Management Messages
Message from the Honourable Todd Loewen
In our province, hunting is more than a seasonal activity. It is a valued tradition that brings families and friends together, bonds us to the land, and supports both conservation and our provincial economy. This tradition continues to provide sustainable, locally sourced food while supporting responsible wildlife management. Across Alberta, hunters can find exceptional opportunities in a range of landscapes, from the foothills to the boreal forest. Whether you are pursuing game birds, filling the freezer, or heading into the bush for your first hunt, there are opportunities suited to all kinds of hunters. For young or first-time hunters in particular, these opportunities mean a life-changing introduction to the outdoors, one that is often guided by family, and helps build confidence, knowledge and a strong foundation for lifelong participation.
Hunting also plays an essential role in conservation across the province. Programs like the Minister’s Special Licence continue to generate significant funding through licence auctions and raffles for species including bighorn sheep, pronghorn, elk, moose, cougar, wild turkey and deer. Revenue from these initiatives is reinvested into habitat restoration, research and education efforts that benefit wildlife and ecosystems throughout Alberta.
I continue to be encouraged by the strong stewardship ethic demonstrated by Alberta’s hunters. This community plays a key role in maintaining healthy wildlife populations and conserving our natural landscapes. This shared responsibility helps ensure that Alberta’s outdoors can be enjoyed for generations to come.
Alberta continues to refine its approach to wildlife management to reflect current science and evolving best practices. These changes are designed to support safe, sustainable hunting while improving clarity, reducing administrative complexity and ensuring regulations remain practical and effective on the ground.
Before heading into the field, please take the time to understand this year’s regulations, including any updates for the season. Mandatory harvest reporting for Special Licences remains a critical part of wildlife management, providing the data needed to guide future decisions and ensure the long term sustainability of hunting in Alberta.
As Minister of Forestry and Parks and a proud hunter, I look forward to the season ahead and all it will bring.
Happy hunting!
Sincerely,
Todd Loewen
Minister of Forestry and Parks
Important Changes and Information for 2026
GENERAL
- Hosting non-resident hunters – a resident can still host two non-residents (Canadians) annually, but now one of those two must be a family member.
- The printed version of the 2026 Alberta Hunting Draws book indicated that non-resident Canadians could hold partner licences for antlered moose in
WMUs that they were eligible to apply for a draw. However, given non-resident Canadians were not eligible to apply for antlered moose draws in 2026, non-resident Canadians are not eligible to hold antlered moose partner licences.
BIG GAME
Elk
- Late elk seasons have been split into separate draw options in the following WMUs (108-110, 116-128, 132, 136-138, 142-150, 162-203, 212, 216, 221, 232-234, 240-242, 250, 300, 302, 304-314, 320-324, 357-360, 503-506, 509-510, 520-523, 526-528, 535, 537 and 544) make sure to review the season dates when applying for late season elk licences.
- The former four November seasons in WMUs 116, 118, 119 and 624 have been changed to three seasons (excluding Saturday hunting in 624 and Sunday hunting in 116, 118, 119 and 624). See pages 47-50 for the new season dates.
- The archery-only season for antlered and antlerless elk in WMUs 116, 118 and 119 is extended to October 31 (excluding Sundays).
- Elk seasons in WMUs 102, 104 and 108 have been aligned.
- For the WMU 212 antlerless elk special licence, the December to February seasons have had the weapons restriction repealed. Going forward, centre fire rifles (of a calibre legal to hunt big game) are permitted during the December to February seasons. The November season will remain unchanged and restricted to archery-only or to hunting with a shotgun, a cross bow or a muzzle loading firearm of .44 calibre or greater.
- The special licence draw hunting zone in WMU 338 has been repealed and elk may be hunted throughout the WMU.
- Partner licences for elk special licences have been introduced for 2026. See the Partner Licence section for details.
GAME BIRD
- Unguided non-resident alien game bird licence holders cannot hunt in the same WMUs selected on their first licence when hunting under a second seven-day licence within the same year.
Sandhill Crane
- Additional WMUs now include a sandhill crane season – 336, 501-510, 514 and 515
Terms and Definitions
The following definitions will help you understand these regulations:
Antlered - a white-tailed deer, mule deer, moose or elk having an antler exceeding 10.2 cm (4 in.) in length.
Antlerless - a white-tailed deer, mule deer, moose or elk that is not "antlered" (as defined above).
Bait - any substance that consists of a food attractant, including mineral and any representation of a food attractant.
Big game designated guide - a person designated by the Alberta Professional Outfitters Society to commercially guide big game hunters in Alberta. A designated guide may guide not more than two non-resident (Canadian) and non-resident alien big game hunters at a time in any part of Alberta, provided that each non-resident (Canadian) or non-resident Alien has contracted the hunt through an outfitter. A designated guide may guide up to three non-resident or non-resident aliens when hunting black bear. The two-hunter limit does not include resident hunters.
