A hunting allocation or Special Licence allows the hunting of a specific species and type or class of animal during an identified hunting season within a specific area.
Allocations are used to manage the hunting opportunity for Non-Residents and Non-Resident Alien hunters who participate in hunting in Alberta through a professional Outfitter.
Special Licences are used when demand exceeds available opportunity,
and defined season length and harvests are necessary to ensure the conservation of a species is properly managed.
Special Licences are distributed through a draw process which hunters participate in annually to achieve desired harvest goals and hunter opportunity.
2023 Big game allocation reports
We hope that you find the 2023 allocation summary reports useful in making your hunting plans for this fall and
they provide answers to any questions you may have with respect to hunting opportunity available in Alberta.
The species allocation summary reports outline the distribution of hunting opportunities available in the 2023 hunting season provided to:
- Residents
- Landowners (where applicable)
- Non-Residents / Non-Resident Aliens through Outfitter Guides
Information presented includes:
- Wildlife Management Unit or Units (WMU)
- Number of current Outfitter Allocations
- Landowner Licences sold the previous hunting season
- Number of Special Licences available through the draw process
Further information on sustainable big game management and how allocations are determined is available in the webinars listed under Education Sessions.
Please Note: The following files are large and may take considerable time to download depending on your Internet connection.
Education Sessions
In Fall 2021, educational sessions were held to share information on hunting allocations in Alberta.
Sessions were recorded and posted on the Alberta Environment and Parks YouTube Channel.
Shared Harvest - Alberta’s Approach to the Sustainable Allocation of Hunting Opportunities
The Science Behind your hunting license: Allocating recreational harvest opportunity
Updated: Aug 11, 2023