Hunting in Alberta - Movin there!

mosinmaster

mosinmaster

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Hey,

So I just got accepted into a program in Edmonton and I'll most likely be moving there. Are Albertans pretty gun-friendly? So how's the hunting in AB? Monster White-tails? Predators and Varmints? How's the duck/goose hunting? Bears, moose? Do you guys get Pronghorn in the Southern parts? Or is that still too far north? Turkeys?

I've always seen those trophy hunts in Alberta with huge game, so I'm expecting a lot of that :)

Would love to meet up with some members when I get there.
 
There are places where you get paid to kill varmints... Some places have gophers causing land to be condemned... Last I heard, the owners were paying $2 a tail. Coyotes and wolves have a bounty in certain places as do wild pigs... Not much for whitetails around my area, but lots of big mules... My friend gets a moose draw every year. And he gets a moose every year...
 
Lot's of moose and big ones too. Partridge is excellent. Mulie deer! Grain fed and mouthwatering next to the potatoes and corn. Pronghorn in the south. Ducks and Geese galore. Farmers will let you shoot gophers on their property (ask them first) good for an all day excursion. Yes it is very gun friendly in the rural areas but remember there are anti's everywhere.
 
Alberta and British Columbia have the largest diversity of big game in North America. IMHO we Albertans are spoiled rotten with wildlife with not only big game but with varmints and birds. You will have a lot of fun!
 
Thanks for the info. I didn't know there was a draw for deer, good to know. So I guess no big game hunting for me :( Fortunately I like ducks/geese/upland game hunting too.
 
mosinmaster said:
Thanks for the info. I didn't know there was a draw for deer, good to know. So I guess no big game hunting for me :( Fortunately I like ducks/geese/upland game hunting too.
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If you take the time to read the links I posted you'll see there are general licence opportunities for many species in select areas and whitetail in most areas. Others require you to enter the limited entry draws. We are facing more and more draws every year and general licence opportunities are shrinking. Our regs are fairly complicated and it's good to become intimately familiar with them.
 
Off topic here for a second, but just wanted to ask "track".......how'd you make out with the flooding, heard Okotoks was hit pretty hard......hope you and yours were all above the water line. Sorry for the quick hijack OP

Douglas
 
mosinmaster said:
Thanks for the info. I didn't know there was a draw for deer, good to know. So I guess no big game hunting for me :( Fortunately I like ducks/geese/upland game hunting too.
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Whoaaa, there is deer on draw, but almost every WMU has an open season for some animal or another. Whitetail buck can be hunted with an over the counter tag in 90% of the province. Elk and sheep can be hunted with an over the counter tag (draws only in certain WMUs). Moose can be hunted with archery gear with an over the counter tag in many areas, to hunt with a rifle you need to draw though.

There is tonnes of big game hunting without needing a draw. Read the links sheep put up. Thoughly read the regulations, and understand them. They will tell you want you can hunt, and where, and with what kind of tag.
 
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c-fbmi said:
Off topic here for a second, but just wanted to ask "track".......how'd you make out with the flooding, heard Okotoks was hit pretty hard......hope you and yours were all above the water line. Sorry for the quick hijack OP

Douglas
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We in the Okotoks area faired pretty well compared to neighbouring communities. Low lying areas got hit pretty good, but there was not widespread flooding like our friends in High River, parts of Calgary, Canmore, Bragg Creek and other communities.
 
mosinmaster said:
Hey,

So I just got accepted into a program in Edmonton and I'll most likely be moving there. Are Albertans pretty gun-friendly? So how's the hunting in AB? Monster White-tails? Predators and Varmints? How's the duck/goose hunting? Bears, moose? Do you guys get Pronghorn in the Southern parts? Or is that still too far north? Turkeys?

I've always seen those trophy hunts in Alberta with huge game, so I'm expecting a lot of that :)
Click to expand...

Where are you coming from and will you be living right in Edmonton? Do you hunt with a bow or muzzleloader?

I am sure you will find plenty of opportunities for hunting and you will probably be able to find hunters on some of these types of outdoor sites who will help you out. I lived in Edm. may years ago and now live near Rocky Mtn. Hse.

Would love to meet up with some members when I get there.
 
c-fbmi said:
Off topic here for a second, but just wanted to ask "track".......how'd you make out with the flooding, heard Okotoks was hit pretty hard......hope you and yours were all above the water line. Sorry for the quick hijack OP

Douglas
Click to expand...
AB Boy answered it correctly. High River was the hardest hit for small communities. Okotoks damage was minimal. Thanks for asking.:)
 
track said:
Alberta and British Columbia have the largest diversity of big game in North America. IMHO we Albertans are spoiled rotten with wildlife with not only big game but with varmints and birds. You will have a lot of fun!
Click to expand...

I echo this statement wholeheartedly. Enjoy!!
Eagleye.
 
cam1936 said:
Whoaaa, there is deer on draw, but almost every WMU has an open season for some animal or another. Whitetail buck can be hunted with an over the counter tag in 90% of the province. Elk and sheep can be hunted with an over the counter tag (draws only in certain WMUs). Moose can be hunted with archery gear with an over the counter tag in many areas, to hunt with a rifle you need to draw though.

There is tonnes of big game hunting without needing a draw. Read the links sheep put up. Thoughly read the regulations, and understand them. They will tell you want you can hunt, and where, and with what kind of tag.
Click to expand...

Second this. Last time I went through the AB regs and counted them up, you could get as many as 17 deer without a draw. Lots of traveling involved though. And having to harvest by the means specified. Some tag are only good in some areas, like the Strathcona County Deer Licence, others are good anywhere in the province, provided there is an open season. Some tags come in groups. Buy an antlerless tag for whitetail, it comes as two tags for one price. Plus you can have an antlered tag, plus Mulie, plus, plus, plus....
Then, there are the draws!

Read the regs. Lots and lots of opportunities!

Cheers
Trev
 
Thanks boys, I'm really excited.

Will a BC CORE License allow me to buy game licenses in AB? Or do I need to take the Albertan hunter's course?
 
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