Hi Khalid,

Check out the Alberta Conservation Association Discovery Guide. It lists loads of great properties to hunt in your area.

www.albertadiscoverguide.com

Good luck,

TJ

Hi Ed,

I’ve always enjoyed hunting WMU412 for deer and grouse.

Good luck,

TJ

Hi Bert,

The mountain WMUs south of Calgary would be WMUs 404, 402 and 400. A good start would be to take a drive down the Forestry Trunk Road (Highway 940) There are loads of great side trails to walk off of here and you should find plenty of ruffed grouse.

Good luck,

TJ

Hi David,

Yes Skinner Sights are a great sight. I’d suggest you contact the folks at Skinner directly and I’m sure they can help you out. http://www.skinnersights.com

TJ

Andre,

The biggest issue is that there are such a variety of rules surrounding shooting on Crown land that there is no single answer and there is no database of crown land where shooting is permitted. Shooting on crown land is permitted in some areas and not in others and I know in the region west of Calgary for example, much of the crown land shooting has been shut down because too many people were doing it and too many were doing it irresponsibly. If you are set on avoiding the range, the best advice I can offer is to check out the county maps, available in each county, for crown land or you can also look at http://aep.alberta.ca/recreation-public-use/recreation-on-public-land/public-land-use-zones/ That link breaks down Alberta’s Public Land Use Zones into regions and lists firearm restrictions.

TJ

Hi Jeff,

I’d suggest starting on the south east side of the zone. There is virtually no private property in the zone and there is very limited vehicle access so your best bet is to get out and burn some boot leather hiking. Elk are not widely distributed throughout the zone but there are good pockets of elk. It’s a challenging WMU to hunt without horses but it can be done. Just make sure you are ready to backpack an elk out or at the very least have a game cart to help you out.

Good luck,

TJ

Hi Cam,

That’s great that you are getting back into hunting. The first thing I’d recommend that you do is give the hunting regulation a thorough read as all of your questions are answered in there. They can be found at http://albertaregulations.ca/huntingregs/

But to specifically answer your question, this is directly from the regs:

REQUIREMENTS

WIN Card
Hunters and anglers in Alberta must possess a 10-digit Wildlife Identification Number (WIN) to apply for draws, purchase wildlife certificates, licences and replacements. The cost is $8.00 plus GST and is valid for five years; renewal fee is also $8.00.
If purchasing at an Issuer please bring your WIN Card. Please keep your information up to date; address changes can be made online or at an issuer.

Wildlife Certificate
Hunters must possess a valid Wildlife Certificate and the applicable hunting licence to hunt big game or game birds. Licences and applicable tags must be carried on their person while hunting. A Wildlife Certificate is not required to apply on the hunting draws.

Licensing requirements for first-time hunters
NOTE: Effective (2014) all new first-time hunters who have qualified for obtaining recreational hunting licences by successfully completing the Alberta Conservation and Hunter education course, will be required to provide on their WIN application form, their hunter certificate number that is issued to each course graduate, in order to be eligible to purchase a hunting licence.

A first-time hunter is a hunter who 1) has not previously held a hunting licence in Alberta or elsewhere, or 2) has not prior to April 1, 2010, met Alberta first-time hunter criteria, or 3) has not successfully completed a hunter education course in Alberta or elsewhere.

Non-resident and non-resident alien hunters (12 years of age or older) are exempt from the first-time hunter eligibility requirement if they are accompanied by a Hunter Host or a Designated Guide while hunting in Alberta.

Youth first-time hunters must be at least 12 years old to hunt under the authority of any hunting licence in Alberta. All hunters under the age of 16 years must have written permission from a parent or guardian to purchase hunting licences. Hunters who are 11 years old may apply in the draws for licences if they meet the above criteria, but they must be 12 years old anytime before or during the open season for that draw. They may not hunt until they are 12 years old. Note: As of 2007, hunters who are 12 or 13 years of age are no longer restricted to hunting big game with only a bow and arrow. To hunt with a firearm, hunters under 18 years of age must be accompanied by a parent, a legal guardian or by a person 18 years of age or older who has the written permission of the parent or legal guardian. If a youth turns 18 during the hunting season, they can continue to hunt using their valid licence.

If you are interested in taking the Alberta Conservation and Hunter Education course, call the Alberta Hunter Education Instructors’ Association toll-free in Alberta at 1-866-852-4342, Edmonton 780-466-6682, or Calgary 403-252-8474.

It should also be noted that there is no longer an FAC but rather it was replaced with a PAL\POL so you should ensure yours is up to date.

Good luck and hopefully you rediscover your love of hunting this fall.