Big game outfitter - a person who is the holder of a valid big game outfitter-guide permit issued by the Alberta Professional Outfitters Society and who provides outfitting and guiding services to resident, non-resident and non-resident alien game bird hunters in Alberta.
- Class S outfitter – an outfitter who holds non-resident (Canadian)/non-resident alien allocations for class 1 sheep special licences. A class S outfitter may also hold allocations for other big game special licences.
- Class T outfitter – an outfitter who holds allocations valid for non-resident (Canadian) and non-resident alien big game special licences other than those for class 1 sheep.
Bird game designated guide - a person designated by the Alberta Professional Outfitters Society to commercially guide game bird hunters in Alberta.
Bird game outfitter - a person who is the holder of a valid bird game outfitter-guide permit issued by the Alberta Professional Outfitters Society, and who provides outfitting and guiding services to non-resident and non-resident alien game bird hunters in Alberta.
Either Sex Special Elk - authorizes the hunting of any age, size, or gender of elk in a specific WMU.
Green Area - forest lands not available for agricultural development other than grazing. In general, the green area is public land outside the parkland and prairie regions, or roughly in the northern half of the province and within a strip running along the Rocky Mountains and foothills.
Hunter Host - an adult resident who is the holder of a valid Hunter Host Licence. To obtain this licence, the adult must hold a valid WiN and be eligible to hold recreational hunting licences. A Hunter Host may not provide services for gain or reward, or accept a fee for services, directly or indirectly. The licence authorizes the holder (usually a relative or friend of the hunters to be hosted) to host a maximum of two non-residents (Canadian) or non-resident aliens* named on the host's licence to hunt wolf, coyote and big game throughout the province.
* Non-resident alien hunters are referred to Outfitting and Guiding Requirements for additional conditions and restrictions.
Legal Hunting Firearm
- Must comply with big game and bird game restrictions listed under General Regulations (see pages 30/31);
- Can have any stock design or stock composition;
- Is not limited by the energy its projectile(s) produces (see page 30 for air-pistol velocity limits);
- Can have any bore or calibre size except for restrictions listed under General Regulations (see pages 30/31);
- Can hold any amount of ammunition except for restrictions listed under General Regulations (see pages 30/31); and
- Can have any action other than fully automatic.
Loaded Firearm - A firearm in or on a vehicle, aircraft or boat is considered loaded if it has live ammunition in the breech, chamber or magazine. Cartridges are permitted in a magazine that is not attached to the firearm.
Non-resident (Canadian) - a person who is not a resident (see below), but who makes his or her home and is ordinarily present in Canada, and who has lived in Canada for the 12-month period immediately preceding the relevant date.
Non-resident Alien - a person who is neither a resident (see below) nor a non-resident (see above).
OHV (Off-Highway Vehicle) - any motorized vehicle designed for cross-country travel on land, water, snow, ice, marsh or swamp land, or on other natural terrain. (Exceptions: motor boats, as well as four-wheel-drive vehicles and motorcycles registered in accordance with the Traffic Safety Act.) Among OHVs, include the following kinds of vehicles when they are designed for cross-country travel as described above:
- four-wheel drive or low pressure tire vehicles,
- motorcycles and related two-wheel vehicles,
- amphibious machines,
- all-terrain vehicles,
- miniature motor vehicles,
- snow vehicles,
- minibikes, or
- any other means of transportation that is propelled by any power other than muscular power or wind.
Partner Licence - a licence issued to an eligible hunter that allows him or her to hunt a specific species in a specified WMU and season under the direct authority of a special licence held by another hunter successful in a draw.
Resident - means a person whose primary residence has been in Alberta for at least a six-month period immediately preceding the relevant date and who
- is a Canadian citizen or permanent resident of Canada, or
- has lived in Canada for the 12-month period immediately preceding the relevant date; or who is on full-time service with the Armed Forces of Canada and would, if an election were held under the Elections Canada Act, be eligible to vote in Alberta under that Act.
Special Licence - a licence obtained through a draw process, or for resident, non-resident and non-resident alien hunters, through an outfitter. It permits hunting of a specific type or class of game only in specific areas during a specified season. Click here for details.
Vehicle – non-motorized mobility aids, such as non-powered wheelchairs, are now exempt from being classified as a vehicle. Users of these devices will not be required to have a weapons discharge permit to shoot from these devices while hunting.
Weapon - a firearm or any other device that propels a projectile by means of an explosion, spring, air, gas, string, wire or elastic material or any combination of those things.
White Geese - snow and Ross' geese.
WMU - wildlife management unit, a geographical area prescribed in legislation.
WiN - wildlife identification number, a permanent registration number issued to each hunter and angler.
Month Abbreviations
The following defines the month abbreviations used in this guide:
A – August S – September O – October
N – November D – December
J – January F – February M – March
Ap – April Ma – May Ju – June