Hi Tracy,

The Wildlife Act states that it’s illegal to “discharge a weapon within 183 m (200 yards) or cause a projectile from a weapon to pass within 183 m (200 yards) of any occupied building. Owners, occupants, or persons authorized by the owner or occupant are excepted, subject to local bylaws.”

I’m unaware of what the local bylaws are in Leduc County so you should check on that plus I suspect Federal laws may also be applied if it could be shown the firearm was not being used in a safe manner. I’m definitely not in a position to offer legal advice so I suggest you contact the county and the RCMP to see what your rights are.

Good luck,

TJ

Hi Doug,

Baiting of ungulates for the purpose of hunting is forbidden in Alberta.

TJ

Rabbits and hares are tough to find at this time of year. My best advice would be to get out after a fresh snow and their tracks are a good indicator of where they call home and how population numbers are looking. Stands of old growth forest are always good, as are large willow areas.

Good luck,

TJ

Alberta doesn’t have any carp fishing opportunities that I am aware of. Grass carp have been placed in some of the irrigation canals but I’m unaware of a fishery for them. Goldfish and Prussian carp are starting to show up in the Bow River and are basically taking over Rosebud Creek, likely as a result of aquarium fish being flushed down the toilet. I am unaware of any common or European carp in Alberta, however. Last Mountain Lake in Saskatchewan is likely one the closest and best carp fisheries.

Good luck,

TJ

Hi Ron,

You may want to try Brian at http://www.whatsitworthbrian.com for a value on the axe.

Baikal makes a few shotgun/rifle combination firearms that may work for you. http://www.baikalcanada.com/rifles_combos.htm If your tax refund was really good you could check out Krieghoff as they make a beautiful combo http://www.krieghoff.de/en/hunting-guns/krieghoff-ultra/ou-rifleshotgun-combination/CZ and Remington also used to both offer them but they are now discontinued but you see the odd used one at a gun show or online.

Good luck,

TJ

Hi Mark,

I am certainly in no position to offer legal opinion or interpret the regulations and all of the information you seek is in the Hunting Draw booklet http://mywildalberta.com/Hunting/HuntingDraws/documents/
2015AlbertaHuntingDrawsBooklet-May2015a.pdf and in the Hunting Regulations. But, it looks to me like you could hunt the archery season for both species with a general mule deer and general elk licence but I do suggest you clarify that with Fish and Wildlife.

Good luck,

TJ

Hi Carol,

You could try Hog Wild Specialties. www.hogwild.ab.ca/hunting.html

Good luck,

TJ

Hi Greg,

I’ve drifted both the Smokey and Peace Rivers in the past.

Good luck,

TJ

Hi Tom,

I suggest you check out Schedule 4 of the Wildlife Act before heading afield. http://www.qp.alberta.ca/1266.cfm?page=1997_143.cfm&leg_type=Regs&display=html Marmota flaviventris (Yellow-bellied Marmot) Marmota caligata (Hoary Marmot) are protected in Alberta while Marmota mona woodchucks are listed as non-licence species. I have never hunted woodchuck in Alberta but I do know of people that see them in the Peace River region.

Good luck,

TJ

Hi Vic,

There is no public land designated for target shooting near Edmonton that I am aware of so I’m not certain that I can help you out. The legalities of target shooting on crown land may vary from county to county so your best bet is likely to go for a drive and see if you can find a suitable location. Sorry I couldn’t be more help. Good luck to you and your son.

TJ

Hi Dave,

It’s all pretty clear in the hunting regulations:

“Timber Wolf
A Resident may, without a licence, hunt (but not trap) timber wolf from the opening of any big game season in a particular WMU to May 31, 2015, or until June 15, 2015 in WMUs where black bear seasons are open until June 15, 2015.

A Non-resident or Non-resident Alien who holds a Non-resident/Non-resident Alien Wolf/Coyote Licence may hunt (but not trap) timber wolf from the opening of any big game season in a particular WMU to May 31, 2015, or until June 15, 2015 in WMUs where black bear seasons are open until June 15, 2015.”

http://albertaregulations.ca/huntingregs/gameregs.html

Hope that helps,

TJ

Hi Chris,

While not common, the white-tailed jack rabbit (actually a hare) is found in the Medicine Hat region and often seeks refuge in the cover of coulees or in taller sage on the flats. You can find some information about them here: http://esrd.alberta.ca/fish-wildlife/wild-species/mammals/rabbits-rodents/whitetailed-jack-rabbit.aspx

Good luck,

TJ

Hi Mike,

At one time, Alberta had metal tags like you describe and animals were typically tagged around the antlers. I doubt Fish and Wildlife will be able to provide any info, however, as actual harvest information is not permitted to be given out. It sounds like a cool find.

TJ

Hi Randy,

I’m not sure the government will licence you for brown and brook trout but give Lorne Louden at Ackenberry Trout Farm a call and he will help you out. http://www.ackenberrytroutfarms.com

TJ

Hi Chad,

I’d highly recommend you familiarize yourself with the hunting regulations as even small game may have seasons and in the case of red squirrels, they may only be hunted on private property, not public land. The regulations can be found at http://albertaregulations.ca/huntingregs/
If all of your questions aren’t answered there, you should contact ESRD directly regarding any legal questions.

Information Centre:
Sustainable Resource Development
Main Floor, Great West Life Building
9920 108 Street
Edmonton AB Canada T5K 2M4

Hours of Operation
Monday - Friday
8:15 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Tel (Edmonton local): 780 944 0313
Toll Free: 1 877 944 0313
Fax: 780 427 4407
Email: srd.infocent@gov.ab.ca

Good luck,

TJ

Hi Abdul,

Hot spots for waterfowl change every year depending on the crops and the timing of harvest and the only real solution to your problem is to get out and scout lots. The area east of Edmonton holds lots of birds and by putting some miles on and finding out where the bird are feeding is the most certain way to find yourself a limit shoot.

Good luck,

TJ

Hi Mark,

The best advice I can offer a hunter on foot would be to concentrate on the areas that the horse guys can’t access. The Willmore is crisscrossed by horse trails and they do see a fair bit of activity but if you can hike into an area that is a day or so away from the horse trails, then you will have a huge advantage. The Willmore has a high density of sheep although if I were going out of Rock Lake I’d likely concentrate on the areas that butt up against Jasper.

Good luck and be safe out there.

TJ

Hey JC,

Most of the snow goose hunting in the province is on the east side of Alberta. The area east of Camrose would definitely be one to check out.

Good luck,

TJ

Hi Justin,

The following is from the Alberta Hunting Regulations:

TAGGING

NOTE: Antlered moose, elk and deer must NOT be tagged around the antler base. Please review the following instructions.

Immediately after killing a big game animal, the appropriate tag(s) must be affixed and securely locked to the animal as follows:
trophy sheep, goat - one tag through the nostril and, as soon as the skin is removed from the skull, one tag around the lower bone of the eye socket leaving the horns and eye intact.
moose, elk, deer, antelope, bison and non-trophy sheep - through the space between the bone and the tendon of a hind leg directly above the hock and around either the bone or the tendon.
bear and cougar - to the skin.

Tags must remain affixed until, in the case of trophy sheep, goat - the animal is registered (click here or scroll down to view Compulsory Registration) and the skin is processed.
moose, elk, deer, antelope, bison or non-trophy sheep - the carcass is delivered to:
– a premises in respect of which there is a Food Establishment Permit issued under the Public Health Act or Licence for the Operation of an Abattoir issued under the Meat Inspection Act,
– the usual residence of the person who killed the animal, or
– the usual residence (a residence that is neither a business premises nor attached to such a premises) of a resident of Alberta and that resident is in attendance, and the carcass is cut up and packaged for consumption.
bear and cougar - the skin is processed.

To tag your kill using the adhesive tag that comes with your licence, attach the wire loop to the animal as described above for various species and classes. Close and secure the loop by affixing the adhesive tag over the free ends of the wire.

WILD GAME PROCESSING

Hunters are reminded that when big game (including boned meat) or game birds are taken to a business for butchering or other related processing services, there are requirements for the business to keep a record of the wildlife that has been submitted. This includes recording the date, the name and address of the person who delivered the wildlife, the name and address of the person who killed the wildlife and their wildlife certificate number or wildlife identification number (WIN), the number of the licence under whose purported authority the wildlife was killed, and (if applicable) the tag number, and a description of the wildlife that in the case of a big game animal includes its sex.”

Most butchers will require that the animal be skinned before bringing it to them. Some of your best references regarding field dressing are likely found on YouTube or the best bet is to have an experienced hunter help you a time or two.

Good luck,

TJ

Hi Jamie,

There are deer all around Calgary. Your best bet would be to get out and knock on some doors to get permission and you should have no issues getting a deer for your freezer. Whitetails are available on a general tag in most areas while many mule deer hunting opportunities are through limited-entry draw only.

Good luck,

TJ

Hi Chanelle,

Nesting hawks can pose a serious threat to human safety and your concern is definitely warranted. My suggestion would be to contact the Calgary Fish and Wildlife office and speak to one of their experts there. They should be able to help you out. They can be reached at 403-297-6423.

Good Luck,

TJ

Hi Andy,

I would say your need for a spotting scope depends on a number of variables including terrain hunted, species hunted and need to evaluate legality/trophy quality. For mountain hunters, they are an absolute must, especially when determining legality on bighorn sheep but they can also save you a lot of walking by offering a much better view of distance animals and suspicious looking objects. They are also ideal for searching distant mountainsides for animals. I also use mine extensively on prairie mule deer and antelope hunts in order to spot and evaluate animals. In the end it all comes down to your style of hunting but I couldn’t imagine being without mine.

TJ

Hi Morten,

Contact my friends Mark and Cindy Zimmermann at Select World Wide Hunting Safaris and they will be able to help you out.
http://www.selecttaxidermy.com/select-worldwide-hunting-safaris

Good luck,

TJ

Hi Sam,

Your best bet would be to contact the Alberta Hunter Education Instructor’s Association (AHEIA). You can find them at www.aheia.com

Good luck,

TJ

Hi Mike,

Some areas are open to horseback access and some aren’t. This link should help you out http://www.albertaparks.ca/kananaskis-country/information-facilities/trails.aspx

Good luck,

TJ

ESRD is your best source of information regarding legal matters but I can’t see any reason why you couldn’t take your bow along providing you are hunting within legal seasons and have the appropriate licences. For questions regarding hunting a fishing regulations, I suggest you direct your questions to:

Information Centre:
Sustainable Resource Development
Main Floor, Great West Life Building
9920 108 Street
Edmonton AB Canada T5K 2M4

Hours of Operation
Monday - Friday
8:15 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Tel (Edmonton local): 780 944 0313
Toll Free: 1 877 944 0313
Fax: 780 427 4407
Email: srd.infocent@gov.ab.ca

Good luck,

TJ

Hi Chris,

There are a couple indoor facilities in Calgary:

Calgary Archery Centre http://www.calgaryarcherycentreab.ca
Jim-Bows http://www.jimbowsarchery.ca
And the Calgary Archers have an outdoor facility http://www.calgaryarchers.org

You can also practice on private property outside city limits, with permission of course.

Good luck,

TJ

There are some archery-only wildlife management units in Alberta but black bears are not overly abundant in them and I’m unaware of anyone offering guided hunts for bears in them. There are a large number of outfitters offering bear hunts in general areas where the archery success is very high. You can get more information at apos.ab.ca.

Good luck,

TJ

Hi Marsha,

If you want to hunt with a rifle you either need to get a PAL or be directly supervised by a PAL holder.

Good luck,

TJ

Hi Emerson,

Getting permission is the first step if you are hunting close to Edmonton. Look for properties with a good mix of cover and agricultural fields and you have found whitetail heaven. I like my stands set about 100 yards or so back from main feeding fields right on major trails that lead to the feeding area. If the deer get heavily pressured, you may have to move your stand even further back into their bedding areas. Winter is a great time to get out and scout as the snow makes their travel and bedding areas so much more obvious.

Good luck,

TJ

Hi Andy,

I typically rely on 411.ca. The Alberta specific page can be found at:
http://411.ca/whitepages/Alberta/p1
It’s the handiest resource I’ve found.

