Hey Blake,
You can contact the Alberta Trappers Association at (780) 349-6626 in Westlock. They run courses in various parts of the province year round. The course in generally a week long and only costs about $40 or something like that... not expensive, but you have to have the fur management course before you are allowed to purchase a "Resident Trappers Licence." This licence still does not allow you to trap lynx. You have to have a Registered Trapline in order to take a lynx.
Getting a Registered Trapline, however, is a whole new matter. I've been trying to buy a line for a long time but refuse to pay the rediculous prices trappers (in most cases so-called trappers - I'd be willing to bet that 1/3 of the traplines in Alberta aren't even trapped, although things may be changing in that regard [one can only hope]) are asking. In many cases these lines don't even consist of a cabin or equipment and the prices are as high as $40,000 - $60,000. Cheaper lines (and trust me I've looked at a few) are generally cheaper because of high quantities of private land, grazing reserves etc. on them, which in turn means you are generally stuck trapping beaver, coyotes and rats that you can trap as a resident trapper anyway.
Considering if your line burns down in a forest fire and you get nothing in return, it's a high risk proposition. That and the fact that fur isn't worth squat these days you would never see a return on your investment.
Taking a fur management course and purchasing a trapline to become a registered trapper is the only way you can trap (not hunt) a lynx. Lynx, Fisher, otter and wolverine are all off limits to resident trappers, hunters etc.
Hope this helps.
Rob
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