Migratory Birds Hunting Regulations, 2012–2013: Nova Scotia

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Watch for this loon on blue signs marking National Wildlife Areas and Migratory Bird Sanctuaries.

• Summary
• Helpful Tip
• Open Seasons in Nova Scotia (No open season for Harlequin Ducks)
• Bag and Possession Limits in Nova Scotia
• Report Your Migratory Bird Bands

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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
17 Waterfowl Lane
P.O. Box 6227
Sackville, New Brunswick  E4L 1G6
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.

Use of bait prior to and during the migratory bird hunting season is prohibited. Check your permit and provincial hunting regulations for additional restrictions, such as Sunday closures and minimum required distances from residences and businesses.

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.

In National Wildlife Areas located in Nova Scotia, the following regulations apply. Refer to notices posted at entrances for area-specific rules.

• Vehicles, ATVs and snowmobiles are prohibited unless otherwise posted.
• Vegetation may not be cut or damaged. Fires are not permitted. Camping is not permitted.
• The construction and use of tree stands is prohibited.
• Domestic animals may not be allowed to run at large.
• Outboard motors greater than 9.9 horsepower are not permitted.

Waterfowler Heritage Day provides 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 before the season opens for other hunters. 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 two young hunters.

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

 

Open Seasons in Nova Scotia (No open season for Harlequin Ducks)

Area	Ducks (other than Harlequin Ducks) and geeseWATERFOWLERHERITAGEDAY	Ducks (other than Harlequin Ducks, Common and Red-breasted Mergansers, Long-tailed Ducks, eiders,scoters, Goldeneyes and Buffleheads)	Common and Red-breasted Mergansers, Long-tailed Ducks, eiders,scoters, Goldeneyes and Buffleheads	Geese	Woodcockandsnipe
ZoneNo.1*	Sept. 15, 2012	Oct. 1 to Dec. 31, 2012	Oct. 1 to Dec. 31, 2012	Sept. 4 to Sept. 18, 2012, and Oct. 1 to Dec. 31, 2012	Oct. 1 to Nov. 30, 2012
ZoneNo.2*	Sept. 15, 2012	Oct. 22, 2012, to Jan. 15, 2013	Oct. 8, 2012, to Jan. 15, 2013	Sept. 4 to Sept. 24, 2012, and Oct. 22, 2012, to Jan. 15, 2013	Oct. 1 to Nov. 30, 2012
ZoneNo.3*	Sept. 15, 2012	Oct. 22, 2012, to Jan. 15, 2013	Oct. 8, 2012, to Jan. 15, 2013	Sept. 4 to Sept. 24, 2012, and Oct. 22, 2012, to Jan. 15, 2013	Oct. 1 to Nov. 30, 2012

*  “Zone No. 1” means the counties of Antigonish, Pictou, Colchester, Cumberland, Hants, Kings and Annapolis.
“Zone No. 2” means the counties of Digby, Yarmouth, Shelburne, Queens, Lunenburg, Halifax, Guysborough, Cape Breton, Victoria, Inverness and Richmond, except the area described under Zone 3.
“Zone No. 3” means Bras d’Or Lake and all waters draining into Bras d’Or Lake including waters on the lake side of the highway bridge on Great Bras d’Or at Seal Islands (Highway No. 105), at St. Peters on St. Peters Inlet (Highway No. 4) and at Bras d’Or on St. Andrews Channel (Highway No. 105).

Bag and Possession Limits in Nova Scotia

Limits	Ducks (other than Common and Red-breasted Mergansers, Long-tailed Ducks, Harlequin Ducks, eiders and scoters)	Common and Red-breasted Mergansers, Long-tailed Ducks, eiders and scoters	Geese	Woodcock	Snipe
Daily bag	6(a)	5(c)	5(e)(f)	8	10
Possession	12(b)	10(d)	10(e)(f)	16	20

(a)  Not more than 4 may be American Black Ducks, and not more than 1 may be Barrow’s Goldeneye.
(b)  Not more than 8 may be American Black Ducks, and not more than 1 may be Barrow’s Goldeneye.
(c)  Not more than 4 may be scoters.
(d)  Not more than 8 may be scoters.
(e)   In Zone 1, not more than a total of 3 additional Canada Geese or Cackling Geese, or any combination of them, may be taken daily from September 4 to September 18, 2012, inclusive and not more than a total of 6 additional Canada Geese or Cackling Geese, or any combination of them, may be possessed from September 4 to September 30, 2012, inclusive.
(f)   In Zone 2 and Zone 3, not more than a total of 3 additional Canada Geese or Cackling Geese, or any combination of them, may be taken daily from September 4 to September 24, 2012, and not more than a total of 6 additional Canada Geese or Cackling Geese, or any combination of them, may be possessed from September 4 to September 30, 2012, inclusive.

Report Your Migratory Bird Bands

Call 1-800-327-BAND (2263) or go to: www.reportband.gov