Good luck,

TJ

Hi Andrew,

I suspect your question would be best answered by those that enforce the law. Mine would just be another opinion that would carry no weight in a court of law. Personally, I would cancel the tag but that’s just my personal ethics and not a legal opinion. You should be able to get the information you require at:

Information Centre:
Sustainable Resource Development
Main Floor, Great West Life Building
9920 108 Street
Edmonton AB Canada T5K 2M4

Hours of Operation
Monday - Friday
8:15 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Tel (Edmonton local): 780 944 0313
Toll Free: 1 877 944 0313
Fax: 780 427 4407
Email: srd.infocent@gov.ab.ca

Good Luck,

TJ

Hi Al,

I haven’t seen anyone advertising spring hunts yet and I know a few of the outfitters I spoke with are taking a bit of a wait and see attitude for this first year, so unfortunately I don’t know of anyone yet.

TJ

Hi Alan,

It sounds like your scope has lost its nitrogen seal if it’s fogging up inside. You will likely have to contact Bushnell Canada at:

Bushnell Outdoor Products Canada
Attention: Repair Department
140 Great Gulf Drive
Unit #B
Vaughan, Ontario, Canada
L4K 5W1
1-800-361-5702

I’d suggest giving them a call first to see if it is repairable.

Good luck,

TJ

Hi Bob,

I know ESRD does limit the number of limited-entry draws awarded to non-residents but I’m unaware of any limit to the number of Hunter Host permits given out. As for specific questions about the hunter host program that aren’t answered in the regulations, your best source of info can be found at:

Information Centre:
Sustainable Resource Development
Main Floor, Great West Life Building
9920 108 Street
Edmonton AB Canada T5K 2M4

Hours of Operation
Monday - Friday
8:15 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Tel (Edmonton local): 780 944 0313
Toll Free: 1 877 944 0313
Fax: 780 427 4407
Email: srd.infocent@gov.ab.ca

Good Luck,

TJ

Hi Bob,

Hog Wild Specialties up by Mayerthorpe offers hog hunts in Alberta. http://www.hogwild.ab.ca/hunting.html

Your guess is as good as mine as to if and when we will see the return of the grizzly hunt here in Alberta.

TJ

Hi Jeff,

I’m not familiar with that pond but your best bet would be to consult the Alberta Fishing Regulations at http://albertaregulations.ca/fishingregs and then check with the Morinville town office.

Good luck,

TJ

Hi John,

Absolutely you can hunt coyotes on crown land but there are specified seasons so I suggest you familiarize yourself with the Alberta Hunting regulations before heading out. They can be found at http://albertaregulations.ca/huntingregs.

Good luck,

TJ

Hi Steve,

No, there are no special qualifications to bow hunt in Alberta.

Thanks,

TJ

Hi Justin,

The winter of 2010 was a tough one across the province and some areas got hit hard again in subsequent years so finding any area with lots of big bucks is going to be challenging but if I were strictly bow hunting, I’d concentrate on the Edmonton bow zone. It continues to pump out some of the best archery bucks in the province.

Good luck,

TJ

Hi Damien,

The regulations are pretty clear on this so I’d suggest you take one more look at them. You will need to search by each individual WMU you intend on hunting as some do have general archery opportunities for all species you outlined and others don’t. When you look at the season dates for a specific WMU, if there is a black box beside the dates, then a draw tag is required. You can also find some good information in the draw booklet although ESRD is considering some pretty major changes to the draws for 2015 so you may have to wait until May to get all of the details on that. The regulations can be found at http://albertaregulations.ca/huntingregs and the draw booklet can be found at http://albertaregulations.ca/hunting-draws-2014.html

Good luck,

TJ

Hey Dale,

The letter just denotes the model. There were dozens of different models of the 99 during its long history; each with its own unique features. The “C” for example denotes it has a clip (removable magazine). The “F” stood for featherlight. There are a couple good reads hear on the history of the Savage 99.

http://www.cgca.com/Documents/2013February.pdf and
http://www.cgca.com/Documents/2013March.pdf

I hope that helps,

TJ

Hi Kolby,

There are still a few seasons open that you can reference in the Hunting regulations at http://albertaregulations.ca/huntingregs

A couple examples from the regulations are:

• Foothills Deer Licence. Holders of this licence may kill 2 antlerless deer, either white-tailed deer or mule deer, with a bow and arrow, cross-bow, shotgun, or muzzle loader in WMU 212 on the following dates: D1 - D20 (Monday to Friday only). When hunting, they must carry written permission from the landowner involved.
  
• Strathcona White-tailed Deer Licence. Holders of this licence may kill three white-tailed deer, only 1 of which may be antlered, with a bow and arrow, cross-bow, muzzle loader or shotgun in that portion of WMU 248 within the Counties of Strathcona and Leduc between the following dates: O25 - D7. Information about this hunt is available from the Fish and Wildlife office in Edmonton and from Strathcona County Hall, 2001 Sherwood Drive, Sherwood Park.

Good luck with the rest of your season.

TJ

The Canada lynx is considered a furbearer and is under a quota system in Alberta. Only trappers holding Registered Fur Management Areas (RFMA) in Alberta are allowed to harvest Canada lynx, and only the number permitted for their particular RFMA.

Hi Shawn,

For hunters on foot, the easiest access is through Rock Lake as there are no major river to cross.

Good luck,

TJ

Hi Rob,

Most of the area immediately around Cochrane has good whitetail populations but it is also primarily private property so you’d have to get out and do some door knocking. There is also some good whitetail hunting in WMU412 near the Ghost River area.

Good luck,

TJ

Hi Nick,

Much of the property in the area is private so you’ll have to go knock on some doors or you can check out some of the great conservation properties at http://www.albertadiscoverguide.com/search.cfm

Good luck with your deer hunt.

TJ

Hello,

The selection of durable and very realistic decoys is as good as it’s ever been with numerous manufacturers offering high quality products. I’ve got a good selection of Final Approach full-body field goose decoys and a couple dozen floating mallards. I’d say about 4-dozen goose decoys is a minimum but you can easily get away with a dozen floating duck decoys on small water bodies.

Good luck,

TJ

Hi Doug,

I don’t know of anyone that stocks it or has regular access to it. You best bet would likely be hitting a few of the larger gun shows.

Good luck with your search.

TJ

Hi Doug,

During warm falls like this one, elk can be very nocturnal and pretty well the only way to hunt them is to figure out where they are feeding and then hunt the cover adjacent to it. Elk may travel several miles to feed so bedding cover isn’t always close by.

Good luck,

TJ

Hi Sean,

There are a couple indoor facilities in Calgary:

Calgary Archery Centre http://www.calgaryarcherycentreab.ca
Jim-Bows http://www.jimbowsarchery.ca
And the Calgary Archers have an outdoor facility http://www.calgaryarchers.org

Good luck,

TJ

Hi Andy,

There are some great bows in that price range. What I would recommend is that you go to a good archery shop and discuss your needs and budget with one of the experts there and then try out several bows in that price range. What may be a good bow for me, may not be a good fit for you at all. Handling and actually shooting a few bows will definitely ensure you get the best bow for you. The staff at Jim-bows Archery in Calgary have always been good to me.

Good luck,

TJ

Hi Teigan,

That would definitely be a question you would have to ask Fish and Wildlife. They can be contacted at:

Information Centre
Sustainable Resource Development
Main Floor, Great West Life Building
9920 108 Street
Edmonton AB Canada T5K 2M4

Hours of Operation
Monday - Friday
8:15 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Tel (Edmonton local): 780 944 0313
Toll Free: 1 877 944 0313
Fax: 780 427 4407
Email: srd.infocent@gov.ab.ca

Hi Brock,

While shooting on some private property and some crown land is legal, I would highly suggest you join a range. While the range is not only a great place to properly and safely sight your rifle in, it’s also a great place to keep your skills honed throughout the season and to meet other shooters. If you do decide not to use a range, you’d need to check the legality of discharging firearms where you go and obviously do it in a safe manner

TJ

Hi Ansteyhunter,

I honestly don’t know the answer to that question. There’s no doubt that they rub them earlier in the year to help dislodge velvet and then during the rut to help establish their dominance but I’ve never read anything about them rubbing after the rut. When they rub trees like fir or juniper, I think often it just feels good with the long needles scratching their itchy spots and perhaps as you say, it is behavior to aid in shedding antlers. I must admit you have me stumped on that one.

TJ

Hi Wayne,

I wish I could point you right to some elk but 406 is a tough WMU to hunt elk in. A lot have moved down into the ranch country but there are undoubtedly still some in the foothill fringes and on the wind-blown mountain sides. With all the snow we have, the best advice is to get out and cover some miles and look for tracks. Once you find tracks this time of year, the elk likely aren’t too far away.

Good luck,

TJ

Hey Jim,

If you don’t tag out by the end of the season, you can use your tag as a nifty Christmas tree ornament but other than that there’s not much you can do with it.

Some seasons in Alberta run into 2014 so that’s why your tag says that but there must be a valid season to use it in. If you are unsure about any of the seasons, as always, your best bet is to consult the hunting regulations. They can found at http://albertaregulations.ca/huntingregs/

You’ve still got a couple weeks left to fill your whitetail tag... good luck!

TJ

Hi Andrew,

A great idea would be to join the Outdoor Writers of Canada and get involved with their mentor program. This would pair you with an experienced outdoor writer that could not only help with your writing but also with the business aspects. Check them out online at www.outdoorwritersofcanada.com

Good luck,

TJ

Hi Ivan,

I’m so glad you enjoyed the article and yes, buffleheads are a fascinating little duck for sure and yes, they can provide some late-season opportunities in the southern part of the province but now that most of the water bodies and irrigation canals are frozen, opportunities would be pretty limited. One of my favourite places to hunt them is on the irrigation canals in southern Alberta in September and October. You might find some now on the larger rivers that are still flowing and if you do, they would have some very impressive plumage if you are looking for one for the wall.

Good luck,

TJ

Hi Raechel,

Lesser Slave Lake would be a great bet. There are cabins for rent along the lake but you can also rent ice fishing shacks right on the lake that have all of the amenities for staying overnight. You can find some information here: http://www.lesserslavelake.ca/icefishing.php

Have fun,

TJ

Hi Mel,

Depending on model, I would suspect you could get somewhere in the $300-$500 range for the shotgun.

TJ

Hi Ryan,

There is no such thing as a whitetail buck tag in Alberta. There are a couple WMUs where you can draw an antlered whitetail tag and in those zones you may only shoot an antlered whitetail with that licence. I suspect you are asking about the general whitetail licence and then in that case, yes you can shoot an antlerless whitetail in some WMUs. I’d highly suggest your familiarize yourself with the hunting regulations as they list what types of deer may be taken in each WMU with a particular licence. They can be found at http://albertaregulations.ca/huntingregs/

Good reading,

TJ

Hi Henry,

Elk hunting success on a general tag is pretty low in Alberta and often, it’s a matter of being in the right place at the right time. While much of the best late-season elk hunting is found on private property in the foothills, there is some good hunting in the forestry in WMUs 400 and 402. With all the snow we have on the ground right now, it a great time to go out and look for tracks and once you find them, the elk are likely to be fairly close by. Look for wind-blown slopes this time of year where the elk can feed easily.

Good luck,

TJ

Hi Karim,

I’d highly suggest joining a local Fish and Game club. You will meet loads of like-minded hunters there. The Sarcee Club in Calgary is very active and hosts monthly meeting with guest speakers. The Alberta Outdoorsmen Messageboard also has a thread on it about finding new hunting partners and might be a good place to throw up a post. It can be found at http://www.outdoorsmenforum.ca/showthread.php?t=38944

Good luck,

TJ

Hi Justin,

While shooting on some private property and some crown land is legal, I would highly suggest you join a range. While the range is not only a great place to properly and safely sight your rifle in, it’s also a great place to keep your skills honed throughout the season and to meet other shooters. Lethbridge has a first-class range, so you are really lucky living there. If you do decide not to use a range, you’d need to check the legality of discharging firearms where you go and obviously do it in a safe manner. As for where you can hunt, pretty well anywhere that a season is open for which you have a tag. There is a large amount of crown land to the west of Lethbridge and in some of the zones you can buy a general whitetail and elk tag. I’d highly recommend you familiarize yourself with the hunting regulations as they detail all of the hunting opportunities. They can be found at http://albertaregulations.ca/huntingregs/

Good luck,

TJ

Hi Andy,

It sounds like you are well on your way to securing some access to private land. I always find a smile and a firm handshake when you introduce yourself goes a long ways and a great idea is to have all of your information, including name, contact information and vehicle description printed on a card and offer it to the landowner just in case there are any issues. Hunting private land is a real privilege and if you show the landowner some respect and courtesy, most will grant you access. Of course, some won’t and that’s their right and in that case, a courteous thank you still goes a long ways.

