Minister's Special Licences

Information Pertaining To Special Licences

Minister's Special Licences

These premier licences allow the buyer unprecedented opportunities to hunt at the best possible times with their choice of weapon. Don’t miss your chance to bid on these world-class licences with their new and improved conditions! Funds derived from the sale of these special licences are distributed through a granting process led by a multi-stakeholder committee. For more information on grants issued from the Minister’s Special Licence Auction (MSLA) Fund, please click HERE.

Alberta Minister’s Special Licence (MSL) – BIGHORN SHEEP

Alberta has long had a reputation for maintaining the healthiest and most robust Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep populations in the world! If you know trophy bighorn sheep, you know Alberta; our genetics are second to none! That’s why Alberta, in the name of conservation, has shared over 700 of our sheep with 11 states and one province over the past few decades.

An Alberta ram held the world record for 89 years before breaking its own record in 2000 and then again in 2015; Alberta still boasts nine of the top 25 bighorn sheep ever taken! Still capable of producing 200-inch-plus rams, this highly coveted Alberta’s Minister’s Special License got even better in 2022! With encouragement from the Alberta Chapter of the Wild Sheep Foundation and help from the Alberta Professional Outtters Society (APOS), this permit is open to YEAR-ROUND HUNTING.

This Minister’s Special Licence allows the buyer an unprecedented opportunity to hunt at the best possible times, with any weapon, extending their chances to a full 365 days of unparalleled possibilities. Don't miss your chance to bid on this world-class hunt with its new and improved conditions.

2024-25 Bighorn Sheep Description and Conditions

Wild Sheep Foundation (WSF)
Dates/Location: January 18-20, 2024, Reno, NV
Bid here: ALBERTA MINISTER’S SPECIAL LICENCE, ROCKY MOUNTAIN BIGHORN SHEEP


Photo courtesy of LC Outfitting

 

 

ALBERTA MINISTER’S SPECIAL LICENCE (MSL) – MOOSE

Alberta is home to a thriving population of moose. The top six Canadian moose shot in Alberta have all scored over 220 inches, with the largest scoring a whopping 226”. Three of those moose are on the Boone & Crockett list of the top 10 Canadian moose of all time. Safari Club International (SCI), meanwhile, classies the moose found in the southwest corner of Alberta as Shiras moose, with 4 of them having scored in the top 20 all-time. Whether you opt for a fly-in tent camp, a remote river canoe trip, a horseback hunt in the mountains, or a prairie hunt supported by ATVs, you will enjoy a once in a lifetime moose hunt. This is an opportunity to hunt either species in one of the most famous moose hunting regions in the world!

2024-25 Moose Description and Conditions

Western Hunting and Conservation Expo
Hosted by Sportsmen for Fish and Wildlife (SFW) and the Mule Deer Foundation (MDF)
February 15-18, 2024, Salt Lake City, UT
Bid here: ALBERTA MINISTER’S SPECIAL LICENCE, MOOSE


Photo courtesy of Rogue Venture

 

 

ALBERTA MINISTER’S SPECIAL LICENCE (MSL) – MULE DEER

Recognized as one of North America’s premier mule deer hunting destinations, Alberta’s genetics produce some of the continent’s greatest trophy mule deer. From the farmland of northern Alberta to the open grassland and coulee habitat of the south, to the Rocky Mountain foothills, Alberta’s outtters consistently put record book deer in front of their hunters. Alberta has long held the world record for non-typical mule deer, a 355 1⁄4-inch monster whose score will likely never be topped. The 2022 Minister’s Special License holder took a giant buck scoring almost 280, non-typical inches.

Alberta presents the most diverse mule deer hunting experience available anywhere. Hunting conditions and styles can vary greatly, depending on the season and area hunted. From horseback hunting or hiking to spot-and-stalk style hunting as you roll around vast landscapes glassing thousands of acres of highly productive habitat; every situation may warrant a dierent technique, depending on where you find the buck of your choice, but our skilled outtters know how to find big deer and get you the best opportunity at your Alberta monarch.

2024-25 Mule Deer Description and Conditions

Western Hunting and Conservation Expo
Hosted by Sportsmen for Fish and Wildlife (SFW) and the Mule Deer Foundation (MDF)
February 15-18, 2024, Salt Lake City, UT
Bid here: ALBERTA MINISTER’S SPECIAL LICENCE, MULE DEER


Photo courtesy of Clay Creek Hunting

 

 

ALBERTA MINISTER’S SPECIAL LICENCE (MSL) – PRONGHORN ANTELOPE

A carefully managed big game species, Alberta is home to some of the largest pronghorn antelope in North America. Over the years, many Alberta pronghorn antelope have ranked highly in the Boone and Crockett and Pope and Young records. Expectations of heavy bucks in the mid 80 inch range are reasonable. Our outtters employ a range of hunt strategies, including spot-and-stalk, decoying, and blinds at water holes. On every hunt you can expect to see a multitude of game and enjoy some of the nest prairie grassland scenery on the continent.

2024-25 Pronghorn Antelope Description and Conditions

Western Hunting and Conservation Expo
Hosted by Sportsmen for Fish and Wildlife (SFW) and the Mule Deer Foundation (MDF)
February 15-18, 2024, Salt Lake City, UT
Bid here: ALBERTA MINISTER’S SPECIAL LICENCE, PRONGHORN ANTELOPE


Photo courtesy of Great White Holdings

 

 

ALBERTA MINISTER’S SPECIAL LICENCE (MSL) – ELK

Spectacular terrain and scenery, and a rapidly growing population await the elk hunter visiting Alberta. Home to the Rocky Mountain elk subspecies, bulls are highly responsive to calling during the rut from late August through to early-October. Through the rest of the year, trophy bulls can be found in small bachelor herds, offering a unique spot-and-stalk hunt. Mountain, foothills, prairie, and forest hunts are all available, and equally productive; select the hunt that best suits your personal taste and capability, or hire an outtter that monitors all regions. As recently as 2020 a bull scoring 449 1⁄2” B&C was taken in Alberta... you could be the next to capitalize on our growing herds and strong genetics!

2024-25 Elk Description and Conditions

Western Hunting and Conservation Expo
Hosted by Sportsmen for Fish and Wildlife (SFW) and the Mule Deer Foundation (MDF)
February 15-18, 2024, Salt Lake City, UT
Bid here: ALBERTA MINISTER’S SPECIAL LICENCE, ELK


Photo courtesy of McNeice Outfitting Ltd

 

 

ALBERTA MINISTER’S SPECIAL LICENCE (MSL) – TURKEY

There are currently no non-resident wild turkey opportunities in Alberta, and a limited number of tags available to Alberta residents; this permit represents the only opportunity for non-residents to hunt our growing Merriam’s turkey population, in one of the most unique settings available anywhere on the continent! Participants in this hunt will enjoy tremendous scenery and terrain and encounter a multitude of other species while hunting. This is an opportunity for a truly one-of-a-kind turkey hunting experience.

2024-25 Wild Turkey Description and Conditions

Western Hunting and Conservation Expo
Hosted by Sportsmen for Fish and Wildlife (SFW) and the Mule Deer Foundation (MDF)
February 15-18, 2024, Salt Lake City, UT
Bid here: ALBERTA MINISTER’S SPECIAL LICENCE, TURKEY


Photo courtesy of Porcupine Creek Outfitters Ltd

 

For more on the Alberta resident MSL raffles and the corresponding grant funding, please visit www.ab-conservation.com