Summary of Migratory Birds Hunting Regulations: Alberta, August 2024 to July 2025
Notice
Avian influenza virus (AIV) is a contagious viral infection that can affect domestic and wild birds throughout the world. Guidelines have been developed to prevent or mitigate the spread of this virus, and for precautionary measures to take when handling wild game. For more information, please refer to the Avian influenza in wild birds web page and the Wildlife and Avian Influenza – Handling Guidelines to Protect Your Health web page on the Government of Canada website.
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Summary
To hunt migratory game birds in Canada, you must possess:
- a valid Migratory Game Bird Hunting Permit
- a Canadian Wildlife Habitat Conservation Stamp on the permit
These two documents are issued by the federal government and are valid in all provinces and territories.
The 2024 federal permit is also valid for the 2025 spring special conservation harvest for Snow Geese and Ross’s Geese.
Hunting zones
Long description
Zone No. 1: Provincial Wildlife Management Units (WMUs) 200, 202 to 204, 206, 208, 216, 220 to 222, 224, 226, 228, 230, 232, 234, 236, 238, 240, 242, 244, 246, 248, 250, 252, 254, 256, 258, 260, 316, 318, 320, 322, 324, 326, 328, 330, 332, 334, 336 to 340, 342, 344, 346 to 360, 400, 402, 404, 406, 408, 410, 412, 414, 416 to 418, 420, 422, 426, 428 to 430, 432, 434, 436 to 442, 444 to 446, 500 to 512, 514 to 532, 534 to 537, 539 to 542, 544, 841, and 936
Zone No. 2: Provincial WMUs 102, 104, 106, 108, 110, 112, 116, 118, 119, 124, 128, 130, 132, 134, 136, 138, 140, 142, 144, 148, 150 to 152, 156, 158, 160, 162 to 164, 166, 210, 212, 214, 300, 302 to 306, 308, 310, 312, and 314
Hunters are advised to pay particular attention to the Alberta Hunting Guide to ensure that they are hunting for the correct species in the correct provincial WMU during the permitted times and dates. Note that these zone numbers do not correspond to provincial WMUs as presented in the Guide. If you need more information to determine in which zone you are located, please visit: Alberta regulations web page.
Refer to the Migratory Birds Regulations, 2022 for restrictions and requirements for items such as baiting, hunting methods and equipment.
Most provinces and territories have additional licence requirements for hunting migratory birds and/or to carry firearms. To know what you require, and if there are further restrictions for hunting migratory birds, please verify the applicable regulations for the province/territory and municipality where you will be hunting. Restrictions such as minimum required distances from residences and businesses for the discharge of firearms may be applicable.
Buy permit online
You can purchase and print your Migratory Game Bird Hunting Permit by visiting the Migratory Game Bird Hunting Permit web page.
Hunters may carry their Migratory Game Bird Hunting (MGBH) permit either in physical (paper) or electronic formats (such as on a mobile device). Electronic MGBH permits must be in the PDF format provided by the e-permitting system (a photograph or screenshot of your permit is not valid). It is the hunter’s responsibility to be able to show all required permits to a game officer immediately upon request.
Consultation process and migratory birds regulatory reports
A national consultation process has been developed which includes a report on the population status of migratory game birds and a consultation document that provide an opportunity to participate in developing the hunting regulations. For more information, consult the Migratory Birds Regulatory Report Series web page on the Government of Canada website.
Youth Migratory Game Bird Hunting (MGBH) Permit
Hunters who are minors (less than 18 years old) have the option to hunt with a Youth MGBH permit. The Youth MGBH permit, as well as the Canadian Wildlife Habitat Conservation stamp, can only be obtained through our online permitting system, free of charge. The Youth MGBH permit is not available for purchase from independent vendors or Canada Post.
The Youth MGBH permit provides young hunters with the opportunity to practice their skills under the supervision of an adult mentor (in possession of a MGBH Permit) throughout the full open season and the special conservation season, and provides Youth MGBH Permit holders with their own daily bag and possession limits.
Mentors must possess their own MGBH permit, must have held such a permit in a previous year, and may accompany no more than two youth hunters. Mentors may carry a firearm, and may hunt. For more information on the new rules pertaining to hunting migratory game birds in the modernized Migratory Birds Regulations, 2022, please consult the Government of Canada Migratory Game Bird Hunting website.
Enforcement
Federal game officers enforce the Migratory Birds Convention Act, 1994 (MBCA) and its associated regulations throughout Canada. This law regulates human activities, such as hunting, that could adversely affect wildlife conservation. Game officers may use warnings, administrative monetary penalties, tickets or prosecutions to enforce the provisions of the MBCA and its regulations. The fines and penalties that may be imposed reflect the seriousness of the offence(s). Individuals may be subject to a fine range for a first offence associated to sections of the MBR, 2022 designated for the purposes of paragraph 13(1)(c) of the MBCA, 1994 on summary conviction of not less than $5,000 and not more than $300,000, or imprisonment for a term of not more than six months, or both.