TJ

Hi Brian,

The rules regarding where you can discharge firearms on public and private property are just too complex to point out a spot where you could go and I’m unaware of any remaining public areas that are designated for shooting. I’d highly suggest you utilize a certified range. If you do decide to go another route, be certain to check with various levels of government to ensure legality and of course clean up very well after yourself.

Good luck,

TJ

Hi Steve,

As the draw system is all computer generated I doubt there is any large scale corruption going on. In all the years of the draws I’ve only ever heard of one actual computer screw up and it was rectified when the person complained. It’s pretty easy to check and see what priority anglers are being drawn for certain draws and then to check your own priority. Most often when people don’t get drawn and feel they should have, it’s because they made a mistake calculating their own priority. If you have not been drawn in three years at Pigeon there is an issue with your priority as 100% of priority one anglers were drawn last year. http://mywildalberta.com/fishing/walleye-draws/documents/2016-SpecialLicenceWalleyeSummary-Jul2016.pdf

You should likely check your priority at www.albertarelm.com and see what’s going on with your priority. Perhaps your draws were not put in properly?

Good luck,

TJ

Hi Zach,

Here’s a list of the ranges in the Edmonton area.
http://www.huntingfortomorrow.com/HFTF_Home/
What%27s%20New_files/Edmonton%20Shooting%20Ranges.pdf

Have fun shooting,

TJ

Hi Paul,

Once they stock the ponds in Kananaskis Country there is some good opportunity there, including Mount Lorette Pond. I’ve also heard that Pine Coulee Reservoir is producing well these days.

Good luck,

TJ

Hi Aaron,

If you head west to the foothills in Kananaskis Country, you should find some great bird and rabbit hunting.

Good luck,

TJ

Hi Jordon,

As both those species are primarily found on private property, your best bet would be to go for a drive on a warm spring day and knock on a few doors to get permission.

Good luck,

TJ

Hi Ryan,

I’d say south and west of Calgary has the highest whitetail populations but there are good concentrations to be found in all directions depending on the available food and cover.

Good luck,

TJ

Hi Preston,

I’m unaware of any records kept specifically for the Bow River but I personally know of brown trout to 32” and rainbows to 30” and have heard stories of bigger.

TJ

Hi Steven,

Fort McMurray has an excellent range and I’d highly recommend you join it as it provides a safe and controlled location to shoot all kinds of firearms.

TJ

Hi Edmond,

I can offer two suggestions for you. The first would be to join the Sarcee Fish and Game Association and attend their meetings and functions. The second would be to join the Alberta Outdoorsmen Forum. There’s a great thread on there about finding a hunting partner.
www.outdoorsmenforum.ca/showthread.php?t=38944

Good luck,

TJ

Hi Dan,

From the successful hunters I’ve spoken with that have hunted there, the best advice is to keep putting the miles on and really concentrate on well sites. If you do find tracks, keep hitting that spot daily as they are likely to come back.

Good luck,

TJ

Hi Chad,

I’d suggest you familiarize yourself with the hunting regulations as all of the elk opportunities still open in the areas you’ve listed, require the hunter to draw a special licence. Special licence draws are held in June so you’ll have to wait until next year to apply in the draws.

TJ

Hi Jake,

Black bears are plentiful throughout Alberta but I’ve always enjoyed hunting them in the Fox Creek/Valleyview area.

Good luck,

TJ

Hi Andrew,

A supplemental whitetail licence allows you to shoot an additional antlerless whitetail or two in specific WMUs. More details can be found in the hunting regulations. http://albertaregulations.ca/huntingregs/

Good luck,

TJ

Hi Andrew,

The Alberta Conservation Association publishes a great guide to areas open to public hunting. It can be found at: www.albertadiscoverguide.com

There is an excellent ongoing thread on the Alberta Outdoorsmen Messageboard regarding hunters seeking partners. It can be found at: www.outdoorsmenforum.ca/showthread.php?t=38944

Good luck,

TJ

Hi Brayden,

Most of the farm and ranch country surrounding Calgary has good coyote populations. Once deer season is over, go out for a drive with a county map and knock on some doors to get permission.

Good luck,

TJ

Hey Logan,

There are loads of conservation properties in your area that offer excellent whitetail hunting. A list of them can be found at: www.albertadiscoverguide.com

Good luck,

TJ

Hey Will,

The best spot to go hunting is pretty subjective and often comes down to obtaining permission. I’d suggest focusing on one area and taking the time to learn it and taking the time to acquire some permission.