Good luck,

TJ

Hi Ned,

A complete list of the pheasant release sites can be found at: http://mywildalberta.com/Hunting/GameSpecies/PheasantReleaseSites.aspx

These sites offer an excellent opportunity for pheasant hunters throughout southern and central Alberta. There is some excellent pheasant and grouse hunting on private property as well and in that case, it’s a matter of getting out and knocking on some doors. Typically, if you can find some good cover adjacent to agricultural fields, you have found heaven for uplands birds. Most private landowners are quite receptive to responsible bird hunters on their property.

Good luck,

TJ

Hi Richard,

I run a Zeiss 1.2-5x36 Duralyt with an illuminated reticle on my .375H&H. I used steel Talley rings and high mounts. It really depends on the type of hunting you plan on doing as to what scope you want. Mine is set up as a dangerous game rifle where very close shots requiring rapid target acquisition may be needed so that’s why the low power and illuminated reticle. I’m comfortable shooting to around 250 yards with this set up and Vanessa took a lion at eight yards with it earlier this year. If you are looking for something with a bit more magnification, perhaps a Conquest HD5 2-10x42 would be ideal. No matter what scope you choose, high quality mounts and rings like the steel Talley are a must. I needed the high mounts to gain clearance on the bolt with the Duralyt but I suspect with a regular Conquest you could easily get away with mediums and perhaps lows.

Good luck,

TJ

Hi Steven,

A lot would depend on their age and condition but they seem to vary anywhere from about $100-$500 for the pair.

TJ

Hi Steve,

Without knowing where you are hunting it’s a bit tough to say what you best plan of attack is but hopefully your hunter host is familiar with the region being hunted. You should be catching the mule deer toward the end of their rut so the bucks will be moving a lot in search of the last receptive does. During this period, I like to cover lots of miles either on foot or by vehicle and keep an eye on the does. You can pretty well guarantee that if you stay in close proximity to the does, the bucks won’t be far away. If you can’t find concentrations of does, watch for tracks and other indicators that they are in the area. Truthfully, this last week of the season is one of my favourites for mule deer because they are constantly on the move and you typically end up seeing lots of bucks and some bucks that you have not seen all year.

Good luck,

TJ

Hi Andy,

A 30-30 is certainly an adequate 150-200 yard cartridge and if you are hunting an area where longer shots are not likely to present themselves, it is a good choice. There certainly would be no disadvantage, however, to using a higher velocity cartridge and then you would have the option of shooting longer ranges if the opportunity presented itself. It really comes down to personal preference and what rifle you feel comfortable carrying and what self-imposed range limits you are willing to live with.

As for crossbows, the weight of the arrow is really the limiting factor. While they produce some impressive velocities at the bow, that velocity is quickly shed due to the lightweight projectile. I personally consider 40-50 yards to be my maximum effective range when shooting at game with my crossbow.

TJ

Hi Andy,

I’m not certain where you read that crossbows could not be used for hunting big game. The following excerpt is from the 2013 hunting regulations:

HUNTING WITH CROSS-BOWS

Since the fall season of 2002, cross-bows are no longer "prohibited" for hunting wildlife in Alberta, although there may be federal licensing requirements.

Cross-bows may not be used to hunt big game during archery-only seasons. The only exception is for an eligible handicapped hunter who has obtained a cross-bow licence.

A Bowhunting Permit, as required by bowhunters using conventional archery equipment, is not required by persons who are hunting with cross-bows.

In accordance with federal regulations, cross-bows may not be used for waterfowl hunting.

Persons hunting big game with a cross-bow must use an authorized cross-bow and arrow (bolt). An authorized cross-bow is one that requires 100 pounds or more of pull to draw the string or cable to its cocked position. There is no restriction on arrow length however it must have a tip as described under the heading "Bowhunting" above.

For all first-time hunters in Alberta, you must have passed a hunter’s safety course or meet the other licensing requirements outlined in the hunting regulations. They can be found on-line at http://albertaregulations.ca/huntingregs
There are no additional requirements for bow or crossbow hunters other than bow hunters must purchase a bowhunting permit.

Good luck,

TJ

Hi Leeland,

There are a large number of grazing leases in southern Alberta that offer excellent hunting opportunities. This land is public but does have some specials term of access. Check out this website for a list of grazing leases and rules of access. http://srd.alberta.ca/RecreationPublicUse/
RecreationOnAgriculturalPublicLand/Default.aspx

Good Hunting,

TJ

Hi Jody,

All rifle hunting opportunities for moose in Alberta require you to draw a special licence. There are general opportunities for bow hunters and there are unsubscribed licences left over in some Wildlife Management Units (WMU) after the draw has taken place. Your odds of drawing a tag really depend on the area you wish to hunt. Alberta has a priority draw system and some WMUs require several years to draw and others have relatively short wait periods.

A few resources that will help you greatly are:

The Alberta Hunting Regulations http://albertaregulations.ca/huntingregs

The Hunting Draws Booklet http://albertaregulations.ca/hunting-draws-2013.html

The 2013 Draw Summary Report http://mywildalberta.com/Hunting/HuntingDraws/
HuntingDrawsReports/DrawsSummaryReport/Default.aspx

My Wild Alberta http://mywildalberta.com

Alberta Relm https://www.albertarelm.com

Good luck,

TJ

Hi Justin,

I’m not sure what research you’ve done but the answer to your question, like all questions regarding hunting regulations in Alberta, lies in the Alberta Hunting regulations. They can be found at http://albertaregulations.ca/huntingregs/

Elk may be hunted in many WMUs on a general licence and some do have three-point restrictions. Look up the WMU you want to hunt in the hunting regulations and you will find all of the information there.

Good luck,

TJ

Hi Terry,

The Koenders sled has proven to be a very good sled and it is very durable. I pulled the sled for 1671 kilometres last trapping season and for the better part of those 1671 kilometres, my 17 year old son was riding behind me on the musher. If you are traveling mostly on trails with good snow, then you have no worries about durability. If you have roads with poor snow that you need to travel on, then I would recommend you purchase the sled runners and install them for added protection to the bottom. I do not currently have the runners but I am considering purchasing them.

I pull the sled with a Tundra 550 and have had no issues. With a load of gear and my son on the musher (he weighs about 140-pounds), I'm probably pulling about 200+ pounds and the sled glides behind nicely. When I pulled the sled with my dad on it, the weight went up considerably but again, I didn't have any problems. I'm in some very mountainous country and the sled pulls up the steep hills with ease.

The top keeps out all snow and is easy to open and close when you're on the trail. I would, however, install some type of shield over the tow bar, as snow tends to fly up into the face of the rider on the musher. The shield eliminates that problem.

The sled is large and backing up with it isn't an easy task, as the musher tends to dig into the snow. However, the sled is light enough that one man can throw it around easily. All in all, I would recommend this sled for the serious trapper and note that it would probably work really well for hauling gear out onto the lake for some ice fishing as well.

Rob

Hi Dustin,

Just to be clear, 4/5 and full curl are two different designations. Most Wildlife Management Units have a 4/5 requirement but a handful do have a full curl requirement so it is critical to know which ones are which. The drawings in the hunting regulations are pretty clear as to what is required to be legal for both designations. For both full and 4/5 curl, it is important to look at the ram from the side and at the same elevation if possible. Looking from an angle or from a different elevation may not give a true picture as whether the ram is legal. I’d suggest getting out to Jasper and looking at a bunch of rams just to become familiar with judging them and it’s also a great idea to visit a few taxidermy shops and actually see what it takes for a ram to be legal. There is no room for error when judging sheep. They are either legal or they aren’t. As a novice sheep hunter, you are much better to err on the side of caution and ensure the ram is well legal. As specified in the regulations, all rams must be registered with Fish and Wildlife. At this time they will determine legality and put a metal identification plug in the ram. I’d suggest you take another quick look at the hunting regulations as it’s all pretty clearly spelled out in there.

Good luck with your sheep hunting...

TJ

Hi Nathaniel,

That wouldn’t be my first choice for a deer rifle as it is fairly heavy and the recoil quite substantial but at the end of the day, only you can decide if it’s too much rifle or not. If you shoot it well and aren’t bothered by the recoil then it may just be ideal. Personally, for a 500-600 yard deer rifle I’d look at something like the 260AI, 6.5x284, 7mm Rem Mag, 270WSM or other similar cartridges. I much prefer a low recoil option for a long-range hunting rifle.

Good luck,

TJ

Hi Ryan,

Deer love a good mix of agricultural and mixed wood forests. If you can find some areas of second growth alfalfa or another favourite is where green is starting to show up in a harvested canola field combined with some nearby cover, you have found deer heaven.

Good luck this fall,

TJ

Hi Joe,

I suggest that you consult the hunting regulations for the list of available licences. They can be found at http://albertaregulations.ca/huntingregs/
The short answer to your question is that only one white-tail deer may be taken on a general licence although some additional opportunities do exist through the supplemental whitetail licence and some other WMU specific licences. You will find all of this information in the hunting regulations.

Good luck this fall,

TJ

Your best bet would be to contact the city bylaw department for the answer to your question.

TJ

Hi Memo,

It really depends on the intended use of the shotgun but if it is to be used for hunting both upland birds and waterfowl, I would go with a shotgun with a longer barrel and one that comes with interchangeable chokes. Short barreled shotguns typically don’t swing that well and tracking flying birds is very difficult. I think you are correct in looking at a pump shotgun but the one you’ve identified would be a poor choice for hunting birds on the wing.

Savage does offer up some great value in their rifles and of the three listed, my choice would be the MODEL 11/111 HUNTER XP. I personally would avoid the package scope and save a few more dollars and buy a better quality scope. I think your friend gave you good advice regarding chambering as both the 30-06 and 308 are very versatile cartridges.

Good luck,

TJ

Most of the rabbit hunting done in Alberta is actually for hares and not rabbits. The snowshoe hare is common across the province and provides good opportunity and meals for hunters. Personally, I prefer getting out when there is snow on the ground as it makes it much simpler to see where the activity is by their tracks. Find good concentrations of tracks and you likely have a good hunting location. Their breeding season is typically March and April but it may continue into the summer months as well. You may, however, want to check with ESRD on the legality of snaring hares without a trapping licence as it is my understanding that they may be hunted but not trapped without a licence.

Good luck,

TJ

Hi Glen,

I've had good luck with ruffed grouse and spruce grouse early in the mornings along trails and more open ridges. Sometimes finding birds can be challenging but once you do, that location will remain productive for years.

Good luck,

TJ

WMU410 is comprised primarily of public land. Give the Canmore Fish and Wildlife office a call. They have a very comprehensive map of the area that they offer for sale.

TJ

Hi Ryan,

Legal questions of this nature are best asked of the proper authorities... in this case the RCMP but the short answer is no he can't buy a firearm for you but you could use one of his firearms as long as he was in direct control of you at all times. This typically means arm's length. There are some other age restrictions that apply.

Good luck,

TJ

Hi Cam,

Most WMUs in the province offer a general whitetail season and you can find all of this information in the hunting regulations. They can be found on-line at http://albertaregulations.ca/huntingregs

You can also pick up a printed copy at any licence vendor. As a new hunter, I suggest you become intimately familiar with the regulations as they are the basis for hunting in Alberta.

While general season hunting opportunities are limited for many species, there are loads of opportunities for whitetail deer in the province.

Good luck this season

TJ

Hi Jesse,

It sounds like you need to read the regulations in a bit more detail because it is all spelled out quite clearly in them but to give you a bit of help, your whitetail licence is good for both antlered and antlerless in many WMUs but not all. You basically need to look at each WMU individually. If the season has a black box beside it, it indicates that a special or draw licence is required to hunt it. If it doesn’t, your tag is good for that season. As for moose, unless you are planning on hunting the archery season, all moose seasons are on draw as indicated by the black box and require a special draw.

