Becoming a Guide

How to Become a Guide
To become a big game or bird game guide in Alberta, you must:

• Be an adult (18 years of age or older) who is legally entitled to be employed* in Canada, and
• Have a Wildlife Identification Number (WIN) from Alberta ReLM;

Guide Designations can only be obtained under a currently licensed Outfitter. Bird Game Outfitters can only provide Bird Game Guide Designations, and Big Game Outfitters can only provide Big Game Guide Designations. If you are seeking employment in the outfitting industry, you can post an ad for free in our monthly classifieds by emailing admin@apos.ab.ca.

The cost of a Guide Designation is $50 annually plus GST, which will be paid by the outfitter when the designation is obtained, and may be subsequently charged back to you. Guide Designations expire on March 31 each year, and can be obtained by your outfitter at any point through the year.

* A Guide Designation from the Alberta Professional Outfitters Society (APOS) does not make a non-resident alien legally entitled to work in Canada. A federal work visa is required. For more information on non-resident alien work visas, please contact Beyond Borders Immigration Consulting.

Guide Designation holders should be aware of the following:
The Guide Code of Ethics can be found HERE.

APOS policy states that offering or providing of big game or waterfowl guiding services to a resident, for gain or reward, should only be provided by a licensed outfitter or a licensed guide employed/contracted by a licensed outfitter and only if, the species falls within the class of the outfitter’s licensing, and

1. they own/lease big game allocations or waterfowl allocations for that species in that WMU, or
2. they have permission from an existing outfitter with big game or waterfowl allocations for that species in that WMU, or
3. there are no big game or waterfowl allocations held for that species in that WMU.

Under the Wildlife Regulation, a Big Game Guide Designation holder can guide for gain or reward:

1. one or 2 non-resident or non-resident alien licence holders while they are hunting wolf, coyote or big game other than black bear that they are legally authorized to hunt, pursuant to a contract with an outfitter, or
2. up to 3 non-resident or non-resident alien licence holders while they are hunting black bear that they are legally authorized to hunt, pursuant to a contract with an outfitter, or
3. any number of resident licence holders while they are hunting any such animal that they are legally authorized to hunt.

Under the Wildlife Regulation, a Bird Game Guide Designation holder can, under a Bird Game Outfitter, guide game bird clients for gain or reward. Non-resident and non-resident alien clients may only be guided in the WMUs for which the outfitter holds waterfowl allocations. Bird Game Guide Designation holders must keep an up-to-date listing of eligible WMUs on their Guide Designation; if the outfitter leases/transfers waterfowl allocations during the season, an updated Bird Game Guide Designation must be printed.

Questions about becoming a guide in Alberta can be directed to info@apos.ab.ca.