Hunter Information Package

Home , Crowsnest Range, Pincher Creek, Rainy Ridge

Castle Provincial Park Wildlife Management Unit (WMU) 400

If you have questions or concerns please contact a Conservation Officer or park staff at 403–627–1165. For emergencies please dial 911. To report poaching please call Report-A-Poacher at 1–800–642–3800.

1 Contents Hunter Information Package Introduction 3 Castle Provincial Park Wildlife Management Unit (WMU) 400 Castle PP Map 5 Access Information 6 Successful Hunter Information 7 Wildlife Management Assistance 9 Important Park Specific Information for Hunters 10 Extra Word of Caution 13

2 Introduction Hunter Information Package There are hunting opportunities on more than 85 percent Castle Provincial Park of the land base in Alberta’s Parks system. Hunting Wildlife Management Unit (WMU) 400 is permitted in all Wildland Provincial Parks and some Provincial Parks and Provincial Recreation Areas. Hunting is a supported activity in Alberta Parks because of its alignment with preserving natural heritage, including traditional land use, providing exceptional recreation opportunities, providing tools for wildlife management, and getting people outside and connecting with nature.

Alberta Parks are enjoyed by a wide range of recreational users year-round and in Provincial Parks and Provincial Recreation Areas, where hunting is allowed, Firearm Discharge Permits are required to address public safety and wildlife management issues as well as to protect sensitive areas and species. Castle is designated as a Provincial Park and is managed by the Parks Operations Division of Alberta Environment and Parks. It is located in South West

3 Alberta near Pincher Creek and the parks are part of the Waterton Biosphere Reserve, and share borders with Hunter Information Package Castle Provincial Park WatertonGlacier International Peace Park to the south, Wildlife Management Unit (WMU) 400 the Crowsnest Pass to the north and the Flathead River Valley of British Columbia to the west. Extensive wildlife corridors link all these unique areas and together they form part of the extraordinary Crown of the Continent ecosystem. Wildlife in this area is habitat for Mountain Goat, Bighorn Sheep, Grizzly Bear, Wolverine, and Elk. Hikers, cyclists, snowshoers, equestrian users, bikers, school children, community groups, park employees, volunteers and hunters are present at all times of year at Castle Provincial Park. Please be aware of their presence and take appropriate measures to ensure you are being safe and aware at all times.

4 Livingstone South Peak BC AB 3

Coleman Island Lake Provincial Castle Provincial Park & Recreation 3 Bluff Mountain Area Wildland Provincial Park Crowsnest Island Loop Crowsnest Blairmore 510 Peak Ridge 22 Sentry Pass Designated Summer Robertson Peak Mountain ek Frank re C r Oldman Dam a t S Provincial Talon Peak Trails 2018 ek Recreation Area Trail Hill re Lundbreck 5 C rk o Y 3 Chinook Peak th Mount McLaren or Bellevue N Lundbreck 510 Falls Provincial Turtle Mountain Mount Parrish Recreation Area Map Legend 3 6 7 Hillcrest Mines Willoughby Peak Andy Good Peak Cowley eek Cr ork Tent 5 Y Castle Provincial Park Towns and Villages Mountain Mount 3 Coulthard Castle Wildland Provincial Park Mount Ptolemy Mountain Adanac Hillcrest Road Mountain Other Provincial Parks Pass 3 BC AB Hearts Peak 507 k n Cree Ecological Reserve Lakes Sartoris Byro Road Ptolemy SE5 Campground Rivers / Streams Castle Wildland Byron Hill Provincial Park Spades Peak Mount McGladrey Backcountry Campground Roads - Paved

J a Mount Pengelly c Tapay Road 3 k s Poker Peak o n 7 Group Use Campground Roads - Gravel Creek C oat re G e Clubs Peak k AB Day Use Area Alberta - British Columbia Border Ginger Hill 507 BC L Maverick Hill y n x C Pincher Creek to Hwy 6 Equestrian Hiking Trail 6 re ek Mount Darrah

Fishing Hiking / Biking / Equestrian Trail 507 3 Beaver Mines Staging / Parking Multi-Use Trail / Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) Trail 4 Lynx Creek nda ver bo le Ri Campground Car

k 775 Trailhead 1 Designated Camping Areas e 774 re Castle Gladstone C 12 L t o s s Valley Road o t Provincial Park L Cr th ee (Summer Only) or k Castle Falls Mount Backus Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) Staging MD of Crowsnest Pass N Carbondale Campground 5 Hill 3 k ee Washrooms* Cr h Lost out 2 *Pit toilets available at most day use, camping and S r O’Hagen e 5 iv staging areas R Road e k l e t

