Alberta

Summary of Migratory Birds

Hunting Regulations

AUGUST 2023

TO JULY 2024

Report your Migratory Bird Bands:

Call 1-800-327-BAND (2263) to leave a message or go to:

www.reportband.gov

The information presented here is a summary of the law. If there is a discrepancy between the law and this summary, the law prevails.

For more information, consult the Migratory Birds Convention Act, 1994, the Migratory Birds Regulations, 2022, the frequently asked

questions for hunters, and other information on the Government of Canada website (www.canada.ca).

You may also direct your questions to:

Environment and Climate Change Canada

Canadian Wildlife Service

Regional Ofce

9250-49 Street

Edmonton, Alberta T6B 1K5

Tel.: 1-800-668-6767

[email protected]

Alberta

Notice: Avian inuenza virus (AIV) is a contagious viral infection that can affect domestic and wild birds throughout the world. Guidelines have been

developed to prevent or mitigate the spread of this virus, and for precautionary measures to take when handling wild game. For more information,

please refer to www.canada.ca/Avian-u and the Wildlife and Avian Inuenza – Handling Guidelines to Protect Your Health web page on the

Government of Canada website.

To hunt migratory game birds in Canada, you must possess:

• a valid Migratory Game Bird Hunting Permit;

• a Canadian Wildlife Habitat Conservation Stamp on the permit.

These two documents are issued by the federal government and are valid in all provinces and territories.

The 2023 federal permit is also valid for the 2024 spring special conservation harvest for Snow Geese

and Ross’s Geese.

Hunting Zones

Zone No. 1: Wildlife Management Units (WMUs) 200, 202 to 204, 206, 208, 216, 220 to 222, 224, 226, 228, 230,

232, 234, 236, 238, 240, 242, 244, 246, 248, 250, 252, 254, 256, 258, 260, 316, 318, 320, 322, 324, 326, 328, 330,

332, 334, 336 to 340, 342, 344, 346 to 360, 400, 402, 404, 406, 408, 410, 412, 414, 416 to 418, 420, 422, 426, 428

to 430, 432, 434, 436 to 442, 444 to 446, 500 to 512, 514 to 532, 534 to 537, 539 to 542, 544, 841, and 936

Zone No. 2: WMUs 102, 104, 106, 108, 110, 112, 116, 118, 119, 124, 128, 130, 132, 134, 136, 138, 140, 142,

144, 148, 150 to 152, 156, 158, 160, 162 to 164, 166, 210, 212, 214, 300, 302 to 306, 308, 310, 312, and 314

Hunters are advised to pay particular attention to the Alberta Hunting Guide to ensure that they are hunting for the

correct species in the correct provincial WMU during the permitted times and dates. Note that these zone numbers

do not correspond to provincial WMUs as presented in the Guide. If you need more information to determine in

which zone you are located, please visit: www.albertaregulations.ca/huntingregs/season-wmus.html.

Most provinces and territories have additional licence requirements for hunting migratory birds and/or to carry

rearms. To know what you require, and if there are further restrictions for hunting migratory birds, please verify

the applicable regulations for the province/territory where you will be hunting. Municipalities may have additional restrictions on discharging rearms.

Note that all required permits and licences must be in your possession while you are hunting.

You can purchase your Migratory Game Bird Hunting Permit by visiting

the Government of Canada website (www.permis-permits.ec.gc.ca)

It is no longer required to sign the Migratory Game Bird Hunting Permit (both physical and electronic forms). This allows you to carry your

permit in a digital format, such as on a mobile device. If you choose to carry your permit on your mobile device, it must be in the PDF format provided

by the e-permitting system (a photograph or screenshot of your permit is not valid). It is also your responsibility to be able to show the permit to a game

ofcer immediately upon request.

Consultation Process and Migratory Birds Regulatory Reports

A national consultation process has been developed to provide an opportunity for everyone to participate in developing the migratory birds hunting

regulations. For more information, consult the Migratory Birds Regulatory Report Series web page on the Government of Canada website.

Youth Migratory Game Bird Hunting (MGBH) Permit

Hunters who are minors (less than 18 years old) have the option to hunt with a Youth MGBH permit. The Youth MGBH permit, as well as the Canadian

Wildlife Habitat Conservation stamp, can only be obtained through our online purchasing system, free of charge. The Youth MGBH permit is not available

for purchase from independent vendors.

The Youth MGBH permit provides young hunters with the opportunity to practice their skills under the supervision of an adult mentor (in possession of

a MGBH Permit) throughout the full open season and the special conservation season, and provides Youth MGBH Permit holders with their own daily

bag and possession limits.

Mentors must possess their own MGBH permit, must have held such a permit in a previous year, and may accompany no more than two youth hunters.

