Migratory Birds Hunting Regulations, 2012–2013: Prince Edward Island

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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 Prince Edward Island (No open season for Harlequin Ducks)
• Bag and Possession Limits in Prince Edward Island
• 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 (such as minimum required distances from residences and businesses), 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.

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.

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 Prince Edward Island (No open season for Harlequin Ducks)

Area	Ducks (other than Harlequin Ducks) and geese	Ducks (other than Common and Red-breasted Mergansers, Long-tailed Ducks, Harlequin Ducks, eiders and scoters), snipe and geese	Common and Red-breasted Mergansers, Long-tailed Ducks, eiders and scoters	Woodcock
Throughout the Province of Prince Edward Island	Sept. 15, 2012 (Waterfowler Heritage Day)	Oct. 1 to Dec. 8, 2012	Oct. 1 to Dec. 31, 2012	Sept. 24 to Dec. 8, 2012

 

Bag and Possession Limits in Prince Edward Island

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)	6(c)	5	8	10
Possession	12(b)	12(d)	10	16	20

(a)  Not more than 4 may be Mallard–American Black Duck hybrids or American Black Ducks, and not more than 1 may be Barrow’s Goldeneye.
(b)  Not more than 8 may be Mallard–American Black Duck hybrids or 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.

Report Your Migratory Bird Bands

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