I hope that helps,

TJ

Hi Richard,

Describing recoil is quite literally impossible as everyone perceives it differently. While pounds of recoil can be measured, everyone’s recoil tolerance is different and rifle fit plays the largest role in felt recoil. A rifle that feels very manageable to me may feel like it kicks the heck out of you and vice versa. Weight of bullet and velocity also play a significant role in recoil. I personally own both a .338WM and a .375 H&H and I find the recoil quite tolerable. The .338 is in a very light 6 ¾ pound rifle but the stock was custom fit for me. The .375 is in a 9 pound rifle and even Vanessa finds it quite comfortable to shoot from a standing position. The best advice I could offer you is to try and shoot a couple rifles in these chambering and see what you personally think and try to find a rifle that fits you very well. Sorry I couldn’t be more specific but felt recoil really is impossible to quantify.

TJ

Hi Chris,

There are some great field shoots to be had directly east of Calgary in the fall. Your best bet is just to go for a drive and see where the birds are feeding and then start knocking on some doors to obtain permission. If you are looking for water shoots, Frank Lake is a fairly popular destination and of course you can hunt a large number of the conservation sites that are listed in the Discover Guide at www.albertadiscoverguide.com

Turkey hunting opportunities are very limited in Alberta and licences are only available through limited entry draw. You are looking at more than a decade to draw a tag if you are starting from scratch. The birds are pretty well confined to the southeast corner of the province and in the Porcupine Hills. The good news is that plans are underway to introduce turkeys in the parklands region of the province so hopefully that will increase opportunity in Alberta. Nearby British Columbia does offer some excellent turkey hunting, however.

Welcome to Alberta,

TJ

Hi Chad,

Gem Trek produces by far the best maps of the area. Although they do not have the WMUs marked on them, they do show all of the parks... of which there are many. They are available at most outdoor stores in the Calgary area. Friends of Kananaskis Country also did a very good map of 408 and parts of 406 and 410 that you can pick up at the Canmore ESRD office. Mule deer are pretty pocketed in 406 but it seems they really like the larger grass basins above treeline early in the season. The area just to the west of the Sheep River Sanctuary is also worth a look. Good luck.

TJ

Hi Dawn,

You may want to contact the Lac Ste Anne County office. They might be able to steer you in the right direction.

Good luck,

TJ

Hi Chris,

The 30-30 would definitely not be considered a long range cartridge. You would be limited to shots of about 200 yards with it. The 30-06 on the other hand is a very capable 500-600 yard cartridge, with a scope equipped with ballistic reticle or turrets. Both cartridges would definitely be effective on coyotes but you may run in to some extensive fur damage.

I hope that helps,

TJ

Hi Don,

You are required to have a Possession Acquisition Licence (PAL) or a Possession Only Licence (POL) to purchase ammunition in Canada.

TJ

Hi Mark,

You may want to head up to the Ghost and Waiporous areas and have a look there. Random camping is permitted in parts of the area and from what I’ve heard, the area was not as badly affected by the flooding as areas further south.

Good luck,

TJ

It sounds like you are doing everything right. From my experience, snow geese are a game of lots and lots of decoys. I’ve been on some shoots where we have had in excess of 1500 socks out. Just like with any geese, scouting is the key. Once you find an active feeding field, you should be set for the following morning.

Good luck,

TJ

Hi Kent,

Area biologists set the quota for moose in their management areas. It never hurts to talk to these people, as they can be very helpful and explain the reasoning behind the number of tags issued per WMU. Just phone the Fish and Wildlife office nearest the WMU you wish to hunt and ask to speak with the area biologist.

The early calling season for both WMU 339 and 346 appear to require a priority 5 before any hope of being drawn can be realized. However, a priority 3 in both WMUs should get you drawn for the November 1 - November 30 late season. You can find out more information by looking at the 2012 Draws Summary Report to plan your draw application strategy. You can view that information here:
http://mywildalberta.com/Hunting/HuntingDraws/HuntingDrawsReports/
DrawsSummaryReport/Default.aspx

Hi Richard,

With a well constructed bullet and a well placed shot the .300WM is more than up to the task of taking an interior grizzly. In fact, that was my choice of cartridge when I took my Yukon bear several years ago. One of my outfitter friends in the Yukon advises his clients that being comfortable with the rifle you are shooting is far more critical for grizzly than the size of the calibre. I’d have to agree with him.

Good luck,

TJ

Hi Bryce,

You will find the Alberta hunting regulation on-line and they have all of the answers to questions like that. They can be found at http://albertaregulations.ca/huntingregs/ As for your question, this is directly from the hunting regulations:

What is required to be eligible to hunt in Alberta?
Hunters in Alberta should be aware of federal regulations pertaining to possession and use of firearms (click here to view Federal Firearms Legislation), and provincial regulations pertaining to licensing of hunters. There are regulations that pertain to first-time hunters, youths, residents, non-residents and non-resident aliens.

All hunters must have a Wildlife Identification Number (WIN) as a prerequisite to applying for, or purchasing any hunting licence, but some additional requirements must be met for the WIN-holder to be eligible to purchase hunting licences.

A person must possess a valid Wildlife Certificate and the applicable hunting licence in order to hunt big game or game birds. The hunter must carry the licence and applicable tag(s) on his or her person while hunting. A person applying for a draw is not required to possess a Wildlife Certificate but must purchase one before purchasing any hunting licence.

Licensing requirements for first-time hunters
A first-time hunter is a hunter who 1) has not previously held a hunting licence in Alberta or elsewhere, or 2) has not prior to April 1, 2010, met Alberta first-time hunter criteria, or 3) has not successfully completed a hunter education course in Alberta or elsewhere.

Notice: As of 2010, the Alberta Hunter Competency Exam is no longer offered. Subject to any exceptions noted in this guide, first-time hunters (adult and youth) must successfully complete the Alberta Conservation and Hunter Education course.

Non-resident and non-resident alien hunters (12 years of age or older) are exempt from the first-time hunter eligibility requirement if they are accompanied by a Hunter Host or a Designated Guide while hunting in Alberta.

Youth first-time hunters must be at least 12 years old to hunt under the authority of any hunting licence in Alberta. All hunters under the age of 16 years must have written permission from a parent or guardian to purchase hunting licences. Hunters who are 11 years old may apply in the draws for licences if they meet the above criteria, but they must be 12 years old anytime before or during the open season for that draw. They may not hunt until they are 12 years old. Note: As of 2007, hunters who are 12 or 13 years of age are no longer restricted to hunting big game with only a bow and arrow. To hunt with a firearm, hunters under 18 years of age must be accompanied by a parent, a legal guardian or by a person 18 years of age or older who has the written permission of the parent or legal guardian. If a youth turns 18 during the hunting season, they can continue to hunt using their valid licence.

If you are interested in taking the Alberta Conservation and Hunter Education course, call the Alberta Hunter Education Instructors’ Association toll-free in Alberta at 1-866-852-4342, Edmonton
780-466-6682, or Calgary 403-252-8474.

So basically, unless you have held a hunting licence in Alberta or elsewhere or completed a hunter education course in Alberta or elsewhere, yes you must complete a hunter education course.

TJ

While to the best of my knowledge supplemental winter feeding is not illegal, it is not always beneficial to deer and in many cases can cause more harm than good. Feeding grain for example, can lead to a condition called grain overload and cause immediate death. Feeding hay that is contaminated with cattle feces can lead to bacterial infections which too may be deadly and the practice of concentrating deer on any food source does increase the chance of transmission of diseases like CWD. Most wildlife experts discourage the practice of supplemental winter feeding of deer.

TJ

Alberta has a pretty healthy population of bears right across the province so I’m not sure you could go wrong anywhere in the north or west country. As you are from Edmonton, you might want to head northwest toward Whitecourt. Be aware that not all zones are open to baiting so be sure to check the regulations carefully. Fall baiting is definitely tougher than spring because bears have access to so much feed but I’ve heard of people doing well with molasses covered oats or even meat scraps. Once again, be certain to read the regulations carefully as there are specific regulations regarding what can be used for bait and how bait sites must be marked.

Good luck,

TJ

That is definitely a unique and rare chambering in a Remington rolling block for sure. I’ve never had anything to do with one so I’ve never checked into the legalities but it would seem at first glance to meet all of the requirements for hunting in Alberta and other than requiring a PAL to purchase one, I can’t see why there would be additional restrictions.

Good luck with your new rifle.

TJ

Hey Shaye,

I’m still kind of old school and prefer fixed broadheads but both work just fine it seems.

I haven’t hunted mule deer in central Alberta for quite a number of years but last time I did it was in the Three Hills area.

- TJ

The 7.62x39 has a very similar ballistic profile to a 30-30 so for shorter range hunting applications it definitely is effective. One thing to consider is the type of bullet you are shooting. Much of the 7.62x39 ammo available was designed for military use and is not suitable or in many cases legal for big game hunting but if you can find some ammo with a hunting-designed bullet, you should be fine for any of the aforementioned species at ranges under 150 yards... providing of course that the rifle is suitably accurate.

Hope that helps,

TJ

Hi Chris,

Personally, I love hunting mule deer in the mountains and virtually all of the 400 WMUs offer some great opportunities. Mule deer can be spotty in the mountains and the key is to get out in the summer and do lots of scouting. Look for timbered valleys with open grass slopes and typically you have mule deer heaven. Once you locate a good area, it will likely remain productive for years to come. Good luck on the draws this spring!

TJ

Hi Kyle,

Yes, Alberta does have bobcat in the southern portions of the province. In the north, we have the Canada lynx. The Canada lynx is bigger than the bobcat but in terms of price, the bobcat (called lynx cat at fur auction) yields a far better price because of its colouration. You can view an image of both on the slideshow of the home page of the Alberta Trappers' Association website at www.albertatrappers.com.

- The AO Team

Hi Cody,

No it is not legal to hunt with a modern pistol/handgun in Canada but if I’m not mistaken a Henry’s Mare’s Leg is classified as long gun in Canada, thus making it legal. I suggest you contact the RCMP to confirm the classification of the gun before heading afield with it.

Good luck,

T.J. Schwanky

If you have never taken the federal firearm course, you will be required to take the federal firearm course or challenge it before applying for your PAL. There is also a fee for obtaining your PAL. You can find all of the information you require at http://www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/cfp-pcaf/information/lic-per-eng.htm

Good luck,

TJ

Hi Austin,

Most animals are edible but a few that you may want to consider during the summer months are red squirrel, rabbit, pigeon and porcupine. Red squirrel may only be hunted on private property and be sure to check the hunting regulations before heading out hunting.

Good luck,

TJ

Hi Warren,

As far as I know there is no law against shooting a cow accompanied by a calf but as with all questions regarding hunting laws in the province, your best source of information is ESRD.
They can be contacted at:

Information Centre
Sustainable Resource Development
Main Floor, Great West Life Building
9920 108 Street
Edmonton AB Canada T5K 2M4

Hours of Operation
Monday - Friday
8:15 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Tel (Edmonton local): 780 944 0313
Toll Free: 1 877 944 0313
Fax: 780 427 4407
Email: srd.infocent@gov.ab.ca

Good luck,

TJ

Hi Jake,

I suggest that you familiarize with the Alberta hunting regulations as all of the hunting opportunities and seasons are detailed in there. They can be found at http://albertaregulations.ca/huntingregs/

There are currently no big game seasons open but some species like ground squirrels (gophers) and rabbits are typically open throughout the year and there may be opportunities for other species like coyotes and wolves depending on where you are hunting. Take a look through the regulations and you should be able to figure it out pretty quickly.

Good luck,

TJ

Hi Neville,

You may want to contact Don Thompson in Holden.

Don Thompson
ph. 780-688-3425

e-mail... holdenprecision@gmail.com

Good luck,

TJ

Hi Dan,

All of the answers to your questions are in the hunting regulations and I suggest you familiarize yourself with them at http://albertaregulations.ca/huntingregs/ but the short answer to your question is that the majority of bighorn sheep opportunities in Alberta are available through over-the-counter tags. A general trophy sheep licence allows you to hunt trophy sheep in any area where there is a general/non-draw season. This covers the bulk of Alberta. A special trophy sheep licence is only available through the special draws held in June and is only valid for one specific WMU or in cases part of a WMU. If you draw one of these tags you cannot purchase a general tag.

