Elk Hunting in Alberta
Alberta is Canada's elk factory. The eastern slopes, the foothills WMUs west of Calgary and Edmonton, and the prairie/parkland edges hold an elk herd that mixes mountain migrants with resident herds: and the archery-only seasons that open around late August or September 1 are among the best bow-hunt opportunities in North America. Rut-crazed bulls bugle through September in the 300-series foothills units.
Antlered elk archery is available on a general licence in many WMUs, while antlerless elk and most rifle opportunities are draw-controlled through AlbertaRELM. The tables below are transcribed from the current Alberta Guide to Hunting Regulations with citations on every row.
Elk hunting in Alberta: the basics
- Archery equipment: bows must meet the 40-lb minimum draw weight; broadheads required: crossbows are not legal in archery-only seasons (disabled-hunter exemption aside).
- Draws: applications run through AlbertaRELM in June; you need a WiN card and Wildlife Certificate first.
- Where: foothills WMUs west of Calgary (300-series), the eastern slopes, and the parkland edges near elk refuges like Elk Island.
- Related: our Bow Hunting Elk in Alberta guide covers the archery seasons in depth.
Elk
📋 WMU 300 elk special licence (3-point or larger): S9 - O24, O25 - D24, D25 - J31, 2027, F1 - F28, 2027 (p. 60). Elk descriptions (3-point/6-point or larger) on p. 42.
| Zone | Season | Bag / tag limit | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prairie WMUs 102, 104, 108 - Antlered and antlerless | General only: ■ S1 - S30, ■ O1 - O24, ■ O25 - N16, ■ N17 - D31 | – | Special licence (draw) only; no archery-only season printed. Printed guide reads N17 - D31 (the official HTML table prints N17 - D20 for this row - discrepancy noted, printed PDF followed).Source: p. 47 |
| Prairie WMUs (124, 128, 142, 144, 148, 150) - Antlered and antlerless | General only: ■ S1 - S30, ■ O1 - O24, ■ O25 - N16, ■ N17 - D31, ■ J1 - J31, 2027, ■ F1 - F28, 2027 | – | Special licence only; parenthesized WMUs are grouped for licence allocation in the guide table.Source: pp. 47, 50 |
| Prairie WMUs 116, 118, 119, 624 - Antlered and antlerless | General only: ■ N1 - N10, ■ N11 - N20, ■ N21 - N30 (WMU 624 - Monday to Friday only) | – | Special licence only. Three sequential November draw seasons; WMU 624 Monday-Friday only.Source: p. 47 |
| Prairie WMUs 116, 118, 119 (Monday to Saturday only) - Antlered and antlerless | General only: ■ D1 - D31, ■ J1 - J31, 2027, ■ F1 - F28, 2027 | – | Special licence only.Source: p. 47 |
| Prairie WMUs 116, 118, 119 (Monday to Saturday only) - Antlered and antlerless | Archery-only: S1 - O31 (no general season) | – | Source: p. 47 |
| Prairie WMUs 110, (132, 136, 138), (151, 152), (156, 158, 160), (162, 163, 164, 166) - Antlered | Archery-only: S1 - O31; General: ■ N1 - N30 | – | ■ = special licence only.Source: p. 47 |
| Prairie WMUs 102, 104, 108 - Antlerless | General only: ■ J1 - J31, 2027, ■ F1 - F28, 2027 | – | Special licence only.Source: p. 50 |
| Prairie WMUs (151, 152), (156, 158, 160) - Antlerless | Archery-only: S1 - O31; General: ■ N1 - J31, 2027 | – | ■ = special licence only.Source: p. 50 |