Good luck,

TJ

Hi Robert,

Personally, I would avoid the range-finding scope and buy a separate rangefinder. I find the rangefinding scopes bulky and awkward to use. If the 30-06 has served you well, why not get another one? It’s a tremendously versatile cartridge and more than adequate to 500 yards. I’d suggest shouldering a few different rifles to see what feels best but with the $2,000 price tag in mind, I’d check out the Tikka T3 or Winchester M70. Top that off with a Zeiss HD5 3-15x42 with Rapid Z 600 scope and you’d be set for longer ranges.

Good luck,

TJ

Hi Dwayne,

Your best bet would be to check out these opportunities in the Hunting regulations. They can be found at http://albertaregulations.ca/huntingregs

Good luck,

TJ

Hi Jordan,

I’d highly suggest you join a certified range as the rules regarding shooting on crown land vary widely.

Good luck,

TJ

Hi John,

I’d suggest you join the Alberta Outdoorsmen Mesageboard. There’s a great thread there about people looking for hunting partners. http://www.outdoorsmenforum.ca

Good luck,

TJ

Hi Dominic,

I don’t personally know of anywhere but the ACA’s Discover Guide is a great resource http://www.albertadiscoverguide.com

Good luck,

TJ

Hi Gerry,

Since AEP took over aerial surveys from ACA, the population data isn’t as readily accessible. Your best bet is to talk with the regional biologist in each region you are interested in. They should have a good idea on ticks as well. http://aep.alberta.ca/about-us/contact-us/fish-and-wildlife-area-office-contacts.aspx

Good luck,

TJ

Hi Abe,

Here’s a list of what I consider the essentials for hitting the mountains here in Alberta. http://outdoorquestblog.blogspot.ca/2013/07/backpack-gear-list.html

Thanks,

TJ

Hi Abe,

There’s been several threads on this exact subject on the Alberta Outdoorsmen Forum. There’s little question that finding these wild boars is challenging but I’m sure you’ll find some helpful information there.
http://www.outdoorsmenforum.ca

Good luck,

TJ

Hi Ivan,

Check out the Alberta Outdoorsmen Forum at
http://www.outdoorsmenforum.ca/showthread.php?t=38944

There is a great thread there about finding hunting partners and another good bet would be to become involved with a local Fish and Game club.

Good luck,
TJ

Hi Seth,

It sounds like a visit to a knowledgeable technician is in order. The folks at Calgary Archery Centre are extremely knowledgeable about recurves and I’d highly recommend giving them a visit.

Good luck,

TJ

Hi Caden,

I asked my buddy and professional waterfowl outfitter, Claudio Ongaro, to help me out with this question and he said, “Yes ... If they are Canada's ... They will simply slip out the back and go elsewhere. We rarely hunt geese inside of a full mile.” I will bow to Claudio’s expertise on this one.

Good luck,

TJ

Hey Denver,

You may want to head out to the Forestry west of Calgary and do some scouting. There’s typically lots of rabbits/hares out there, especially adjacent to areas with lots of willow.

Good luck,

TJ

Hi Saeid,

The quality of today’s budget rifles is actually amazingly good and for those just getting into hunting or those on a budget, they are a great option. I’d avoid the combo packages that include a scope, however, as the scopes are typically quite poor quality. Buy a scope separately and you’ll be much better off. All of the rifles you listed are good options. I’d go to the store and shoulder all of them and see how they feel and how they fit and make your decision from there.

Good luck,

TJ

Hi Rory,

I’m a big fan of the .223 for coyotes but a 22-250, 204, 243 and a host of others are good choices as well. I’m not certain about coyote buyers but you could check with a few of the local Hutterite Colonies.

Badgers are most common in the extreme southern part of the province. They are relatively easy to find after a fresh snow as their fresh diggings are a giveaway that they are in the area. Go for a drive one day after a fresh snow, knock on a few doors for permission and you should be able to find a badger.

Good luck,

TJ

Hi Rodney,

I’d suggest you join a local Fish and Game Club ( http://www.afga.org/clubs-and-zones.html ) and you can meet some like-minded people there and I’d also suggest joining the Alberta Outdoorsmen messageboard. There’s an excellent thread there about people looking for hunting partners. http://www.outdoorsmenforum.ca

Good luck,

TJ

Hi JD,

While the .222 Remington Magnum is gone, it’s certainly not dead. I believe Nosler still loads for it and you can still obtain brass and dies so reloading is likely your best option. Elwood Epps still shows that it stocks both brass and factory loaded ammo for the .222 Remington Magnum.
Give them a shout:
https://ellwoodepps.com/hunting/brands-we-carry.html

As a side note, Ruger’s very successful .204 is based on the .222 Remington Magnum case.

