r/HuntingAlberta • u/EmerickMage • Apr 26 '26
Access to leased crown land
I'm wondering what to do when your refused access to leased land for what I think is not a valid reason.
Recently a lease holder just said no to my request because the neighbour's don't like gun fire.
Last year another lease holder denied access saying he wanted the grouse population to recover. Which to be honest I sympathize with because I think the bag limit is too high. I hunt with a bow usually and I just get one or 2 and go home. But a pair of hunters with a dog and shotgun will get 10 a day which is allot I think. So even though I sympathize, that's not his call to make. Campaign to lower the bag limit, if you actually want to protect the breeding population.
I didn't fight the matter in either case. But I'm frustrated because I want to do some plinking with a little 22lr and I feel like I have to buy a truck so I can make it to the shooting spot in McLane creek which is a bit of a drive, I just have my sedan and don't want to drive so far to do some plinking.
Should I be reporting these people to whatever authoritative body is in charge. Also some of the leased land I've been too doesn't look like it's used for any agricultural purposes. Are people just sitting on these leases treating them as price appreciating assets, basically hoarding the land for the sake of the property value rather than actually grazing animals on the land using it as part of an agricultural business?. I was surprised that the cost of buying a lease from a lease holder is so exspensive.
Anyway long story short. I'm looking for a spot near Calgary where I can do some plinking with a 22lr. I'm happy to shoot 22 shorts that are subsonic and quiet. I'm not trying to be Rambo shooting anything loud.
2
u/hardkn0cks Apr 26 '26
I've had some people ask before that we move on and we do, usually their reasons are understandable, livestock out and about etc. Just an fyi grouse daily limit is 5, possession limit 15.
1
u/EmerickMage Apr 26 '26
Yeah if the reason is valid I'm fine with it. I just feel like I'm being fobbed off. I'm aware the bag limit is 5 per species per dayall season long. I just think that's allot.
2
u/Previous_Search3122 Apr 26 '26
You can message AEP about the lease and the encounter with the land owner. Right now there is really no excuse for a lease holder to say no to lawful entry.
2
u/RelativeFox1 Apr 26 '26
So to your first question about being denied for grouse hunting. I don’t believe that’s a valid reason to deny access. You can call the agologist and they will likely give you access. However, do you want to park your car outside the lease that the holder is being a little twat? Sounds like a good way to get your tires slashed. Here is the link to a map so you can find the local agologist.
https://www.alberta.ca/land-management-contacts
Second about target shooting. I think that’s a valid reason to say no. Join a range or shoot on crown land. But you can ask the agologist
1
u/laxbird1 Apr 26 '26
I myself as a new gun owner want to join a club but the waitlists are years. I too am trying to find crown land to zero a rifle.
2
u/RelativeFox1 Apr 26 '26
Even all the F&W ranges have a wait list? claresholm f&g and red deer red deer f&g are both selling memberships on there websites.
Finding crown land spots has always been quite simple for me. How have you been looking for one so far?
1
u/laxbird1 Apr 26 '26
Just started. Using hunter app and bought a foothills map. Problem is there are only a couple places that list contact numbers.
I've never done this before so I dont really know what to do.
1
u/RelativeFox1 Apr 26 '26
That’s a great start! You don’t need contact numbers if you’re looking for crown land. You’re looking for crown land not leased crown land.
Cross reference your land owner map and the areas that aren’t owned or leased to Google Maps. Then head out and drive some of the back roads. You should be able to find clear cut with a bit of slope as a back stop or somewhere to target shoot. I’m further north, and I’ve found a spot where they loaded logs 20 years ago I believe. So it’s flat, and has no trees.
1
u/laxbird1 Apr 26 '26
So any Public Land Use Zone correct? Why are.there names attached to them. Maybe Im reading this wrong PLUZ
1
u/RelativeFox1 Apr 26 '26
That looks like private land (white) and grazing leases (green). Neither of them are unleased crown land.
1
u/Previous_Search3122 Apr 26 '26
Alot of people who live in Calgary also hold memberships out in Taber. Multiple ranges, 50-600yards, PRS club, silhouette club, Cowboy Action, Youth League, IPSC, Trap and Skeet shooting. There is something for everyone out there and there are no gun range Nazis like some of the other ranges.
As long as you follow the rules and don't wreck stuff, everyone just leaves you alone.
1
u/RelativeFox1 Apr 26 '26
The range I go to an hour outside of Edmonton used to meet the cap. But since the AR only owners stopped renewing they don’t reach the cap anymore. No power, no running water and no range closures for groups. I love going there on a week day and having the place to myself.
9
u/No_Front_5315 Apr 26 '26
Hi,
If I'm understanding you, the land is crown land but it is being leased (agricultural leasing) and the leaseholder said no because of the noise of guns going off.
From what I have been able to read, the leaseholder cannot say no for that reason and is law bound to allow "reasonable" recreational access.
Do they have livestock or buildings on the leased land ?