Welcome to Volume 4 of the Outdoorsmen Forum Digest.

The purpose of this Digest is to help keep Alberta's outdoorsmen and women up-to-date on issues and events as they happen in Alberta related to our outdoor pursuits. From breaking news to press releases from Sustainable Resource Development, Alberta's outdoor stakeholders, and special events, special deals and a regular forum update, we hope you enjoy the Outdoorsmen Forum Digest.

If you wish to be removed from our email list you can opt out at the bottom of this page but we hope you enjoy this digest and take the opportunity to stay further in touch with Alberta’s outdoor community.

Please take the time to visit our sponsor, the Sawridge Inns and Conference Centres, the official Inn of Alberta Outdoorsmen. Here you can find discounts that will help make your next hunting or fishing trip to Slave Lake, Fort McMurray or Peace River that much more affordable. Room rate savings are also extended to Alberta's hunters and anglers at their Edmonton South and Jasper locations.

Undersubscribed Special Fish Harvest Licences Still Available to Alberta Anglers

As of July 24, 2009 there are still several undersubscribed walleye licences available for purchase on both Pigeon and Newell Lakes.

On Newell Lake there were 189 Class A licences remaining allowing for the catching and keeping of two (2) walleye over 50 cm in total length, while Pigeon Lake still had 2346 Class C licences remaining for the catching and keeping of three (3) walleye under 43 cm in total length.

For more immediate information call toll-free in Alberta: 1-877-289-0999 or click on the image to the left to visit the page.

Undersubscribed Hunting Special Licences Go On Sale
August 20, 2009

It should be noted that this year the opportunity to purchase Undersubscribed Special Licences commences at an earlier date than seasons past. This year hunters can purchase Undersubscribed Special Licences beginning Thursday, August 20, 2009 at 8:15 AM, a full two weeks earlier than last year. These licences can be purchased online at www.albertarelm.com or by calling 1-900-451-3729 on the aforementioned date and time.

The list of available Undersubscribed Special Licences will be provided to the public on August 17, 2009. This list will be viewable at www.mywildalberta.com. Click the image at right for further information.

Ducks Unlimited Canada Seeks Your Best Shot!

Your best shot may be all that’s needed, but Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC) is giving Albertans a chance to win prizes in return for submitting up to 10 of the best nature photographs they snapped between July 2008 and September, 2009.

The province-wide nature photography contest celebrates the way Albertans take photographs to record and preserve the natural beauty of Alberta wildlife, waterfowl, wetlands and natural habitat. The photos can include people of all ages enjoying what these spaces offer. For more information click the image at left.

Using the New "Online" Tagging System This Hunting Season

Starting this year, if you purchase a licence online at www.albertarelm.com that requires a tag(s) you must use an online paper tag. The online paper tags contain a unique 10 digit tag number. You are required to enter it when making your purchase. Tags are available at your local Fish and Wildlife office free of charge. Print your licence once your purchase is complete. You do not need to wait for a licence to be mailed or go to another location to pick it up.

Hunters who applied for a Special Licence in this year's draw should have received two of the online paper tags in the envelope received containing their draw results for this season.

For more information regarding the use of online paper tags visit www.outdoorsmenforum.ca/showthread.php?t=34554

Alberta Outdoorsmen Magazine Announces the 2008 Alberta Hunters of the Year in the 2009 Alberta Guide to Hunting Regulations

Alberta Outdoorsmen Magazine is proud to present Alberta's 2008 Hunters of the Year. The three successful hunters can be seen on page 96 of the 2009 Alberta Guide to Hunting Regulations. Ray Cote (Elk), Jan J. Allen (Mule Deer) and Philip Friesen (White-tailed Deer) will all be recognized in the September issue of Alberta Outdoorsmen. At this time the winners will be presented with a cheque and copies of the 2009 Alberta Guide to Hunting Regulations and the September issue of Alberta Outdoorsmen.

ELK Ray Cote ($250)	MULE DEER Jan J. Allen ($500)	WHITE-TAILED DEER Philip Friesen ($250)

Outdoorsmen Forum members receive 10% Discounts on all merchandise (phone orders only).
Call 780-413-0331 and provide code AOF4 to receive your discount.

Featuring In The Crosshairs TARGET: WESTERN DEER VOLUME I Featuring CONSERVATION, PRIDE AND PASSION At the AO Store DVDs, BOOKS, HATS etc brought to you by Outdoor Quest Television Show The Alberta Fish and Game Association 1908-2008 Click on the image below to visit the AO Store and then phone 780-413-0331 and provide code AOF4

AFGA Dream Hunt and Quad Raffles

The Alberta Fish and Game Association’s Wildlife Trust Fund celebrated its 25th anniversary in 2008 making it Alberta’s oldest land trust. With over 60 properties across the province, encompassing in excess 0of 34,000 acres, these properties are testament to the dedication of AFGA members across Alberta. The Wildlife Trust Fund relies on the generous donations of clubs and zones, and of course individual and corporate donors to purchase and maintain these properties. Additionally, it runs a number of fund raising initiatives each year, with the Dream Hunt and Quad raffles being two of the most important.