Good luck,

TJ

Hi David,

Casual target shooting is permitted on some private property and not on others. I’d start by contacting the county office to find out their regulations and then of course you need to ensure it is being done safely and not too close to occupied buildings.

Good luck,

TJ

Hi Scott,

I’ve had some good luck north of Whitecourt. Ruffed grouse will typically be found on trails and gravel roads early in the morning as they pick gravel to help aid in digestion.

Good luck,

TJ

Hi Jason,

The best whitetail hunting is typically found in agricultural areas on the fringe of good cover. The best bet would be to get out and do some scouting and then knock on some doors to secure permission to hunt. Much of Alberta is limited-entry draw for mule deer so be certain to read the regulations carefully.

Good luck,

TJ

Hi Liz,

Your best bet for locating crown land is to get a copy of the landowner maps for the counties you are interested in. Some are even available on-line. Here’s the link to the one for Camrose County. https://camrosecounty.civicweb.net/document/1323

I don’t personally know of anywhere you could go but this should be a step in the right direction.

Good luck,

TJ

Hi Ian,

There would be no single answer to that question as each city/town sets their own bylaws. I know it’s not permitted in Calgary but you’d need to contact the bylaw office in the town or city you were interested in hunting to see what their policy is.

Good luck,

TJ

Hi Jennifer,

Congratulations on drawing a very coveted tag. You should get an information package from the Government at some point soon but you may also want to contact Lyle Fullerton as he is a wealth of info about the hunt. You may also want to join the Alberta Outdoorsmen Messageboard as there’s been some good information there about the hunt in the past. http://www.outdoorsmenforum.ca

TJ

Hi Brian,

Check out the ACA Discover Guide. It lists a large number of conservation sites in your area where hunting is permitted. http://www.albertadiscoverguide.com

Good luck,

TJ

Hi Elzobidi,

You should become a member of the Alberta Outdoorsmen Forum at http://www.outdoorsmenforum.ca. There is a great thread in the hunting section about people looking for hunting partners. You may also want to join the Sarcee Fish and Game Association in Calgary and get out to a few of their meeting and meet some like-minded folks. You can check them out at http://sfga.ca.

Good luck,

TJ

Hi Linda,

The National Verifiers Network should be able to help you out.

E-mail: verifiers.network@rcmp-grc.gc.ca
Fax: 1-877-699-4928
Telephone: 1 800 731-4000, ext 1052

Address:
National Verifiers Network
CFP, Canadian Firearms Registry
Ottawa ON K1A 0R2

Good luck,

TJ

Hi Becca,

It sounds as though you may benefit from another careful reading of the Alberta Hunting Regulations as all of the answers you seek are in there. Currently, all rifle hunting opportunities for moose in the province are on limited entry draw so unless you are a bow hunter, you will have to wait until next year to apply for moose tags. There are, however, loads of general opportunities for whitetail deer. There are no blaze orange clothing requirements in Alberta save for a few special hunts. Good luck with your hunt.

TJ

Hi Andreas,

I’m not overly familiar with that site so I’d suggest that you contact Ducks Unlimited as it is managed by them. They can be contacted at...
Tel: 780-489-2002
Fax: 780-489-1856
Toll-free: 1-866-479-3825.

Good luck,

TJ

Hi Chad,

That is a very complex question with no single answer. Target practice is permitted on some crown land but is not in many other areas, depending on the designation of the land. Your best bet would likely be to discuss the area you are interested in with a Fish and Wildlife or RCMP officer if you are unsure.

Good luck,

TJ

Hi Victoria,

I’d suggest you join the Alberta Outdoorsmen Forum and put a post up there. I’m sure you’ll meet many like-minded folks there. http://www.outdoorsmenforum.ca

Good luck,

TJ

Hi Andrew,

You could head west to the Sibbald Flats area and walk some of the trails there. There are typically lots of birds in the area.

Good luck,

TJ

Hi Ryan,

Draw tags are only valid in the WMU you were drawn for.

TJ

Hi Thomas,

I suggest you familiarize yourself with the hunting regulations as you will find answers to questions like this in them. They can be found at
http://albertaregulations.ca/huntingregs/
but the short answer to your question is that it is illegal to shoot at swimming big game.

TJ

Hi Andrew,

on’t ruin anything by leaving the bone in. I do everything boneless for ease of cutting b
You definitely won’t ruin anything by leaving the bone in. I do everything boneless for ease of cutting but if you have a bone saw, there shouldn’t be any issues.

TJ

Hi Mads,

There are no specific requirements to obtain your bowhunting certificate other than those that apply to all hunting licences.

TJ