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Alberta hunter education: 50 practice questions

Real test: 100 questions, 90 minutes, pass 80/100 (80%). Answer key on the last page. From canadianlicensetest.com · independent study aid, not an official test.

1. A small drake duck has a grey-blue head with a white crescent in front of the eye and shows a pale blue patch on the front of the wing. Which duck is it?
1. A. Blue-winged teal
2. B. Bufflehead
3. C. Common goldeneye
4. D. Lesser scaup
2. What must a business record when you bring big game to it for butchering in Alberta?
1. A. Only the weight of the meat
2. B. Only the price that was charged
3. C. Details like your name, WiN and licence
4. D. Nothing, since it is a private matter
3. At an Alberta check stop, a hunter tells the officer he shot his deer in a different WMU from where he really did. What has he done?
1. A. Nothing wrong, as long as the deer was tagged
2. B. Nothing, because WMUs are only guidelines
3. C. Committed an offence by giving false information
4. D. A minor error that needs no correction
4. How does a broadhead-tipped arrow kill big game?
1. A. By cutting blood vessels and causing rapid bleeding
2. B. By the shock from the arrow's high energy
3. C. By breaking the large leg and shoulder bones
4. D. By a chemical coating on the arrow shaft
5. An Alberta hunter must submit a deer head for disease testing. Who owns the parts the Minister keeps?
1. A. The landowner where the deer was shot
2. B. The hunter, who may demand them back
3. C. The testing lab, which may sell them
4. D. The Crown keeps ownership of the retained parts
6. An Alberta landowner shoots a cougar on their own land under the predation rules. What must they do?
1. A. Register it within one week
2. B. Bury it on the property
3. C. Sell the pelt within 30 days
4. D. Nothing; no report is needed
7. Alberta has an open hunting season for grizzly bears.
1. A. True
2. B. False
8. Where is the tag affixed on a black bear or cougar in Alberta when the hide is kept?
1. A. To the skin
2. B. Through the jaw
3. C. To a front paw
4. D. On the skull only
9. In a deer-family track in soft mud or snow, two small marks show behind the main hoof print. What are they?
1. A. Heel pads
2. B. Dewclaws
3. C. Tail drag marks
4. D. Claw marks
10. During the rut you find a patch of pawed-up bare soil under an overhanging branch, with a strong urine smell. What sign is this?
1. A. A wallow used by moose calves
2. B. A bear's dig
3. C. A buck's scrape
4. D. A deer bed
11. A 15-year-old Alberta hunter without a minors' firearm licence wants to hunt deer with a rifle. Who may accompany them?
1. A. Any 16-year-old friend with a hunting licence
2. B. A parent, guardian or adult with written parental consent
3. C. Any adult at all, with no permission needed
4. D. No one, since they must hunt by themselves
12. When shooting a crossbow, where must you keep your fingers and thumb?
1. A. On top of the rail to steady the bolt
2. B. Below the rail, away from the string's path
3. C. Wrapped firmly around the string
4. D. Out in front of the crossbow limbs
13. What is the rule for firearms in national parks such as Banff or Jasper?
1. A. Allowed if they are unloaded
2. B. Allowed for bear protection
3. C. Allowed during Alberta seasons
4. D. Banned, except cased in transit
14. Your hunting partner suggests shooting a grouse from the truck window on a logging road. What should you say?
1. A. No: shooting from a vehicle is unsafe and illegal
2. B. Yes, as long as the engine is turned off
3. C. Yes, if the grouse is on the road shoulder
4. D. Yes, because small game rules are looser
15. What evidence of sex and species must stay on a game bird in Alberta until it reaches home or is prepared for cooking?
