Wood Bison Hunt - Hay-Zama
2025-26 Hunting Season
The Hay-Zama wood bison hunting season will resume for the 2025-26 season.
The annual population survey in February 2025 resulted in a minimum count of 678 bison. These results are a positive improvement from previous years surveys and bison numbers are sufficient to support reinstating a sustainable harvest this season.
Bison in Bison Hunting Zone 1 are within the Northwest Bison Protection Area and are considered Threatened under Alberta's Wildlife Act. No bison can be harvested without a licence. Read the Hay-Zama Wood Bison Hunting Season Fact Sheet to learn more.
Reasons for the Hunt
The Alberta Government first initiated a limited hunting season for the Hay-Zama bison population in 2008, when the population was nearing 700 animals. This unique hunt is designed to contain the Hay-Zama population to the Hay-Zama area and to maintain a population size of 400 to 600 animals.
The lower goal of 400 bison is designed to ensure that there are enough healthy and genetically diverse adults for breeding. The upper goal of 600 ensures that bison are not forced out of the Hay-Zama range by overpopulation, which would potentially put them in contact with diseased bison to the east, in and around Wood Buffalo National Park (WBNP).
There is a history of diseases – including bovine tuberculosis and brucellosis - among the WBNP and Wentzel bison populations. Testing of the Hay-Zama population has not found evidence of either of these diseases.
The hunt has the additional benefit of addressing public safety concerns in the area, particularly in the communities of Chateh and Zama where there have been vehicle collisions with bison. Controlling the population size helps minimize the risk of these encounters.
For more information, visit: Wood Bison Regulation
Indigenous Hunter Applications
Applications for the 2025-26 Hay-Zama Bison hunt must be filled out in person at either the High level EPA office, or the Fort Vermillion EPA office.
Applications will be accepted from September 22, 2025 to October 10, 2025.
Individuals must be a resident of Alberta, and hold valid treaty status, or Métis harvesting rights for Area A.
Applicants are required to provide their name, address, Band/Community affiliation, Status Number or Métis Harvester Number, phone number and email address.
Successful applicants will be notified starting on October 14, 2025.
Non-Indigenous Hunters Applications
Resident hunters are eligible to apply for a Resident Bison Special Licence in Bison Hunting Zone 1 from Wednesday October 1, to Thursday, October 16, 2025 using the draw process. The price is $5.00 (GST not included) per application. Applicants must apply individually; group applications are not valid for this draw. The bison hunting season will be from December 1, 2025 to February 28, 2026. Previously drawn applicants are not allowed to apply in the Resident Bison draw. Being drawn is a once in a lifetime opportunity.
Updated: Oct 7, 2025