Alberta hunting tag draws

24th is the deadline, but I wouldn't wait until then. I believe we get results July 14th? (except antelope)

90-95 days from now we'll be heading out on our moose hunt (love our draw system). My calling steadily improves, our shooting is pretty darn sharp, just gotta keep it fresh and finish working on the trailer (raised it up 6" and installed a different heater). Wife's hoping to draw for a try at her first buck (mule locally in Nov).

Best of luck to everyone in the draws.
 
Okay... I need a little help here guys. For the past two years I have missed the draws. I had thought I opted for an e-mail notification, but nothing ever comes.

How do I enter in the draws?

I've taken bucks both years previous, but I'd like to do something different this year.
 
Noel said:
Rumors fly they will be changing high priorities and toss you into a lottery system.:(
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Not sure I would call them rumors ;)

PROPOSED REGULATION CHANGE FOR 2011

CAPPING OF DRAW PRIORITIES FOR SPECIAL LICENCES

1. CURRENT STRATEGY

The current special licence draw system in Alberta is highly regarded as a fair system of selecting hunters for special licence hunting opportunities in Alberta. There are some Special Licence Draw Codes (i.e. Trophy Sheep) where due to the volume of applicants and licences available, unless you were amongst the first group to apply, you have very little likelihood of ever being selected. This situation prevents new hunters (i.e. youth) from ever having the opportunity to pursue certain special licences.


2. CONCERN

Priority levels for special licence draw codes are becoming increasingly high and in some circumstances are statistically impossible for new hunters to ever have the opportunity to be successful in obtaining one of these special licences.
The time required to get drawn for some special licences which limits new hunters from any realistic likelihood of ever being drawn is primarily an issue for trophy sheep draw codes. However, there are certain species which have WMUs where the number of years to get drawn has increased to long wait times. The difference is that there are many other WMUs available for these species where hunters if they choose can get drawn more frequently.


3. INFORMATION TO SUPPORT CHANGE

While the number of hunters is staying relatively constant, the number of draw applicants is increasing. The primary reason for the increase in draw applications is the enhancement of the draw process through online applications. Priority levels for special licences are likely to increase as the number of applications continues to rise.
Table 1, illustrates the length of time it will take to draw all current applicants and allow new hunter the opportunity to be drawn for specific Trophy Sheep Draw Codes. Table 2, illustrates the percent chance of getting drawn for a particular species by three priority levels; 6, 8 and 10. By priority 10 almost all applicants are being drawn with the exception of a small number of WMUs for antlered moose and elk and non-trophy sheep





Table 1. The number of years it will take the current number of applicants to be drawn in specific Trophy Sheep Draw codes. The length of time illustrates how the number of years it will take for a new hunter to have the opportunity to hunt under the authority of these special licences. Data is from the 2009 hunting draw applications.

Table 2. The percentage of special licences which are drawn by priority level 6, 8 and 10 for the common Special Licence types. Data is from the 2009 hunting draw applications.


4. RECOMMENDED CHANGE

Making changes to the draw system, specifically regarding capping priority levels is undergoing consultation between Fish and Wildlife and major stakeholders. There are significant issues pertaining to a number of Draw Codes that prevent new hunters from ever having an opportunity to obtain one of these special licences. Depending upon results of the consultation process there are two alternatives currently being considered, specifically;
I. Placing a cap on priorities for all Special Licence Draw Codes. Once applicants reach the priority cap level, they would enter into a “super pool” and Draw Codes that have reached this particular level will randomly draw applicants from the “super pool”.
II. Place a cap on priorities for Trophy Sheep Draw Codes only. Once applicants reach a specified draw priority they will enter a “super pool”. Applicants will be randomly drawn from this “supper pool” once the Draw Code reaches this level.
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PROPOSED REGULATION & WILDIFE MANAGEMENT CHANGE FOR 2011

CREATE ONE DRAW CODE FOR ALL RESIDENT TROPHY SHEEP SPECIAL LICENCES – F & W EDMONTON

1. CURRENT STRATEGY

Currently there are five separate Resident Special Licence Draw Codes and licences for trophy sheep. These include; WMU 410, WMU 437, WMU 408, WMU 444/446 and WMU 438. Residents may apply for only one of these special licences a year. Of these Special Licence Draws, only WMU 438 is a random draw amongst all applicants. All the other Draw Codes allow applicants to gain priorities within each specific Draw Code.



