Illegal cougar, lynx hunting in Alberta: 8 people plead guilty
Posted July 14, 2026 11:51 am.
Last Updated July 14, 2026 11:53 am.
Six Albertans and two Americans have pleaded guilty to various charges following an investigation into illegal cougar and Canada lynx hunts across the province.
The offences include hunting the animals out of season, possessing “illegally harvested” wildlife, using prohibited electronic calling devices during hunts, and hunting without valid licences.
The convictions resulted in $135,500 in fines and a combined 18.5 years of hunting prohibitions, the province indicated in an news release.
The Alberta offenders are from Drayton Valley, Kitscoty, DeBolt and Worsley. Those from outside Alberta are from Texas and Missouri. They all pleaded guilty to 13 offences under Alberta’s Wildlife Act.
An investigation began in early 2024 into illegal closed-season cougar hunting involving Byron Stewart, the owner of Tracks N Trails Outfitting in Drayton Valley. The investigation uncovered evidence of 11 illegal guided hunts across Alberta.
“Illegal hunting undermines wildlife conservation and management efforts in Alberta. It can contribute to overharvesting, negatively affect wildlife populations and reduce hunting opportunities for law-abiding hunters through quotas and shorter hunting seasons,” the Alberta government wrote in its news release.