Shot
- Lead shot is toxic to wildlife and the environment
- In Alberta, the use and possession of shot other than non-toxic shot is prohibited while hunting migratory game birds
- Within National Wildlife Areas (NWA) that allow hunting, the possession of lead shot is prohibited for all hunting, including the hunting of migratory birds and upland game birds. Refer to the Wildlife Area Regulations to know which NWAs allow hunting and for the restrictions or requirements when conducting this activity
To reduce your exposure to contaminants in meat, make sure, before cooking it, to:
- remove the skin and fat from fish-eating birds
Crime stoppers
Anyone wishing to report illegal hunting activities, illegal selling of birds or other offences related to migratory birds is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477). Your call is anonymous, and you may be eligible for a cash reward.
Open season and daily bag and possession limits for migratory game birds in Alberta
Area |
Species |
Open season |
Daily bag limit |
Possession limit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zone No. 1 |
All ducks, combined |
September 1 to December 16 |
8 for residents of Canada |
24 for residents of Canada |
8 for non-residents of Canada (not more than a total of 2 may be Barrow’s Goldeneye or Common Goldeneye in any combination) |
24 for non-residents of Canada (not more than a total of 6 may be Barrow’s Goldeneye or Common Goldeneye in any combination) |
|||
Canada Geese, Cackling Geese and White-fronted Geese, combined |
September 1 to December 16 |
8 |
24 |
|
Sandhill Crane |
September 1 to December 16 (WMUs 200, 202 to 204, 206, 208, 220, 222, 226, 228, 230, 232, 234, 236, 238, 240, 242, 244, 248, 250, 252, 254, 256, 258, 260 and 500) |
5 |
15 |
|
Coots |
September 1 to December 16 |
8 |
24 |
|
Snipe |
September 1 to December 16 |
8 |
24 |
|
| Zone No. 2 |
All Ducks, combined |
September 8 to December 23 |
8 for residents of Canada |
24 for residents of Canada |
8 for non-residents of Canada (not more than a total of 2 may be Barrow’s Goldeneye or Common Goldeneye in any combination) |
24 for non-residents of Canada (not more than a total of 6 may be Barrow’s Goldeneye or Common Goldeneye in any combination) |
|||
Canada Geese, Cackling Geese and White-fronted Geese, combined |
September 8 to December 23 |
8 |
24 |
|
Sandhill Crane |
September 8 to December 23 (WMUs 102, 104, 106, 112, 116, 118, 119, 124, 128, 130, 132, 134, 136, 138, 140, 142, 144, 148, 150 to 152, 156, 158, 160, 162 to 164, 166 and 210) |
5 |
15 |
|
Coots |
September 8 to December 23 |
8 |
24 |
|
Snipe |
September 8 to December 23 |
8 |
24 |
Special measures for overabundant species in Alberta
Area |
Species |
Open season |
Daily bag limit |
Possession limit |
Additional hunting method or equipment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zone No. 1 |
Snow Geese and Ross’s Geese, combined |
September 1 to December 16 |
50 |
No limit |
Electronic bird calls of Snow Geese and Ross’s Geese may be used. While hunting those species with those calls, any other species of migratory bird for which it is the open season may be hunted. |
March 15 to June 15 |
50 |
Electronic bird calls of Snow Geese and Ross’s Geese may be used. |
|||
| Zone No. 2 |
Snow Geese and Ross’s Geese, combined |
September 8 to December 23 |
50 |
No limit |
Electronic bird calls of Snow Geese and Ross’s Geese may be used. While hunting those species with those calls, any other species of migratory bird for which it is the open season may be hunted. |
March 15 to June 15 |
50 |
Electronic bird calls of Snow Geese and Ross’s Geese may be used. |
For more information
The information presented here is a summary of the law. If there is a discrepancy between the law and this summary, the law prevails.
For more information, consult:
- the Migratory Birds Convention Act, 1994
- the Migratory Birds Regulations, 2022
- the frequently asked questions for hunters
You may also direct your questions to:
Environment and Climate Change Canada
Canadian Wildlife Service
Regional office
9250-49 Street
Edmonton AB T6B 1K5
Tel. : 1-800-668-6767
enviroinfo@ec.gc.ca
Report your migratory bird bands
Call 1-800-327-BAND (2263) to leave a message or go to the the Report a bird with a federal band or color marker website.
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