Summary of Migratory Birds Hunting Regulations: Alberta

Summary of Migratory Birds

Hunting Regulations

AUGUST 2020

TO JULY 2021

Alberta

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

• a valid Migratory Game Bird Hunting Permit;

• a Canadian Wildlife Habitat Conservation Stamp axed to or printed on

the permit.

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

provinces and territories.

The 2020 federal permit is also valid for the 2021 spring special conservation

harvest for Snow Geese and Ross’s Geese.

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 and print your Migratory Game Bird Hunting Permit by visiting the Migratory Game Bird Hunting Permit web page

on the Government of Canada website (www.canada.ca).

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 (www.canada.ca).

IMPORTANT UPDATES TO THE HUNTING REGULATIONS FOR ALBERTA

Reduction in the number of hunting zones from 8 to 2. Previous zones 1, 2, 3, 4 and 8 are changed to zone 1; previous zones 5, 6, 7 are changed

to zone 2.

The daily bag limit for Northern Pintails increases to 8 birds per day, and the possession limit increases to 24. Northern Pintails are included

in the aggregate limit for ducks of 8 in the daily bag and 24 in the possession limit.

Introduction of a Sandhill Crane season: A new Sandhill Crane season has been introduced to eastern portions of the province. Only PWMUs 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 of zone 1 and PWMUs 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 in zone 2 are included

in the season for sandhill cranes.

Enforcement

In June 2017, the Environmental Violations Administrative Monetary Penalties Regulations came into force. In particular, these regulations authorize

game ocers to use administrative monetary penalties (AMPs) to enforce the provisions of the Migratory Birds Convention Act, 1994 (MBCA) and

its associated regulations.

In July 2017, amendments to 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 came into force. In particular, these amendments allow courts to impose penalties that reect the

seriousness of oences following a conviction pursuant to the MBCA or its associated regulations.

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

website (www.canada.ca).

Game ocers enforce the federal MBCA throughout Canada. This law regulates human interventions, such as hunting that could adversely

aect long-term wildlife conservation. For any questions, please contact Wildlife Enforcement by telephone or by email at the contact

information at the end of this hunting summary.

Hunting Zones

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 wildlife management

unit during the permitted times and dates.

Note that these zone numbers do not

correspond to regions 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 or contact the Ministry

of Environment and Parks.

Waterfowler Heritage Days

Waterfowler Heritage Days are intended for young hunters under 18 years of age. These days allow young people, a few days before or during

the hunting seasons, to:

• develop safe hunting habits in a supervised and structured environment;

• be guided by adult hunters who serve as mentors and pass on their skills and knowledge;

• learn more about wildlife conservation.

The following rules are in eect during Waterfowler Heritage Days:

• Young hunters can hunt without having a Migratory Game Bird Hunting Permit or Canadian Wildlife Habitat Conservation Stamp.

• Young hunters must comply with all safety and licensing requirements found in the Firearms Act and provincial hunting regulations.

• Young hunters must be accompanied by a licensed mentor (who is not a minor).

• Adults acting as mentors:

- must have a valid Migratory Game Bird Hunting Permit and Canadian Wildlife Habitat Conservation Stamp;

- may not hunt or carry a rearm;

- may accompany no more than two young hunters.

• Only young hunters are allowed to hunt when Waterfowler Heritage Days fall outside of the regular open seasons.

Shot

• Non-toxic shot must be used to hunt all 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 shot from birds hunted with lead shot;

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

CRIME STOPPERS

Anyone wishing to report illegal hunting activities, illegal selling or other oences 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.

WATERFOWLER HERITAGE DAYS AND OPEN SEASONS IN ALBERTA

Area

Waterfowler Heritage Days Open seasons in Alberta

Ducks, Geese, Coots, Snipe and Sandhill Cranes (a) Ducks, Geese, Coots, Snipe and Sandhill Cranes (a)

Zone* No. 1

Sept. 5 to Sept. 6 (b) Sept. 1 to Dec. 16 (b), (c)

Zone* No. 2

Sept. 5 to Sept. 6 (b) Sept. 8 to Dec. 21 (b), (d)

* “Zone No. 1” means that part of Alberta included in Wildlife Management Units 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” means that part of Alberta included in Wildlife Management Units 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.

(a) Only PWMUs 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 of Zone No. 1 and PWMUs 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 in Zone No. 2 are included in the season for Sandhill Cranes.

(b) Recorded Snow Goose and Ross’s Goose calls may be used when hunting Snow Geese and Ross’s Geese; any species of migratory birds for which it is open season may be taken while hunting

Snow Geese and Ross’s Geese with those calls.

(d) Falconry season open from September 8 to December 21.

BAG AND POSSESSION LIMITS IN ALBERTA

Limit Ducks Snow Geese and

Ross’s Geese

Canada Geese,

Cackling Geese and

White-fronted Geese

Coots Snipe Sandhill Cranes

Daily Bag

8 (a)

8 (c)

8 8 5

Possession

24 (b)

No limit

24 (d)

24 24 15

(a) For non-residents of Canada, not more than 2 may be Barrow’s Goldeneye or Common Goldeneye or any combination of them.

(b) For non-residents of Canada, not more than 6 may be Barrow’s Goldeneye or Common Goldeneye or any combination of them.

(d) Not more than 15 may be White-fronted Geese.

OVERABUNDANT SPECIES

The Migratory Birds Regulations also provide for special conservation harvest periods when hunters may take overabundant species. See the table below

for details.

MEASURES IN ALBERTA CONCERNING OVERABUNDANT SPECIES

Area Period during which Snow Geese and Ross’s Geese may be killed Additional hunting method or equipment

Throughout Alberta March 15 to June 15

Recorded bird calls (a)

(a) “Recorded bird calls” refers to bird calls of a species referred to in the heading of column 2.

ISSN 1925-6949

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, 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

9250-49 Street

Edmonton, Alberta T6B 1K5

Tel.: 1-800-668-6767

ec.enviroinfo.ec@canada.ca