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Alberta WMU 430 map and hunting seasons 2026

Alberta WMU 430 (Bighorn): open season dates for white-tailed deer, mule deer, moose, elk, black bear, cougar, bighorn sheep, timber wolf, coyote, small game, upland birds, waterfowl and sandhill crane.

Open WMU 430 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

SeasonResidentsNon-residents
White-tailed antlered, archery then general
Non-residents need a licensed guide/outfitter or a hunter host.		Aug 25 – Sep 16
Sep 17 – Nov 30		Aug 25 – Sep 16
Sep 17 – Nov 30
White-tailed antlerless, archery then general
Non-residents need a licensed guide/outfitter or a hunter host.
Non-resident aliens: antlered only.		Aug 25 – Sep 16
Nov 1 – Nov 30		Aug 25 – Sep 16
Nov 1 – Nov 30

Alberta white-tailed deer rules

Mule deer

SeasonResidentsNon-residents
Antlered, archery only
Non-residents need a licensed guide/outfitter or a hunter host.
General days S17-N30 are by draw.		Aug 25 – Sep 16Aug 25 – Sep 16

Alberta mule deer rules

Moose

SeasonResidentsNon-residents
Antlered, archery only
Non-residents need a licensed guide/outfitter or a hunter host.
Non-residents: antlered moose by archery licence only. General days (S24-O31 or S24-N30) are by draw.		Aug 25 – Sep 23Aug 25 – Sep 23

Alberta moose rules

Elk

SeasonResidentsNon-residents
Antlered (6-point or larger), archery/general (draw licence only)
Archery A25-S16 and general S17-N30 are both by draw.
By special licence (draw); see the 2026 Alberta Hunting Draws booklet. Non-residents only through an outfitter allocation or limited draws.		Aug 25 – Sep 16
Sep 17 – Nov 30		None

Alberta elk rules

Black bear

SeasonResidentsNon-residents
Fall, archery then 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.		Aug 25 – Aug 31
Sep 1 – Nov 30		Aug 25 – Aug 31
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 30Apr 1 – Jun 30

Alberta black bear rules

Cougar

SeasonResidentsNon-residents
Fall season, residents only (winter season continues below)
Cougar licence required; dogs banned in the fall season; Dec 1-Mar 31 call 1-800-661-3729 daily to confirm the WMU is still open (quotas).
Residents only; dogs prohibited in this season.		Aug 25 – Nov 30None
Winter season (resident or non-resident cougar licence; dogs allowed)
Season in a WMU may close early on quota: call 1-800-661-3729 before hunting each day.
Dogs allowed.
Non-residents need a licensed guide/outfitter or a hunter host; non-resident aliens only through an outfitter.		Dec 1 – Mar 31Dec 1 – Mar 31

Alberta cougar rules

Bighorn sheep

SeasonResidentsNon-residents
Class 1 sheep, resident
Non-residents: only with a class S outfitter or through a draw (non-resident Canadians only); dates S1-O15, by licence. WMU 444 south of Beaverdam Road also open.
Sheep hunting prohibited in restricted areas.		Aug 25 – Oct 31Sep 1 – Oct 15
Class 2 sheep (draw licence only)
Applies to named areas that are parts of these WMUs; see the draw booklet.
By special licence (draw); see the 2026 Alberta Hunting Draws booklet. Non-residents only through an outfitter allocation or limited draws.		Sep 10 – Oct 31None

Alberta bighorn sheep rules

Timber wolf

SeasonResidentsNon-residents
Timber wolf (residents need no licence), opens Aug 25
Open from the first big game season in the WMU (Aug 25 here) to May 31, 2027.
Hunt only, no trapping.
Non-residents and non-resident aliens need a wildlife certificate and a licensed guide or hunter host.
Check: where spring bear runs to June 30 (344-360, 412-446 and 500-544 except 429), the guide only says wolf/coyote extend to June 15 in WMUs whose bear season ends June 15, so this row stops at May 31.		Aug 25 – May 31Aug 25 – May 31

Alberta timber wolf rules

Coyote

SeasonResidentsNon-residents
Coyote on Green Area public land, opens Aug 25 (private land and White Area: all year)
Green Area public land: from the first big game season in the WMU (Aug 25 here) to May 31, 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.
Check: where spring bear runs to June 30 (344-360, 412-446 and 500-544 except 429), the guide only says wolf/coyote extend to June 15 in WMUs whose bear season ends June 15, so this row stops at May 31.		Aug 25 – May 31Aug 25 – May 31

Alberta coyote rules

Small game (rabbit, hare, etc.)

SeasonResidentsNon-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 31Jan 1 – Dec 31

Alberta small game rules

Upland birds (grouse, partridge, pheasant, ptarmigan)

SeasonResidentsNon-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 15Sep 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 15Sep 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 15Sep 1 – Jan 15
Ptarmigan (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 15Sep 1 – Jan 15
Blue 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 15Sep 1 – Jan 15
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 15Sep 1 – Jan 15

Alberta upland birds rules

Waterfowl and sandhill crane

SeasonResidentsNon-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 16Sep 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 15Mar 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 16Sep 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 16Sep 1 – Dec 16

Alberta waterfowl and sandhill crane rules

No open season listed here for 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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