1. A. The feet and lower legs
2. B. The tail feathers only
3. C. One feathered wing or the head
4. D. The skin of the breast
16. What makes a male pronghorn a 'class 1' pronghorn in Alberta?
1. A. Any black cheek patch
2. B. A body weight over 50 kg
3. C. Horns that are shed each year
4. D. A horn at least 12.6 cm long
17. A shot sounds weak and you feel little recoil. What is the safest action?
1. A. Fire again quickly to push the bullet out of the barrel
2. B. Keep hunting and check the firearm later at camp
3. C. Tap the barrel hard on a rock to free anything stuck
4. D. Stop firing, unload and check the bore for a stuck bullet
18. Within how many days must mandatory deer heads from designated Alberta WMUs be submitted for CWD testing?
1. A. One year
2. B. 30 days
3. C. 7 days
4. D. 90 days
19. A non-hunting hiker on a trail asks you, politely, why you hunt. What is the best response?
1. A. Answer respectfully and explain calmly
2. B. Ignore the question and walk away
3. C. Tell them it is none of their business
4. D. Argue until they agree with you
20. Why is a consistent anchor point important when shooting a bow?
1. A. It keeps arrows grouping in the same place
2. B. It is really only needed with crossbows
3. C. It increases the draw weight of the bow
4. D. It lets you shoot farther than your practice range
21. When field dressing a buck in Alberta, how can you keep the evidence of sex without tainting the meat?
1. A. Cut to one side of the scrotum when opening the animal
2. B. Remove the scrotum and keep it in a pocket
3. C. Cut the scrotum off and throw it away
4. D. Leave the whole gut pile attached
22. A hunter wants to use a small-bore shotgun for deer in Alberta. Which one is prohibited for big game?
1. A. A 12-gauge with slugs
2. B. A 20-gauge with slugs
3. C. A 10-gauge with legal loads
4. D. A .410 bore shotgun
23. Why do provinces restrict bringing whole deer carcasses in from other regions?
1. A. To protect local butcher shops from competition
2. B. To collect a higher import tax on game
3. C. To stop the spread of chronic wasting disease
4. D. To keep trophy antlers from being sold
24. It is 5 °C with light rain. Your cotton jeans and sweatshirt are soaked. What is the risk?
1. A. Frostbite of the fingers and toes only
2. B. Heat exhaustion caused by the rain
3. C. Hypothermia, even though it is above freezing
4. D. No real risk, since it is above zero
25. How does a foil emergency (space) blanket help keep you warm?
1. A. It produces heat through a chemical reaction
2. B. It reflects much of your radiated body heat back to you
3. C. It absorbs sunlight and stores it for the night
4. D. It lets sweat escape while blocking all wind
26. Which carry gives you the best control of the muzzle and lets you shoulder the firearm quickly?
1. A. One-hand trail carry
2. B. Over-the-shoulder sling carry
3. C. Shoulder carry, muzzle back
4. D. Two-hand (ready) carry
27. When should you ask a landowner for permission to hunt?
1. A. After you have already started hunting
2. B. Well before the hunt, in person if possible
3. C. Only if you plan to shoot something
4. D. Only if the land has signs posted
28. Section 53 of Alberta's Wildlife Act concerns discharging a firearm at night. Where is it still allowed?
1. A. At a lawfully operated shooting range
2. B. At a campsite for protection
3. C. Anywhere on your own land
4. D. On any Crown land away from roads
29. You must cross a large swamp while following a bearing and cannot see far. What is a good technique?
1. A. Set the compass on the ground and walk away from it
2. B. Sight on a tree on your bearing, walk to it, then repeat
3. C. Follow the easiest route and ignore the bearing
4. D. Walk until the swamp ends and guess the direction
30. What does Alberta ask bowhunters to do with tree stands at the end of the season?
1. A. Leave them up for next year's hunters
2. B. Remove them unless the landholder agrees
3. C. Register them with Fish and Wildlife
4. D. Paint them hunter orange for safety
31. You see an injured deer on a highway shoulder after a vehicle collision. What should you do?
1. A. Shoot it from the road right away
2. B. Load it into your truck to keep
3. C. Drive on, since it is not your animal
4. D. Report it to the wildlife line or police
32. How does Alberta describe the gait of a white-tailed deer compared with a mule deer?
1. A. Short running dashes and bounds