I hope that helps,

TJ

Hi Mike,

I haven’t heard of many feral pigs in the Sundre area....the bulk I hear about are northwest of Edmonton but it seems they are not plentiful anywhere and more an animal of chance than something that people actually target on a regular basis.

TJ

Hi Tyson,

Kananaskis country has a decent population of elk, especially in WMU404. That’s not too far from Calgary and there is loads of country to explore there.

Good luck,

TJ

Hi Jim,

As far as I know you can but as with all questions regarding hunting laws in the province, your best source of information is ESRD.
They can be contacted at:

Information Centre
Sustainable Resource Development
Main Floor, Great West Life Building
9920 108 Street
Edmonton AB Canada T5K 2M4

Hours of Operation
Monday - Friday
8:15 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Tel (Edmonton local): 780 944 0313
Toll Free: 1 877 944 0313
Fax: 780 427 4407
Email: srd.infocent@gov.ab.ca

Good luck,

TJ

Hi Paul,

Coyotes are subject to different regulations depending on where you want to hunt them. They can typically be hunted year round on private property to which you have been granted the right of access but on public land, specified seasons are in place. I'd suggest you familiarize yourself with the Alberta Hunting Regulations first and then go enjoy this great sport. The regulations can be found at: albertaregulations.ca/huntingregs

Good luck,

TJ

Hey Ron,

There is no accurate way to predict how much velocity a rifle will lose by shortening its barrel but you can pretty well be assured you will lose some. I use a loss of 25fps per inch of barrel as a rough guideline but each barrel is unique. I hope that helps.

TJ

Hi Craig,

There are no general moose units in Alberta so you would be restricted to hunting a general archery season as a hosted hunter.

TJ

Hi Jim,

Alberta has no bow hunting certification requirements. All you would need is to have passed a recognized hunter safety course or meet any of the other licencing requirements here in Alberta.

TJ

Hi Adrian,

Unfortunately, all of our deer seasons are closed during that period of time. Additionally, as a non-resident alien you are required to use the services of a licenced outfitter or hunt with a hunter host. Most of our deer seasons are during the months of September, October and November. We do have spring bear hunting but April 15 is likely a bit early in most areas.

Sorry I couldn't be more help,

TJ

Hi Kent,

There really is no one answer to this. On some semi autos for example, pulling the bolt slightly reward and pulling the trigger will decock it.....on others it won't. Your best bet would be to do a Google search for the particular firearm you are interested in. With most firearms, dry firing is not an issue but with rimfires, it can be as the firing pin may contact the facing edge of the chamber. Another option is to buy a snap cap for your particular gun and place it in the chamber and then pull the trigger on it. This way the firing pin contacts the snap cap and no damage is done.

I hope that helps,

TJ

Hi Otto,

I don't have any first-hand experience with that Fenwick rod so I can't really comment but for the application you have stated, I'd look for a rod in the 6'6" range with a medium/heavy action.

Hope that helps,

TJ

Hi Kent,

What I do with all of my bolt action rifles is depress the trigger with an open action and while holding the trigger depressed, close the action. Obviously you need to ensure the chamber is not loaded.

Hope that helps,

TJ

Hi David,

My experience on Cold Lake is pretty limited. I'd highly suggest that you join the Alberta Outdoorsmen Forum and ask your questions there. There are several very knowledgeable Cold Lake anglers on the board that would be pleased to help you out.
www.outdoorsmenforum.ca

Good luck,

TJ

Hi Colton,

As hogs are not considered wildlife in Alberta no licence is required to hunt them but wild boars are not overly plentiful in Alberta and are typically just a target of opportunity when hunting other big game. Your chances of success on just a hog hunt would be pretty slim I think.

TJ

Hi Ted,

While not true Topo maps, Backroads maps do include WMUs on their GPS software.

TJ

Hi Jay,

Discharging air rifles in Calgary is illegal but any private property that you have permission on outside of the city should be fine and most crown land that does not have a park designation is typically okay as well. Be sure to familiarize yourself with the hunting regulations before heading out as different types of small game have different regulations
albertaregulations.ca/huntingregs

Good luck,

TJ

Essentially the Legend 1200 was replaced by the G-Force 1300 which was launched this year.

Legend – 1200 reflective, 475 deer, black display

G-Force – 1300 reflective, 600 deer, more compact, has new Extreme Speed Precision (ESP) processor (faster, ½ yard accuracy to 100 yards), red vivid display technology (VDT)

Both have RainGuard, ARC (angle compensation), bow & rifle modes, VSI (variable sight in – set rifle zero, will display in MOA or inches), brush mode, scan mode, bulls eye mode.

I don't have any experience with the Vortex.

TJ

Hi Jim,

I think it originally came with a one-piece Weaver rail that spaned from the trigger assembly to the riser but I'm not sure where you'd find one these days. It would be fairly easy to fabricate a mount, however. I would suggest using a piece of 1/4x2 inch aluminum flat stock to span from the trigger assembly to the riser and then mounting a weaver base on to that. It should be fairly simple and do the trick.

Good luck,

TJ

Hi Krystal,

Wild hog hunting in Alberta is definitely hit and miss and those with proven spots keep them pretty well guarded. I might suggest that you join the Alberta Outdoorsmen Forum as you can likely get some up-to-date advice there from people that live in areas where wild hogs are found.
www.outdoorsmenforum.ca

Good luck,

TJ

Hi Sam,

Alberta's conservation groups own a sizeable amount of land throughout Alberta and most of it is open to hunting. This link should help you find some good hunting opportunities close to you.
www.ab-conservation.com/go/default/index.cfm/discover-guide/search

Good luck,

TJ

Hi Tyler,

This website should help you out. It details the location of leases throughout the province and the conditions of access.

srd.alberta.ca/RecreationPublicUse/RecreationOnAgriculturalPublicLand/Default.aspx

Good luck,

TJ

Hi Travis,

The Alberta Fish and Game Association is the official keeper of big game records for Alberta so your best bet would to contact them to get the name of some scorers in your area.
www.afga.org

Most of the Fish and Game clubs also have scoring nights early in the new year where you can take heads to have scored and they are also a great place to check out the year's trophies. Congrats on what sounds like a heck of a buck.

TJ

Hi Fred,

WMU 412 is not too far from Calgary and is a decent zone for both whitetails and mule deer.

TJ

Hi John,

Personally I would not hunt rabbits with a pellet gun capable of less than about 800-1,000 fps. If you got extremely close and could ensure a solid head shot your rifle would likely do the job but it definitely wouldn't be my choice. Perhaps you might want to get out and hunt some red squirrels, however. A head shot from your pellet gun would definitely do the job. Just be certain to check the hunting regulation before heading out as there are special regulations for hunting squirrels. Most notably, it may only be done on private properyty.

Good luck with the PAL course.

TJ

Hi Rob,

Many of Alberta's WMUs offer general season opportunities and others require you to draw a tag. Your best bet would be to familiarize yourself with the Alberta hunting regulations. They give a detailed breakdown of what opportunities exist in each WMU and what licences are required. You can find them online here albertaregulations.ca/huntingregs

Good luck and welcome to Alberta,

TJ

Wow, that is a tough one. One of my greatest pleasures is shooting several different cartridges but if I had to pick one, it would likely be the 7mm Remington Magnum. It's only recently that I've come to embrace this cartridge but it a great all-round choice.

TJ

Hi Derek,

I'm a big fan of the .30-06 for an all-round chambering here in Alberta. As for entry-level rifles, my advice would be to go to a gun shop and handle several to see what fits you best. Savage, Ruger, Thompson Center and Tikka all make some good/affordable rifles. It kind of all comes down to what feels most comfortable.

Good luck,
TJ

Hi Jared,

No, the tag you were drawn for is specific to that WMU only. However, using WMU 244 as an example; if you were drawn for an antlered moose during the WMU 244 General Season, you can use your tag to hunt during the WMU 244 Archery Season using archery tackle. However, you can still only kill one antlered moose and it must be from the WMU in which your licence / tag is issued to.

Rob Miskosky

Hey James,

Your best bet is to get a landowner's map from the county office and it will show all of the landowners and public land in that county.

TJ

I'm not sure when you are planning on heading there Danny but I'd suggest getting out and cruising some cutlines and trails and watching for tracks. If you can find an area with lots of tracks, there should be a good number of deer in the area.

I hope that helps,

TJ

Hi Bob,

You need to sign in to Alberta Relm to purchase on-line licences. You can do this at www.albertarelm.com

As for taking meat back to BC, your best bet is to check with the authorities in both provinces.

Good luck,

TJ

Hi Dillon,

Without getting a landowner map for each county, it's pretty hard to point out crown land and there really isn't a lot of it close to Edmonton but if you head toward Whitecourt, there is a lot in that area that offers some good hunting. There are also a number of conservation lands around Edmonton that can be accessed for hunting. They can be found at www.ab-conservation.com/go/default/index.cfm/discover-guide/guide

Good luck,

TJ

Hey Andrew,

All barrels, regardless of how careful and precise the machining, require a period of break-in. Even in the most carefully machined barrels, there are two machined surfaces, the throat and the actual barrel rifling, and the bullet must pass from one to the other when it is fired. It is during the first 20-100 shots, that the bullet, passing over these two surfaces at extremely high speeds, actually acts like a fine hone, eventually matching the surfaces. Unfortunately, it’s also during these first shots that serious amounts of copper can be deposited on any of the microscopic rough spots that exist. For this reason, extra diligence in cleaning will aid in this process and prevent copper from building up to the point where damage can actually occur.

Here’s what I do with a new barrel. First off, I like to shoot very heavy grain bullets for the first 20-100 rounds or so. So, if I was breaking in a .30-60 barrel for example, I’d likely shoot 180 grain bullets. Don’t worry too much about developing loads or anything else for these first shots as the accuracy of your barrel may well improve as you break it in. These shots are just to smooth out that transition from throat to the lands on the rifling and the actual lands themselves. How many shots this takes varies from barrel to barrel but I can tell that with some of the cheaper, mass produced barrels, it can take up to 100 rounds. I let the amount of copper on my cleaning patches be my guide.

During this initial break-in, I’ll do a complete barrel cleaning with copper solvent every five rounds for at least the first 20 rounds. If copper build up seems minimal, then I’ll start working up a load for that rifle but if the patches still come out with a lot of green and blue on them, I’ll stick to the five shot regime until I feel the barrel is broken in. Once a barrel has been broken in, it only needs to be cleaned every 20 rounds.

Cleaning, while a fairly simple process, does require a fair amount of time to do it properly but it is time well invested as it will ensure a long life for your barrel. The first step in barrel cleaning is to get the powder residue out. For this, I like a product like Shooter’s Choice MC#7. Bolt-action and single shot rifles should be cleaned from the breech and in the case of a bolt action, get yourself a rod guide. This plastic guide simply slides into the action once the bolt is removed to ensure the rod enters the barrel without damaging it. Also ensure you are using a quality one-piece coated cleaning rod to avoid doing any damage to the throat or rifling.

I will not put a bronze or brass brush in my barrel but instead use nylon brushes exclusively. I like to get a nylon brush that is several calibres smaller than the barrel and wrap a cotton patch soaked in the shooter’s Choice around it. Say for example I’m cleaning a .30-06, I’ll use a .25 calibre nylon brush with a .30 calibre patch wrapped around it. Run the first wet patch completely through the bore and remove the patch. Pull the rod out and attach another patch to the brush and soak it again with Shooter’s Choice. Now insert this patch into the barrel and work it slowly back and forth for the entire length of the barrel five or six times and then remove the rod from the barrel and discard the patch. Now run two more soaked patches once through the barrel followed by two dry patches to get all the cleaner out.

The next step is to use a copper cleaner and for this, I prefer Sweet’s 7.62 Solvent. Using the same nylon brush wrapped with a patch soaked with the Sweet’s, run it directly through the barrel once and allow the solvent to sit no more than 10 minutes. Allowing it to sit in the barrel longer can actually damage your rifling. Once 10 minutes has elapsed, run a couple dry patches through the barrel. If they show a lot of copper build up, use the Sweet’s one more time. After 10 minutes, run a couple more dry patches through the bore. Now the rifle is ready to be shot or if you are going to store it for a period of time, run a patch with a small amount of oil on it through the barrel. For this, I use G96 Complete Gun Treatment. It’s always a good idea to run one dry patch through the barrel before shooting a rifle if it’s been stored with oil in it.

