Never hunted Alberta before and I know it is short on time but can a Non Resident Alien obtain a license to hunt Alberta this year in WMU 346? I have been invited to hunt Whitetail and Elk and would have a Hunter Host and not an outfitter. You guys that know the regulations could really help me here as I have been thru the regulation book and remain totally confused as I do not understand the difference in General vs. Special licenses. Which license should I pursuit? Are they available across the counter or do they have to be purchased from the Wildlife Dept? Are they even available? I wrote to RELM and got a response that was almost meaningless. Any help you guys could give me would be greatly appreciated as time is short and I would really like to do what would be a hut of a lifetime for me. Thanks to all that reply!!

Special licences are our equivilant of draw tags. NR Aliens are not eligible to apply for them. You may, however, hunt with a hunter host for most species available on a general (over-the-counter) tag. Your hunter host would need to apply for a hunter host licence for you.

Here's the process:

A Hunter Host who plans to take a non-resident alien hunting must do the following:

Go to a Fish and Wildlife Division office in person and initiate an application (including statutory declaration). Sign it and have your signature sworn. If your Non-resident Alien is not a relative, you must start this process by August 31 or February 28 as described above.
Have the Non-resident Alien sign the application and have his or her signature sworn. If the Non-resident Alien does not have a WIN, have him or her fill out a WIN application at the same time.
Take the completed application to a Fish and Wildlife Division office. The application will be reviewed for final approval and keyed into the automated licensing system.
When you are notified that your application is approved, go to any private licence issuer and purchase your Hunter Host Licence (see above) and the appropriate Wildlife Certificate and licences.

I have a WIN# and we are working on his Hunter Host status which we feel good about. After reading what is on the Alberta RELM site I am lost as per what license I would need. The RELM site does not show any Non Resident Alien license available. Can they be bought through retail outlets?

Relm does not really provide that type of info. Here's a link to the regs. http://www.albertaregulations.ca/huntingregs/

It's all pretty clear in there. Once your host has purchased his hunter host licence, then, and only then, can you buy your hunting licence. You'll need a Wildlife certificate and the licences for the species you intend to hunt. They are available from private vendors.

From what I quoted out of the regs above.."When you are notified that your application is approved, go to any private licence issuer and purchase your Hunter Host Licence (see above) and the appropriate Wildlife Certificate and licences."[

Read the section in the regs about Hunter Hosts and there is also a section regarding NR Alien licencing.

Sheephunterab, you are truely amazing and I appreciate your help. Talked to them and got it all worked out this afternoon. In 346 I will be able to go after Antlered Whietail, 3pt or better Antlered Elk and Black Bear. I had my WIN#, will need a Wildlife Certificate, got the Hunter Host process started and up for approval and found out after the approval I can buy license when I get there at any Walmart, Canadian Tire etc. I still say the regulation manual is quite confusing and could be streamlined to create better clarity. Does anyone know what the approval process for the Hunter Host involves?

quote:

Originally posted by 30378:
Sheephunterab, you are truely amazing[...]Does anyone know what the approval process for the Hunter Host involves?

Yeah, we all love him too! LOL

The approval process takes place without you noticing. I acted as a Hunter Host once. We sent in the paperwork and a while later I got notification that all was well and approved. My guest showed up, we went to Canadian Tire here in town and purchased the Wildlife Certificate and license. Your host will get a form on which he will have to provide info on where and what you hunted and whether or not you are successful, and return this to Fish and Wildlife.

I hope you will have a good hunt.

Frans

Welcome to Alberta !! This hunter host is a good thing and a person can get a chance to hunt for hundreds of dollars (your personal expenses) instead of thousands ... I have done this twice .. the first guy didn't bother showing up ... the second chap got a couple of deer and a coyote ..

Looking forward to the trip, the hunt, enjoying the different terrain, and the different style of hunting that folks experience. Will be Edmonton 9/19 and to WMU 346 for 6 days. Working on tuning up the rifles and getting a 57 yr old body into some sort of shape. I have hunted all over the lower 48 and have visited Canada many, many times but this will be my first hunt ouside the U.S.