This year’s raffles included a trip for two lucky hunters to the Northwest Territories to hunt for caribou with Barry Taylors Arctic Safaris and a Polaris 400 Sportsman Quad from Cycle Works. Tickets for the raffles are $10 each and may be obtained through local Fish and Game clubs, by calling the AFGA Head Office at 780-437-2342 or on-line at www.afga.org.

All proceeds from the Dream Hunt and Quad Raffles go toward the purchase of critical habitat in Alberta. A complete list of Wildlife Trust Fund properties and the recreational opportunities that they afford can be found at www.afga.org.

Guinn Crousen is shown here with his World Record Bighorn Sheep (208 3/8) taken in 2000 on Luscar Mountain with the Minister's Special Bighorn Sheep Licence.

Alberta Minister's Special Bighorn Sheep Licence

This permit is authorized to hunt the entire month of November and the first two weeks in December 2009. The rams are in the rut then and Sunday Hunting is permitted. The 2008 ram taken by Billy McClelland scored an impressive 199 (unofficial) and the 2007 ram shot by Denis Dale scored 194+ (unofficial). These are representative of the rams that can be hunted in Alberta. Tickets are $10.00 each and there are 15,000 tickets printed. The draw will take place on Friday August 21, 2009 at the Calgary Firearms Centre in DeWinton, Alberta. Only Alberta residents are eligible to purchase these tickets. Click here for information on purchasing tickets.

Alberta Minister's Special Mule Deer Licence

Whether you head to the northern portion of the province to hunt the giants of the bush or the southern prairies, Alberta has consistently produced some impressive mule deer and remains the home of the world record non-typical mule deer taken by Ed Broder in 1926 with a SCORE OF 355 2/8 B&C. This permit is authorized to hunt one antlered mule deer and is valid anywhere in Alberta during a general or special licence antlered mule deer season, until December 31, 2009. Tickets are $10.00 each and there are 2,500 tickets printed. The draw will take place on Friday August 21, 2009 at the Calgary Firearms Centre in DeWinton, Alberta. Only Alberta residents are eligible to purchase these tickets. Click here for information on purchasing tickets.

Alberta Minister's Special Elk Licence

This permit is authorized to hunt one antlered elk, in accordance with all provisions of the Wildlife Act and Wildlife Regulation. This special licence is valid anywhere in Alberta during a general elk season and a special licence antlered elk draw season, until December 31, 2009 (except WMU’s 728 & 730 (Camp Wainwright), WMU 624 (Cypress Hills Park) and WMU 936 archery only special licence draw season). Alberta has produced some impressive elk across the province and currently holds the # 1 Canadian record Pope & Young elk (Huppertz 402 5/8). Tickets are $10.00 each and there are 2,500 tickets printed. The draw will take place on Friday August 21, 2009 at the Calgary Firearms Centre in DeWinton, Alberta. Only Alberta residents are eligible to purchase these tickets. Click here for information on purchasing tickets.

Recreational Access Management Program (RAMP)

The Recreational Access Management Program (RAMP) is a pilot initiative developed by Alberta Sustainable Resource Development to facilitate public hunting and fishing access opportunities and manage wildlife habitat on privately-owned land in the southwestern corner of Alberta. 2009 will be the first year of the controversial program. For more information regarding RAMP visit

www.srd.gov.ab.ca/fishwildlife/fishinghunting/recreationalaccessmanagementprogram.aspx

or download a pdf outlining the program at

http://srd.alberta.ca/fishwildlife/fishinghunting/pdf/RecreationalAccessManagementProgram-July2009.pdf

Boating Licence Required By Law

As of September 15, 2009 all boaters will be required to have the Pleasure Craft Operator Card in order to operate a powered watercraft. There is no grandfather clause or age exemption – this law applies to all boaters. Powered watercraft includes watercraft fitted with any size motor – even a trolling motor.

Recreational boating is a favourite pastime in Canada with between seven and nine million people enjoying Canadian waterways each year. Sadly, not every boating excursion is a return trip: Over 200 boating fatalities occur each year along with an estimated 6,000 non-fatal accidents – most of them preventable.

You can get your Pleasure Craft Operator Card by taking an online exam at www.boaterexam.com/canada

Don't Forget! Your Alberta Regulations
Are Online!

A single access point for Alberta's Hunting, Fishing and Trapping Regulations, as well as the Hunting Special Draws Booklet and Special Walleye Draws Brochure can be accessed at www.albertaregulations.ca

And don't forget to sign up at www.mywildalberta.com to stay connected with Alberta's Hunting, Fishing and Trapping community.