Certainly, the schools of thought on barrel break-in vary wildly and some feel it is a complete waste of time but on all but the most precisely machined barrels, I’d have to disagree with that and even on the high-end barrels, a 20 shot break-in is still time well invested in my opinion. What there is agreement on, however, is the necessity of a regular cleaning regime. On barrels that haven’t been cleaned for years, it’s truly amazing the amount of copper that builds up in them. I’ve seen it take 10 or more applications of copper cleaner to get it all out but the result is invariably a more accurate rifle. It’s never too late to start a cleaning regime on an old rifle and it’s definitely something you need to do with a new one. I know it was one of those things that I used to put off and never seemed to get around to but now after seeing the results of cleaning a few of my older rifles and the accuracy I gained, it’s something I now do after every 20 rounds.

Hey Cory,

Coyote howls and a cottontail in distress would be my two choices for long-range calling and then I'd have a low volume squeeker for those hesitant to come in at the end. You can go with mouth-blown or electronic calls, although I'd suggest something handheld for the squeeker.

Good luck,

TJ

Hi Andrew,

I start now and get a bunch of trail cameras out and see when and where the deer are moving. Concentrate on junctions where two or three trails intersect. Once you've located the buck you want, then set up a treestand or ground blind. Have a couple alternate locations that you can hunt depending on wind direction.

Good luck,

TJ

Hi Jake,

For all questions regarding legal matters for hunting and fishing, your best source is always the folks that actually make and enforce the laws. I suggest you contact the information centre and I'm sure they will address your question.

Information Centre
Sustainable Resource Development

Main Floor, Great West Life Building
9920 108 Street
Edmonton AB Canada T5K 2M4

Hours of Operation
Monday - Friday
8:15 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Tel (Edmonton local): 780 944 0313
Toll Free: 1 877 944 0313
Fax: 780 427 4407
Email: srd.infocent@gov.ab.ca

Good luck,

TJ

Hi Bruce,

I'm not aware of any such list.

TJ

Hi Adam,

No, no special licence is required to purchase a crossbow.

TJ

Hi Dave,

The yellow tags found in the draw booklet are good for draw or general licences.

TJ

Hi Rick,

Sorry but no I haven't heard of any feral pigs south of Edmonton.

TJ

Now that Fish and Wildlife enforcement falls under the Solicitor General's office I doubt it will change much. Pick up a copy of the August issue of Alberta Outdoorsmen once it is on newsstands and read Don Meredith's column. There may be some useful information there.

TJ

Hi Chris,

I suggest you familiarize yourself with the Alberta hunting regulations as they will answer most of your questions. You can find them online at: albertaregulations.ca/huntingregs

There is some excellent deer and moose hunting very close to Edmonton but much of the land is private so you will need to obtain permission. This is best done well in advance of the hunting season. If you head up to the Whitecourt area, you will find lots of crown land where you do not require permission. Most of the moose hunting in Alberta is on limited entry draw so it may take you a few years to get a tag. Info on draws can be found at albertaregulations.ca/hunting-draws.html.

Unfortunately, you've already missed this years draws.

You can't transfer a licence from one province to the other but if you are now a resident of Alberta, you'll just need to get your WIN card and then you can buy the appropriate licences.

I hope that helps,

TJ

Hi George,

I can only speak for North Charles as I have never fished from the south camp. Charles Lake is an exceptional lake for both pike and lake trout. But before jumping into a boat and taking off, be warned; the lake has considerable depth changes that can be hazardous. Do not leave without sonar of some type. You can be in 90-feet of water and in an instant find yourself bottoming out on a large rock that is barely under the water, it is that drastic, so be careful, you don't want to get stranded. As well, the lake has many islands and inlets so it is easy to get confused, do not leave without a GPS. If you are fishing North Charles, your cabin is on an island so mark it with your GPS.

When I fished North Charles it was mostly with a fly rod for pike. However, any spoon or crankbait trolled near shore in and around any structure will produce a tremendous amount of fish. If you are fishing in July, the pike will be a little deeper so I would suggest getting your gear down to the 12-15 foot range and then probing either shallower or deeper from there until you find the range the fish are at. From there it should be just a matter of hanging on.

While there are lake trout anywhere there is depth, the best luck we had was straight out from the cabin towards the far shore. We managed a lake trout that pushed 25-pounds trolling a large five-of-diamonds in about 40-feet of water. If you have portable downriggers, make sure you bring them or you will have to put on some weight to get down. Fishing with downriggers is much more fun than pulling a large weight behind you, so if you don't have downriggers, look at investing in a set. For the lake trout, any large spoon will work fine. As well, jigging large artificial baits like a Bondy Bait has proven to work well on many water bodies, so I would assume the same holds true for Charles.

Hope this helps and good luck!

- Rob Miskosky

Hi Zane,

The article appeared in the August 2010 Alberta Outdoorsmen in my Spike Camp Musings column

Good luck,

TJ

The .30-06 is sure a great all-round choice. Another favourite of mine for first-time buyers is the 7mm08. Most rifles made today are of pretty high quality. Go to a good gun shop and handle several and see which one fits you best.

Good luck,

TJ

Hi Jason,

It really depends on what type of fishing you are after but Alberta doesn't have a lot of lodges in the southern part of the province. There are a few nice operations that provide excellent fly fishing. You may want to check out:
North Bow Lodge www.northbowlodge.com/Lodge.html
Eckardt's Tecumseh Mountain Resort www.mountainguestranch.com
Bow Crow Fishing Adventures bowcrow.tripod.com/flyfishing/id26.html
Fortress Lake Retreat www.flyfishalberta.com/fortresslake

I hope you enjoy our great province,

TJ

Hi James,

Your best bet would be to contact the Lethbridge Fish and Game Association. www.lfga.org

Good luck,

T.J. Schwanky

I've always been a fan of May long weekend but with the early spring this year, going a week or two earlier may be the ticket. There are numerous areas to hunt bears, just make sure you follow baiting restrictions if using bait.

Good luck,
TJ

Hi Andrew,

Wild boars are definitely the proverbial needle in the haystack in Alberta so the best advice I could offer is get out and put some miles on while there's still some snow on the ground. Look for tracks and knock on lots of doors and talk with the local landowners. Once you find out where they are feeding, I'd set up a blind and wait. Good luck.

TJ

Hi John,

It's my understanding that you don't require a guide licence to guide anglers in Alberta but I suggest that you contact your local Fish and Wildlife office to confirm that. They are the best source for legal matters like this.

Good luck,

TJ

Hi Ali,

Edmonton sits right in the middle of some of Alberta's best whitetail hunting but as most of the surrounding land is private, permission must be obtained to hunt it. There are some great conservation lands in the area, however, that may be hunted without permission. Here is a link to a guide that lists all of those properties.
www.ab-conservation.com/go/default/index.cfm/discover-guide
This would be a great place to begin your search.

Good luck,

TJ

Hi Caleb,

If you are looking at doing a spot and stalk hunt then look for the first areas to green up in the spring. Pipelines, cutlines, powerlines and south facing slopes are all great places to begin your search. Bears are active all day but mid morning and mid afternoon have always been great times for me.

Good luck,

TJ

Hi Paul,

Man, entire books are written on sheep hunting so I'm not sure I can cover everything here but I'd highly suggest reading Val Geist's book, MountainSheep to gain a better understanding of these unique animals. Nowicki's Home of the Bighorn has some great info on Alberta sheep and sheep hunting too.

The best advice that I can offer is to pick an area that you are interested in hunting and start hiking it hard this summer. The more time you spend in sheep country, the more you will learn about them. Obviously good gear is a must as well. If you can get away from the crowds and spend some time in the mountains, you are well on your way to finding a ram.

Good luck out there,

TJ

Hi Kyle,

It sounds like you have it covered. Obviously some species require a draw to get a permit for but for general tags, it sounds like you are good to go. It never hurts to give the regulations a quick read over though; albertaregulations.ca/huntingregs

TJ

Hi Shaun,

There are loads of on-line resources that should answer all your questions.

For information on what areas you can hunt, seasons and licence requirement, the Alberta Hunting Regulations will answer all your questions albertaregulations.ca/huntingregs

As for where to hunt, that will take some footwork. Pick up a landowner map from the county in the areas you are interested in hunting and start doing some scouting. Prermission is required to hunt private land. There are also a number of properties owned by non-profit groups that allow hunting. They can be found at
www.ab-conservation.com/go/default/index.cfm/discover-guide

Field hunting for ducks typically requires more decoys, blinds, etc than water shooting them. Some great shoots can be enjoyed on small ponds with a dozen decoys and a shotgun.

The Alberta Outdoorsmen Messageboard is a great resource as well. There's loads of helpful hunters there. outdoorsmenforum.ca

You may also want to look at joining a Fish and Game Club, it's a great place to meet hunters. www.sfga.ca

I'm not sure if you've taken your hunter safety and firearm traing yet either but if not, you'll need to contact AHEIA. www.aheia.com

I hope that helps,

TJ

Hi Andre,

Off the top of my head Prairie Gun Works, Alberta Tactical Rifle, Armtech Canada (Gaulin), Savage (rimfire only), Dlask Arms and I think Para Ordnance moved south of the border. There are many other custom gun builders but those are the ones that come to mind that I would consider manufacturers.

Hope that helps,

TJ

Hi Sam,

Unfortunately the long gun registry is not gone yet. It must still go through three readings in the senate and then receive royal assent from the Goverrnor General and then a start date must be declared by the Government. Only at that point will registration be gone. Nothing is going to change in regards to the need for a PAL or POL and you will still need them to buy ammunition. Yes, the RCMP will still know who the licenced firearm owners are but they will not know what firearms you own.

TJ

Hi Jamie,

The hunt was truly incredible. In addition to the ibex, I also took a great Marco Polo ram. I booked through Asian Mountain Outfitters and hunted in Kyrgyzstan. Hunts like this do require some patience as plans change often but the hunt went without a hitch and everything happened as promised. Flights to Bishkeck were around $3,000 and I spent around $1,000 on hotels, meals, etc above the hunt price. Hunts for ibex only range from $5,000-$8,000 and combined with Marco Polo they are in the $25,000-$30,000 range. Getting the trophies home was super easy as we brought them with us in our luggage and getting guns in and out of Kyrgyzstan was easy as well. Our outfitter in Kyrgyzstan took care of all of the paperwork for us.

TJ

Hi Chad,

Personally I'd recommend a cartridge that shoots around 3,000 fps and can deliver at least a 120-grain bullet at that velocity. There are literally hundreds of options but cartridges like the 270WSM and 7mmRM are constant favourites. I run a 4-5-14x scope on my sheep rifles. Good luck out there this year!

TJ

Hey KN,

I'd suggest that you contact the Alberta Trappers Association.
www.albertatrappers.com

Good luck,

TJ

Hi Richard,

Yes, I think that would be an excellent choice for your rifle. The 3-9x is a pretty versatile scope for big game hunting.

TJ

Other than causing some major hide damage, your 7mm would be just fine for coyotes.

TJ

Hi Mike,

A call to the local Fish and Wildlife office would be your best bet. If anyone will know about landowners having problems with elk, it's them.

Good luck,

TJ

Both are very capable cartridges for what you describe but the 243 does seem to offer up a better selection of lightweight varmint bullets so if the rifle will see a lot of use on coyotes, I'd lean that way but in the end, both would work well. If the rifle was to be used primarily for big game, expecially at longer ranges, then I'd likely go with the 25-06.

TJ

Hi Richard,

If you shoot it well, I personally feel the .300 Win Mag is one of the most versatile catridges there is for hunting in Alberta. As for a charging grizzly, shot placement trumps foot pounds of energy any day so I'd be way more worried about shooting the rifle well than anything else.

T.J. Schwanky

Your best source of information regarding legal matters like this are the hunting regulations. They can be found on-line at http://albertaregulations.ca/huntingregs/

Good luck,

TJ

Hi Henk,

While mule deer are the predominant species in the foothills, it seems each year more and more whitetails are starting to show up. I'd say there are some great whitetail hunting opportunities throughout Alberta's foothills. Whitetails love cover, so creek and river bottom are prime. The best advice I can offer is to hunt areas with heavy aspen growth and you'll find whitetails.

