Wildlife Management Fund

ABOUT THE WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT FUND

APOS' Wildlife Management Fund (WMF) has contributed $3.18 million since 2022, and $1.8 million prior to that since the inception of the fund in 2008, to wildlife stewardship and conservation projects throughout Alberta. Historically funded through fees paid by outfitters, today the fund delivers up to $1 million annually to support stewardship projects, such as population surveys, species studies, and more.

WMF grant requests are reviewed and approved annually by a committee that includes Government of Alberta staff, members of APOS, and a representative from Safari Club International (SCI). Recommendations from the WMF Committee are forwarded to the APOS Board of Directors for approval. Under the new MOU, the APOS Board may also expend WMF funds through collaboration agreements with other like-minded organizations, including the Alberta Conservation Association (ACA).

Forms

WMF Applications may be submitted anytime. Please note that applications are not reviewed by the committee between September-November. If you have questions about the WMF, please email grants@apos.ab.ca.

WMF Application Guidelines
WMF Application Budget Form
WMF Application Form

WMF Project Summaries

2026 WMF Projects (show)

In 2026, APOS provided funding to the following organizations:
• Lac La Biche
• West Central Trappers Association
• County of St. Paul
• Minburn County
• Smoky Lake County
• Foremost Fish and Game Association
• Medicine Hat Fish and Game Association

These initiatives are intended to help maintain balanced predator-prey relationships in regions where predator densities are affecting the recruitment and survival of deer, elk, moose, and other ungulates. By supporting localized predator management efforts, APOS is investing in healthier wildlife populations, enhanced hunting opportunities, and sustainable wildlife management that benefits both Alberta's ecosystems and rural communities. These projects also support APOS's broader commitment to collaborative, science-informed wildlife stewardship across the province.

2025 WMF Projects (show)

2025 Coyote Reduction Program
The County of Two Hills is working to minimize the impact of coyotes in the region to reduce predation of livestock and wildlife. Residents have noticed increasing numbers of coyotes in the County, leading to decreased game birds, rabbits, and ungulates. The successful implementation of the 2025 Coyote Reduction Program will lead to an increase in wildlife, more successful hunting opportunities, and sustained livestock numbers.

2025 Predation Management Strategy
Although predation is a natural ecological process, shaping predator and prey populations, ecological or wildlife management may be required if predation is not aligned with predefined goals and strategic objectives. The 2025 Predation Management Strategy will work towards aligning efforts across Alberta to create a strategic document to guide existing predation management efforts. The Alberta Professional Outfitters Society (APOS) recognizes that it does not hold regulatory authority over provincial wildlife management policy; however, the activities in this strategy will serve as foundational and direct APOS-supported activities and facilitate the identification and prioritization of predation management projects.

2025 Alberta Hen Houses Project
Delta Waterfowl is a conservation organization focused on supporting duck populations through intensive management programs and conservation of breeding duck habitat, utilizing science-based tools to enhance waterfowl numbers across North America. APOS is contributing $60,000 to Delta Waterfowl’s Alberta Hen House project, which will fund the installation of 400 new hen houses during winter 2025–26, and support future maintenance of those houses and others within the existing Alberta network. These nesting structures drastically improve nest success, boosting rates from 5% to 60%, and are expected to produce over 4,000 fledged, first-year ducks by 2026.

2025 Coyote Management Incentive Program
APOS provided support for the Medicine Hat Fish and Game Association’s Coyote Management Incentive Program in Cypress County, aimed at enhancing antelope population numbers in the region. The program received positive feedback from local ranchers and community members, highlighting its value to both wildlife conservation and the local agricultural community.

2024 WMF Projects (show)

2024 Alberta Mule Deer Collaring Project
Starting with 114 collars deployed between 2 study areas in winter 2024/25, the Alberta Mule Deer Collaring Project is a multi-year monitoring project that will increase understanding of mule deer abundance and distribution and help inform management actions to ensure mule deer conservation within Alberta. When the mule deer are collared, capture crews take numerous measurements on the collared animals to assess body condition, age, reproductive status, and test for disease. When a collared animal dies, trained mortality assessors retrieve the collar and identify the animal’s cause of death. This study was inspired by similar work that was originally initiated in Utah in 2014.

The objectives of the project are to evaluate: adult female survival rates and causes of mortality; adult male survival rates and causes of mortality; efficient population monitoring methods, seasonal movements, natural movement corridors, and seasonal habitat preferences; and regional deer body condition and its correlation with changes in mule deer abundance. APOS has contributed $675,000 in year one and $500,000 in year two to the project, and the Alberta Conservation Association (ACA) has contributed $100,000. We are seeking additional funding partners in order to reach the desired scale of 4 study areas with 150-250 collars each. If you're interested in partnering with us, please reach out at info@apos.ab.ca.

2024 Moose Literature Review and Project Identification
Through the WMF, APOS is working with Omnia Ecological Services to address concerns brought forward by members concerning moose. A literature review was completed to identify key concerns, parallels with other jurisdictions and research gaps, as well as analyze Alberta moose population data. Through discussions with the APOS Moose Committee, Omnia Ecological Services is working to identify possible WMF projects to support moose populations in Alberta.

