Trapping
Trapping is a long-standing activity in Alberta that reflects traditional cultural and native lifestyles. Registered Fur Management Areas (RFMAs) identify the locations where trapping occurs. Often, trapping was carried out long before a park was created. as a result, many RFMAs are located partially or wholly within parks (including trapper cabins). Commitments to trappers in these areas continue to be honoured in a manner as similar as possible to trapping carried out outside parks.
The intent of the Program Policy for Managing Fur Trapping in Alberta's Parks and Protected Areas (Trapping Policy) is to ensure an appropriate balance between fur trapping and the public's desire for opportunities to view wildlife in a natural and safe setting.
Trapping in Alberta's provincial parks is managed through:
For trappers with RFMAs in parks:
- Refer to Program Policy for Managing Fur Trapping in Alberta's Parks and Protected Areas for guidelines on trapping in parks.
- Contact the responsible conservation officer through your local Parks Division office to discuss trapping activities on your RFMA and to obtain:
- a letter of authority for "access and off-highway vehicle use" (see Page 4 of the Trapping Policy);
- a firearms discharge permit (see Page 4 of the Trapping Policy); or
- a disposition for a trapping cabin, usually a miscellaneous lease (see Page 5 of the Trapping Policy).
- Fees for trapper's cabins
Check MyWildAlberta.com to learn more about trapping in Alberta.
Agricultural Grazing/Haying
Heritage rangelands and heritage rangeland natural areas are specific classes of parks that recognize agricultural activities such as cattle grazing and occasional haying as important range management tools. The heritage rangelands classification was developed during the Special Places initiative to allow ranchers to continue longtime stewardship practices.
Natural areas and some provincial parks and provincial recreation areas may also allow grazing and haying for conservation, vegetation management and range management purposes. Cultivation of existing native grassland is not permitted within ANY park classification. Typically, most sites with agricultural activities are in the southern Alberta "prairies".
We ask the public to be respectful of grazing/haying activities on these lands.
- You must first obtain access permission from the rancher who has the grazing lease for lands within heritage rangelands, heritage rangeland natural areas and certain natural areas.
- Take care in any park where there are cattle. Leave all gates as found. Do not harass or disturb the animals. Slow down and drive with extra caution when livestock are near or crossing roads.
Agricultural dispositions such as grazing leases, annual grazing permits and annual haying permits are administered differently depending on the class of park.
Agricultural Dispositions for Heritage Rangelands (including Heritage Rangeland Natural Areas) & Natural Areas
Agricultural Dispositions for Provincial Parks & Provincial Recreation Areas
- Approved and administered by Parks Division of Alberta Environment & Parks under the Provincial Parks Act
- Application Process
- Contact the program support coordinator in the Parks Division office for your area. They will provide information on where agricultural dispositions are permitted and the application process.
- Complete the application form. Submit it with the application fee to the Parks Division office.
- The program support coordinator will notify you if your disposition is approved, provide the conditions for conducting the grazing or haying, and collect subsequent fees.
Please note
- In some cases, grazing and haying opportunities in provincial parks and provincial recreation areas are competitive and take the form of a tender for bids or a request for proposals (RFP). Fees for these competitive opportunities are typically higher than the normal base fees for grazing and haying.
- In areas with stock associations, the applicant must be a member of that stock association in order to graze within those locations.