2. B. Stiff-legged bounds on all four feet
3. C. A slow, steady trot
4. D. A rocking gallop with the head low
33. Rescuers are searching nearby at night and you have a flashlight, a whistle and a lighter. What is best?
1. A. Stay silent to save energy
2. B. Walk toward the sound of engines
3. C. Blow three blasts and flash your light
4. D. Shout until your voice is gone
34. In Alberta's mountains, which game bird is white in winter, has feathered feet and lives above tree line?
1. A. Ruffed grouse
2. B. White-tailed ptarmigan
3. C. Gray partridge
4. D. Ring-necked pheasant
35. You find a black bear bait site in Alberta with no sign showing the owner's name or permit. What is the best action?
1. A. Hunt over the bait yourself
2. B. Report it to Fish and Wildlife
3. C. Add more bait to keep it going
4. D. Take the bait home for disposal
36. What is a typical ethical maximum range for most bowhunters on big game?
1. A. Out to about 150 metres or so
2. B. Out to about 300 metres or so
3. C. Any range the arrow can reach
4. D. Close range, often within about 30 metres
37. In which Alberta WMUs is big game hunting prohibited on Sundays?
1. A. All of the mountain WMUs
2. B. Prairie WMUs 102-160 and a few others
3. C. Every WMU in the province
4. D. No WMUs, as Sundays are open
38. Which is usually an early sign of hypothermia?
1. A. Hot, flushed skin
2. B. Fast, heavy sweating
3. C. Uncontrollable shivering
4. D. A strong sense of hunger
39. What does section 29 of Alberta's Wildlife Act prohibit?
1. A. Hunting within sight of a farmhouse
2. B. Hunting while wearing camouflage
3. C. Hunting with fewer than two people
4. D. Hunting in a way likely to endanger livestock
40. On a 1:250 000 map, how much ground does 1 cm represent?
1. A. 25 km
2. B. 250 m
3. C. 2.5 km
4. D. 25 m
41. A drake diving duck has a dark head, black chest, pale grey back and a light blue bill. Which duck is it most likely to be?
1. A. Wood duck
2. B. Canvasback
3. C. Common merganser
4. D. Scaup (bluebill)
42. What is the 'gutless' method of processing big game?
1. A. Leaving the whole animal for a butcher to dress
2. B. Taking the meat off without opening the cavity
3. C. Removing only the heart and liver to keep
4. D. Cooking the entrails over a fire in the field
43. How must an Alberta partner licence holder stay in contact with the special licence holder while hunting?
1. A. By text message on a phone
2. B. In person, with no devices
3. C. By two-way radio
4. D. No contact is required
44. On a warm day, what is one of the best ways to help a large moose carcass cool quickly?
1. A. Stack the quarters in a pile on the ground
2. B. Skin it and cut it into quarters as soon as possible
3. C. Leave the hide on and cover it with a tarp
4. D. Leave it whole in the sun to dry the surface
45. What must be kept with the carcass of a male elk in Alberta until it is processed?
1. A. The complete hide
2. B. The whole lower jaw
3. C. The skull plate with antlers
4. D. Both of the front legs
46. Who must you ask before hunting on a First Nations reserve?
1. A. The nearest conservation officer
2. B. The band council or its designated office
3. C. The provincial licence issuer
4. D. Any person who lives on the reserve
47. You see another hunter shoot a moose out of season. What is the most responsible action?
1. A. Note the details and report it to the poaching hotline
2. B. Confront the hunter and take the moose away yourself
3. C. Ignore it, because it is not really your business
4. D. Post the hunter's photo on social media right away
48. Coyote tracks are usually larger than grey wolf tracks.
1. A. True
2. B. False
49. What is the best way to remove a tick found attached to your skin?
1. A. Burn it with a hot match until it falls off
2. B. Cover it with nail polish and wait an hour
3. C. Twist it quickly while squeezing its body hard
4. D. Grip it near the skin with tweezers and pull straight out
50. Why do hunters and anglers often volunteer on wetland and habitat projects?
1. A. Volunteers are rewarded with extra bag limits
2. B. It is required in order to renew a licence
3. C. Healthy habitat produces the wildlife they value
4. D. Projects give them exclusive hunting access

Answer key

1. A — The blue-winged teal drake has a white crescent between the eye and bill, and both sexes show a pale blue patch on the forewing in flight. It is one of the earliest ducks to migrate south in the fall.