2. CONCERN

Due to low permit numbers and high demand it is statistically impossible for new hunters to ever have the opportunity in successfully getting drawn (see Capping of Draw Priorities AGMAG proposal for further detail). It is also likely that additional WMUs will be put on draw for trophy sheep. There is a concern in some sheep populations regarding the low number of rams post-hunting season. As a result of this it is likely that additional WMUs will be put on draw for Trophy Sheep.


3. INFORMATION TO SUPPORT CHANGE


For information pertaining to high priority levels within Trophy Sheep Draw codes review the Capping Priorities AGMAG proposal. Due to low numbers of trophy sheep observed during post-hunting season survey, additional WMUs may need to go on draw for resident hunters. Figure 1, illustrates the percentage of trophy rams observed during post-hunting surveys (1993 – 2008) for the Foothills, Clearwater and Southern Rockies areas. The management goal is to have 5% of the population consisting of trophy rams post-hunting season.

If additional WMUs go on draw for Trophy Sheep it will be necessary to create additional draw codes. By creating one Trophy Sheep draw code, hunters would have the flexibility to apply in different hunt areas.










Figure 1. Percent Trophy Rams observed during post-hunting season surveys for the Foothills, Clearwater and Southern Rockies areas; 1993- 2008.






4. RECOMMENDED CHANGE

Making changes regarding the capping of special licence priorities is undergoing consultation between Fish and Wildlife and major stakeholders. Depending upon results of the consultation process the following options are currently being considered, specifically;

I. Create one Trophy Sheep Draw Code for all Resident Trophy Sheep Special Licences. Allow residents to apply in one WMU within the list of all WMUs which have license allocated under Trophy Sheep Special Licences. Current priority that resident hunters have in Trophy Sheep Draw Codes would be applied to the new Draw Code. As well, hunters that have been applying in WMU 438 with no priorities would be given a priority level which reflects their previous application history.
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Here is a bit more:


2010 Regulation Changes

Moose
- eliminate general seasons in NE.

Pronghorn
- Creation of Non-trophy seasons in all AMA’s.

White-tailed Deer
- Supplemental tags in 300, 328 and 515.

Bison-Only 1 applicant per application permitted.
- Create a Bison Special Licence Partner Licence

Bird Game
- Closure of Camp Wainwright game bird season for 2010.

Elk
-Create antlered elk season in 525.
- Change antlered elk season in 526 to a general 3-point season.
- Expand WMU’s with winter hunting for antlerless elk.

Bighorn Sheep
- Standardize start dates for Non- Trophy sheep to September 10.




Consultation on Wildlife regulation Issues for 2011

1. Capping of Priorities for all draw codes

2. Standardize start dates for Archery Hunting to Sept. 1 in WMU’s with rotating start date.- affect seasons that start first Wednesday after labour day.

3. Combine all Trophy sheep draw codes into a single draw code.
- this would be instead of a proposed 2-5 year wait out period for WMU’s with a general sheep season.
- there may be other WMU’s going on to draw.

4. Creation of either ### elk draw code.
-a single “either ###” elk code would be created for all WMU’s where there is currently an either ### season.

5. Eliminate Cypress Hills and WMU 300 elk draw codes.
-eliminate the “extra” codes and put these WMU’s into the current Antlered and Antlerless elk codes.
-hunters currently holding priority for either of these seasons would have a choice of moving their priority into one of the three revised elk draw codes.

6. Muzzleloader seasons (pre-rifle season) over a broad geographic area.
-the season would run during the last two weeks of archery season, just before the rifle season started.
-muzzleloader hunters would need to hold a valid rifle season permit for the species and zone.
-would apply for moose, deer and elk.

7. Inclusion of crossbows in the archery only seasons.
-crossbows would be considered archery equipment.
-Compound and Crossbow harvest success is similar.
-this would likely not increase success but would likely lead to increased participation in archery only seasons, leading to increased harvest levels during these seasons.
-the anticipated increased harvest during archery only seasons would likely result in moose and mule deer archery only seasons being put on draw.
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