Outdoor Pursuits

Alberta’s 2026 provincial budget includes a $275-million investment over the next three years aimed at expanding outdoor recreation infrastructure. The plan promises new trails, more campsites, expanded trailheads, and improved park facilities. While many outdoor enthusiasts will welcome these improvements, the announcement raises some concerns for hunters, anglers and trappers—groups that rely on solitude and undisturbed wildlife populations for their activities.

For many hunters and anglers, the primary appeal of Alberta’s vast public lands is the sense of isolation they offer. Remote foothills, forests and river valleys provide the opportunity to experience nature without the crowds. Expanding trails and recreation infrastructure inevitably increases human traffic, which can dramatically alter the experience for those pursuing wildlife or fishing in quiet backcountry settings.

One of the most immediate impacts will likely be increased crowding in areas that were previously difficult to access. When new trails, staging areas and improved roads open up remote areas, they often attract a surge of hikers, mountain bikers, campers and off-highway vehicle users. For hunters, this influx can reduce opportunities to hunt effectively. And wildlife is highly sensitive to human presence; animals often move away from areas that see regular disturbances. Elk, deer and moose that suddenly find themselves in easily accessible valleys or foothills may retreat deeper into the wilderness or become more nocturnal. This displacement forces hunters to travel farther into remote areas to find game, increasing both the time and costs associated with hunting trips. In effect, increased recreational access can reduce the availability of wildlife to hunters, even if populations are stable.

Anglers may experience similar effects. Fishing success often depends on quiet environments where fish are less disturbed, especially fly-fishing. Streams that suddenly become popular recreation spots can see declining fishing quality as activity increases. In areas with heavy recreation use, previously productive waters can become far less reliable once that use increases.

Another major concern is wildlife behaviour and habitat disruption. The expansion of trail networks into previously undisturbed areas can fragment wildlife habitat and introduce constant human disturbances.

Trappers also face some of the most significant challenges under expanded recreation access. Trapping typically occurs in remote areas where traplines can operate with minimal disturbance. Increased trail networks and recreational traffic can bring people directly into areas where traplines have existed for decades. When recreational users encounter traps or trapline infrastructure, misunderstandings and conflicts can arise. Even though trapping in Alberta is heavily regulated and conducted responsibly, many folks are unfamiliar with the practice. Encounters between recreational users and traplines can lead to complaints, vandalism of traps and cabins, or pressure to restrict trapping activities in certain areas. For trappers who depend on undisturbed areas on their traplines, increased human activity can disrupt their operations. Animals may avoid traps placed near frequently used trails, reducing trapping success. Additionally, the potential for theft increases with higher traffic.

Enforcement also needs to be taken into consideration. As more people enter Alberta’s public lands, ensuring compliance with responsible recreation activities becomes more challenging. Fish and Wildlife officers are already stretched thin in many areas. Increased traffic without increases to enforcement could lead to illegal activities and recreation-related damage.

Hunters and trappers also worry that increased infrastructure for recreation could gradually shift priorities away from hunting and trapping uses. When areas become heavily developed and more popular, pressure can mount to restrict hunting or trapping in those areas. While no such restrictions have been announced as part of the current plan, expanded recreational use often brings new user groups whose interests may conflict with hunting or trapping activities.

From the perspective of hunters, anglers and trappers, the key concern is how these changes will affect Alberta’s backcountry. Once trails, campsites and recreation facilities are built, human activity is guaranteed to increase.

In the end, expanding access to Alberta’s outdoors may bring economic benefits and new recreation opportunities, but it also risks eroding the solitude and wildlife that many depend upon. Without thoughtful trail placement and ongoing enforcement, the consequences of increased human traffic will outweigh any benefits for hunters, anglers and trappers.

A debate that has existed in Alberta for decades is access vs. conservation. While I agree that more camping areas are most likely needed in a growing Alberta, creating more public access into Alberta’s wild spaces is not. Perhaps some of those funds would produce greater benefits for wildlife if they were directed toward conservation programs instead. Many conservation-minded Albertans would likely agree that at least some portion of that $275 million could produce greater benefits if it were invested in habitat conservation programs like those run by the Alberta Conservation Association.

For the previous Outdoor Pursuits article, click here.