A fur management licence or trapper’s identification card must be carried at all times while trapping. Resident trappers must also carry Form WA 19A signed by the landowner providing permission to trap on the lands involved. Trappers using power-neck snares and common neck snares on land owned by someone else must carry written permission from the landowner to use these snares.
There are approximately 1,632 Registered Fur Management Areas (RFMAs) in Alberta. The Senior Holder is authorized to trap on an RFMA for a five-year term, provided the licence is renewed each year. At the close of the five-year term, the Senior Holder may apply for another five-year term.
Applications: Occasionally, there are vacant RFMA's available.
Fish and Wildlife District offices list the vacant RFMAs in their district. Qualified adult residents of Alberta may apply for a vacant RFMA at those offices. Successful applicants will receive Registered Fur Management Licences that will authorize them to hunt and trap furbearing animals on the lands described on the licence and also on private lands that they may own or occupy.
Renewals: The Senior Holder of a Registered Fur Management Area may apply for a renewal of their licence on or before September 30 of each year. The application for renewal must be accompanied by a report of the number and species of furbearing animals harvested on their RFMA the previous year by all trappers, including any spouse, any resident child under 18 years of age and any approved Partners.
Partners on RFMAs require a licence. The Senior Holder of an RFMA may, at any time, acquire a partner by completing a Fur Management Area Partnership Agreement and having it approved in writing by a wildlife biologist. The partnership agreement must be completed each year.
*Note: The spouse or a resident child (under 18 years of age) of the Senior Holder of a Registered Fur Management Area may hunt and trap furbearing animals on that RFMA without a licence. The number and species of furbearing animals harvested by these persons must be included in the Senior Holder's annual report.
A Registered Fur Management Licence authorizes Senior Holders to hunt or trap only on their RFMA(s) or on lands they own, lease or occupy. A Resident Fur Management Licence is required to hunt or trap on other private lands and subsequent authorization conditions apply (see below under Resident Fur Management Licence).
Senior Holders
The Senior holder of a Registered Fur Management Licence shall ensure that the species and number of all furbearers harvested on their RFMA(s) are included in the annual Registered Fur Harvest Report (WA12). This includes all harvests from the Senior holder, any spouse, any resident child under 18 years of age and any approved partners.
The Senior holder must renew their licence before any partner, or else at the same time as partner.
Partners on Registered Fur Management Areas
All Registered Fur Management Area Partnership Agreements shall be confirmed annually, ideally at the time of licence renewal (on or before September 30 of each year). Any subsequent agreements that occur throughout the trapping year will be approved through the normal process.
Partners, in accordance with approved Partnership Agreements, will be issued a licence and wallet-size cards (WA188) valid for a one (1) year period (July 1 through June 30). Partners are encouraged to carry the WA188 card and their licence while trapping or conducting trapping-related business to both identify themselves and verify their authority as granted by the approved Partnership Agreement.
In addition to written authority from the Senior Licence Holder, partners who are first-time trappers must also meet the mandatory requirements
outlined here before their Partnership Agreement can be approved. For further information, contact a
Fish and Wildlife District office.
Fur Dealers
Fur dealers shall ensure that an approved partner as described above produces a valid licence and WA188 card when selling the pelts and parts of any furbearing animals. The appropriate information from the card shall be accurately recorded and maintained as part of the Fur Dealer’s Transaction Record. Similarly, fur dealers shall ensure that the appropriate information from Registered and Resident Fur Management Licences is recorded when fur is bought from individuals authorized to sell under these authorities.
For those fur dealers authorized to conduct the registration of the pelts of lynx, fisher, wolverine and otter, the Fur-bearers Registration Certificate (WA324) shall be fully and accurately completed and appropriately submitted in a timely manner. Fur dealers are required to report monthly all wildlife taken into possession.
Also, fur dealers are required to retain on the licenced premises a copy of all records for two years since the wildlife was last possessed. Contact your local
Fish and Wildlife District office for further information.
An Alberta resident 14 years of age or older must obtain a Resident Fur Management Licence to hunt or trap furbearing animals on lands:
a) they own, lease (other than leases that fall within a registered fur management area) or occupy, or
b) for which they have written permission – on Form WA 19A “Authorization to hunt furbearing animals” – from the person who owns, leases or occupies the land. Additional written permission is required for the use of power-neck snares and common neck snares - see
Regulatory Requirements for the Use of Trapping Devices.