| Prairie WMUs 110, (132, 136, 138), (162, 163, 164, 166) - Antlerless | Archery-only: S1 - O31; General: ■ N1 - N30, ■ D1 - D31, ■ J1 - J31, 2027, ■ F1 - F28, 2027 | – | ■ = special licence only.Source: p. 50 |
| Prairie WMU 732 (CFB Suffield) - Antlered and antlerless | General only: ■ N18 - N20, ■ N26 - N28, ■ J13 - J15, 2027, ■ J21 - J23, 2027 | – | Special licence only. Hunting in CFB Suffield only under these special seasons (also p. 39: hunting not permitted in WMU 732 except for the special seasons provided).Source: p. 50 |
| Prairie WMUs 106, 112, 130, 134, 140 - Antlered (3-point or larger) and antlerless | Archery-only: S1 - O31 (no general season) | – | Footnote 1 (p. 50): see p. 42 for descriptions of 3-point or larger elk.Source: p. 47 |
| Parkland WMUs 212, 247, 248 - Antlered and antlerless | Archery-only: S1 - N30 (no general season) | – | Source: p. 50 |
| Parkland WMU 936 - Antlered and antlerless | Archery-only: ■ O17 - O31; General: ■ N1 - N23 | – | Special licence only; WMU 936 firearms discharge permit required (footnote 1, p. 51).Source: p. 50 |
| Parkland WMU 214 - Antlered (3-point or larger) | Archery-only: S1 - O24; General: O25 - N30 | – | Footnote 3 (p. 51): see p. 42 for descriptions of 3-point or larger elk.Source: p. 50 |
| Parkland WMUs 216, 221, 224 - Antlered | Archery-only: S1 - O31; General: N1 - N30 | – | General (non-draw) season.Source: p. 50 |
| Parkland WMUs (200, 202, 203, 232, 234), (204, 228, 230), (206, 222, 226, 244, 246), (208, 210, 220), (236, 238, 256), (240, 242), 250, (252, 254, 258, 260) - Antlered | Archery-only: S1 - O31; General: ■ N1 - N30 | – | ■ = special licence only.Source: p. 50 |
| Parkland WMUs (200, 202, 203, 232, 234), (240, 242) - Antlerless | Archery-only: S1 - O31; General: ■ N1 - N30, ■ D1 - D31, ■ J1 - J31, 2027, ■ F1 - F28, 2027 | – | ■ = special licence only.Source: p. 51 |
| Parkland WMUs (204, 228, 230), (206, 222, 226, 244, 246), (208, 210, 220), (236, 238, 256), (252, 254, 258, 260) - Antlerless | Archery-only: S1 - O31; General: ■ N1 - J31, 2027 | – | ■ = special licence only.Source: p. 51 |
| Parkland WMU 224 - Antlerless | Archery-only: S1 - O31; General: ■ N1 - D20 | – | ■ = special licence only.Source: p. 51 |
| Parkland WMU 250 - Antlerless | Archery-only: S1 - O31; General: ■ N1 - D20, ■ D21 - J31, 2027, ■ F1 - F28, 2027 | – | ■ = special licence only.Source: p. 51 |
| Parkland WMU 214 - Antlerless | Archery-only: S1 - O24; General: ■ O25 - N20, ■ N21 - D31, ■ J1 - J31, 2027, ■ F1 - F28, 2027 | – | ■ = special licence only.Source: p. 51 |
| Parkland WMUs 216, 221 - Antlerless | Archery-only: S1 - O31; General: ■ N1 - N25, ■ N26 - D31, ■ J1 - J31, 2027, ■ F1 - F28, 2027 | – | ■ = special licence only.Source: p. 51 |
| Parkland WMU 212 - Antlerless | Archery-only: S1 - N30; General: ■ N1 - N30 (footnote 2), ■ D1 - D31, ■ J1 - J31, 2027, ■ F1 - F28, 2027 | – | ■ = special licence only. Footnote 2 (p. 51): this season open only by archery, crossbow, muzzle loader or shotgun. Footnote 4: WMU 212 antlerless elk archery licence and special licence issued with two tags.Source: p. 51 |
