Where is Alberta?
Alberta is a province with two major metropolitan areas serviced by international airports: Calgary and Edmonton. The province's climate is classified as northern cool-temperate, characterized by cold winters and short, cool summers. Mean January temperatures for Calgary and Edmonton are -11°C (12°F) and -15°C (5°F) respectively, with extreme lows exceeding -40°C (-40°F). The mean July temperature for both Calgary and Edmonton is 17°C (63°F) with extreme highs exceeding 35°C (95°F). In the spring and fall, temperature can vary between extremes of 20°C (65°F) and -20°C (-4°F).
Alberta is divided into five main hunting regions as described below.
The boreal region is characterized by vast expanses of mixed-wood forests of coniferous spruce, pine and larch, and deciduous poplar and birch. These stands are broken by numerous lakes, muskegs and rivers. In the extreme northeast of the province, the Canadian Shield of Precambrian rock is exposed, harboring many clear-water lakes.
The foothills are generally similar to the mountain zones, but are lower in elevation and generally drier. Forests of spruce, pine, poplar and aspen are often broken by tracts of grassland. This mosaic of vegetation provides excellent habitat for a wide variety of wildlife and especially big game. The south-west and west-central Alberta foothills and plains areas have many gently rolling hills which host excellent moose, elk, mule deer and whitetail populations. As with most areas of Alberta, these areas always harbor several record book animals.
This rugged region is a portion of the Canadian Rocky Mountains that stretches along much of the western border of Alberta. It is characterized by forests of coniferous trees, such as spruce, fir and pine. At higher elevations, permanent snow fields and glaciers are scattered among rocky ledges, scree slopes and alpine meadows. Adjacent to this region are Alberta's three mountain national parks: Jasper, Banff and Waterton Lakes National Parks respectively. Hunting is prohibited in national parks.
The parkland is a transition between mixed-wood forests to the north and west and the drier prairies to the south and east. Stands of poplar are interspersed with grasslands and meadows, giving areas a park-like appearance. This rich agricultural land possesses black soils and receives ample rainfall.
Grassland, sagebrush plains and agricultural croplands predominate this region. The most striking feature is the absence of trees, except in river valleys and coulees where moisture is sufficient to support cottonwoods and other deciduous trees. Much of this region is ranching and farming country. Trophy Hunters Alberta offers a large number of mule deer hunts, and a lesser number of whitetail hunts, in the southern prairie zones, where the rifle season consists of four hunting days per week (Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday) during November. The archery season in the prairie zones allows for 6 days of hunting per week.