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al e a Provincial Park d G Carbon Castle River Bridge Campground 11 Campground # of Sites Services Notes ek re 10 C North k e e id k re 4 c e Kootenay Pass C Mount i re ld u C ona McCarty Syncline Group S e Beaver Mines Lake 86 Basic Reservations and rst-come, cD n a o Campground t M Beaver Mines s d a Lake l rst-served sites are available. G Hollebeke Mountain 9 Beaver Mines Castle Falls 47 Basic Lake Campground Please check: albertaparks.ca. MacDonald Pass ek 774 re 1 C Table Mountain Castle River Bridge 30 Basic e id ic 1 u AB S Syncline Mountain 19 Lynx Creek 28 Basic First Come, First Served 22

Mount Syncline 20 Syncline Group 20 Basic BC First Peak k Reservation Required e e r C Barnaby Lake y 23 e n Prairie Bluff

t Southfork i Whistler Mountain h Southfork Lake 8 Mountain W

St. Eloi Mountain

West Castle Wetland Mount Gladstone M

Ecological Reserve C Shell r e

e k Waterton # Trail Recommended Use # Trail Recommended Use Gravenstafel Ridge Complex North Castle Shell Road Castle Barnaby Ridge 21 Butcher Lake d C to Hwy 6 Mountain woo reek 1 Syncline Trail Network 13 South Lost Creek Victoria Peak Dry 16 Resort Windsor Ridge ek re S r C ou e t h h Castle Peak c West Castle n 2 Castle Falls Grassland 14 Great Divide Trail South C i Bathing Mount Haig Mountain a P s Lake tle Pincher Ridge

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i r v Windsor Mountain

i e 14 z r z Gate may be closed

15 l 17 Middle Kootenay Pass y 3 Great Divide Trail North 15 due to industrial activity C

e k Gardiner Creek / Great Rainy Ridge N 4 16 Grizzly & Ruby Lakes Drywood Mountain Divide Connector Haig S3 Castle Wildland Middle Rainy Ridge NW 5 Mount Ptolemy 17 North Drywood Falls Kootenay Pass Provincial Park Rainy Ridge Grizzly Lake k ee Cr d Andy Good Base Bovin (Blue) Lake Victoria Ridge oo 6 18 Rainy Lakes w Three Lakes Ridge ry 18 D h Ruby Lake ut So

North York Creek / W e Bovin (Blue) Lake

7 19 Table Mountain s

Plane Crash C a

s t 21 l e Loaf Mountain Spread Eagle R i Mountain 8 Syncline Brook 20 Barnaby & Southfork Lakes v e Scarpe Mountain r

AB Jutland Mountain 9 Gardiner Creek 21 South Castle Valley La Coulotte Peak

BC Spionkop Ridge Sage Mountain 10 MacDonald Pass 22 Gladstone Creek 14 Mount Matkin

La Coulotte Ridge 14 11 North Kootenay Pass 23 Mill Creek Newman Peak N Font Mountain Mount Glendowan 12 North Lost Creek Cloudy Peak 0 2 4 6 8 10 12 km

Great Divide Trail through Waterton Avion Ridge Lakes National Park closed in 2018 due Waterton Lakes National Park to Kenow Wildﬁre Castle Provincial Park Map

Snowmobiles (OHVs) Island Lake Phillipps Legend Pass Pillipps Lake Allison Provincial ldman Recreation reek Snowmobiles are permitted from December 1 to Castle Wildland Provincial Park Rg Rg lairmore Rg Rg Rg1 Rg Lake Area Green o

April 30 and only on designated winter snowmobiling reek rosnest Castle Provincial Park Crowsnest odd Sentinel Coleman Bluff trails and areas in Castle Provincial Park and Castle Pass rosnest Tp reek Mountain udson iver sland Lake Haell iver a Parks and Protected Areas Tp merald onnell

