Cougar Hunting Seasons and CMAs
Updates
Current as of November 26, 2025
Cougar registration process changes
Please note changes related to the cougar registration process, as described below.
Cougar harvest must be reported within 24 hours of the kill to:
Please include:
- hunter’s name
- date of the kill
- sex of the cat
- Wildlife Management Unit (WMU) the cougar was harvested in
Physical registration requirement
The time requirement for physical registration of harvested cougars at an Alberta government office is within 5 days after the kill.
To ensure someone is available to assist with the physical registration of your cougar, please phone a Fish and Wildlife office to schedule an appointment within 5 days of the kill.
CMA updates
In the 2024-2025 season, new Wildlife Management Units (WMUs) were added to Cougar Management Areas (CMAs), allowing hound hunting in more of Alberta.
Please see the cougar hunting status tables and CMA location map below for details and to make sure the season is open where you plan to hunt.
Please note that there is no Sunday hunting in CMA 36.
Cypress Hills Provincial Park is included in CMA 36. Please note there are numerous requirements to be aware of in the Provincial Parks General Directive for this activity. Visit:
Cougar hunting season status summary
Data updated:
January 23, 2026 @ 4:22 PM
Cougar
Management
Area
|
Male
Quota
|
Female
Quota
|
Male Season Status
|
Female Season Status
|
|
1
|
2
|
1
|
Open
|
Open
|
|
2
|
2
|
2
|
Closed
|
Open
|
|
3
|
2
|
2
|
Open
|
Open
|
|
4
|
2
|
2
|
Open
|
Open
|
|
5
|
2
|
2
|
Closed
|
Open
|
|
6
|
1
|
1
|
Open
|
Closed
|
|
7
|
2
|
1
|
Open
|
Closed
|
|
8
|
2
|
1
|
Closed
|
Open
|
|
9
|
2
|
1
|
Closed
|
Closed
|
|
10
|
2
|
1
|
Open
|
Closed
|
|
11
|
2
|
1
|
Closed
|
Closed
|
|
12
|
2
|
1
|
Closed
|
Open
|
|
13
|
2
|
1
|
Open
|
Closed
|
|
14
|
2
|
1
|
Open
|
Open
|
|
15
|
2
|
1
|
Open
|
Open
|
|
16
|
2
|
2
|
Open
|
Open
|
|
17
|
2
|
2
|
Open
|
Open
|
|
18
|
2
|
2
|
Open
|
Open
|
|
19
|
2
|
2
|
Open
|
Open
|
|
20
|
1
|
1
|
Closed
|
Open
|
|
21
|
2
|
2
|
Closed
|
Closed
|
|
22
|
2
|
2
|
Closed
|
Open
|
|
23
|
2
|
2
|
Closed
|
Open
|
|
24
|
2
|
1
|
Open
|
Open
|
|
25
|
2
|
2
|
Open
|
Open
|
|
26
|
2
|
2
|
Open
|
Open
|
|
27
|
1
|
2
|
Open
|
Open
|
|
28
|
2
|
2
|
Open
|
Open
|
|
29
|
2
|
2
|
Closed
|
Open
|
|
30
|
1
|
2
|
Closed
|
Open
|
|
31
|
2
|
2
|
Open
|
Open
|
|
32
|
2
|
2
|
Open
|
Open
|
|
33
|
1
|
1
|
Open
|
Open
|
|
34
|
1
|
1
|
Open
|
Open
|
|
35
|
1
|
2
|
Open
|
Open
|
|
36
|
1
|
0
|
Closed
|
Closed
|
|
37
|
1
|
1
|
Open
|
Open
|
|
38
|
1
|
1
|
Open
|
Open
|
Fall cougar hunting season
Cougars may be hunted by holders of a Resident Cougar Licence from September 1 – March 31 in the following Wildlife Management Units:
From August 25 to November 30, cougars may be hunted by holders of a Resident Cougar Licence in WMUs 357-360, 410, and 412 to 446.
The use of dogs is prohibited during this season, and hunters may harvest one cougar of either sex. No quotas exist for this season.
Winter cougar hunting season
From December 1 to March 31, cougars may be hunted by holders of a resident cougar licence, non-resident cougar licence, or cougar special licence in the following Cougar Management Areas:
| CMA
|
WMUs
|
CMA
|
WMUs
|
CMA
|
WMUs
|
| 1
|
108, 300
|
14
|
420, 422
|
27 |
355, 445, 446 |
| 2
|
302, 400
|
15 |
426, 428, 430 |
28 |
356,357 |
| 3
|
303, 306, 308, 402
|
16 |
432, 434, 436, 437 |
29 |
505, 507, 508 |
| 4
|
110, 304, 305
|
17 |
438, 439 |
30 |
503, 506, 509, 510 |
| 5
|
404, 406
|
18 |
440, 442, 444 |
31 |
511, 516, 518 |
| 6
|
408, 410
|
19 |
352, 353, 441 |
32 |
512, 514, 515, 517, 519, 529 |
| 7
|
132, 310, 312
|
20 |
246, 334, 336 |
33 |
358, 359, 522 |
| 8
|
214, 314, 316
|
21 |
337, 338, 348 |
34 |
526, 527 |
| 9
|
216, 318, 320
|
22 |
339, 340, 342 |
35 |
524, 525 |
| 10
|
221, 224, 322, 332
|
23 |
344, 346 |
36 |
116, 118, 119, 624 |
| 11 |
324, 330 |
24 |
347, 349 |
37 |
535, 537 |
| 12 |
326, 328, 429 |
25 |
350, 351, 360 |
38 |
542, 544 |
| 13 |
412, 414, 416, 417, 418 |
26 |
354, 521, 523 |
|
|
Hunters must call the cougar hotline at 1-800-661-3729 (toll-free) prior to hunting each day to determine which CMAs are
open.
Quotas for male and female cougars
There is a separate quota for male and female cougars in each CMA. The season in each area closes independently for each
sex when the quota has been filled.
Quotas are updated periodically with the objective of a stable older age structured population. Reports are produced every three years to summarize cougar harvest and explain any changes to quotas.
For holders of a cougar special licence (outfitted non-resident or non-resident alien hunters), quotas do not apply and the season remains open for either sex until March 31.
Related information
Updated: Nov 27, 2025