Good luck,

TJ

Hi Greg,

When following wounded game a good rule of thumb is to always seek permission before crossing any property lines. As for an appropriate amount of time to follow up a wounded animal, it depends a lot on the conditions of the shot but at least 30 minutes is recommended. I hope that helps.

TJ

Hi Adam,

Moose are pretty scarce in WMU410 but some of the area around Dead Man's Flats does harbour the occasional bull.

Good luck,

TJ

Hi Derek,

There are a lot of variables to consider and typically common sense is your best guide. If it looks too close then it likely is but don't forget that by law you must be at least 200 metres away from buildings. How far steel shot can travel would be highly dependant on shot size but it would be several hundred yards for sure.

TJ.

Hey Gerald,

Yes, fall is primetime at the Forks, especially for big trophy walleye. Jigging is definitely one of the favoured methods of catching walleye at The Forks as are crankbaits.

Good luck,

TJ

Hi Tim,

While I haven't seen any information from the area biologists, from some of the area hunters I've spoken with, there was definitely some winter kill. It doesn't sound as severe as areas further west but I'd say you could expect to see less deer than normal.

TJ

Hey Randy,

I'd suggest that you contact your local Fish and Game Club or AHEIA. This link should help you out (click here).

Good luck,

TJ

Hi CJ,

The Alberta Fish and Game Association is the official keeper of big game records in the province. I know they are currently updating their record book so that is one source. Boone and Crockett would definitely be another.

TJ

Hi Kevin,

Nothing in hunting is surefire but if I were you I'd concentrate on the best available food sources. Calling isn't overly productive for cow elk.

Good luck,

TJ

Hi Roger,

For the most part, moose tags are on draw in Alberta. Your best source of information is the 2011 Hunting Regulations. They can be found on-line at http://albertaregulations.ca/huntingregs or a printed version is available at your favourite outdoor store.

TJ

Hi Harl,

The one-piece base is definately the way to go and it seems they all hang over the barrel taper like that. While a bit unsightly for sure, it does seem to be the only option.

TJ

Hey Aaron,

One of the books at the top of my list is "People and Peaks of the Willmore Wilderness". If you are considering guiding one day, this book is a must read. While a bit dated, O'Connor's "Sheep and Sheep Hunting" is a decent read and Tony Russ' book, "Sheep Hunting in Alaska" contains some good information on gear.

As for fishing, "Blue Ribbon Bow" is a nice read.

Good luck following your dreams.

TJ

Hi Sam,

I've never fished Cardiff Park Pond so I'm not sure I can be a huge help. I'd suggest joining the Alberta Outdoorsmen Messageboard and asking for some advice in the fishing forum. There are loads of helpful anglers there.

TJ

Hi Ty,

I'm not certain who in the Calgary area could make one for you. If you are looking to reduce recoil, I'd suggest you try a high quality recoil pad as a first option and then if you feel you still need a brake, you can explore that option further.

TJ

Hi Blair,

I would highly suggest that you get a good quality 6'6" medium action spinning rod teamed up with a high quality spinning reel. I'd spool it up with a high quality 8-10 pound monofilament line and you should be good to go.

TJ

Hi Chris,

For the most part, general whitetail tags are available throughout the province. You should be able to find all of the information you need here: http://.albertaregulations.ca/huntingregs

Good luck this fall,
TJ

The 270 Win is a very capable round at 300 yards on both deer and elk, with proper bullet placement of course. You need to find a bullet that shoots well out of your particular firearm but I'm a big fan of the 139 grain GMX.

TJ

I have seen bison killed with a 30-06 before. There's no reason a well placed, well constructed 180 grain bullet won't put them down.

TJ

Hi Steve,

Forn matters such as this, your best bet is always the Alberta hunting regulations. They can be found on-line at albertaregulations.ca/huntingregs. But to answer your question, no you can not. It states very clearly in the hunting regulations that:

It is unlawful to
1. set out, use or employ any of the following items for the purpose of hunting big game:
● ammunition of less than .23 calibre,

Thanks,
TJ

Hi Perry,

Check out the Alberta hunting regulations at albertaregulations.ca/huntingregs

Click on Licencing and Costs and Non-resident (Canadian) Licence Availability (Big Game) and you should find all of the information that you require there.

TJ

Hey Darryl,

You mightn want to give smelts or herring a try and suspend your bait a few inches off the bottom so it is easy for the the pike to see. A quick strike rig is a great way to fish these baits.

Good luck,

T.J. Schwanky

Providing it's legal to discharge a pellet gun where you intend on hunting, there are indeed pellet guns made with more than sufficient power to hunt the aforementioned animals. It would not be adviseable, however, to hunt them with a pellet gun with too little velocity. I suggest you consult the hunting regulations and any country or municipal regulations regarding firearm use before heading afield.

Good luck,

TJ

Hi Andy,

Always best to consult the hunting regulations or contact your local SRD office with specific questions regarding game laws but it's my understanding that no, you may not hunt any of those species in Alberta.

TJ

Hey Jason,

If you are talking about field hunts for ducks and geese, then you just need to start heading east of Calgary and knocking on doors where you see birds. Most landowners are quite receptive to hunters seeking permission. There are also numerous conservation properties you can check out including those owned by DU. A great resource for locating these conservation properties is
www.ab-conservation.com/go/default/index.cfm/discover-guide

As for a good place to meet hunters, a local Fish and Game club is a great way to get to know other hunters. I belong to the Sarcee club in Calgary. They are a very welcoming group. www.sarceefishandgame.ca

Good luck,

TJ

There is some good hunting in the Brooks area for upland birds. The Eastern Irrigation District owns a considerable amount of land in the area that is generally open to hunting. For more information, check out www.eid.ab.ca.

Good hunting,

TJ

I'm currently using a Mystery Ranch and am very impressed. Call and talk to the guys there, they are super helpful.

TJ

Hey Art,

While I'm not 100% sure, you should just simply be able to pull the trigger, with an open bolt of course, and by keeping the trigger depressed, the bolt should slide right out.

TJ

There are some great discussions on the Alberta Outdoorsmen Messageboard about hunting wild boars. They would be a valuable source of information for you.

TJ

Hi Darrell,

Draw numbers are set in accordance with the number of animals that SRD wants to harvest so it is likely a fair assumption that areas with low tag numbers also have lower populations of game but with that said, you will also be competing against less hunters so I would suspect that your odds of success are pretty similar across the board. A lot of it comes down to how familiar you are with an area and if you can gain access to hunt.

Good luck,

TJ

Hi Mike,

Personally, I would think hunting over any man made salt lick would be illegal. As salt leaches deep into the soil, I can't see how it could ever be totally removed. I think the fact that you are considering hunting over it is a good indication that you believe animals will continue to visit it but as with all matters concerning specific regulations, I'd suggest you contact SRD directly at:

Information Centre
Alberta Sustainable Resource Development
Main Floor, Great West Life Building
9920 108 Street
Edmonton Alberta Canada T5K 2M4

Hours of Operation, Mon-Fri: 8:15 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Tel (Edmonton local): 780-944-0313
Toll Free: 1-877-944-0313
Fax: 780-427-4407
Email: srd.infocent@gov.ab.ca

Good luck,

TJ

Hey Jeff,

500 yards is a long poke with a .338 and a shot that definitely requires the use of a ballistic reticle or adjustable turrets. I run a 4.5-14x44 Zeiss Conquest with a Rapid Z 600 reticle on my 338. The Zeiss, unlike many scope has a constant 3.5-4" of eye relief through the zoom range and the Rapid Z reticle allows you to hold right on target from 0-600 yards.

TJ

If you have the budget, you will never go wrong with high end optics. Zeiss and Swaro are definitely at the top of the list. If it's not in the budget, the Nikon Spotter XLII is a great scope for the money. I personally prefer a scope in the 15-45x65 range.

TJ

Hi Shane,

My guess is that it was likely a satellite bull.

TJ

Hi Mie,

One thing about elk is that they are not afraid to move long distances to eat. In farm country, it's not uncommon for them to travel several miles from cover to a feeding field. In the mountains, I often find that they head high later in the season to feed on the wind-blown slopes.

Hope that helps,

TJ

Hi Nick,

You might want to check some of the forestry areas up around the Ghost and Waiporous. There's lots of crown land up there and some good whitetails to be found tucked away deep in the bush. You may also want to check out some of the conservation properties across Alberta where hunting is permitted. They can be found at http://www.ab-conservation.com/go/default/index.cfm/discover-guide/

Good luck,

TJ

Actually there are some great books about pronghorns with one of my favourites being Pronghorn, America's Unique Antelope. While most often called antelope their true name is pronghorn and yes they do shed their horns annually. This takes place in late October through November. The horns are actually made of hair and break down quite quickly once they shed so they are indeed a rare find. I've had the good fortune to find two over the years.

TJ

Hi Orvin,

The regulations regarding discharging a firearm near a road read, " It is unlawful to

1. discharge a firearm from or cause a projectile from a firearm to pass along or across:
a) a provincial highway,
b) a road that is paved, oiled, graded or regularly maintained, unless
- the road is held under any active disposition under the Public Lands Act or under an order under the Surface Rights Act, or
- the person is hunting game birds with a shotgun under the authority of a licence. "

There are some exceptions to this such as designated road corridors where the distance from the road is specified.All of this information can be found on-line at: http://www.albertaregulations.ca/huntingregs/

For questions regarding specific regulations, you should contact:

Information Centre
Alberta Sustainable Resource Development
Main Floor, Great West Life Building
9920 108 Street
Edmonton Alberta Canada T5K 2M4

Hours of Operation, Mon-Fri: 8:15 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Tel (Edmonton local): 780 944-0313
Toll Free: 1 877 944 0313
Fax: 780 427-4407
Email: srd.infocent@gov.ab.ca

Good luck,

TJ

Hi James,

Sunday hunting is permitted in many seasons and areas in Alberta but you need to check for the specific WMU you'll be hunting. If you are going to be hunting a 300 zone, check the regulations for the 300 zones and if there is no notation that Sunday hunting is not permitted then you are okay to hunt. As always, when you have questions about specific laws and regulations, it's best to check with the people that enforce them. You can contact SRD at:

Information Centre
Alberta Sustainable Resource Development
Main Floor, Great West Life Building
9920 108 Street
Edmonton Alberta Canada T5K 2M4

Hours of Operation, Mon-Fri: 8:15 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Tel (Edmonton local): 780 944-0313
Toll Free: 1 877 944-0313
Fax: 780 427-4407
Email: srd.infocent@gov.ab.ca

Good luck,

TJ

A .30/30 is a fine choice for deer but typically lever action rifles are best suited for short range shooting. If you are looking for something a bit more versatile, then a .308 or .30-06 would indeed be great choices. A bolt action fitted with a scope is likely the best choice for a first deer rifle.

TJ

Hi Miguel,

My advice would be to get out in the aspen forest areas right after a fresh snow and check for tracks. If you find lots of tracks, there should be rabbits or hares near by. Watch along the edges of wetlands where there is good willow growth as well.

TJ

Hi Brandon,

SRD should be able to supply you with a complete description of "green zones". They can be contacted at:

Information Centre
Alberta Sustainable Resource Development
Main Floor, Great West Life Building
9920 108 Street
Edmonton Alberta Canada T5K 2M4

Hours of Operation, Mon-Fri: 8:15 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Tel (Edmonton local): 780 944-0313
Toll Free: 1 877 944-0313
Fax: 780 427-4407
Email: srd.infocent@gov.ab.ca

As for knowing if you are on public land, each county and MD publishes land owner maps that list all private and government owned lands. It can be very confusing in some areas for sure and don't forget that permission is required to access some goverment grazing leases.

TJ

Hi Keith,

The only totally random draws in Alberta are bison, mountain goat and WMU438 Trophy bighorn. This link will give you an idea of the priority required to draw various tags throughout the province.
www.mywildalberta.com/Hunting/HuntingDraws/DrawsSummaryReport.aspx

TJ

I usually don't start rattling until late October, although my best success has been after the rut in late November and early December where seasons exist.