Wildland Park, as indicated on the trail map and on reek Lake Lake reek

sland reek reek park signage. Please be respectful when using trails, Private Land 117 reek 112 idge Blairmore 1 be cautious of non-motorized trail users, and stay 1 ork Loop Robertson ock reek Facility ones 116 Sentry reek Gold clear of wildlife. sland idge Mountain Peak reek 111 Pass Dam Random Ride Areas esignated 115 114 tar Powderkeg ldman Ski Area eservoir Tp7 Ptolem Frank Every snowmobile operating in the Castle parks must Winter Trails Slide Tallon reek Massacre a Lundbreck Trail st have: Mount Peak Butte Hill rosnest reek A # Trail Intersections Chinook McLaren 108 rank rosnest Peak illougb Lake Bellevue Lundbreck Falls 1 Cross-Country Ski Area ork iver Oldman am • Valid registration and insurance Tent Mount reek Provincial Recreation Parrish Turtle Provincial Mountain reek 107 Area • Exhaust muffler with spark arrester ownhill Skiing Pass 104 106 Mountain Recreation Area Andy Good Ironstone Cowley • Approved helmets for all off-highway vehicle users reek Peak ort 42A Lookout reek ork reek Hillcrest Fat Biking Mount Drum • Direct adult supervision for operators under the age Tent Coulthard Mines edern Burmis rosnest Tp7 Forestry Office Mountain Rg Lake of 14 years Ptolemy Ln 41 40 • A licence plate that is securely attached on front or Ice Fishing Pass Mount Lons rear of OHV and visible to other operators Ptolemy 102 7 Information Kiosk idge

• Tail lamp on the vehicle rear capable of emitting a re Lee Lake

e Hillcrest 53 Parking k red light visible from at least 60 metres (185 feet) irectional Map Mountain reek • At least one white headlamp on the front must be Picnic/ay se Area Airdrie 101 of sufficient intensity to reveal a person, another 38 Snowmobile Shelter astings Adanac ron iver vehicle or a thing that is at least 60 metres ahead Calgary Byron Snowshoeing Hill (185 feet) Mount illougb McGladrey idge Staging Area/Parking 37 ackson Mount reek To operate a snowmobile in the Castle Parks, people Warming Hut Pengelly from outside Alberta: 36 astle Pincher Accessible High River Sartoris idge reek reek Creek Ginger • Carry proof of residency Towns and Villages Goat Hill Nanton Maverick 7 Tp • Follow the rules, regarding registration of the Hill Fire Lookout Tp Castle iver reek vehicle and the display of license plates, that are Mount Ln Mountain Darrah Provincial Park credriver required by their home jurisdiction 7 Claresholm 35 reek • Produce valid proof of insurance Pass BC reek Beaver iver RRA Mines 77 reek • If you have been in Alberta for more than 30 days, AB 55 54 ettles Roads - Paved Lost Lyn 34 Creek all Alberta requirements apply Municipality of Lost Crowsnest Pass rt Cherry Castle Roads - Gravel o 77 reek Lethbridge reek Hill Falls 56 Pincer 1 Refer to Hunting Regulations reek reek and Firearms Discharge Permits 7 Pincher Creek arbondale arna Meridian 77 Mount ill Know Before You Go Lost 33 31 32 Carbondale Lake Lookout Backus Castle Provincial Park 30 and Wildland Provincial Park reek Lime iln It’s your responsibility to become familiar with the astle Waterton Lakes OHagen Lake out 29 activities allowed in this area before you visit. Refer to National Park Gladstone eauvais Castle Wildland Valley Lake the information in this publication for further details. 15 Road Beauvais Lake 14 ipman Provincial Park ines 13 r Provincial Park Pick up or download the Alberta Parks regulations iver e v Blairmore Access 28 Castle a brochure. Look for park information kiosks and contact Tp River e

reek Bridge reek 24 le Daigle Lake park staff if you have any questions. a Carbondale ond Hill 23 b Tp North ar

acdonald Syncline Kootenay Fifth 25 rosnest Pass 22 Ave Rg Mount 26 21 eaver ines McCarty Lake 1Ave Macdonald 20 Beaver iver Hollebeke Pass Mines Ave Ave Mountain Gardiner iver ris ek Lake tie re i 1Ave ne idge 27 77 reek reek

1St 1Ave 11St See inset map reek 11St CPR Ave 1St 1Ave uicide astle Table 11St

Forestry 17St Mountain Office 1Ave Ave arnab Syncline Mountain 1Ave is 1Ave Lake 1St

11St reek arnab est Lake Gladstone Prairie 17St 1Ave 1St rook

1St Whistler Bluff Pincer outork Mountain

1Ave Lakes reek Pass Powderkeg 1St 51 St. Eloi West Castle Wetland Ski Area reek Blairmore Mountain ncline Ecological Reserve Staging Area Southfork Mount Gladstone reek 19 Mountain arnab ill

itne oot Lons Gravenstael Sartoris Rd British Castle Castle Wildland Tp Tp Columbia Mountain utcers Lake Drood idge Victoria reek Provincial Park Peak Resort 18

Gril aig Lake ill Syncline Cross-Country Ski Area Map idge North k Castle ree Mount Castle Peak To Pincher Creek Haig reek West ictoria idge Syncline North reek Windsor Cross-Country Snowmobiling Castle Mountain ating Skiing Ls Lake indsor r Day Use/ Snowshoeing est e 1.7 km Rg c Picnic Area in P Pincer reek Fire Pit Viewpoint Syncline South ood r Middle Drywood D Information Washrooms Kootenay idge Mountain Pass Gril idge Lake Chinook Loop Parking Warming Hut 17 astle 11 idge Drood Easy Trail Distance Ls 10 Lake Markers 0.6 km ree Lakes 0.8 km ain Intermediate Informal Lakes ub 9 Lake ort out reek Trail Trail 12 Front Link carpe Snowmobiling 0.7 km Lake astle

ovin Trail idge White Blue Lake 0.6 km 0.3 kmTail Jay iver Carbondale Meadow Trail reek Staging Area 4 Table Tp ake mit Mountain Lake Tp 3 0.3 km Bench N River Loop 5 Fox Run 13 Scarpe out 1.0 km Racers Loop est carpe Loaf pionkop Chickadee Bench Mountain rook carpe Mountain 0 200m 774 Lake 8 Lake carpe iver Bench 1.0 km 3.2 km 0.2 km Back Link River Loop Rg ont pionkop idge La Coulotte Jutland reek Peak Mountain utland arro La Mount oulotte Matkin To Castle Rabbit Hill 1.0 km Bench idge Mountain r Bench Sage Resort eek 6 Mountain

est astle idge iver out astle Mount iver Font reek Glendowan n Lake Loop Mountain a 0.6 km

loud idge Goat N SCALE Dungarv 7 Lake 0 2 4 6 8 10 12 Newman Avion Peak Lake Loop 3.5 km Mount 2.6 km Kilometres Waterton Lakes National Park Dungarvan NAD 83 (CNTv2) UTM Zone 11 Bench Tp reek reek Tp © 2018 Government of Alberta Hillshade: 2007 LiDAR BE data Lost auerman Lake

Base Data provided by the Spatial Data Warehouse Ltd. reek Bench 1Metre Accuracy To Castle Moose Lost Mountain Meadows The information as depicted is subject to change, therefore the Government of Alberta in Lakes Mountain ock Resort assumes no responsibility for discrepancies at time of use. ed orse 10 km Note: Non-motorized use only. Sage Anderson Alberta Environment and Parks, Parks Division, Southwest Area, Lethbridge, 2018 Peak Lost Please snowshoe to the side of Pass Mount Rg Bauerman Rg1 Rg Truck Box the cross-country ski tracks. Meadow Tobogganing Access Information Hunter Information Package Access into the park is by a variety of ways including Castle Provincial Park Wildlife Management Unit (WMU) 400 vehicle, horse or foot power. Off-highway vehicles (OHVs) can be used inside the park on select trails that are designated and marked for OHV use from May 1st to November 30th. Snowmobiles are only allowed from December 1st to April 30th. Hunters may also use pedal bicycles, skis, and horses to travel around the park. All vehicles registered for highway use are only allowed on highways and secondary highways that access the Provincial Park. Vehicles must be parked in designated parking areas, or safely off to the side of the road when visitors are taking part in any recreational activity. Horses are to stay on designated trails; please do not traverse off the trails or through the bush. Please be aware there may be adverse conditions that may make conditions poor (e.g. muddy or snowed in). On highway vehicles (like Jeeps and 4x4s) are NOT permitted on trails. All multi use Please stay on designated trails and roads. Do not drive around water holes as it trails are open to hunting. Motorized travel within rivers damages the trail and increases the size of the disturbances to the land. and creeks is detrimental and prohibited.

7 Successful Hunter Information Hunter Information Package Emergency Preparedness Castle Provincial Park Wildlife Management Unit (WMU) 400 Be prepared for weather changes including precipitation, unpredictable weather, and fluctuating temperature. Avalanches are a significant threat to safety and can occur during hunting season. Check Avalanche Canada for reports and updates at avalance.ca. Be equipped with survival gear – matches, flashlight, warm clothes, compass, extra batteries, flagging tape, food, water. Bear spray is advised and be aware on how use it appropriately.* *https://youtu.be/VDgBY2PbnO4 It is advised to carry flagging tape so you can mark your kill site (so you can find it again) and find your path back to your vehicle. Make sure all flagging is removed on your way out. Be prepared to spend the night outdoors. Unpredictable

8 precipitation and weather create a need for 4x4s in some areas and road conditions are subject to change. Weather Hunter Information Package Castle Provincial Park can make travel hazardous and you might find yourself Wildlife Management Unit (WMU) 400 unable to travel with or without a vehicle. Tell a friend or family member where you are going, how to contact you, what time you expect to return, and make sure they know who to contact if you are late and they are unable to contact you. Hunters should use caution and be aware that there are many predators in the area including Grizzly and Black Bears, Coyotes, Cougars, and Wolves. Should it be necessary to leave your animal overnight, be sure to leave human scent around the carcass and drag the offal (organs) away from the carcass as these predators/ scavengers will typically consume those parts first.

