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Alberta WMU 542 map and hunting seasons 2026

Alberta WMU 542 (Muskwa Lake): open season dates for white-tailed deer, mule deer, moose, black bear, cougar, timber wolf, coyote, small game, upland birds, waterfowl and sandhill crane.

Open WMU 542 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. Non-resident aliens: antlered only.	Aug 25 – Aug 31 Sep 1 – Nov 30	Aug 25 – Aug 31 Sep 1 – Nov 30

Alberta white-tailed deer rules

Mule deer

Season	Residents	Non-residents
Antlered, archery then general Non-residents need a licensed guide/outfitter or a hunter host.	Aug 25 – Aug 31 Sep 1 – Nov 30	Aug 25 – Aug 31 Sep 1 – Nov 30

Alberta mule deer rules

Moose

Season	Residents	Non-residents
Antlered, archery only Non-residents need a licensed guide/outfitter or a hunter host. Non-residents: antlered moose by archery licence only. Draw seasons S1-O31 and N1-N30.	Aug 25 – Aug 31	Aug 25 – Aug 31

Alberta moose rules

Black bear

Season	Residents	Non-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 30	Apr 1 – Jun 30

Alberta black bear rules

Cougar

Season	Residents	Non-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 30	None
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 31	Dec 1 – Mar 31

Alberta cougar rules

Timber wolf

Season	Residents	Non-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 31	Aug 25 – May 31

Alberta timber wolf rules

Coyote

Season	Residents	Non-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 31	Aug 25 – May 31

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
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 15	Sep 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 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

Alberta waterfowl and sandhill crane rules

No open season listed here for elk, 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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