| Foothills WMUs 339, 340, 342, 344, 346, 347, 349, 350, 351, 352, 353, 354, 355, 356, 357, 358, 359, 360 - Antlered (3-point or larger) | Archery-only: A25 - S16; General: S17 - N30 | – | Footnote 2 (p. 53): see p. 42 for descriptions of 3-point or larger elk.Source: p. 52 |
| Foothills WMUs 302, 303, 304, 305, 306, 308, 310, 312, 314 - Antlered (3-point or larger) | Archery-only: S1 - O24; General: O25 - N30 | – | Source: p. 52 |
| Foothills WMUs 316, 318, 320, 322, 324, 326, 328, 330, 332, 334, 336, 337, 338, 348 - Antlered (3-point or larger) | Archery-only: S1 - O31; General: N1 - N30 | – | Source: p. 52 |
| Foothills WMU 300 - Antlerless | General only: ■ S9 - O24, ■ O25 - D24, ■ D25 - J31, 2027, ■ F1 - F28, 2027 | – | Special licence only (WMU 300 elk special licence, see p. 60).Source: p. 52 |
| Foothills WMUs 340, 342, 344 (footnote 1) - Antlerless | Archery-only: A25 - S16; General: ■ S17 - D20 | – | ■ = special licence only. Footnote 1 (p. 53): the special licence season for antlerless elk in WMU 344 applies only to a portion of the WMU.Source: p. 52 |
| Foothills WMUs 330, 352 - Antlerless | Archery-only: A25 - S16; General: ■ S17 - N30 | – | ■ = special licence only.Source: p. 52 |
| Foothills WMUs 302, 304, 305, 306, 308, 310 - Antlerless | Archery-only: S1 - O24; General: ■ O25 - D20, ■ D21 - J31, 2027, ■ F1 - F28, 2027 | – | ■ = special licence only.Source: p. 52 |
| Foothills WMU 303 - Antlerless | Archery-only: S1 - O24; General: ■ O25 - D31, ■ D21 - J31, 2027 | – | Transcribed verbatim; the printed D31/D21 dates overlap (Dec 21-31) as printed in the guide - no silent correction made.Source: p. 53 |
| Foothills WMUs 312, 314 - Antlerless | Archery-only: S1 - O24; General: ■ O25 - N20, ■ N21 - D31, ■ J1 - J31, 2027, ■ F1 - F28, 2027 | – | ■ = special licence only.Source: p. 53 |
| Foothills WMUs 318, 332 - Antlerless | Archery-only: S1 - O31; General: ■ N1 - N25, ■ N26 - D20 | – | ■ = special licence only.Source: p. 53 |
| Foothills WMU 324 - Antlerless | Archery-only: S1 - O31; General: ■ N1 - N25, ■ N26 - D31, ■ J1 - J31, 2027, ■ F1 - F28, 2027 | – | ■ = special licence only.Source: p. 53 |
| Foothills WMUs 334, 336 - Antlerless | Archery-only: S1 - O31; General: ■ N1 - D20 | – | ■ = special licence only.Source: p. 53 |
| Foothills WMU 346 - Antlerless | Archery-only: A25 - S16; General: ■ S17 - O31, ■ N1 - D20, ■ D21 - J31, 2027 | – | ■ = special licence only.Source: p. 53 |
| Foothills WMUs 357, 358, 359, 360 - Antlerless | Archery-only: A25 - S16; General: ■ S17 - O31, ■ N1 - D20, ■ D21 - J31, 2027, ■ F1 - F28, 2027 | – | ■ = special licence only.Source: p. 53 |
| Foothills WMUs 320, 322 - Antlerless | Archery-only: S1 - O31; General: ■ N1 - N25, ■ N26 - D31, ■ J1 - J31, 2027, ■ F1 - F28, 2027 | – | ■ = special licence only.Source: p. 53 |
| Foothills WMUs 337, 338, 348 - Antlerless | General only: ■ N1 - D20, ■ D21 - J31, 2027 | – | Special licence only.Source: p. 53 |
| Foothills WMUs 353, 354, 355, 356 - Antlerless | Archery-only: A25 - S16; General: ■ S17 - O31, ■ N1 - D20 | – | ■ = special licence only.Source: p. 53 |
| Mountain WMU 410 - Antlered and antlerless | Archery-only: S9 - N30 (no general season) | – | Source: p. 54 |