2. C — Processors must record the date, who delivered and who killed the wildlife, their WiN or certificate number, the licence number, any tag number and a description of the animal.
3. C — Section 88 prohibits wilfully giving false or misleading information to anyone, including the Minister, acting in the course of duties under the Act. Location of kill matters because seasons and limits vary by WMU.
4. A — Arrows carry far less energy than bullets. Sharp broadheads kill by cutting tissue and causing heavy blood loss, which is why they must be razor sharp.
5. D — Section 8(2)(b) provides that property in dead wildlife does not transfer from the Crown to the extent of any parts kept by the Minister after being submitted under the regulations. The rest of a lawfully taken, tagged animal belongs to the hunter.
6. A — Owners or occupants may hunt cougar on their private land without a licence at any time, but dogs are prohibited, and the kill must be registered at a Fish and Wildlife office within one week, bringing the skin and skull.
7. B — Alberta's guide states there is no season for grizzly bear. Hunters must be able to tell grizzlies from black bears.
8. A — Bear and cougar tags are affixed to the skin. If only the meat is kept, the tag goes through the space between the bone and tendon of a hind leg above the hock, as for deer, elk and moose.
9. B — Deer, moose, elk and caribou have two dewclaws above and behind the main hooves. They often print in soft ground, deep snow or when the animal is running or heavy.
10. C — A scrape is made by a rutting buck that paws the ground bare, urinates on it and marks the overhanging 'licking branch' with scent. Scrapes show that bucks are active in the area.
11. B — Hunters under 18 using a firearm must be accompanied by a parent, legal guardian or a person 18 or older with the parent's written permission, unless they hold an RCMP minors' permit.
12. B — A crossbow string travels with great force along the rail. Fingers or thumbs above the rail can be severely injured, so keep them below it.
13. D — Hunting is prohibited in national parks, and firearms are prohibited except on through highways and in town sites, where they must be unloaded and encased. Take care near park boundaries.
14. A — Discharging a firearm from a vehicle is prohibited in Ontario, Alberta and B.C., and roadside shooting also breaks road rules. Get out, move away from the road, and only then load and shoot safely.
15. C — Evidence of sex and species is one completely feathered wing or the head attached to the carcass. For wild turkey it is the complete head and beard.
16. D — A class 1 pronghorn is a male with a horn at least 12.6 cm (5 in.) long. A class 2 pronghorn is a female, or a male with horns not more than 7.6 cm (3 in.).
17. D — A weak report can mean a squib load that left a bullet stuck in the barrel. Firing again could burst the barrel. Stop, unload and examine the bore.
18. B — It is mandatory to submit the heads of deer harvested from specific WMUs for CWD testing and research within 30 days of the kill.
19. A — Courteous, honest answers help non-hunters understand hunting. Every hunter's behaviour affects public opinion.
20. A — An anchor point is where the drawing hand or string touches the face at full draw. Anchoring in the same place every time makes the aiming geometry repeatable, so arrows group tightly.
21. A — The guide advises cutting to one side of the scrotum or udder when opening the animal for gutting. If testicles and penis are removed, leave the entire scrotum intact; the meat will not be tainted.
22. D — Shotguns of .410 gauge or smaller are prohibited for big game. Shotguns must also be lawful for big game in the WMU and season.
23. C — CWD prions can persist in carcass parts such as the brain and spinal cord. Limiting movement of high-risk parts lowers the chance of spreading the disease.
24. C — Wet cotton loses insulation, and rain plus wind can chill you into hypothermia above freezing. Change into wool or synthetic layers and get out of the weather.