While hunting and trapping under the authority of a Resident Fur Management Licence, trappers must carry their licence and relevant Permission to Trap form, and must produce them upon the request of a Fish and Wildlife Officer.
- Holders of a Resident Fur Management Licence are asked to complete a Resident Fur Harvest Report (WA12A) on or before September 30 to report the number and species of furbearing animals harvested during the previous year, by Wildlife Management Unit. This information helps to inform management of sustainable furbearer populations, and so trapper participation in completing these reports is encouraged.
Note:
- Holders of Resident Fur Management Licences may not take fisher, otter, lynx, or wolverine anywhere in Alberta, and may not take marten in FMZ 3.
This licence authorizes Indians to hunt and trap furbearing animals within the boundaries of the Indian Reserve in which they live. These licences may be obtained from Band Administration Offices.
This licence authorizes Métis Settlement members to hunt and trap furbearing animals within the boundaries of the Métis Settlement in which they live. These licences may be obtained from Métis Settlement Supervisors.
In order to advance trapper competency standards in Alberta, first time trappers must successfully complete the Alberta Trapper Education Course.
For information on course locations and times, please contact the Alberta Trappers’ Association, Box 6020, Westlock, Alberta T7P 2P7, phone 780-349-6626,
fax 780-349-6634 or www.albertatrappers.com.
A “first-time trapper” is a person who has:
1) never before held a licence in Alberta or elsewhere that authorized the trapping of furbearing animals, or
2) not completed a fur management course.
Before obtaining any fur management licence, first-time trappers must:
- complete a Trapper Education course. and
- pass a test which deals with humane trapping and fur management.
Registered Fur Management Areas – trapping by children of licence holders
A resident under 18 years of age whose parent holds a registered fur management licence as a senior holder or as a partner may hunt or trap fur bearing animals in the RFMA where their parent holds the licence, subject to all applicable seasons, quotas and other restrictions.
Registered Fur Management Areas – trapping by other 12 to 17 year old youths
A person who is 12 to 17 years of age who has obtained permission from the senior holder of an RFMA and who has been authorized in writing by their parent or guardian may hunt or trap furbearing animals in the RFMA provided they do so under the senior holder’s direct supervision. The trapping by the youth is subject to applicable seasons, quotas and other restrictions.
Resident Fur Management Licences – trapping by children of licence holders
A resident under 16 years of age whose parent holds a resident fur management licence may hunt or trap fur bearing animals on the lands where their parent is entitled to hunt or trap under that licence, subject to all applicable seasons and other restrictions. Written permission to hunt or trap must be obtained on an “Authorization to hunt furbearing animals” (form WA 19A).
Resident and Indian Fur Management Licences – trapping by other 12 and 13 year olds
A person who is 12 or 13 years of age who has obtained permission from the holder of a resident fur management licence or an Indian fur management licence and who has been authorized in writing by their parent or guardian may hunt or trap furbearing animals on applicable lands, provided they do so under the licence holder’s direct supervision. The trapping by the youth is subject to applicable seasons and other restrictions the same as the licence holder.
All licences are subject to the federal Goods and Services Tax (GST), which has not been added to the fees listed in the table below. Please note mandatory requirements for first-time trappers above.
Five dollars from each Registered Fur Management Licence funds the Alberta Trappers' Compensation Program.
| Resident Fur Management Licence |
$20 |
| Registered Fur Management Licence - Senior Holder |
$40 |
| 3 Townships (189 to 260 sq. km [73 to 108 sq. mi]) - an additional fee |
$10 |
| 4 Townships (281 to 373 sq. km [109 to 144 sq. mi]) - an additional fee |
$20 |
| 5 Townships (374 to 466 sq. km [145 to 180 sq. mi]) - an additional fee |
$30 |
| 6 Townships (more than 466 sq. km [180 sq. mi]) - an additional fee |
$40 |
| Registered Fur Management Partner Licence |
$20 |
| Indian Fur Management Licence |
N/A |
| Métis Fur Management Licence |
N/A |
| Damage Control Licence |
N/A |
| Class 1 Fur Dealer Permit |
$100 |
| Class 2 Fur Dealer Permit |
$500 |
Maximum fee for Registered Fur Management Licence and Area is $80 plus GST.
