Hunt rig checklist
A printable pre-trip checklist for hunting with an ATV or side-by-side in northern Alberta: paperwork, required equipment, recovery gear, firearm transport and cold-weather prep.
Run through this before every trip. It's built on Alberta's OHV rules and hunting regulations, plus farm-safety and injury-prevention guidance.
Paperwork
- Hunting licence, tags and any draw permits (paper tags: the regulations say tags can't be carried electronically)
- The current hunting regulations and WMU map (offline copy on your phone)
- OHV registration and proof of insurance, and a licence plate on the machine (required on public land)
- Permission from landowners or leaseholders you'll cross
Required on public land
Alberta requires an OHV on public land to have a headlight, tail light, muffler and spark arrester, and the rider must wear a helmet that meets one of the approved standards (for example CSA, US DOT, Snell or ECE 22-05). Machines with factory rollover protection and seatbelts are exempt from the helmet rule when the belts are worn.
Firearm transport
- Firearm unloaded, and cased or in a scabbard
- Ammunition separate; a magazine can hold rounds only if it's detached
- In WMUs 400 to 446 during big-game season: know the morning weapon rule, and if you're going to an isolated campsite, use separate locked containers kept out of sight
Machine check
- Fuel, oil and coolant; tire pressure and condition
- Brakes, throttle and lights
- Winch, rope or cable and hook in good shape
- Racks and hitch secure, and loads within the manufacturer's ratings
Recovery and emergency
- Tow strap, tree saver strap and a small shovel
- First-aid kit and a fire starter
- Phone, two-way radio or satellite messenger, and a trip plan left with someone at home
- Headlamp and spare batteries
Cold weather
- Layers, a spare pair of gloves and a face covering
- Hand warmers, and heated grips if you have them
- A battery tender or jump pack for cold starts
Getting a machine ready for the season? The service departments at Borderlands, Frontier Mitsubishi and Frontier Auto & Imports can help. Our dealer details are below.
Borderlands Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram
New Ram, Jeep, Dodge and Chrysler vehicles, pre-owned vehicles, Segway and AODES powersports, and Forest River and Kodiak travel trailers; service and parts.
9901 Rainbow Blvd, High Level, AB T0H 1Z0
Phone: 780-841-0080Frontier Mitsubishi
New Mitsubishi vehicles, AODES powersports, certified pre-owned and used vehicles; service and parts.
10502 115 St, Grande Prairie, AB T8V 6P4
Phone: 780-357-2290Frontier Auto & Imports
New AODES and Mitsubishi vehicles, used vehicles; service.
5125 Kepler St W, Whitecourt, AB T7S 1X7
Phone: 780-778-4014
Sources
- Off-highway vehicle helmet law and OHV rules on public land (Government of Alberta), checked October 25, 2026
- General hunting regulations (Alberta Guide to Hunting Regulations), checked October 25, 2026
- Toolbox Talk: All-terrain vehicle operation on farm property (Canadian Agricultural Safety Association), checked October 25, 2026
Guides in this section
Our first in-depth guides for this section are being written and fact-checked now. In the meantime, start with the overview above or browse all guides.