Mentors may carry a rearm, and may hunt. For more information on the new rules pertaining to hunting migratory game birds in the modernized

Migratory Birds Regulations, 2022, please consult the Government of Canada Migratory Game Bird Hunting website.

Enforcement

The Environmental Violations Administrative Monetary Penalties Regulations authorize game ofcers to use administrative monetary penalties (AMPs)

to enforce the provisions of the Migratory Birds Convention Act, 1994 (MBCA) and its associated regulations.

The ne regime and penalty provisions in the MBCA and the Designation of Regulatory Provisions for Purposes of Enforcement (Migratory Birds

Convention Act, 1994) Regulations allow courts to impose penalties that reect the seriousness of offences following a conviction pursuant to the MBCA

or its associated regulations.

For more information on AMPs and the ne regime, consult the About the Environmental Enforcement Act web page on the Government of Canada website.

Game ofcers enforce the federal MBCA throughout Canada. This law regulates human activities such as hunting that could adversely

affect long-term wildlife conservation. Individuals may be subject to a minimum penalty of $5000 if they are found liable for committing an

offence on summary conviction. For any questions, please contact Wildlife Enforcement by the telephone or email found with the regional

ofce address at the end of this summary.

Shot

• Lead shot is toxic to wildlife and the environment.

• In Alberta, the use and possession of shot other than non-toxic shot is prohibited while hunting migratory game birds. Within National Wildlife Areas

that allow hunting, the possession of lead shot is prohibited for all types of hunting, including the hunting of migratory birds and upland game birds.

• Hunters should consult provincial or territorial regulations for additional restrictions.

To reduce your exposure to contaminants in meat, make sure, before cooking it, to:

• remove the skin and fat from sh-eating birds.

Crime Stoppers

Anyone wishing to report illegal hunting activities, illegal selling of birds or other offences related to migratory birds is asked to call

Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477). Your call is anonymous, and you may be eligible for a cash reward.

Open Season and Daily Bag and Possession Limits for Migratory Game Birds in Alberta

Area Species Open Season Daily Bag Limit Possession Limit

Zone No. 1 All ducks, combined September 1 to December 16 8 for residents of Canada 24 for residents of Canada

8 for non-residents of Canada

(not more than a total of 2 may be

Barrow’s Goldeneye or Common

Goldeneye in any combination)

24 for non-residents of Canada

(not more than a total of 6 may

be Barrow’s Goldeneye or

Common Goldeneye in

any combination)

Canada Geese, Cackling Geese and

White-fronted Geese, combined

September 1 to December 16 8 24

Sandhill Crane September 1 to December 16 (WMUs

200, 202 to 204, 206, 208, 220, 222, 226,

228, 230, 232, 234, 236, 238, 240, 242,

244, 248, 250, 252, 254, 256, 258, 260

and 500)

5 15

Coots September 1 to December 16 8 24

Snipe September 1 to December 16 8 24

Zone No. 2 All Ducks, combined September 8 to December 23 8 for residents of Canada 24 for residents of Canada

8 for non-residents of Canada

(not more than a total of 2 may be

Barrow’s Goldeneye or Common

Goldeneye in any combination)

24 for non-residents of Canada

(not more than a total of 6 may

be Barrow’s Goldeneye or

Common Goldeneye in

any combination)

Canada Geese, Cackling Geese and

White-fronted Geese, combined

September 8 to December 23 8 24

Sandhill Crane September 8 to December 23 (WMUs 102,

104, 106, 112, 116, 118, 119, 124, 128,

130, 132, 134, 136, 138, 140, 142, 144,

148, 150 to 152, 156, 158, 160, 162 to

164, 166 and 210)

5 15

Coots September 8 to December 23 8 24

Snipe September 8 to December 23 8 24

Special Measures For Overabundant Species in Alberta

Area Species Open Season Daily Bag

Limit

Possession

Limit

Additional Hunting Method or Equipment

Zone No. 1 Snow Geese and

Ross’s Geese,

combined

September 1 to December 16 50 No limit Electronic bird calls of Snow Geese and Ross’s Geese may be used.

While hunting those species with those calls, any other species of

migratory bird for which it is the open season may be hunted.

March 15 to June 15 50 Electronic bird calls of Snow Geese and Ross’s Geese may be used.

Zone No. 2 Snow Geese and

Ross’s Geese,

combined

September 8 to December 23 50 No limit Electronic bird calls of Snow Geese and Ross’s Geese may be used.

While hunting those species with those calls, any other species of

migratory bird for which it is the open season may be hunted.

March 15 to June 15 50 Electronic bird calls of Snow Geese and Ross’s Geese may be used.

ISSN 2564-0542