Migratory Birds Hunting Regulations, 2012–2013: Manitoba
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Watch for this loon on blue signs marking National Wildlife Areas and Migratory Bird Sanctuaries.
- Summary
- Game Bird Hunting Zones
- Helpful Tip
- Open Seasons in Manitoba
- Bag and Possession Limits in Manitoba
- Measures in Manitoba 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
Suite 150
123 Main Street
Winnipeg, Manitoba R3C 4W2
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.
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 two young hunters.
Non-toxic shot must be used in all areas of Canada to hunt migratory game birds, except for woodcock. 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.
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
| Game Bird Hunting Zone | Ducks and geese WATERFOWLER HERITAGE DAYS | Ducks, geese, coots and snipe RESIDENTS OF CANADA | Ducks, Canada Geese, Cackling Geese, coots and snipe NON-RESIDENTS OF CANADA | Sandhill Cranes RESIDENTS OF CANADA AND NON-RESIDENTS OF CANADA | Snow and Ross’s geese NON-RESIDENTS OF CANADA | Woodcock RESIDENTS OF CANADA AND NON-RESIDENTS OF CANADA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zone No. 1 | N/A | Sept. 1 to Oct. 31, 2012(a) | Sept. 1 to Oct. 31, 2012(a) | Sept. 1 to Nov. 30, 2012 | Sept. 1 to Oct. 31, 2012(a) | N/A |
| Zone No. 2 | Sept. 1 to Sept. 7, 2012 | Sept. 8 to Nov. 30, 2012(a) | Sept. 8 to Nov. 30, 2012(a) | Sept. 1 to Nov. 30, 2012 | Sept. 8 to Nov. 30, 2012(a) | N/A |
| Zone No. 3 | Sept. 1 to Sept. 7, 2012 | Sept. 8 to Nov. 30, 2012(a) | Sept. 24 to Nov. 30, 2012(a) | Sept. 1 to Nov. 30, 2012 | Sept. 17 to Nov. 30, 2012(a) | Sept. 8 to Nov. 30, 2012 |
| Zone No. 4 | Sept. 1 to Sept. 7, 2012 | Sept. 8 to Nov. 30, 2012(a) | Sept. 24 to Nov. 30, 2012(a) | Sept. 1 to Nov. 30, 2012 | Sept. 17 to Nov. 30, 2012(a) | Sept. 8 to Nov. 30, 2012 |
(a) Snow Goose call recordings may be used.
| Limits | Ducks RESIDENTS OF CANADA | Ducks NON-RESIDENTS OF CANADA | White geese (Snow and Ross’s geese) | Dark geese (Canada, Cackling, and White- fronted Geese, and Brant) RESIDENTS OF CANADA | Dark geese (Canada, Cackling, and White-fronted Geese, and Brant) NON-RESIDENTS OF CANADA | Sandhill Cranes | Coots | Snipe | Woodcock RESIDENTS OF CANADA | Woodcock NON-RESIDENTS OF CANADA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Daily bag | 8 | 8(a) | 20 | 8 | 5 | 5 | 8 | 10 | 8 | 4 |
| Possession | 24 | 24(b) | 80 | 24 | 15 | 15 | 24 | 30 | 24 | 12 |
(a) In Game Bird Hunting Zone 4 for non-residents, a total of not more than 4 may be Redheads or Canvasbacks.
(b) In Game Bird Hunting Zone 4 for non-residents, a total of not more than 12 may be Redheads or Canvasbacks.
Note
The open season for hunting geese by non-residents of Canada in Game Bird Hunting Zone 4, and the Provincial Game Hunting Areas 13A, 14, 14A, all that portion of Game Hunting Area 16 south of the north limit of township 33, Game Hunting Areas 18, 18A, 18B, 18C, 19, 19A, 19B, 20, 21A, 23A and 25 as described in the Manitoba Hunting Area and Zones Regulation (220/86) as filed on September 25, 1986, includes only that part of each day from one half-hour before sunrise to 12:00 noon, local time, from the opening date (September 24, 2012) up to and including the second Sunday of October 2012, and thereafter geese may be hunted from one half-hour before sunrise until one half-hour after sunset. However, during the first week of the non-resident Snow and Ross’s geese season (beginning on September 17, 2012), these species may be hunted from one half-hour before sunrise until one half-hour after sunset.
Overabundant Species
The Migratory Birds Regulations also provide for special conservation periods when hunters may take overabundant species. Please note that additional hunting methods or equipment are permitted during the special conservation periods. See the table below for details.
| Area | Period during which Snow Geese may be killed | Additional hunting method or equipment |
|---|---|---|
| Zone 1 | Aug. 15 to Aug. 31, 2012, and Apr. 1 to June 15, 2013 | Recorded bird calls(a) |
| Zones 2, 3 and 4 | Apr. 1 to May 31, 2013 | Recorded bird calls(a) |
(a) “Recorded bird calls” refers to bird calls of a species referred to in the heading of column 2.
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: