Canada Geese are managed by the Migratory Birds Convention Act of Canada.
This is a Federal Act that regulates migratory birds in Canada. One of the things the act regulates is hunting of these birds.
Can you hunt Canada Geese in Alberta?
You can hunt Canada geese in Alberta with a Federally issued license.
There are open seasons based on the region, and quantity limits.
Everything you need to know about hunting Canada Geese in Alberta
The link above is the official Government of Canada page regarding hunting Canada Geese in Alberta.
Here is a brief overview:
How Can I Hunt Canada Geese Legally?
You can get a federally issued hunting license specifically for hunting migratory birds. It is issued by the Canadian government and is valid in every single province and territory.
Essentially you will be required to carry a valid Migratory Game Bird Hunting Permit, with a Canadian Wildlife Habitat Conservation Stamp on the permit.
Where Can I Hunt Canada Geese in Alberta?
The migratory birds hunting license is valid in certain regions or WMUs (Wildlife Management Units). Alberta is broken into two larger sections called zone 1 and zone 2. Each zone contains many individual WMUs.
Here is a look at the zone map for Alberta.
When Can I Hunt Canada Geese in Alberta?
Both zone 1 and zone 2 generally have an open season sometime between September and December.
This is for the combination of Canada Geese, Cackling Geese and White-fronted Geese.
For example, the 2022 open Season is as follows:
- Zone 1: September 1 to December 16
- Zone 2: September 8 to December 23
How Many Canada Geese am I Allowed to Hunt at a Time in Alberta?
The daily bag limit and the possession limit is combined for Canada Geese, Cackling Geese and White-fronted Geese.
The limits in Alberta are currently the same for both zones. The limits are:
- Daily Bag Limit = 8
- Possession Limit = 24
In Summary
- Hunting of migratory birds is managed at the federal level in Canada through the Migratory Bird Convention Act.
- To hunt Canada Geese in Alberta you need a Canadian Migratory Bird License.
- You can hunt during specific dates between September and December.
- The daily bag limits and possession bag limits for Canada Geese are combined with Cackling Geese and White-fronted Geese.
