{PST:00032578-1} February 25, 2019 Métis Harvesting in Alberta Policy (2018)
© 2019 Government of Alberta
Page 7 of 8
Wastage of Meat - laws that require that the edible meat of any game animal or bird not be wasted,
destroyed, spoiled or abandoned apply to Métis harvesters
Sale of Wildlife (Trafficking) - selling, buying, bartering, soliciting or trading in wildlife or wildlife parts,
and offering to do so, are activities governed by the Wildlife Act and regulations. Many of these
activities are strictly prohibited, while others are regulated. Hunting for the purpose of unlawful
trafficking in wildlife, including parts such as meat, trophy heads, antlers, horns, or skins, is prohibited.
However, the incidental sale of skins from deer, elk, moose or pronghorn antelope that were lawfully
hunted (including by a Métis harvester) is permitted under the Wildlife Act.
Registration - for the purposes of conservation and management of the following species, all persons,
including Métis harvesters, must register the kill of each of these animals in person and submit certain
parts. Refer to the annual Hunting Guide for information on registration.
Export of Wildlife from Alberta - the export of wildlife from Alberta is governed by both federal and
provincial laws. Certain types of wildlife and certain wildlife parts cannot be exported from Alberta by
any person, including a Métis harvester; this includes bear paws and bear gall bladders.
Migratory Birds - certain federal laws including the Migratory Birds Convention Act and the Migratory
Birds Regulations apply to all hunters, including Métis harvesters. A Métis harvester may hunt
migratory game birds at all times of the year, however bag limits, permit requirements and other laws
concerning migratory game bird hunting do apply. Environment and Parks defers to the Canadian
Wildlife Service to provide details of the application of these laws to Metis harvesters.
Fishing
Recognized Métis harvesters are able to apply for a Domestic Fishing Licence within their harvesting
area
3
. Domestic Fishing Licences permit recognized Métis harvesters to harvest fish for food from
specified water bodies, following specified conditions on the licence.
Domestic Fishing Licences allow for:
• the use of rod and reel; and,
• the use of one gill net of no more than 95 meters in length, and of a specified mesh size at
specified waters.
Both of these opportunities are subject to the conditions on the Domestic Fishing Licence.
Commercial fishing is not permitted in Alberta. All commercial fisheries in Alberta were closed as of
August 1, 2014.
For more information please see the Alberta Environment and Parks, Fish and Wildlife website
4
Trapping
The use of traps in harvesting animals for food is permitted under this policy, within the same access
provisions discussed under Hunting, above. The commercial trapping of furbearers, however, is not
enabled by this policy. All commercial harvest of furbearers in Alberta must conform to Alberta’s
obligations under the Agreement on International Humane Trapping Standards (AIHTS). This requires
trappers to possess a Fur Management License and to use traps certified to be humane under the
AIHTS.
3
http://aep.alberta.ca/about-us/contact-us/fish-and-wildlife-area-office-contacts.aspx
4
http://aep.alberta.ca/fish-wildlife/default.aspx