2024 Alberta Draw Reductions

mmattockx

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I looked for a thread on this a while back and didn't see anything. Last year Alberta greatly reduced the number of tags given out, by 2/3 or more depending on the WMU. Did anybody ever see anything from the government on this and will the numbers of tags be at the reduced level going forward?

I'm looking to plan some hunting trips and if my chances of getting a tag have plummeted to near zero it is going to alter how I go about things this year.


Thanks,
Mark
 
Well that all depends on what species, and wmu you were looking at. Resident vs non resident...
My zone was 162 and species were mulie and whitetail, but I checked other WMU's around Calgary and central Alberta and they all had major reductions in tags handed out. I don't recall if I looked at species other than deer last year when draw results came out. All resident tags.


Mark
 
definitely cut back on the mulie tags for sure. I think, now just me as I didnt look it up, but a few years ago they really hit them hard and gave out a bunch of tags to try to reduce the numbers for cwd. Do you think now were happy with the reduction and are trying to preserve the number they have now ?
 
definitely cut back on the mulie tags for sure. I think, now just me as I didnt look it up, but a few years ago they really hit them hard and gave out a bunch of tags to try to reduce the numbers for cwd. Do you think now were happy with the reduction and are trying to preserve the number they have now ?
Possibly. It would have been nice to see some sort of explanation for it, though. Trying to plan for the upcoming season is hard if the priority requirements and draw success have all shifted drastically.

I have been told by some crusty old CO's that the people running the show now aren't hunters and have very different agendas than we've seen in the past and that concerns me significantly. SRD used to be one of the few reasonably useful and practical government departments. If that has shifted it will be very unfortunate for all of us.

Mark
 
The UCP will do whatever seems the most profitable to them. Doesn't help when the minister is involved in an outfitting business. Here is a good comment on him.
Todd Loewen has no business being the Minister responsible for protecting Alberta’s wildlife.
Under his watch, our wildlife is being sold off to the highest bidder worldwide, under the pretense that the revenue will support future conservation in our province.
This is nothing more than a sham. True conservation means protecting and preserving wildlife, not turning it into a commodity for profit.
Loewen has consistently prioritized exploitation over stewardship, putting short-term gains ahead of long-term ecological balance.
His track record proves that he serves special interests, not Alberta’s wildlife or the people who care about it.
 
Because of Cronic Wasting Disease, the government issued tripple the amount of buck and doe tags for mule deer. As of last year, 2024, they reduced the tag numbers of less than the normal average. This occured in the central, and most particular, the southern zones. Not all zones were affected, however many were.
 
Im out in the east, south east and have many mates out there (162 up to low 200s) and the herd has been well decimated. Been hunting there for 10 years now and there the least deer out there ive ever seen. To be honest im actually not going to hunt deer out there for another year or so till the herd is back up again.

The cwd cull and a rough ass winter are likely to blame. The days of 50 deer emerging from the brush at dusk and having your choice of buck or measuring the fatness of does through a scope are behind us. Although they may be back again in a few years. Ill be sticking to the mountains this year. Maybe head out east for bow hunting just to enjoy the country.
 
Im out in the east, south east and have many mates out there (162 up to low 200s) and the herd has been well decimated. Been hunting there for 10 years now and there the least deer out there ive ever seen. To be honest im actually not going to hunt deer out there for another year or so till the herd is back up again.

The cwd cull and a rough ass winter are likely to blame. The days of 50 deer emerging from the brush at dusk and having your choice of buck or measuring the fatness of does through a scope are behind us. Although they may be back again in a few years. Ill be sticking to the mountains this year. Maybe head out east for bow hunting just to enjoy the country.
I share your sentiments.
 
Im out in the east, south east and have many mates out there (162 up to low 200s) and the herd has been well decimated. Been hunting there for 10 years now and there the least deer out there ive ever seen.
I agree the numbers are well down. I've been hunting 162 since 2009 and saw very few animals the last few years. 2020 was the last season we filled a tag out there. It used to be overrun with both species and is certainly not now.


Mark
 
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