9 Wildlife Management Assistance Hunter Information Package Not frequently expected in Castle Provincial Park, but Castle Provincial Park Wildlife Management Unit (WMU) 400 if found, please report any ear tags to Conservation Officers upon discovery. Ear tags may be white with black numbers, or orange stating “DO NOT EAT” followed by a phone number. The “do not eat” tag is placed on animals that have been tranquilized; hunters must tag their animal and can still expect to salvage their harvest, but depending on when the animal was tranquilized, the hunter will find out whether the meat is safe to consume (or whether a replacement tag may be issued). For deer hunters. Please refer to Chronic Wasting Disease – Information for Hunters* for further information. *https://www.alberta.ca/chronic-wasting- disease-information-for-hunters.aspx For more information on Indigenous hunting and fishing in Alberta** please refer to the webpage. **https://www.alberta.ca/indigenous-hunting- and-fishing-in-alberta.aspx Contact the office at 403–340–7691 for further questions or concerns.

10 Important Park Specific Information for Hunters Hunter Information Package Castle Provincial Park Wildlife Management Unit (WMU) 400 1. As a reminder, hunters must also abide by federal legislation regarding firearm transport and storage in a vehicle (particularly for times when a firearm is left unattended). The park does require that firearms not in use must be encased.

2. The permit holder shall not discharge a firearm within 183 metres (200 yards) of park facilities. Details are listed in the terms and conditions and located on the map.

3. Grazing allotment holders hold an annual cattle drive along Highway 774 in late fall. Be prepared for short delays in traffic and to stop for cattle/workers.

4. You cannot access a pasture if there are cattle inside or if it is marked as ‘closed’. If you wish to access a pasture that is marked as ‘open’ please leave the gate as you found it. If a gate is open, please leave it open; if it is closed, please close it behind you. 11 5. Hunters must salvage their animal in accordance with the provincial Wildlife Regulations and will not Hunter Information Package Castle Provincial Park receive assistance from park employees. Wildlife Management Unit (WMU) 400

6. Do not cut any fences to provide easy access to your harvested animal; this includes any of the interior pasture fences or the fences belonging to surrounding landowners.

7. Be a conscientious neighbour! If you wish to hunt on adjacent private land or you need to access private land in order to salvage your animal on adjacent private land, you must obtain permission from the landowner before doing so to avoid trespassing.

8. Open fires are only permitted in the engineered facilities (such as wood stoves and fire pits with steel rings) that are provided. Campfires are prohibited at times when a fire ban is in place. Firewood is available for purchase in nearby communities. Do not bring firewood from another province into Alberta. The collection of wood or any dead vegetation for

12 burning must be authorized from a Conservation Officer or a permit. Hunter Information Package Castle Provincial Park Wildlife Management Unit (WMU) 400 9. Camping is only permitted in Castle Provincial Park in designated camping areas. Please see reservealbertaparks.ca for more information. Please note the adjacent Castle Wildland Provincial Park is a different classification and undesignated backcountry camping is allowed.

10. Tree stands are permitted only if they are portable, man-made, self-contained (do not build it using natural materials from the park), and do no permanent damage (do not remove/knock down dead or live branches) to the tree(s) and surrounding vegetation. Tree stands must be taken down at the end of each hunt (every day) to ensure fairness and equal access to hunting locations throughout the season.

13 Extra Word of Caution Hunter Information Package Castle Provincial Park includes WMU 400 which may Castle Provincial Park Wildlife Management Unit (WMU) 400 have different regulations than others. Please contact Alberta Fish and Wildlife* for more information. *http://www.albertaregulations.ca/ huntingregs/ Castle Provincial Park borders Castle Wildland Provincial Park and private lands. There are numerous campgrounds and recreational activities in the area. Please always be aware of your location and others.

In case of an emergency, call 911. To report concerns to a Conservation Officer, call 403–627–1165. The nearest hospital is located in Pincher Creek. The non- emergency line for the hospital is 403–627–1234.