25. B — A metallized emergency blanket reflects radiant body heat and blocks wind, which slows heat loss. It is light and cheap, so it belongs in every hunter's personal survival kit.
26. D — The two-hand or ready carry keeps both hands on the firearm, gives the best muzzle control and allows a fast, safe shot. It is the preferred carry when game may appear.
27. B — Ask in advance, ideally in person, and explain when, where and what you plan to hunt. Posted signs are not always required for land to be off limits.
28. A — Section 53 says that, except at a lawfully established and operated shooting range, a person must not discharge a firearm during the night period set in section 28, from half an hour after sunset to half an hour before sunrise.
29. B — Leapfrogging from one landmark on your bearing to the next keeps you on course around obstacles. Check the compass each time you reach the landmark.
30. B — Alberta's guide asks hunters to remove tree stands at the end of the seasons unless the landholder has given permission to leave them.
31. D — Shooting on or across roads is illegal and dangerous, and possessing road-killed wildlife usually needs authorization. Report it so officers can deal with it.
32. A — Alberta's identification page describes whitetail gait as a series of short running dashes and bounds with the tail flagged, while mule deer make stiff-legged bounds with the tail down.
33. C — Signals in threes, like three whistle blasts, carry far and use little energy. A light shows your position at night. Stay put so searchers can reach you.
34. B — White-tailed ptarmigan live in alpine areas of the Rockies. They turn white in winter and have feathered feet for walking on snow. Alberta has ptarmigan seasons in mountain WMUs.
35. B — Legal bear bait sites must carry signs with the owner's name and permit or designation number. An unsigned site may be illegal; report it rather than using or disturbing it.
36. D — Arrows slow down and drop quickly, and animals can move before the arrow arrives. Most bowhunters limit shots to short ranges they have practised, often 30 m or less.
37. B — Sunday big game hunting is prohibited in prairie WMUs 102-160 and in WMUs 624, 728, 730 and 936.
38. C — Shivering is the body's early attempt to create heat. As hypothermia worsens, people begin to stumble, mumble, fumble and grumble, and shivering may stop.
39. D — Section 29 says a person shall not hunt in a manner that causes or is likely to cause danger to livestock or diversified livestock animals, or damage to property.
40. C — At a scale of 1:250 000, 1 cm on the map equals 250 000 cm on the ground, which is 2.5 km. Smaller-scale maps like this show large areas with less detail than 1:50 000 maps.
41. D — Scaup drakes are black at both ends with a grey-and-white middle and have a blue-grey bill, which is why hunters call them bluebills. They are diving ducks that form large rafts on open water.
42. B — With the gutless method, the hunter skins one side, removes the quarters, backstraps, neck and rib meat, then turns the animal and repeats. The body cavity is opened only to reach the tenderloins. It is common in the backcountry for large animals.
43. B — A designated partner hunts under the authority of the special licence and must be in direct communication, not using electronic devices, with the primary licence holder so both stop hunting once the tags are filled. The two hunt as one.
44. B — The hide insulates like a winter coat. Removing it and quartering a large animal lets heat escape. Hang the quarters in game bags off the ground in shade where air can move.
45. C — The complete skull plate with horns or antlers intact must be retained with the carcass of a male pronghorn, male elk or male class 2 sheep until it reaches the residence or a processor.
46. B — Reserve lands are not public land. Permission must come from the band council or the office it designates, as the Ontario, Alberta and B.C. guides all note.
47. A — Poaching steals from all hunters and harms wildlife. Record what you saw (time, place, vehicle, description) and report it to the provincial poaching hotline; do not confront the person.
48. B — Adult wolf tracks are much larger, often 10 to 13 cm long, while coyote tracks are usually about 6 to 7 cm. Track size, stride and group size all help tell them apart.
49. D — Pulling steadily with fine tweezers near the skin removes the whole tick. Burning, smothering or squeezing can make it release more fluid. Watch for rash or fever afterwards.
50. C — Many hunters volunteer and donate because habitat produces wildlife. This tradition of conservation funding and work is a key part of the North American Model.

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