Proposed 2018

Hunting Season Regulation Changes

Wildlife Management Policy Section

Cougar

• Increase the current cougar quota in CMA 21

– from 3 males & 3 males to 12 males and 6 females

CMA 21 is part of an adaptive management project to inform

provincial cougar management.

This quota increase will allow managers to evaluate optimal level

of cougar harvest

White-tailed Deer & Mule Deer

• Antlered and antlerless hunting seasons in WMU 316

– Archery : Sep 1 – Oct 31

– General : Nov 1 – Nov 30

• Additional WMUs with requirement for mandatory CWD testing

– WMU 250, 252 and 260

• Antlered hunting season for Mule Deer

– WMU 316 changed to Limited Entry Draw (mule deer only)

• Transfer portion of Strathcona currently in WMU 250 to WMU 248

– WMU248 has archery only and primitive weapons seasons

– WMU 250 has archery only and general seasons

Strathcona County

Migratory Bird

• Change possession limit of Coot and Snipe to 24

– Change follows federal migratory bird regulation (2010)

– Aligns with all other game birds (3x daily limit)

Licences

• Amend current game bird licences to reduce overall number and

facilitate online reporting for Waterfowl Outfitters

Current Game Bird licences are:

Resident

Resident Pheasant

NR

NR 3-day

NR Pheasant

NRA 6-day Waterfowl

NR Upland

NRA Pheasant

Proposed Game Bird licences are:

Game Bird

Pheasant

Guided waterfowl

• Option B (NR and NRA cost differential in wildlife certificate)

Current Game Bird licences are:

Resident

Resident Pheasant

NR

NR 3-day

NR Pheasant

NRA 6-day Waterfowl

NR Upland

NRA Pheasant

Proposed Game Bird licences are:

Resident Game Bird

Resident Pheasant

NR Game Bird

NR Pheasant

Guided waterfowl

Licences

Black Bear

• Black Bear season dates

– End Oct 31 for all WMUs (previously Nov 30)

• Reduces inadvertent/accidental baiting by deer hunters

• Bears typically den by Oct 31, little harvest in Nov.

Blue Rapids & Saskatoon Mountain PRA

• Allow for the open seasons in WMU 334 & 336 also apply to all

the lands designated as Blue Rapids PRA

• Allow for the open seasons in WMU 357 also apply to all the

lands designated as Saskatoon Mountain PRA

Update on

Big Game Allocation Review

AFGA is a long standing and active member of AGPAC

AGPAC considering recommendations from sub-committee

dedicated to review the allocation of Big Game in Alberta (4+ years).

Significant AFGA membership involvement during consultation.

Draft set of recommendations for AEP by April 1, 2018.

Alberta Game Policy Advisory Committee

Species Management Plan Updates

Elk & Mule Deer

• Updated plans in progress

– species specific teams developed draft plans which are currently

undergoing revisions based on internal review and identified need

for more detailed analyses and objective-setting;

– Surveys are being developed to garner stakeholder and public

values and desired management options

• Draft management plan developed in 2015

– Awaiting completion of Bighorn sheep disease policy

– In interim, updating plan with current data and incorporating prior

comments from public and stakeholders

Bighorn Sheep

• Draft plan complete and reviewed internally

– Currently formatting / finalizing

Goose (4 species)

• Draft complete

– awaiting update following internal review

Wild Turkey