 300-312 |
O15 - N30 |
||||
404-410, 841, 936 |
S8 - J15 |
||||
Ruffed Grouse |
5 |
15 |
|||
102-402, 412-544 |
S1 - J15 |
||||
404-410, 841, 936 |
S8 - J15 |
||||
728, 730 (CFB Wainwright) |
A30 - S1 |
||||
Spruce Grouse |
5 |
15 |
|||
102-402, 412-544 |
S1 - J15 |
||||
404-410, 841, 936 |
S8 - J15 |
||||
Sharp-tailed
Grouse |
5 |
15 |
102-246, 252-256, 300-314, 334, 400-402, 518-520, 524, 525, 528-542, 936 |
O1 - O31 |
|
728, 730 (Camp Wainwright) |
A31 - S2 |
||||
Ptarmigan |
5 |
15 |
|||
300-402, 412-544 |
S1 - J15 |
||||
404-410 |
S8 - J15 |
||||
Blue Grouse |
5 |
15 |
300-402, 412-446 |
S1 - J15 |
|
404-410 |
S8 - J15 |
||||
Gray Partridge |
5 |
15 |
|||
102-402, 412-544 |
S1 - J15 |
||||
936 |
S8 - J15 |
||||
Wild Turkey |
1 (c) |
1 (c) |
300-308, 400, 402 |
■ Ma1 - Ma31, 2026 |
ATTENTION WMU 936 HUNTERS: All hunters for WMU 936 must review an online hunter information package and require a firearms discharge permit. Information packages and firearms discharge permits may obtained online at albertaparks.ca. Please contact the Cooking Lake/Blackfoot Grazing, Wildlife and Recreation Area office, (780-922-3293) in order to receive more information.
ATTENTION WMU 728 & 730 (CFB Wainwright) HUNTERS: All hunters and non-hunters are required to attend a mandatory safety briefing at 0700 hrs on August 30, 2025. Signs will direct hunters to the Hunter Check Station (HCS) from the main gate of CFB Wainwright. The range safety briefing will last approximately 45 minutes and the HCS doors will open to hunters at 6:00 am for registration and signing of indemnification waivers. WARNING: Hazards in the form of unexploded military munitions may exist throughout CFB Wainwright. Hunters are advised not to touch any foreign objects. CFB Wainwright officials have advised that all hunters using shotguns to hunt game birds at CFB Wainwright must use non-toxic shot. Lead shot is not allowed.
ATTENTION PHEASANT HUNTERS: A map and description of all pheasant release sites, including time restrictions can be found on the Alberta Conservation Association website at www.ab-conservation.com/programs/wildlife/provincial-pheasant-release-program/ or by calling 1-877-969-9091.
ATTENTION LATE SEASON BIRD HUNTERS: Later season dates for bird game may overlap with active trapping in some areas. Please take the necessary precautions to ensure the safety of hunting dogs.
YOUTH HUNTING
Youth under 10 are exempt for the need for a provincial game bird licence while hunting game birds. HOWEVER, they must be supervised by a licenced adult and any birds they harvest are considered part of the adult’s limit.
Youth under 18 may apply online for a FREE migratory game bird hunting permit. To hunt with this permit, youth must be accompanied by a permitted adult who has also possessed a permit in previous years. The adult may accompany up to two (2) youth while hunting, and may also have in their possession, a firearm and participate in the hunt.
Although youth under 10 are exempt from a provincial game bird licence, they will need a youth migratory game bird permit to hunt migratory birds, and will have to share a single limit with the supervising adult licence holder.