Summary of Migratory Birds Hunting Regulations: Alberta, August 2023 to July 2024
Notice
Avian influenza 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 the Avian influenza in wild birds web page and the Wildlife and Avian Influenza – Handling Guidelines to Protect Your Health web page on the Government of Canada website.
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Summary
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
Long description
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: Alberta regulations web page.
Most provinces and territories have additional licence requirements for hunting migratory birds and/or to carry firearms. 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 firearms. Note that all required permits and licences must be in your possession while you are hunting.
Buy permit online
You can purchase and print your Migratory Game Bird Hunting Permit by visiting the Migratory Game Bird Hunting Permit web page.
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 officer 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 firearm, 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 officers to use administrative monetary penalties (AMPs) to enforce the provisions of the Migratory Birds Convention Act, 1994 (MBCA) and its associated regulations.
The fine 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 reflect the seriousness of offences following a conviction pursuant to the MBCA or its associated regulations.
For more information on AMPs and the fine regime, consult the About the Environmental Enforcement Act web page on the Government of Canada website.
Game officers
Game officers 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 office 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 fish-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
Species |
Open season |
Daily bag limit |
Possession limit |
|---|---|---|---|
All ducks, combined |
September 1 to December 16 |
8 for residents of Canada |
24 for residents of Canada |
All ducks, combined |
September 1 to December 16 |
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 |
Species |
Open season |
Daily bag limit |
Possession limit |
|---|---|---|---|
All Ducks, combined |
September 8 to December 23 |
8 for residents of Canada |
24 for residents of Canada |
All Ducks, combined |
September 8 to December 23 |
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
Species |
Open season |
Daily bag limit |
Possession limit |
Additional hunting method or equipment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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. |
Snow Geese and Ross’s Geese, combined |
March 15 to June 15 |
50 |
No limit |
Electronic bird calls of Snow Geese and Ross’s Geese may be used. |
Species |
Open season |
Daily bag limit |
Possession limit |
Additional hunting method or equipment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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. |
Snow Geese and Ross’s Geese, combined |
March 15 to June 15 |
50 |
No limit |
Electronic bird calls of Snow Geese and Ross’s Geese may be used. |
For more information
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
You may also direct your questions to:
Environment and Climate Change Canada
Canadian Wildlife Service
9250-49 Street
Edmonton AB T6B 1K5
Tel : 1-800-668-6767
enviroinfo@ec.gc.ca
Report your migratory bird bands:
Call 1-800-327-BAND (2263) to leave a message or go to the Report a bird with a Federal Band or Color Marker website.
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