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Alberta WMU 256 map and hunting seasons 2026

Alberta WMU 256 (Islay): open season dates for white-tailed deer, mule deer, moose, elk, black bear, cougar, timber wolf, coyote, small game, upland birds, waterfowl and sandhill crane.

Open WMU 256 on the map

Dates copied from the 2026 Alberta Guide to Hunting Regulations (Big Game Seasons, Game Bird Seasons) and checked row by row against it on 2026-10-16. Alberta is marked Beta on the map: a person hasn't checked every part of it yet. Confirm in Alberta's hunting regulations before you go.

White-tailed deer

Season	Residents	Non-residents
White-tailed antlered and antlerless, archery then general Non-residents need a licensed guide/outfitter or a hunter host. Submit heads for CWD testing in listed WMUs. Non-resident aliens: antlered only.	Sep 1 – Oct 31 Nov 1 – Nov 30	Sep 1 – Oct 31 Nov 1 – Nov 30

Alberta white-tailed deer rules

Mule deer

Season	Residents	Non-residents
Antlered and antlerless, archery only Non-residents need a licensed guide/outfitter or a hunter host. Non-residents: antlered only. General days N1-N30 are by draw.	Sep 1 – Oct 31	Sep 1 – Oct 31
Antlered and antlerless, general (draw licence only) By special licence (draw); see the 2026 Alberta Hunting Draws booklet. Non-residents only through an outfitter allocation or limited draws.	Nov 1 – Nov 30	None

Alberta mule deer rules

Moose

Season	Residents	Non-residents
Antlered and antlerless (draw licence only), archery then general By special licence (draw); see the 2026 Alberta Hunting Draws booklet. Non-residents only through an outfitter allocation or limited draws.	Sep 1 – Oct 31 Nov 1 – Nov 30	None

Alberta moose rules

Elk

Season	Residents	Non-residents
Antlered, archery only Non-residents need a licensed guide/outfitter or a hunter host. General (rifle) antlered season N1-N30 is by draw.	Sep 1 – Oct 31	Sep 1 – Oct 31
Antlered, general (draw licence only) By special licence (draw); see the 2026 Alberta Hunting Draws booklet. Non-residents only through an outfitter allocation or limited draws.	Nov 1 – Nov 30	None
Antlerless, archery only Rifle antlerless elk is by draw; dates not all copied.	Sep 1 – Oct 31	None

Alberta elk rules

Black bear

Season	Residents	Non-residents
Fall, general Non-residents (and aliens) need a licensed guide or hunter host. No hunting cubs or females with cubs. Baiting allowed only in listed WMUs.	Sep 1 – Nov 30	Sep 1 – Nov 30
Spring 2027, general (needs new-year licence) Non-residents (and aliens) need a licensed guide or hunter host. No hunting cubs or females with cubs. Baiting allowed only in listed WMUs.	Apr 1 – Jun 15	Apr 1 – Jun 15

Alberta black bear rules

Cougar

Season	Residents	Non-residents
Fall and winter season, residents only Cougar licence required. Residents only; dogs prohibited all season.	Sep 1 – Mar 31	None

Alberta cougar rules

Timber wolf

Season	Residents	Non-residents
Timber wolf (residents need no licence), opens Sep 1 Open from the first big game season in the WMU (Sep 1 here) to June 15, 2027 (spring bear season runs to June 15). Hunt only, no trapping. Non-residents and non-resident aliens need a wildlife certificate and a licensed guide or hunter host.	Sep 1 – Jun 15	Sep 1 – Jun 15

Alberta timber wolf rules

Coyote

Season	Residents	Non-residents
Coyote on Green Area public land, opens Sep 1 (private land and White Area: all year) Green Area public land: from the first big game season in the WMU (Sep 1 here) to June 15, 2027. On private land and White Area public land you have access to: all year. Hunt only, no trapping. Non-residents and non-resident aliens need a wildlife certificate and a licensed guide or hunter host.	Sep 1 – Jun 15	Sep 1 – Jun 15

Alberta coyote rules

Small game (rabbit, hare, etc.)

Season	Residents	Non-residents
Rabbit, hare, porcupine, raccoon, woodchuck (no licence needed) Porcupine, rabbit, hare, raccoon and woodchuck may be hunted (not trapped) without a licence all year; some exceptions apply. Red squirrel, badger and red fox: residents on private land only, all year.	Jan 1 – Dec 31	Jan 1 – Dec 31

Alberta small game rules

Upland birds (grouse, partridge, pheasant, ptarmigan)

Season	Residents	Non-residents
Male pheasant (2 daily, 6 possession) Game bird licence required (plus federal migratory permit for waterfowl and cranes). Dash in WMU lists means all WMUs in between. Pheasant licence also needed.	Sep 1 – Jan 15	Sep 1 – Jan 15
Ruffed grouse (5 daily, 15 possession) Game bird licence required (plus federal migratory permit for waterfowl and cranes). Dash in WMU lists means all WMUs in between.	Sep 1 – Jan 15	Sep 1 – Jan 15
Spruce grouse (5 daily, 15 possession) Game bird licence required (plus federal migratory permit for waterfowl and cranes). Dash in WMU lists means all WMUs in between.	Sep 1 – Jan 15	Sep 1 – Jan 15
Sharp-tailed grouse (5 daily, 15 possession) Game bird licence required (plus federal migratory permit for waterfowl and cranes). Dash in WMU lists means all WMUs in between.	Oct 1 – Oct 31	Oct 1 – Oct 31
Gray partridge (5 daily, 15 possession) Game bird licence required (plus federal migratory permit for waterfowl and cranes). Dash in WMU lists means all WMUs in between.	Sep 1 – Jan 15	Sep 1 – Jan 15

Alberta upland birds rules

Waterfowl and sandhill crane

Season	Residents	Non-residents
Snow and Ross's geese (fall; limit 50 daily) Game bird licence required (plus federal migratory permit for waterfowl and cranes). Dash in WMU lists means all WMUs in between.	Sep 1 – Dec 16	Sep 1 – Dec 16
Snow and Ross's geese spring season (no possession limit) Spring conservation season, Mar 15 - Jun 15, 2027. Game bird licence required (plus federal migratory permit for waterfowl and cranes). Dash in WMU lists means all WMUs in between.	Mar 15 – Jun 15	Mar 15 – Jun 15
Canada and white-fronted geese (8 daily, 24 possession) Game bird licence required (plus federal migratory permit for waterfowl and cranes). Dash in WMU lists means all WMUs in between.	Sep 1 – Dec 16	Sep 1 – Dec 16
Ducks, coots, snipe, cormorants (8 daily each, 24 possession) Game bird licence required (plus federal migratory permit for waterfowl and cranes). Dash in WMU lists means all WMUs in between. Non-resident aliens: no more than 2 goldeneye daily and 6 in possession.	Sep 1 – Dec 16	Sep 1 – Dec 16
Sandhill crane (5 daily, 15 possession) Game bird licence required (plus federal migratory permit for waterfowl and cranes). Dash in WMU lists means all WMUs in between.	Sep 1 – Dec 16	Sep 1 – Dec 16

Alberta waterfowl and sandhill crane rules

No open season listed here for bighorn sheep, pronghorn, wild turkey.

Nearby zones

All Alberta zones. Public land isn't automatically open to hunting: leases, posted land, private land and firearm bylaws near towns still apply.

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