Hunters be sure to check hunting regulations for where your licences are valid

Supplemental Antlerless White-tailed Deer Licences are no longer valid in several central Alberta Wildlife Management Units

The white-tailed deer season began November 1st in central Alberta. A number of hunters are not aware of an important change for this year -- the removal of a number of Wildlife Management Units (WMUs) from the list of units in which a Supplemental Antlerless White-tailed Deer Licence is valid.

A message about the change (on page 12 of the paper copy of the 2011 Alberta Guide to Hunting Regulations) shows that this licence is not valid for WMUs 240, 242, 250, 252, 260, 504 and 506 which covers a swath of central Alberta from Viking to Two Hills and northwest through the Redwater/Thorhild area and up to Athabasca and Boyle. A similar change in southern Alberta for WMUs 150, 151, 162 and 163 (south of Hanna) is also in effect, although an Antlerless White-tailed Deer Special Licence can be obtained for these four WMUs.

In central Alberta, this change has reportedly been missed by more than a few hunters and Fish and Wildlife officers are encountering hunters who have mistakenly taken antlerless white-tailed deer where the licence is not valid.

For further information, see guide on this page - click on the guide, then on Changes and Definitions, scroll down to Important Changes for 2011 - look under Big Game.

Hunters are advised to check carefully to ensure their licence - including a supplemental licence - is valid in the WMU in which you intend to hunt.

There are numerous regulations hunters need to be aware of before heading out into the field. Of course, you want to ensure you have met all the correct licensing requirements, but you also have to be aware of regulations pertaining to vehicle use, restricted areas, tagging, registration, weaponry, ammuniion and so forth.

Information on hunting regulations is available from the Alberta Guide to Hunting Regulations publication, which is updated each year in July, and is also available online:

Order a Print Copy:

Updated: November 5, 2011