I read an article a while back about the hybrid bison hunts in Canada. Any Canadians (or anyone else) ever hunt them? How is it? Is winter season or fair weather hunting better?
-BourbonTrail
We have several different hunting opportunities for Bison in Alberta.
1. A draw for Residents, that you have minimal hope of being getting as a resident. It is also suspended at the moment. These are
Plains Bison and they are no where near Wood Buffalo National Park (WBNP) where the Wood Bison reside.
2. Penned variety. (Plains Bison) Just go shoot a cow at home.
3. Wood Bison that "escape" from Wood Buffalo National Park. There is no fence so they really just migrate as they see fit. These may be hunted without a license. Typically hunted in the winter from Snow machines. This is a middle of no where hunt in deep snow and finding the Bison is the biggest challenge. Oh ya, not freezing to death up there is probably even more of a challenge.
I can't even imagine trying to hunt up there in the summer. The bugs and the keg would be the end of you.
Apparently we do have an Outfitter who chases Wood Bison in Alberta. I can not recommend any personally. I know some guys who have done the hunts for themselves and it is WORK!
There is a kids school class in the NWT that hunts a Bison every year as part of the curriculum. It is done in winter.
As noted in my post above, when they leave the WBNP they are considered a threat to cattle and disease free Plains Bison herds so they are vermin at that point.
I can see where the confusion comes in.
From a report done in NWT.
"Under the federal Species at Risk Act, a species listed as threatened may not be killed on federal Crown land that is under the authority of the federal Minister of the Environment, such as National Parks or National Wildlife Areas, except where permitted under a national recovery strategy. For this reason, bison hunting is not allowed in WBNP.
Hunting for wood bison from the Nahanni and Mackenzie populations is allowed under a quota system, but regulations differ between the two populations. In the SRL, General Hunting Licence (GHL) holders may hunt bison without limit or closed season because the NWT Big Game Hunting Regulations consider these animals to be hybrid bison.
Harvesting is also used as a recovery management tool in the Yukon and Alberta. Management concerns in these jurisdictions include bison exceeding target population sizes and traffic safety. In Alberta, there is also concern the disease-free Hay-Zama population may come into contact with infected bison from the WBNP area."
https://www.wildlifecollisions.ca/docs/wood_bison_management_strategynwt2010.pdf
We have Wood Bison, Plains Bison and Hybrid's in Canada.
Depends on the jurisdiction which may be available to hunt. Every Province and territory treats them differently under their regulations.
Good luck with your research
