Cougar Hunting Season Status Summary- Feb 29, 2012 (1 page)

As of February 29th, 2012, the cougar hunting season is now closed for all of Alberta’s Cougar Management Areas (CMAs).

Fall Cougar Hunting Season

Starting in 2011, cougars may be hunted by holders of a Resident Cougar Licence from November 1 to November 30 in the following Wildlife Management Units:

  • 100-166
  • 200-260
  • 357-360
  • 410
  • 500-504
  • 506
  • 508
  • 514
  • 518-544

The use of dogs is prohibited during this season, and hunters may harvest one cougar of either sex. No quotas exist for this season.

Winter Cougar Hunting Season

From December 1 to February 29, cougars may be hunted by holders of a resident cougar licence, non-resident cougar licence, or cougar special licence in the following Cougar Management Areas:

CMA WMUs CMA WMUs CMA WMUs
1 300 12 326, 328, 429 23 344, 346
2 302, 400 13 412, 414, 416, 417, 418 24 347, 349
3 303, 306, 308, 402 14 420, 422 25 350, 351
4 304, 305 15 426, 428, 430 26 354
5 404, 406 16 432, 434, 436, 437 27 355, 445, 446
6 408, 410 17 438, 439 28 356
7 310, 312 18 440, 442, 444 29 505, 507
8 314, 316 19 352, 353, 441 30 509, 510
9 318, 320 20 334, 336 31 511, 516
10 322, 332 21 337, 338, 348 32 512, 515, 517
11 324, 330 22 339, 340, 342

Hunters must call the cougar hotline at 1-800-661-3729 (toll-free) prior to hunting each day to determine which CMAs are open.

Quotas for Male and Female Cougars

There is a separate quota for male and female cougars in each CMA. The season in each area closes independently for each sex when the quota has been filled.

For holders of a cougar special licence (outfitted non-resident or non-resident alien hunters), quotas do not apply and the season remains open for either sex until February 29.

Related Information

Updated: March 1, 2012