Hunting Seasons in Alberta, Canada 2025–26: Big Game and Small Game, Licenses, and Regulations Guide

Plan your 2025–26 Alberta hunt with our province‑by‑province guide—season dates, bag limits, licenses, bow & rifle rules, and key game species from mule deer to ducks. Alberta’s vast landscapes—from boreal forests and foothills to prairie grasslands—offer premier deer seasons, elk hunts, moose stalking and small‑game pursuits. Hunters will find diverse habitat, robust provincial regulations and ample opportunity for big game and small game across multiple Wildlife Management Units (WMUs). This guide covers 2025–26 season windows, license requirements, bag limits and provincial regulations to ensure a compliant, ethical hunt of whitetail deer, elk, moose, black bear, upland birds and waterfowl. What Is There to Hunt in Alberta? Big Game: Whitetail deer, mule deer, elk, moose, black bear Small Game & Upland Birds: Sharp‑tailed grouse, Hungarian partridge, snowshoe hare, wild turkey Waterfowl & Migratory Birds: Ducks, geese, swans, doves (federal permit required) Furbearers & Predators: Coyote, wolf, fox, beaver, muskrat Alberta’s varied terrain supports year‑round opportunity—from archery deer seasons to late‑fall waterfowl wingshooting. What Animals Can You Hunt Year‑Round in Alberta? Unprotected species such as coyote and fox may be taken any time on private land with landowner permission. Public‑land restrictions require licence and may limit methods outside established seasons; always confirm WMU‑specific rules before targeting unclassified predators. Alberta Big Game Hunting Seasons 2025–26 Whitetail Deer Archery: Sep 1 – Oct 15 Rifle/Muzzleloader: Oct 1 – Dec 15 WMUs: 102–166, 200–260, 300–446, 500–544 Licences: OTC in most units Mule Deer Archery: Sep 1 – Oct 15 Rifle/Muzzleloader: Oct 1 – Nov 30 WMUs: 300–360, 400–446 Licences: OTC only Elk Archery: Sep 1 – Oct 31 Rifle/Muzzleloader: Oct 25 – Dec 7 Licences: Archery OTC; Rifle draw required in WMUs 212, 247, 248, 300–308 Moose Archery: Sep 3 – Oct 31 Rifle/Muzzleloader: Oct 25 – Nov 30 Licences: Archery OTC in WMU 410; Rifle draw only in WMUs 102–166, 200–260 Black Bear Fall: Aug 25 – Aug 31; Sep 3 – Oct 31 (WMUs 326–360, 410–442) Spring: Apr 1 – May 31 (WMUs 212, 410) Licences: OTC in all WMUs; cub harvest prohibited citeturn1search1 Note: Special licences (antlerless, youth, MSL) required where indicated by small “box” in official tables—applications May 27 – June 19, 2025 Alberta Small Game & Waterfowl Seasons 2025–26 Upland Birds & Small Game: Sharp‑tailed Grouse, Ptarmigan: Sep 1 – Dec 15 (daily limit 5) Hungarian Partridge: Sep 1 – Dec 15 (daily limit 5) Snowshoe Hare: Sep 1 – Mar 31 (daily limit 3) Wild Turkey: Apr 1 – May 15; Sep 1 – Dec 15 (daily limit 1; draw for spring hunt) Waterfowl & Migratory Birds: Ducks (all species): Aug 23 – Dec 31; Jan 1 – Jan 15 (daily limit 5) Canada Geese: Aug 23 – Dec 31; Jan 1 – Jan 15 (daily limit 5) Mourning Dove: Sep 1 – Nov 30 (daily limit 15) Requirements: Federal Migratory Game Bird Hunting Permit & Conservation Stamp Bag Limits by Species Whitetail/Mule Deer: 1 antlered or antlerless per season Elk & Moose: 1 legal antlered or antlerless (where drawn) Black Bear: 1 (cub harvest prohibited) Wild Turkey: 1 (per licence period) Grouse/Partridge: 5 daily; possession 10 Snowshoe Hare: 3 daily; possession 6 Ducks/Geese: 5 daily; possession 15 Mourning Dove: 15 daily; possession 45 Coyote/Fox (nuisance): no limit on private land; season applies on public land License & Tags Information for Alberta Hunters (2025–26) Resident Licence: $25 (annual); tags $10/species Non‑Resident Licence: $150 (annual); tags $10/species; draw application fee $20 Additional Permits: Federal Migratory Bird Permit & Habitat Stamp (free; required) Special MSL Licence draws (elk, antlered deer, mountain goat, etc.) Hunter Education: Mandatory Certified Hunter Education Course for all first‑time hunters. Hunting Methods: Bow, Rifle, Muzzleloader Bow: Compound, recurve, longbow; crossbows allowed only Dec 1 – Jan 31 in most WMUs; broadhead minimum 7/8″ cutting diameter. Rifle: Centrefire calibres ≥ .24 cal; straight‑wall pistols prohibited; shotguns permitted for muzzleloader context when using single‑projectile conversion. Muzzleloader: Must be .40 cal or larger, patched round ball or conical bullet; approved ignition systems only; shotgun 12‑, 16‑, 20‑gauge with muzzleloader conversion and single‑projectile only. Regulations & Resources Shooting Hours: ½ hour before sunrise to ½ hour after sunset Zone Maps & WMU Boundaries: Available at AlbertaREL M.org Harvest Reporting: Mandatory within 24 hours of kill (online or phone) Special Areas: Provincial Parks/Rec Areas require firearm discharge permit Verification Reminder: Before you head out, always verify season dates, bag limits, and license requirements on the official Alberta Guide to Hunting Regulations website to stay compliant and ensure a legal, ethical hunt. This guide was created based on information from Alberta Guide to Hunting Regulations: https://open.alberta.ca/guide-to-hunting-regulations