CANADA: ALBERTA - FREE RANGE WOOD BISON HUNT

Wood Bison hunting in Alberta, Canada is conducted in select seasonal peak windows twice annually. Prime spring hunts span March and April, while prime fall hunts occur in October.

- Additional Wood Bison: Can no longer be taken by hunters. 
-Moose: Available on fall hunts only, booked as a combo package. 
-Wolves: Bonus targets of opportunity during spring & fall seasons, at no additional cost.  

Days start early and end late. Use 4x4 ATVs or snowmobiles to access this remote country. Hunters can expect to cover as many as 50+ miles per day in search of the best trophy Wood Bison. 

Ideal spring conditions hover around the freezing mark, with frozen terrain and residual snowpack facilitating access, but also making bison tracks, signs, and sightings more visible. Insects have not hatched yet, and green up only occurs mid-June. 

Fall Wood Bison hunts are limited to a couple of weeks in October and are a good option for hunters seeking excellent capes but under fair, cool weather conditions. Expect long days in the field to maximize the search, so bagged lunches are typical. The majority of each day will be spent traveling small trails and glassing open areas from high spots in strategic locations while searching for a trophy Wood Bison. 

It is exciting cutting a fresh track and locating a herd of Wood Bison! Typical shots are between 50 and 200 yards, with shot placement being extremely critical. Angry wounded bison will stalk and circle waiting for a perfect moment to charge. These bison are also known for “mobbing” a predator, all attacking together at once. When you consider they reach speeds of 60 kph/37 mph, it is easy to see why Bison are considered dangerous game. 

Bonus wolf hunting is a great extra on this hunt! Wolves here grow big and plentiful, taken either as targets of opportunity while Wood Bison hunting, or pursued specifically from blinds over fresh bison carcasses. Wolf hunting companions are also welcome to join.

Most clients bring their own firearms, but rifles can also be made available, provided advanced warning is given. Shooting distance while Wood Bison hunting can range between 50 to 200 yards in most cases. These animals are extremely tough and require good shot placement with quality ammunition. Popular calibers include .375 H&H and bigger. Muzzleloader hunting is also possible.  

Archery gear is also welcomed by anyone wishing to bring it. Compound, traditional, or crossbow archery is all legal and acceptable, and it certainly makes for a challenge while free-range Bison hunting!

Spring in Canada’s northern boreal is a beautiful time and place. Black spruce and poplar dominate the forest, while willows, alders, and tamaracks establish the lower, wetter areas. This region is also interspersed with countless natural meadows. It's generally a flat and slightly rolling environment aside from the carving of river valleys. 

Ideal spring conditions hover around the freezing mark or colder, with the ground and wetlands still frozen, facilitating access. Residual snow pack also betrays Wood Bison by their tracks and makes them more visible overall. Insects have not hatched yet, and green up only occurs mid-June. 

In the fall season, the vegetation has mostly fallen, and the forest is again ready for winter.

Winter in the boreal forest is cold, with short days and long hours of darkness. For this reason, our prime spring seasons mainly begin in March, and see nearly 10 hours of daylight. Temperatures are generally below or around freezing at times with snowpack still remaining. The best conditions for Wood Bison hunting in Alberta can vary greatly from year to year, however. 

Some spring seasons see cold and snowy weather persist, while others experience a quick thaw with warmer temperatures. Likewise, in the October fall season, weather is generally cool, and the forest is once again ready for winter, with cold or snowy temperatures usually arriving in November. Hunters are highly encouraged to come prepared for temperature swings.

Our Wood Bison hunt is typically conducted from a quality RV trailer, often accompanied by wall tents. Mobile camps are vital to both access and hunt strategic and remote regions and remain within striking distance of the Wood Bison herds at any given time of the year. It’s a remote wilderness environment with no phone service or WIFI available. There is a maximum of 2 clients per hunt, so hunters have private rooms for greater comfort. Guides often stay and cook in wall tents. It is nothing fancy, but hunters are kept warm, dry, well-fed, and comfortable - and within range of the biggest free-range Bison herds.

Breakfasts are quick and light in the morning to get hunters in the field promptly. Enjoy bacon, ham, eggs, porridge, toast, coffee, tea, or juice. Lunches are packed for the day as returning to camp is not usually an option. Lunch consists of sandwiches and snacks such as granola bars, followed by thermoses of hot coffee, tea, soup, or stew. Upon returning back to camp, sit down to a big, hearty dinner. Menu items include ribs, grilled chicken, pork chops, lasagna, or pasta with game meat sauce. Sides include potatoes, veggies, or salad, often with cake for dessert.

Destination City: Hunters are asked to arrive at either Fort Smith, NWT, or High Level, AB, both of which are accessible by road or small commuter aircraft. Round-trip airport shuttles to the lodge are provided and already included. 

Travel Suggestions: The best jump-off point for free-range Bison hunting is Edmonton Alberta, where connecting flights to High Level or Fort Smith can be booked with either Northwestern Airlines at 1 877-872-2216 or Central Mountain Air at 1 888-865-8585. Flights are typically less than 2 hours. Should you wish to drive, High Level is approx. 9 hours, and Fort Smith is approx. 16 hours north of Edmonton.

Trophy Wood Bison in Alberta do not need a CITES permit - and instead the Provincial government provides the outfitter with a letter, which qualifies export. The hide, skull, and meat however must remain in Canada until the paperwork clears and Alberta Conservation officers affix the letter and a metal tag to the Bison. At this point it will be cleared by the US Fish and Wildlife inspectors and can enter the United States. This process is done mainly through the taxidermist in Alberta in conjunction with the outfitter who delivers all the bison trophies at the end of the Wood Bison hunting season, and ships any meat. 

Skulls can be cleaned, and hides can be salted or tanned, or the complete taxidermy can also be done. The taxidermist can then make arrangements and deliver the trophies to have them shipped domestically or internationally. The skulls are very large and the hides are extremely thick which lengthens tanning/processing times to approximately 12 months. Bison are simply huge animals.

- Canada Alberta Wolf Hunt
- Canada Alberta Elk Hunt (Archery)
- Canada NWT Musk Ox Hunt
- Australian Water Buffalo Hunt
- South Africa Cape Buffalo Hunt
- Zimbabwe Dangerous Game Hunting Safari