Just throwing this out there to see if anyone would be interested in taking a new hunter out this season.

Ian, if I wasn't living here in the UK I'd be glad to take you out. Have you got the necessary firearms liscence? You might have to show that you've taken a hunting safety class or show a history of having hunted....check that out before lhunting season. Yo can go to Alberta Hunters Education Instructors Association...AHEIA as we call it. they have a website or if you want to you can drop into one of their offices, there's one in Edmonton and one in Calgary. They'll set you straight on the regulations and incidentally they have a "mentored" hunt for new to alberta hunters. If you can't find a partner pm me and I'll see if I can hook you up with someone.

good luck

Thanks for the reply. I have my WIN card, and bought hunting licences before. Just never bagged any game. I would definately appreciate any guidance. Been shooting and reloading for many years, but a novice with hunting.

Ian

Where do you live?

I live in Calgary.

My home turf....I'll call a couple of buddies and see what they can come up with. Pm me your contact details so I have them ready and waiting.

I haven't got a copy of the regs handy and being a bowhunter I'm not as aware of the rifle seasons anymore, but November is your time for good deer hunting. get the regs and find some rifle areas with earlier seasons. Also you must know by now that Albertans are restricetd in the numbers of animals they can kill. You can get additional tags in some zones for antlerless animals but many are on a draw too and the draw just ended. There is the possibility of buying "undersubscribed tags" and that sale is coming up very soon, google Alberta Sustainable and renewable resources to find the info on those.

You'd be well advised to start looking for some warm clothing. I'd suggest going to the "goodwill" stores and buying second hand stuff a great way to get good stuff and save a few bucks for gas money.

Here's "cheffy's quick and dirty Alberta hunting overview"


Get a copy of the WMU map and look for areas that are crown land, there's a LOT available if you're wiling to do some investigating. That's good for hunting without having to ask permsission. The down side is there are lots of people out hunting. If you're willing to walk a few miles you can get yourself past the "zone" where most people will hunt and you'll have less interferance. Look especially for areas that are "fluz"s" that's "forest land use zone" and they don't allow quadding, so no idiots bombing around on their quads. The down side to the crown land areas is the animals are less densley populated than the farming areas due to less food availability so you have to hunt smarter. If you want good adventure head to these areas, if you just want to shoot a deer then concentrate on the agricultural areas.

Finally, if you want to hunt lots in Alberta go buy a bow! I'll find you someone to take you out for a little gun hunting though.

cheers