Migratory Birds Hunting Regulations, 2012–2013: Ontario
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Watch for this loon on blue signs marking National Wildlife Areas and Migratory Bird Sanctuaries.
- Summary
- Helpful Tip
- Hunting Districts
- Open Seasons in Ontario (No open season for Harlequin Ducks)
- Bag and Possession Limits in Ontario
- Measures in Ontario Concerning Overabundant Species
- Report Your Migratory Bird Bands
Summary
The information presented here is a summary of the law. For complete information on fines, general prohibitions, permitted hunting methods and equipment, the requirement to have adequate means to retrieve birds immediately, restrictions on the use of bait, the description of hunting zones and other restrictions on hunting, please refer to the Migratory Birds Convention Act, 1994 and Migratory Birds Regulations. These, along with other useful information for hunters, can be found on the Environment Canada website (www.ec.gc.ca) on the Migratory Birds page in the Nature section, or you may contact:
Environment Canada
Canadian Wildlife Service
4905 Dufferin Street
Toronto, Ontario M3H 5T4
Tel.: 1-800-668-6767
enviroinfo@ec.gc.ca
You are required to possess a valid federal Migratory Game Bird Hunting Permit with a Canadian Wildlife Habitat Conservation Stamp to hunt migratory birds in Canada. This permit and stamp are valid in all provinces and territories. Most provinces and territories have additional licence requirements for hunting migratory birds and/or to carry firearms. To know what you require, and if there are further restrictions for hunting migratory birds, please verify the applicable regulations for the province/territory where you will be hunting. Note that all required permits and licences must be in your possession while you are hunting.
Note that south of the French and Mattawa rivers, Sunday gun hunting is permitted by provincial regulations in some municipalities, but not all. Season dates for Canada Geese and Cackling Geese in the Southern District may differ between municipalities where Sunday gun hunting is permitted and those where it is not. Hunters should consult the provincial regulations for information about Wildlife Management Unit boundaries and a list of municipalities where Sunday gun hunting is permitted.
Barrow’s Goldeneye is listed in Schedule I of the federal Species at Risk Act as a species of special concern. For conservation purposes, as well as to account for the possible unintentional shooting of a Barrow’s Goldeneye, the daily bag and possession limit for this species has been set at one. Hunters who take more than one Barrow’s Goldeneye are in contravention of the law.
A Waterfowler Heritage Day has been introduced throughout Ontario in 2012. Waterfowler Heritage Days provide young hunters under the age of majority with the opportunity to practice hunting and outdoor skills, learn about wildlife conservation, and reinforce safety training in a structured, supervised environment. Licensed adult hunters who serve as mentors have an opportunity to pass on their considerable skills and knowledge by offering guidance and advice to younger hunters. The following rules are in effect:
- to participate, young hunters under the age of majority do not require the federal Migratory Game Bird Hunting Permit;
- young participants must comply with all existing safety and licensing requirements found in the Firearms Act and provincial hunting regulations;
- participants must be accompanied by a licensed mentor over the age of majority; and
- mentors may not hunt or carry a firearm, and may accompany no more than one young hunter.
Non-toxic shot must be used in all areas of Canada to hunt migratory game birds, except for woodcock, Band-tailed Pigeons and Mourning Doves. Within National Wildlife Areas, the possession of lead shot is prohibited for all hunting, including the hunting of migratory birds and upland game birds. Hunters should consult provincial or territorial regulations for additional restrictions. For those birds still hunted with lead shot, remove the lead shot before cooking whenever possible in order to reduce your exposure to contaminants. As well, remove the skin and fat from fish-eating birds before cooking them.
Helpful Tip
Canadians may be exposed to avian-borne viruses when hunting or handling migratory birds and other wild game. Environment Canada recommends the following website, maintained by the Public Health Agency of Canada, for information about minimizing the risk of exposure: www.phac-aspc.gc.ca
Hunting Districts
- Hudson–James Bay District
Wildlife Management Units 1A, 1B, and the portions of Wildlife Management Units 1D, 25, and 26 lying east of longitude 83°45′ and north of latitude 51° - Northern District
Wildlife Management Unit 1C, those parts of 1D, 25, and 26 lying west of longitude 83°45′ and south of latitude 51°, and Wildlife Management Units 2 to 24, 27 to 41, and 45 - Central District
Wildlife Management Units 42 to 44 and 46 to 59 - Southern District
Wildlife Management Units 60A and 61 to 95
| Area | Ducks (other than Harlequin Ducks), rails (other than Yellow Rails and King Rails), moorhens, coots, snipe and geese WATERFOWLER HERITAGE DAY | Ducks (other than Harlequin Ducks), rails (other than Yellow Rails and King Rails), moorhens, coots, snipe and geese (other than Canada Geese and Cackling Geese) | Canada Geese and Cackling Geese | Woodcock |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Hudson–James Bay District | Sept. 1, 2012 | Sept. 1 to Dec. 16, 2012 | Sept. 1 to Dec. 16, 2012 | Sept. 1 to Dec. 15, 2012 |
| 2. Northern District | Sept. 1, 2012 | Sept. 10 to Dec. 24, 2012(a) | Sept. 1 to Dec. 16, 2012 | Sept. 15 to Dec. 15, 2012 |
| 3. Central District | Sept. 8, 2012 | Sept. 15, 2012, to Dec. 29, 2012(b) | Sept. 4 to Dec. 19, 2012 | Sept. 20 to Dec. 20, 2012 |
| 4. Southern District | Sept. 15, 2012 | Sept. 22, 2012, to Jan. 5, 2013(c)(d) | Sept. 6 to Sept. 16, 2012(g) Sept. 22 to Dec. 26, 2012(e) Sept. 22, 2012, to Jan. 5, 2013(f)(g) Feb. 23 to Mar. 2, 2013(f)(g)(h) | Sept. 25 to Dec. 20, 2012 |
(a) Except for American Black Duck, for which the open season begins on September 10 and ends on December 15, 2012.