2024 Building and Enhancing Wildlife Habitat on Private Lands Through ALUS
ALUS is a landowner-led organization dedicated to creating and conserving wildlife habitat on agricultural land across Canada. Recognizing the essential role landowners play in maintaining vital wildlife ecosystems, APOS has provided $30,000 in 2024-25 to support projects that enhance wildlife habitat, rehabilitate wetlands, and stabilize natural infrastructure on private lands in Pincher Creek County, Lac Ste. Anne County, and the County of Vermilion River. The focus in these counties was on cattle fencing projects, aimed at protecting spring complexes and their discharges to prevent bank erosion, and on wetland creation to allow for natural regeneration and transformation into a wildlife habitat. All three projects were focused on recreating and maintaining a healthy ecosystem and ensuring the land remains accessible to wildlife, such as waterfowl, elk, white-tailed deer, mule deer, bears, and cougars, in the area.

2024 Ungulate Enhancement Program with the Alberta Trappers Association (ATA)
APOS granted $120,500 towards the Ungulate Enhancement Program – a provincial initiative in collaboration with the Alberta Trappers Association (ATA) that supports trappers’ efforts towards sustained management of wolf populations throughout Alberta. Ongoing management of predators such as wolves is necessary to maintain balanced ecosystems on working landscapes and support the health of other wildlife populations such as moose, elk, deer, and caribou. Alberta trappers are committed to skilled professional trapping, humane practices, maintaining sustainable furbearer populations, and deep respect for all of Alberta’s land. Through payments to 159 successful trappers, the program helped offset the costs incurred by trappers to trap and process wolves. At program completion, 386 wolf removals represent a strong outcome that reflects high trapper engagement and program effectiveness. Funds generated through the sale of the top three outstanding pelts will be dedicated back to the WMF.

2024 ACA Pronghorn Winter Survival and Movement Project
The Alberta Conservation Association (ACA) is conducting a comprehensive, multi-year study to investigate the impact of human-made barriers, such as fences and highways, on the movement and survival of pronghorns in southeastern Alberta. This research is critical to understanding how these barriers affect pronghorn migration, habitat use, and overall health. By tracking antelope movement patterns and analyzing survival rates, the project aims to provide valuable data that will guide future conservation efforts. APOS provided $75,000 for the initial pronghorn capture in 2024.

2024 Teeth Aging for CWD Head Submissions
As part of the Government of Alberta’s Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) mandatory testing program, mule deer teeth were saved in many Wildlife Managements Units (WMU). Previously, 2013-16 teeth submissions underwent cementum analysis for aging, but funds were unavailable to handle the backlog of teeth from 2017 onwards. In addition to supporting the establishment of the Wildlife Analytics Lab (WAL) at Lethbridge Polytechnic in 2023, APOS covered the expense to age the remaining teeth from 2017-22. Alberta now has mule deer age data spanning multiple WMUs and nearly a decade to help inform management decisions.

2024 University of Alberta – Ian Gazeley/Mark Boyce
APOS was proud to be asked to support the Bighorn Ram Movement Ecology and Disease Risk Project from the University of Alberta. This project started in 2022 with 35 GPS collars placed on rams between the Waterton National Park boundary and Canmore. In 2024 there were a total of 17 additional collars to deploy. For more information on this project, please visit grad.biology.ualberta.ca/boyce/ian-gazeley.

2023 WMF Projects (show)

2023 Establishment of the Wildlife Analytics Lab (WAL) at Lethbridge Polytechnic
With a contribution of more than $145,000, APOS played a key role in supporting the launch of Lethbridge Polytechnic’s groundbreaking Wildlife Analytics Lab (WAL), the first of its kind in Canada. This innovative lab uses cementum analysis, a technique that examines growth rings in teeth, to provide crucial data about wildlife species, including age and reproductive history. The insights gained from this research are invaluable for conservation efforts, wildlife management, and understanding the ecological balance across diverse species, as well as interesting context for hunters. For more information about the lab and its pioneering work, please click here.

2020 WMF Projects (show)

2020 Redcliff Adopt-a-Tree
Redcliff Cypress Regional Waste Management Authority is planting trees throughout the northeast portion of their landfill. This project is intended to create a functioning ecosystem that can provide food/water sources, shelter, nesting, fawning and reproduction opportunities for all wildlife species in the surrounding area. Click here to learn more.

2020 ALUS Canada Partnership
Four ALUS communities will receive funding for nature-based enhancement projects such as new habitat for wildlife. To read the press release click here. To learn more about ALUS click here.

2020 Alberta Conservation Association: Hunter Survey App
The ACA is expanding the moose hunter app (2012-16), partnering with iHunter to capture citizen science wildlife observations from hunters on all wildlife species. To learn more about ACA click here.

2020 Alberta Conservation Association: Landowner Survey
An online survey was developed to collect information from Alberta landowners about their perspectives on allowing hunting on their private land. To learn more about ACA click here.

2018 WMF Projects (show)

2018 Elk Count Survey
APOS provided funding to support an elk count survey in the Hinton-Cadomin winter ranges (WMUs 342, 344, 437, 438, 439) to record observed abundance and composition. The survey found that elk were of lower abundance in these areas compared to 2008, except in the Hinton Town Vicinity. However, it also observed that productivity (number of calves in relation to cows) was very good. Click here for more information.

2018 Aerial Moose Survey
An aerial survey for moose was done in WMU 351 in 2018. The most recent survey for this area had been from 2009-10 and had produced a population density of 0.48 moose/km². In the 2018 survey, a total of 171 moose were observed and the final density abundance was estimated to be 0.36 moose/km². Click here for more information.

2017 WMF Projects (show)

2016-17 Wildlife Population Simulator Software: ALCES Online PopDyn
APOS provided support for the development of ALCES Online PopDyn. ALCES Online PopDyn contains current and historic information on wildlife populations, hunting, habitat, land-use, and natural disturbances for all of Alberta. It also has different population dynamics models that allow the user to run future ‘what-if scenarios’ and produce maps, figures and tables of the results. Click here for more information.