| Mountain WMUs 404, 406, 408 - Antlered (6-point or larger) and antlerless | Archery-only: S9 - S16; General: ■ S17 - N30 | – | ■ = special licence only. Footnote 1 (p. 55): see p. 42 for descriptions of 3-point/6-point or larger elk.Source: p. 54 |
| Mountain WMUs 412, 414, 416, 417, 418, 420, 422, 426, 428, 430, 432, 434 - Antlered (6-point or larger) | Archery-only: ■ A25 - S16; General: ■ S17 - N30 | – | Special licence only.Source: p. 54 |
| Mountain WMUs 436, 437, 438, 439, 440, 441, 442, 444, 445, 446 - Antlered (6-point or larger) | Archery-only: A25 - S16; General: S17 - N30 | – | General (non-draw) season.Source: p. 54 |
| Mountain WMU 429 - Antlered (3-point or larger) | Archery-only: S1 - O31; General: N1 - N30 | – | Source: p. 54 |
| Mountain WMUs 400, 402 - Antlered (3-point or larger) | Archery-only: S1 - S16; General: S17 - N30 | – | Source: p. 54 |
| Mountain WMUs 400, 402 - Antlerless | Archery-only: S1 - S16; General: ■ S17 - N30 | – | ■ = special licence only.Source: p. 54 |
| Mountain WMUs 438 (footnote 2), 439, 441 (footnote 2), 444 (footnote 2) - Antlerless | Archery-only: A25 - S16; General: ■ S17 - N30 | – | ■ = special licence only. Footnote 2 (p. 55): the draw season for antlerless elk in WMUs 438, 441 and 444 applies only to a portion of the WMU; the antlerless archery season applies to the entire WMU.Source: p. 54 |
| Boreal WMU 509 - Antlered (6-point or larger) | Archery-only: S1 - O31; General: ■ N1 - N30 | – | ■ = special licence only. Footnote 2 (p. 57): see p. 42 for description of 3-point and 6-point or larger elk.Source: p. 56 |
| Boreal WMUs 500, 501, 502, 503, 504, 505, 506, 507, 508, 510, 511, 514 - Antlered (3-point or larger) | Archery-only: S1 - O31; General: N1 - N30 | – | General (non-draw) season.Source: p. 56 |
| Boreal WMUs 512, 515, 516, 517, 518, 519 - Antlered (3-point or larger) | Archery-only: S1 - O31 (no general season) | – | Source: p. 56 |
| Boreal WMUs 520, 521, 522, 523, 524, 525, 526, 527, 528, 535, 537, 540, 544 - Antlered (3-point or larger) | Archery-only: A25 - S16; General: S17 - N30 | – | Source: p. 56 |
| Boreal WMU 841 - Antlered (3-point or larger) | General: S17 - N30 (no archery-only season listed) | – | Source: p. 56 |
| Boreal WMUs 520, 521, 522, 523, 526, 527, 528, 535, 537, 544 - Antlerless | Archery-only: A25 - S16; General: ■ S17 - O31, ■ N1 - D20, ■ D21 - J31, 2027, ■ F1 - F28, 2027 | – | ■ = special licence only.Source: p. 56 |
| Boreal WMU 503 - Antlerless | Archery-only: S1 - O31; General: ■ N1 - D20, ■ D21 - J31, 2027, ■ F1 - F28, 2027 | – | ■ = special licence only.Source: p. 57 |
| Boreal WMUs 500, 501, 502, 507, 508, 511, 514 - Antlerless | Archery-only: S1 - O31; General: ■ N1 - D20, ■ D21 - J31, 2027 | – | ■ = special licence only.Source: p. 57 |
| Boreal WMUs 504, 505, 506, 509, 510 - Antlerless | Archery-only: S1 - O31; General: ■ N1 - D20, ■ D21 - J31, 2027, ■ F1 - F28, 2027 | – | ■ = special licence only.Source: p. 57 |
| Special draw hunt: either sex elk special licence - WMUs 728 and 730 | Bow and arrow or muzzle loader: N26 - N28; Rifle: N30 - D12 | – | CFB Wainwright; refer to mywildalberta.ca/wainwrighthunt.Source: p. 60 |