TJ

Reasonably priced and long range optics typically don't go together. To get that kind of MOA adjustment, you are going to need a specialized tactical scope. Most guys are shooting Night Force scopes on rigs like that but they definitely aren't reasonably priced. I think you may be asking for a little too much from a reasonably priced scope.

TJ

Ruffed grouse populations seem to be fairly stable this year from what I've seen. I've enjoyed some great sucess in the Whitecourt, Grande Prairie and Peace River regions for them. As for Hungarian partridge, the area around Brooks seems to always produce good numbers of birds.

TJ

Hi Darcy,

Your best source of information would be to talk with the local wildlife biologist. Give your local Fish and Wildlife office a call and they should be able to get you in contact with him.

TJ

Hi Mark,

Great to see you getting back into hunting again. Here's a link to all the conservation sites you were referencing:
www.ab-conservation.com/go/default/index.cfm/discover-guide/search/.

You can also get some very detailed information on AFGA properties at: www.afga.org/content.html?identifier=WTFproperties

Good luck this season,

TJ

Hey Wes,

From my experience and from speaking with some very knowledgeable antelope hunters, I'd say right around September 15 is primetime.

Good luck on your hunt.

TJ

Elk numbers are good in Alberta right now and most of the western WMUs have good populations. I'm not overly familiar with WMU 355 but I do know that most of the 300 and 400 zones from Hinton north to Peace River offer excellent opportunities. If it is an area you are familiar with, I'm sure you could find some elk with a little hard work.

Good luck,

TJ

Big pike are lovers of cool water and head into the depths during the summer months. Without a depth finder, you are virtually fishing blind during the summer months. You could try trolling some deep-running bait around points but big pike can be in depths of 40 feet or more during July and August. I hope this helps,

TJ

Hi Gareth,

Coyotes are found virtually right across Alberta so I'd suggest seeking out some areas close to home. Most landowners are quite receptive to having coyote hunters on their place.

Good luck,

TJ

Hi Steve,

My absolute favourite perch set up is a tiny perch-coloured jigging spoon tipped with a meal worm. If there are perch below you, jig this very subtly in their face and they can't resist it.

Good luck,

TJ

Hi Frank,

Gaining information on sheep hunting spots is definitely not the easiest thing. It seems most sheep hunters are fairly closed mouthed about their favourite hunts. I'd suggest picking up a copy of People and Peaks of the Wilmore Wilderness. It gives a lot of insight into this incredible area. You should also contact the Willmore Wilderness Foundation as I'm sure the folks there could offer some suggestions. www.willmorewilderness.com

Good Luck,

TJ

Hi Troy,

Your best bet is to consult the hunting regulations. They are available on-line at www.albertaregulations.ca/huntingregs. If you are speaking about hunting within the Edmonton City limits, you should check out www.edmonton.ca/bylaws_licences/bylaws.aspx

Thanks,

TJ

Hi Ed,

Alberta's on-line hunting regulations can be found at:
www.albertaregulations.ca/huntingregs/ but no, other than in a couple specific areas, Alberta has no colour requirements when big game hunting.

TJ

Hi Austin,

My experience fishing the Red Deer River is somewhat limited but I know the best fishing is in the late fall. I'd suggest visiting the fishing forum on the Alberta Outdoorsmen website and asking your question there. I'm sure a few of the very knowledgeable anglers there could help you out.

www.outdoorsmenforum.ca

Good luck,

TJ

Hi Cory,

Quite truthfully, I just decided one day to try my hand at writing for outdoor magazines and I managed to sell a few articles right off the bat and that gave me the confidence to continue on. It was a long road to get to a point where I was actually making a living but I kept working hard at it and finally it all paid off. If it's something you are interested in, I'd highly recommend the North American School of Outdoor Writing:
http://www.nasow.com/.
You should also check out the mentor program offered by the Outdoor Writers of Canada: http://www.outdoorwritersofcanada.com/

There's no doubt that market is rapidly changing and making a living is becoming more difficult but I think there will always be a place for good writers and outdoor magazines like Alberta Outdoorsmen.

Good luck,

TJ

Hi Cory,

Your best bet would be to contact the Alberta Hunter Education Instructors Association (AHEIA) and sign up for a Hunter Education and a Firearm course. Once you have completed those, I'd suggest joining your local Fish and Game club.

AHEIA can be contacted through www.aheia.com

Alberta Fish and Game Assciation information can be found at www.afga.org.

Good luck,

TJ

Hi Peter,

Good to see you getting back into hunting.

The properties listed in the Discover Alberta book also have the conditions of access listed so just follow the instructions there and you will be fine. Most of the properties do not require advance permission but check before you go. You can also find those properties online with more detailed info at www.ab-conservation.com or www.afga.org.

As for hunting licences, some species require you to draw for them and other are available as over-the-counter tags. As always, you best source of information is the hunting regulations. They can be found online at www.albertaregulations.ca/huntingregs

Draws can be done on-line, at a licence vendor or over the telephone and information for the 2010 draws should be available in a few weeks. Another good website to find information about the draws and general hunting information is www.mywildalberta.com

Good luck,

TJ

A lot of people don't realize it but big pike love cool water and in the summer, they head deep, often to depths of 40 feet or more. Big jigging spoons seem to work very well if you can find a point that extends out into deep water. Sylvan is definitely a sleeper for big trophy pike. I've had some good days there over the years.

Good luck this summer.

TJ

Well first off, I really envy you. You should hit some phenominal angling for pike, walleye and lake trout. The lake trout really seem in tune with spoons and the Len Thompson Five of Diamonds and the Mepps Syclops are two of my favourites. Depending on the water temperature, the lake trout should still be fairly shallow so I'd start searching the gently sloping, boulder-strewn shorelines. The pike will likely still be close to their spawning bays. Look for large, dark-bottomed bays with new weed growth. Large crankbaits like the Swim Whiz would be my choice. The walleye can be a bit scattered on Leland but last time I was there, we found some humps that came up into three feet of water and the walleye were stacked on them. They were a few miles north of the camp, closer to the east shore. They were easy to catch on jigs cast up on top of the humps.

Have a great trip.

TJ

Hi Kelly,

Elk populations are very good in southern Alberta right now and opportunities to harvest elk exist right along the east slopes. Access to private land can be challenging but with enough door knocking, you can usually find a good ranch or two to hunt. The 400 zones offer some great opportunities as well for those willing to get out there and do some exploring and they offer the added benifit of loads of public land. I'd suggest concentrating on one area and spending the time getting to know it.

TJ

Yikes, that is a tough question. What I think might be the best WMU could be the worst for you. A lot of it comes down to how much public land is there. Can you get access to private land. Do you know the area. Quite honestly, I wouldn't say there is a bad area for antelope right now. I know some of the more central zones didn't produce that well last year as antelope were slow to migrate south but populations are good right across their range right now.

The same can be said of mule deer. If you are looking for a wall hanger, I'm pretty high on the mountain zones right now but populations are scattered and finding mule deer can be tough if you aren't familiar with the area. The Peace Country is still recovering from some tough winters so it's a bit hit and miss. Southern zones are lousy with mule deer but the increased number of tags in most zones has hurt trophy quality.

Ten years ago, I'd easily have picked a half dozen WMUs as being the best but that isn't the case right now. Tough winters, CWD and increased tags have all hurt populations badly. I'd pick a WMU you are familiar with and that you have good access in and hunt hard and you'll likely find a good buck.

The government stats on draw priority are bang on and I suspect their success stats are pretty reliable as well. Draw priority stats can be found at
www.mywildalberta.com/Hunting/HuntingDraws/DrawsSummaryReport.aspx

Sorry I couldn't be more specific but I'm not sure "best" exists right now.

TJ

Dear Anthony,

The rules regarding the hunting of coyotes are outlined fairly clearly in the 2009 Hunting Regulations. In regards to seasons, some areas are subject to closures and others are open throughout the year. The regulations state:

"Coyote
A Resident may, without a licence and on land to which he or she has the right of access, hunt (but not trap) coyote at all times of the year throughout the province, except as follows:
1) on public lands in the Green Area, only from October 1, 2009 to February 28, 2010, and
2) in Camp Wainwright (WMUs 728 and 730), only from January 4, 2010 to February 28, 2010.

Subject to the exception (*) below, a Non-resident or Non-resident Alien who holds a valid Non-resident/Non-resident Alien Wolf/Coyote Licence may hunt coyote on lands to which he or she has the right of access at all times of the year throughout the province - except on public lands in the Green Area where the season is from October 1, 2009 to February 28, 2010.

*Exception: if a big game season (other than a cougar season) is open in the area he or she is hunting, then the Non-resident or Non-resident Alien who holds a big game licence may hunt coyote only in the WMU or area where their big game licence is valid."

In regards to the use of calls, the regulations state:

"Electronic calls can now be used to hunt crows, magpie, coyote, red fox and wolf (using sounds that mimic the animals or rodents)."

As for all specific questions regarding regulations, however, your best option is to contact Fish and Wildlife directly for clarification.

Information Centre
Alberta Sustainable Resource Development
Main Floor, Great West Life Building
9920 108 Street
Edmonton Alberta Canada T5K 2M4

Hours of Operation, Mon-Fri: 8:15 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Tel (Edmonton local): 780 944-0313
Toll Free: 1 877 944-0313
Fax: 780 427-4407
Email: srd.infocent@gov.ab.ca

Thanks,

TJ

Hi David,

There is no specific regulation in the Wildlife Act addressing food plots specifically that I'm aware of but the Act is very clear that baiting for deer is illegal. I personally would consider hunting over a food plot planted specifically to attract deer as baiting but as with all legal matters such as this, you should contact Fish and Wildlife directly.

Information Centre
Alberta Sustainable Resource Development
Main Floor, Great West Life Building
9920 108 Street
Edmonton Alberta Canada T5K 2M4

Hours of Operation, Mon-Fri: 8:15 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Tel (Edmonton local): 780 944-0313
Toll Free: 1 877 944-0313
Fax: 780 427-4407
Email: srd.infocent@gov.ab.ca

Thanks,

TJ

Yes, the winters of 2006 and 2008 were tough ones on the deer populations in the north and numbers are definitely down but as with anywhere in Alberta, if you put your time in, there is always a chance of scoring on a good buck. You will have to work hard to find one though.

TJ

I've always enjoyed spot and stalk hunting for bears in the country west of Fox Creek and Valleyview. The area is full of roads, trails, pipelines and cutlines so there are loads of places to catch a bear out eating. Good luck with your hunt.

TJ

Hi Jason,

The rules regarding baitfish can be a bit confusing but the definition below from the regulations should clear up the use of smelts.

"Bait Fish means any of the following:
a. suckers (family Catostomidae)
b. sticklebacks (family Gasterosteidae)
c. trout-perch (Percopsis omiscomaycus)
d. Iowa darter (Etheostoma exile)
e. minnows (family Cyprinidae), except carp, goldfish and the western silvery minnow.
Note: Pet store fish (tropical fish) or crayfish cannot be used as bait fish.

Bait Fish may be used in waters that do not have bait bans or bait fish restrictions. Where fishing with bait fish is prohibited, other baits including smelts, herring, gammarus shrimp and dead fish eggs (e.g., preserved “salmon eggs”) may be used, provided a bait ban is not in effect for that water body.
NOTE: Smelts and herring are of the saltwater families Osmeridae and Clupeidae. Use of the freshwater species cisco (Coregonidae), also called tullibee or lake herring, is prohibited from use as bait."

Many people fish a smelt on a jig head with a stinger hook anywhere from a few inches to several feet of the bottom. Others suspend the smelt on a single or treble hook a foot or so below a weight. The lake trout are very light bighters at Spray and typically require a fast hookset. Either way of fishing a smelt works well and the key is to keep it off the bottom. I usually find it works well to jig it up and down occasionally but most bites come when it's sitting motionless.

TJ

Hi Ian,

Boy, that is a question with many answers. A lot would depend on how much he has shot, what your budget is and what type of grouse you'll be hunting. The biggest factor with a young hunter is a gun that fits well and that often means a shorter stock which in turn means a shorter barrel for better balance. I'd likely head to your local gun shop and try several of for size but I'd be looking at a 20 gauge in either a single shot or pump action. It may be worth looking for a good used gun as well as he will likely want to upgrade in the future so making a big investment in this shotgun may not be the wisest thing.

TJ