(b) Except for American Black Duck, for which the open season begins on September 15 and ends on December 20, 2012.
(c) Except for American Black Duck, for which the open season begins on September 22 and ends on December 20, 2012.
(d) In Wildlife Management Unit 65, Snow Goose call recordings may be used, but if used with decoys, the decoys may only represent white or blue phase Snow Geese, or any combination of them.
(e) In municipalities where Sunday gun hunting is permitted by provincial regulations.
(f) In municipalities where Sunday gun hunting is not permitted by provincial regulations.
(g) No person shall hunt Canada Geese or Cackling Geese by any means on Sundays during the hunting season in municipalities where Sunday hunting with a gun is not permitted by provincial regulations.
(h) Except in Wildlife Management Unit 94.
| Limits | Ducks (other than Harlequin Ducks) | Canada Geese and Cackling Geese | White-fronted Geese and Brant | Snow Geese | Rails (other than Yellow Rails and King Rails) and Snipe | Moorhens | Woodcock and coots |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Daily bag | 6(a)(b) | 5(c)(d)(e)(f)(g) | 5 | 20 | 10 | 4 | 8 |
| Possession | 18(a)(b) | 30 | 15 | 60 | 30 | 12 | 24 |
(a) Not more than 1 American Black Duck may be taken daily and not more than 3 American Black Ducks may be possessed in Central and Southern districts, and not more than 2 American Black Ducks may be taken daily and not more than 6 American Black Ducks may be possessed in Hudson–James Bay and Northern districts.
(b) Not more than 1 Barrow’s Goldeneye may be taken daily and not more than 1 Barrow’s Goldeneye may be possessed.
(c) A total of not more than 3 Canada Geese or Cackling Geese, or any combination of them, may be taken daily in that portion of Wildlife Management Unit 1D in Hudson–James Bay District, and in Wildlife Management Units 23 to 31 and 37 to 41 from September 10 to December 16, 2012.
(d) A total of not more than 2 Canada Geese or Cackling Geese, or any combination of them, may be taken daily in Wildlife Management Unit 94 from September 22, 2012, to January 5, 2013.
(e) A total of not more than 3 Canada Geese or Cackling Geese, or any combination of them, may be taken daily in Wildlife Management Units 82, 84, 85, and 93 from September 22 to October 31, 2012.
(f) A total of 5 additional Canada Geese or Cackling Geese, or any combination of them, may be taken daily in Wildlife Management Units 36 and 45 from September 1 to September 9, 2012; in Wildlife Management Units 42 to 44 and 46 to 59 from September 4 to September 14, 2012; in Wildlife Management Units 60 to 81, 87 to 92, and 95 from September 6 to September 16, 2012, and in municipalities where Sunday gun hunting is not permitted in Wildlife Management Units 60 to 81 and 87 to 92 from February 23 to March 2, 2013.
(g) A total of 3 additional Canada Geese or Cackling Geese, or any combination of them, may be taken daily in Wildlife Management Units 82 to 86, 93, and 94 from September 6 to September 16, 2012, and in municipalities where Sunday gun hunting is not permitted in Wildlife Management Units 82 to 86, and 93, from February 23 to March 2, 2013.
| Area | Period during which Snow Geese may be killed | Additional hunting method or equipment |
|---|---|---|
| Wildlife Management Unit 65 | Mar. 1 to May 31, 2013(a) | Recorded bird calls(b)(c) |
(a) Hunting and hunting equipment are allowed only on farmland.
(b) “Recorded bird calls” refers to bird calls of a species referred to in the heading of column 2.
(c) Snow Goose call recordings may be used, but if used with decoys, the decoys may only represent white or blue phase Snow Geese, or any combination of them.
Note
Hunters interested in participating in the spring conservation harvest of Snow Geese should keep their 2012–2013 federal permits.
Report Your Migratory Bird Bands
Call 1-800-327-BAND (2263) or go to: www.reportband.gov
- Date Modified: