Proposals to amend the Canadian Migratory Birds Regulations, December 2019

Proposals to Amend the Canadian Migratory Birds Regulations- December 2019 [PDF - 6.26 MB]

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Proposals to Amend the Canadian Migratory Birds Regulations, December 2019

Consultation Document Hunting Seasons 2020-2021 and 2021-2022
Canadian Wildlife Service Waterfowl Committee
CWS Migratory Birds Regulatory Report - Number 53

Authors

This report was prepared by the Canadian Wildlife Service Waterfowl Technical Committee, and edited by Renée Bergeron in the Wildlife Management and Regulatory Affairs Division of the National Office of the Canadian Wildlife Service.

Recommended citation for this report

Canadian Wildlife Service Waterfowl Committee. 2020. Proposals to Amend the Canadian Migratory Birds Regulations. December 2019. Consultation document. Hunting Seasons 2020-2021 and 2021-2022. CWS Migratory Birds Regulatory Report Number 53. Environment and Climate Change Canada, Ottawa.

Consultation

The public consultation period is from January 18 to February 16, 2020. During this period, public comments are solicited on the proposed amendments to Schedule 1 to the Migratory Birds Regulations for the establishment of the 2020-2021 and 2021-2022 migratory game birds hunting regulations.

Comments regarding the regulation-setting process or other concerns relating to national migratory birds should be sent to the Director of Wildlife Management and Regulatory Affairs Division at the National Office of the Canadian Wildlife Service of Environment and Climate Change Canada at the following postal address:

351 St. Joseph Boulevard, Gatineau QC K1A 0H3 or by email: ec.scf-oismiggibiers-cws-miggamebirds.ec@canada.ca

Comments regarding the 2020-2021 and 2021-2022 proposed hunting regulations specific to a region should be sent to the appropriate Regional Director, Canadian Wildlife Service, Environmental Stewardship Branch, at the following postal addresses:

Atlantic Region: 17 Waterfowl Lane, P.O. Box 6227, Sackville NB E4L 1G6
Quebec Region: 801-1550 d’Estimauville Avenue, Québec QC G1J 0C3
Ontario Region: 4905 Dufferin Street, Toronto ON M3H 5T4
Prairie Region: 9250 - 49th Street NW, 2nd Floor, Edmonton AB T6B 1K5
Northern Region: 5019 - 52nd Street, P.O. Box 2310, Yellowknife NT X1A 2P7
Pacific Region: RR1, 5421 Robertson Road, Delta BC V4K 3N2

This report may be downloaded from the following website: Report series

Background

Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) is responsible for the conservation of migratory birds in Canada and the management of the sustainable hunting of these birds. The hunting regulations for migratory game birds are reviewed and amended biennially by ECCC, with input from provinces and territories, as well as from various other stakeholders. The population status of migratory game birds is assessed on an annual basis to ensure that the regulations are appropriate, and amendments can be made between review periods, if necessary, for conservation reasons.

As part of the regulatory process to amend the hunting regulations, the Canadian Wildlife Service (CWS) produces a series of regulatory reports:

The first report, Population Status of Migratory Game Birds in Canada, contains population and other biological information on migratory game birds and thus provides the scientific basis for informing management decisions that ensure the long-term sustainability of their population. Every two years, ECCC reviews hunting regulations and publishes the population status report. However, CWS analyzes population trends on a yearly basis to evaluate the status of migratory game bird populations.

The second report, Proposals to Amend the Canadian Migratory Birds Regulations, outlines the proposed changes to the hunting regulations for the next two hunting seasons, as well as proposals to amend the overabundant species regulations and other proposed amendments to the Migratory Birds Regulations. Proposals for hunting regulations are developed in accordance with the Objectives and Guidelines for the Establishment of National Regulations for Migratory Game Bird Hunting (see Appendix B). The consultation document is published every second year, concurrently with the revision of hunting regulations.

The third report, Migratory Birds Regulations in Canada, summarizes the hunting regulations that were approved for the next two hunting seasons. The report is published every second year, concurrently with the revision of hunting regulations.

The three reports are distributed to organizations and individuals with an interest in migratory bird conservation, to provide an opportunity for input on the development of hunting regulations in Canada. They are also available on the ECCC website: report series.

Regulatory proposals described in the current document, if approved, would be in place starting in September 2020 and remain in effect through winter/spring 2022 inclusively. It is also proposed to establish special conservation measures for overabundant geese in spring 2021 and spring 2022. (Note that the regulations for spring 2020 were made into law as part of the fall 2017 process; see Appendix A).

Schedule for the development of hunting regulations

The schedule for the development of hunting regulations is based on the requirement to have the hunting regulations made into law by mid-June:

September through November - The Population Status of Migratory Game Birds in Canada report, containing biological information on migratory game birds, is developed. In January, it is distributed and posted on the Government of Canada's website
October and November - CWS regional offices develop proposals for hunting regulations in consultation with the provinces and territories and interested stakeholders. In 2019, some consultations were held earlier
late January - The Proposals to Amend the Canadian Migratory Birds Regulations report containing the regulation proposals is posted on the Government of Canada's website and distributed to allow for public, inter-regional and international consultation
early June - Hunting regulations become law
early July - The Migratory Birds Regulations in Canada report, containing the approved hunting regulations, is distributed and posted on the Government of Canada's website
early August - Hunting regulation summaries are available with the Migratory Game Bird Hunting Permits at Canada Post outlets and on the Government of Canada's website

Migratory game bird hunters are made aware of the migratory game bird hunting regulations at the same time as they receive information on season dates and bag and possession limits, when they purchase their hunting permits.

American Black Duck International Harvest Strategy

The American Black Duck International Harvest Strategy was adopted in 2012 by the CWS and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). The objectives of the Strategy, based on the principles of adaptive harvest management, are to:

maintain a Black Duck population that provides consumptive and non-consumptive use commensurate with habitat carrying capacity
maintain societal values associated with the hunting tradition; and
maintain equitable access to the Black Duck resource

As such, the Strategy is designed to identify appropriate Black Duck harvest levels in Canada and the U.S. based on the size of the breeding population of Black Ducks and sympatric Mallards while maintaining equity in Black Duck harvests between the two countries. However, recognizing incomplete control of harvest through regulations, it allows the realized harvest in either country to vary between 40% and 60% of the annual continental harvest.

The Strategy, used to determine the appropriate Black Duck harvest regulations, was first implemented in 2013-2014. It consists of four pre-defined regulatory packages in Canada and three in the United States. Country-specific harvest opportunities are determined from a set of expected harvest rate distributions defined as regulatory alternatives. Canada developed four regulatory packages (liberal, moderate, restrictive and closed) with the Canadian moderate alternative defined as the 1997 to 2010 mean harvest rate (the reference package). The Canadian packages are as follows:

liberal: 30% increase in harvest rate over the 1997-2010 mean harvest rate
moderate: 1997-2010 mean harvest rate (3.5% per year [mean harvest rate for adult males])
restrictive: 30% decrease in harvest rate below the 1997-2010 mean harvest rate; and
closed: no Black Duck harvest allowed

The optimal Canadian policy recommendation for the 2020-2021 hunting season is the liberal regulatory package. This recommendation is based on long-term trends in Black Duck and Mallard breeding populations in eastern Canada as well as the estimated effects of hunting on Black Duck populations. Mallards are included in the Strategy because this species hybridizes and competes with Black Ducks on the breeding grounds and may therefore negatively affect the Black Duck population. According to data collected by the CWS and USFWS, the current level of harvest has only a low effect on population levels. The liberal package is therefore the optimal alternative.

Each regulatory package, however, must be implemented for at least two years before changes to the regulatory package will be considered, due to variability in annual harvest rates. In the interim, CWS will continue to monitor harvest rate in addition to the breeding population to ensure that the Strategy continues to meet the objectives stated above.

Management of overabundant geese

Regulatory proposals for 2020-2021 and 2021-2022

The special conservation measures for Snow Geese and Ross’s Geese that were implemented in spring 2019 were proposed in the fall of 2017, and made into law in June 2018. Those measures will continue to be in effect in spring 2020. They are shown in Appendix A to this report.

The regulations proposed for Snow Geese and Ross’s Geese to be implemented in the 2020-2021 and 2021-2022 hunting seasons as well as the 2021 and 2022 spring conservation seasons are as follows:

allow the harvest of Snow Geese and Ross’ Geese during the late winter Canada Goose/Cackling Goose season in Ontario
expand the geographical extent of the Spring Special Conservation Measures in Ontario to include three new areas
increase the daily bag limit from 20 to 50 for Snow Geese and Ross' Geese in Nunavut in the portion of the islands and waters of James Bay

It is also proposed to designate Temperate-breeding Canada Geese (Branta canadensis) as overabundant in southern Manitoba, and establish a spring conservation season in Game Bird Hunting Zones’ 3 and 4 from March 1 to March 31, beginning in 2021. The proposed conservation season would be open to resident and non-residents of Canada, with a daily bag limit of 8 per day, and a possession limit of 24. Recorded bird calls of Canada Geese would be allowed throughout the spring conservation season.

See the section below for more details about these proposals.

Proposed changes to hunting regulations for the 2020-2021 and the 2021-2022 seasons

The Canadian Wildlife Service and the provinces and territories have jointly developed the regulatory proposals presented here. Other proposals consistent with these may be sent to the appropriate CWS Regional Director by any interested organization or individual (contact information can be found on p.iv of this document). To facilitate the comparison of changes proposed in this text with current regulations, the summaries of the 2019-2020 Migratory Birds Hunting Regulations are available in Appendix C to this report.

Newfoundland and Labrador

American Black Duck International Harvest Strategy's recommendation

It is proposed to continue to implement the American Black Duck International Harvest Strategy in Newfoundland and Labrador. The current liberal regime would continue to be in effect for the 2020-2021 hunting season. That means there would be no change to Black Duck bag limit in Newfoundland and Labrador. By default, the liberal regulatory package would also be implemented for the 2021-2022 Black Duck hunting season.

A liberal harvest regime is also being proposed for the 2020-2021 Black Duck hunting season in New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island.

Changes to Common and Red-Breasted Mergansers hunting season open dates on the island of Newfoundland

It is proposed to delay the opening dates for hunting Common and Red-Breasted Mergansers on the Island of Newfoundland. This change has been requested by individual hunters and waterfowl hunting organizations in Newfoundland. The opening date would be postponed by three weeks, and would begin on the fixed date of October 10 (currently opens on the third Saturday in September). This change would provide hunting opportunity when these species are more commonly encountered. Harvest of both merganser species is low relative to the population size for these species; as a result, there is no conservation concern with the introduction of this measure.

Establishment of separate bag and possession limits for Common and Red-Breasted Mergansers in Labrador

Currently in Labrador, the combined bag limits for mergansers, scoters and eiders is six. It is proposed to establish a separate bag limit of six for Common and Red-breasted Mergansers as requested by individual hunters and hunter organizations. Current number of hunters and levels of harvest are relatively low for these two species in this jurisdiction. As a result, there are no anticipated conservation concerns associated with the changes in bag limits. These changes would allow additional opportunity to harvest and possess Common and Red-Breasted mergansers.

Consolidation of inland zones on the island of Newfoundland

It is proposed to consolidate the three existing (Avalon-Burin, Northern and Southern) Inland Zones into a single Inland Zone. Regulations for the existing three zones have been identical for more than twenty years; the proposed change will simplify the Regulations with no effect on hunters.

Prince Edward Island

American Black Duck International Harvest Strategy's recommendation

It is proposed to continue to implement the American Black Duck International Harvest Strategy in Prince Edward Island. The current liberal regime would be in effect for the 2020-2021 hunting season. That means there would be no change to Black Duck daily bag limit in Prince Edward Island. By default, the liberal regulatory package would also be implemented for the 2021-2022 Black Duck hunting season in Prince Edward Island.

A liberal harvest regime is also being proposed for the 2020-2021 Black Duck hunting season in Newfoundland and Labrador, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia.

Advancing the date for the September goose season

A notice of Intent is hereby given to evaluate an advance in the opening date for the September Canada goose season to September 1st for the Province of Prince Edward Island while maintaining the September season length as currently in effect. This action will continue to allow an opportunity to harvest Temperate-breeding Canada geese while affording additional protection to migrant geese from the North Atlantic Population. Similar measures are being considered for New Brunswick and Nova Scotia.

Nova Scotia

American Black Duck International Harvest Strategy's recommendation

It is proposed to continue to implement the American Black Duck International Harvest Strategy in Nova Scotia. The current liberal regime would continue to be in effect for the 2020-2021 hunting season. That means there would be no change to Black Duck bag limit in Nova Scotia. By default, the liberal regulatory package would also be implemented for the 2021-2022 Black Duck hunting season in Nova Scotia.

A liberal harvest regime is also being proposed for the 2020-2021 Black Duck hunting season in Newfoundland and Labrador, New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island.

Harvest restrictions for eiders

It is proposed to impose restrictions on daily bag and possession limits for eiders for the 2020-2021 hunting season in Nova Scotia. The daily bag is proposed to be reduced from four eiders to two eiders (no more than one of which may be a female) with a maximum of four eiders in possession (currently eight). In addition, the season length for eiders will be reduced to 60 days in all zones, which represents a reduction in opportunity of 39 days in Hunting Zone No. 1, and 40 days in Hunting Zone No. 2. This proposed reduction in harvest opportunity is in response to growing concerns for American Common Eiders breeding in the Maritimes and the New England states. Long-term monitoring program of eider colonies suggests that the number of eiders breeding in New Brunswick have been declining over the past 10+ years. Surveys in Maine and Nova Scotia suggest similar declining trends for these areas. A similar season length and bag limit reduction is proposed for New Brunswick.

Consolidation of inland hunting zones

It is proposed to consolidate the two of the three existing Hunting Zones (Zone No. 2 and Zone No. 3) into a single Zone (Zone No. 2). Regulations for the two zones being consolidated have been identical since 2012; the proposed change will simplify the Regulations for hunters with no effect on conservation.

Changing the date for the September goose season

A notice of Intent is hereby given to evaluate an advance in the opening date for the September Canada goose season to September 1st for the Province of Nova Scotia while maintaining the September season length as currently in effect. This action will continue to allow an opportunity to harvest temperate-breeding Canada geese while affording additional protection to migrant geese from the North Atlantic Population. Similar measures are being considered for Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotia.

New Brunswick

American Black Duck International Harvest Strategy's recommendation

It is proposed to continue to implement the American Black Duck International Harvest Strategy in New Brunswick. The current liberal regime would continue to be in effect for the 2020-2021 hunting season. That means there would be no change to Black Duck bag limit in New Brunswick. By default, the liberal regulatory package would also be implemented for the 2021-2022 Black Duck hunting season in New Brunswick.

A liberal harvest regime is also being proposed for the 2020-2021 Black Duck hunting season in Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island.

Harvest restrictions for eiders

It is proposed to impose restrictions on daily bag limits for eiders for the 2020-2021 hunting season in New Brunswick. The daily bag is proposed to be reduced from four eiders to two eiders (no more than one of which may be a female) with a maximum of four eiders in possession. In addition, the season length for eiders will be reduced to 60 days in all zones, which represents a reduction in opportunity of 46 days in Zone No. 1, and 19 days in Zone No. 2. Furthermore, in order to meet this season length reduction, the harvest of eiders will not be permitted during the February sea duck season in New Brunswick Zone 1. This proposed reduction in harvest opportunity is in response to growing concerns for American Common Eiders breeding in the Maritimes and the New England states. Long-term monitoring program of eider colonies suggests that the number of eiders breeding in New Brunswick have been declining over the past 10+ years. Surveys in Maine and Nova Scotia suggest similar declining trends for these areas. Similar measures are proposed for Nova Scotia.

Changing the date for the September goose season

A notice of Intent is hereby given to evaluate an advance in the opening date for the September Canada goose season to September 1st for the Province of New Brunswick while maintaining the September season length as currently in effect. This action will continue to allow an opportunity to harvest temperate-breeding Canada geese (Branta canadensis) while affording additional protection to migrant geese from the North Atlantic Population. Similar measures are being considered for Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotia.

Quebec

American Black Duck International Harvest Strategy's recommendation

It is proposed to continue to implement the American Black Duck International Harvest Strategy in Quebec. The current liberal regime would be in effect for the 2020-2021 hunting season. That means there would be no change to Black Duck bag limit in Quebec. By default, the liberal regulatory package would also be implemented for the 2021-2022 Black Duck hunting season in Quebec.

Harvest restrictions on Atlantic population of Canada geese

It is proposed to decrease the daily bag limit for Canada Geese and Cackling Geese^{Footnote 1} during peak migration in most hunting districts in Quebec to address conservation concerns related to the Atlantic population of Canada Geese following observed decrease in the breeding population in the past few years. As a result, the proposals are:

In Districts A, C, and the portion of District F west of Route 117 and Highway 15, restrict the daily bag limit to three Canada/Cackling Geese combined (from five) from September 26 to October 31. After this period, the bag limit would return to five geese per day until the end of the season.
In District D and the portion of District F east of Route 117 and Highway 15, restrict the daily bag limit to two Canada/Cackling Geese combined (from five) from September 26 to October 31. After this period, the bag limit would return to five geese per day until the end of the season.

It is also proposed administrative changes in order to ease the integration of the above-mentioned proposed changes into the current daily bag and possession limit provisions:

To prevent any confusion about the daily bag limit that changes twice over the season for Canada/Cackling Geese, but remains the same throughout the whole season for other Geese species, it is proposed to take out Canada/Cackling Geese from the general “Geese (other than Snow Geese)” group and provide them with their own group.

The different groups of geese would then be as follow:
Limit	Canada Geese and Cackling Geese (combined)	Snow Geese	Other Geese (combined)
Daily bag limit	Starting September 1: 10 Starting September 26: 5/3/2 (depending on the District) Starting November 1: 5	20	5
Possession limit	No limit	No limit	15

To account for the removal of the prevalent Canada Geese from the general “Other Geese” group, it is proposed to lower the possession limit to 15 birds (from 20), thus re-establishing the standard possession limit calculation as it is for the other groups (that is three times the daily bag limit).

Similar measures are also proposed for Ontario.

Ontario

American Black Duck International Harvest Strategy's recommendation

It is proposed to continue to implement the American Black Duck International Harvest Strategy in Ontario. The current liberal regime continues to be in effect for the 2020-2021 hunting season. This means there are no changes to the hunting season length or daily bag limit of American Black Ducks in Ontario. By default, the liberal regulatory package would also be implemented for the 2021-2022 hunting season in Ontario.

Harmonize possession limits for migratory game birds across Ontario

It is proposed to remove possession limit restrictions for all migratory game birds in Ontario, except any species at risk. Based on an analysis in 2011, ECCC’s Waterfowl Technical Committee examined species possession limits in relation to migratory game bird conservation and management. From this review, it was concluded that the daily bag limit (and not possession limit) was an important factor in managing harvest. The only exceptions may apply to species at risk, or other species of conservation concern, when possession limits may play a role. As such, this proposal standardizes possession limits to three times the daily bag limit for either: (1) each species, when identified separately, or (2) the aggregate, when species are combined (for example, ducks, geese or rails). In that respect, possession limits for American Black Duck would increase from 6 to 18 ducks in the Southern District and from 12 to 18 in the other Districts. Possession limits for gallinules and coots would increase from 12 to 30 and from 24 to 30 birds respectively. Currently, the only species at risk in Ontario with an open hunting season is Barrow’s Goldeneye and, therefore, the possession limit restriction (one bird) would still apply as a precautionary measure. This change would simplify the hunting regulations for hunters with no effect on the conservation of migratory game birds.

Harmonize open season dates among goose aggregates in the northern and central hunting districts.

It is proposed to open the hunting season for all geese in the Northern and Central Hunting Districts on September 1 and close it on December 16. Currently, the hunting season for Canada Geese and Cackling Geese opens earlier than other geese, such as Snow Geese and Ross’ Geese, which open at the same time as ducks, rails and snipe on September 10. While it is unlikely that hunters will encounter these arctic nesting species when the hunting season for Canada Geese and Cackling Geese opens, it is possible that these species occur in mixed goose flocks at this time rather than with a flock of ducks later. As such, this change will provide hunters with an opportunity to harvest these species during the Canada Geese/Cackling Geese hunting season and simplify the regulations. A similar change is not proposed for the Southern Hunting District because of the low probability that an arctic nesting goose species is present in Southern Ontario during the Canada Geese/Cackling Geese hunting season in early September.

Increase harvest of Snow Geese and Ross’ Geese in the southern hunting district

It is proposed to allow the harvest of Snow Geese and Ross’s Geese during the late February/early March hunting season for Canada Geese and Cackling Geese only in those municipalities where Sunday hunting is not permitted by provincial regulations. This proposal does not include Wildlife Management Unit (WMU) 94.

It is proposed to expand the geographical coverage of the spring conservation measures concerning overabundant species (that is, March 1 to May 31) to include farmlands in the following WMUs in the Southern Hunting District, namely, 66, 67 and 69B, in addition to 65.

Both of these regulation changes will increase harvest potential and support ongoing efforts to reduce the population of these overabundant species in Ontario.

Increase opportunity to harvest Canada Geese in wildlife management unit 94 in the southern hunting district

It is proposed to increase the daily bag limit of Canada Geese and Cackling Geese from two to three birds in WMU 94 during the regular goose hunting season. Hunting restrictions on Canada Geese and Cackling Geese in WMU 94 have been in place to prevent the overharvesting of the Southern Hudson Bay Population (SHBP) of Canada Geese. Based on the current harvest rate of these geese in relation to the harvest rate objectives outlined in the Mississippi Flyway Canada Goose Management Plan, there is now the opportunity to increase the harvest of SHBP Canada Geese in Ontario. At this time, liberalizing the daily bag limit by only one goose in this WMU is supported by harvest modeling results. This change will harmonize the daily bag limit restriction (that is, three geese per day) in adjacent WMUs in Ontario and surrounding Great Lakes States. Lastly, this change will allow the increased harvest of Temperate-breeding Canada Geese in this WMU.

Restrictions on the Atlantic population of Canada Geese in wildlife management unit 65 in the southern hunting district

It is proposed to decrease the daily bag limit for the Atlantic Population (AP) of Canada Geese from five to three birds per day during peak migration in response to concerns over recent declines in the number of breeding AP Canada Geese. As per the current AP Canada Goose Harvest Strategy, a restrictive package is implemented in Canada and the United States when the 3-year average number of breeding geese is below 150,000 pairs. Currently, the last 3-year average is 130,971 breeding pairs. Following the Canadian restrictive package in the Harvest Strategy (that is, no more than three geese per day during peak migration), the Canadian Wildlife Service identified the peak migration of AP Canada Geese through Ontario occurring between the end of September and end of October. Based on these analyses, hunters in WMU 65 harvest the majority of AP Canada Geese in Ontario. To standardize the three bird daily bag limit restriction dates across Ontario, the daily bag limit restriction will begin on the fourth Saturday of September (opening day for the regular goose hunting season) and continue for 35 days.

Similar measures are also proposed for Quebec.

Administrative change to restriction dates for the daily bag limit of Canada Geese and Cackling Geese across Ontario

The standard daily bag limit for Canada Geese and Cackling geese is five birds, however; there are restrictions in some areas at specific times during the open season. Because these restrictions are currently set from a specific day, week and month (for example, 4th Saturday in September) and end on a fixed calendar date (for example, October 31), the season length for the restrictions varies from one year to another. It is proposed to standardize the season length when restrictions occur to 35 days starting from the opening day of the regular Canada goose/Cackling goose hunting season. This change will simplify the regulations and make the season length more predictable from year to year for hunters. This change will affect the daily bag limit restriction dates in Wildlife Management Units 82, 84, 85, 93 as well as 65 (new for the 2020-21 and 2021-22 hunting seasons).

Manitoba

Designation of temperate-breeding Canada Geese as overabundant in southern Manitoba

Proposals

It is proposed to designate temperate-breeding Canada Geese (Branta canadensis) in southern Manitoba (Game Bird Hunting Zones (GBHZ) 3 and 4 as overabundant. An overabundant population is one for which the rate of population growth has resulted in, or will result in, a population whose abundance directly threatens the conservation of migratory birds (themselves or others) or their habitats, or is injurious to or threatens agricultural, environmental or other similar interests.
It is proposed to establish a spring conservation season for temperate-breeding Canada Geese in GBHZ’s 3 and 4 from March 1 to March 31, beginning in 2021. The proposed season would be open to resident and non-residents of Canada, with a daily bag limit of 8 per day, and a possession limit of 24. Consequently, the current March 1-10 season for residents of Canada would be abolished.
It is proposed to allow use of recorded bird calls (Canada geese) throughout the above proposed season, March 1-31, beginning in 2021.

Canada and Cackling Goose populations migrating through Manitoba

Two populations of Canada Geese and one population of Cackling Geese either migrate through or nest in parts of Manitoba. The temperate-breeding population of Canada Geese nests predominantly in agricultural areas of southern Manitoba, but also occurs in relatively low densities at least as far north as 55° latitude. The Southern Hudson Bay Population of Canada Geese stages during spring and fall in southern Manitoba. They nest in the Hudson Bay Lowlands and boreal habitats of Manitoba (north of 57° latitude), and have been relatively stable since breeding ground surveys began in the early 1970s (Baldwin et al. 2015). The midcontinent Cackling Goose population breeds across tundra habitats of northern Canada, but stages in Manitoba during the spring and fall migration. Based on information from long-term banding programs, Cackling geese from southwestern Baffin Island predominantly stage in southern Manitoba during their fall migration.

Increase of the temperate-breeding Canada Goose population

Following near-extirpation by early settlers between 1850 and 1900, the temperate-breeding population of Canada Geese was the focus of extensive population management efforts and protection. Restoration efforts included release of captive-raised Canada Geese at a variety of locations beginning in the 1950s (Cooper 1978), establishment of dozens of refuges and managed staging habitats (for example, Oak Hammock Marsh and Grant Lake Wildlife Management Area), and other regulatory measures that protected geese from harvest (for example, delayed hunting season opening dates, restrictions on afternoon hunting and non-resident harvest). Creation of nesting and brood-rearing habitat has occurred incidentally to North American Waterfowl Management Plan objectives in western Manitoba, but also unintentionally throughout southern Manitoba as a result of urbanization and industrial development (for example, manicured green spaces, water retention basins, and ornamental ponds). Like other species of geese, Canada Geese have also benefitted greatly from the widespread availability of superabundant food from agricultural waste grains (Ankney 1996, Abraham and Jefferies 1997).

Temperate-breeding Canada Goose populations in Manitoba are estimated annually using data from the Waterfowl Breeding Population and Habitat Survey (strata 36-40), which covers a portion of the range of this population in southern Manitoba and has been in operation since 1955. The population estimate has increased at an average annual rate of 8.8% since 1990, and the 2019 estimate (234,600) is the highest estimate since the survey began in 1955. Importantly, the population is now more than three times the breeding population objective set by Manitoba in the 1990s (70,000), which was based on a variety of criteria, including perceived social tolerances (Zenner 1996). In southwestern MB (strata 39), there were less than one thousand breeding Canada Geese until the 1990s, whereas this area now supports nearly 50,000 breeding geese (Canadian Wildlife Service, unpublished data). Other portions of southern Canada (for example, QC, ON, SK, AB, BC) have experienced similar patterns in population growth and expanding distribution, and harvest of temperate-breeding populations has increased concomitantly in these areas. The temperate-breeding population now represents the dominant population harvested by most jurisdictions in the Mississippi Flyway, however in Manitoba, it accounts for only about 30% of the Canada and Cackling Goose harvest (Luukkonen and Leafloor 2017; Appendix C), likely due to significant mixing of populations early in the fall migration, prior to when most harvest occurs.

Recent population increases in Canada Geese have prompted a variety of regulatory liberalizations in Manitoba, including larger daily bag limits, the earliest opening dates possible under the Migratory Birds Convention Act, 1994, and other measures to increase harvest (for example, hunting mentorship programs, increased possession limits, reductions to size of provincial game bird refuges, decreased hunter age requirements). Although the harvest rate of adults may have increased slightly between 2009-2018, the mean harvest rate of adult birds from 2015-2018 was only 11%, and in no year did the mean harvest rate exceed 14% (Canadian Wildlife Service, unpublished data). Population modelling suggests temperate-breeding populations require adult harvest rates of 14-15% over the long term, in order to stabilize the population (Brook and Luukkonen 2008). If the population continues to grow at its current annual rate it is expected to double every 8 years, and is likely nearing the threshold where even the most liberal of regulatory changes will not invoke the increases in harvest required to control a large population, especially considering declining hunter participation.

Damage to lands and risk to human safety

Temperate-breeding population Canada Geese are causing significant agricultural and private property damage in Manitoba. From 2015-2018, crop damage by Canada Geese resulted in average annual compensation claims of $416,282 (range $192,233-$930,811; Manitoba Agricultural Services Corporation, unpublished data) between June and August, a period when individuals from other goose populations are absent because they are nesting in sub-Arctic or Arctic regions. Importantly, not all agricultural producers file claims for crop losses, and fall crop damage caused by temperate-breeding Canada Geese is inseparable from other goose populations, so the true value of agricultural damage by this population is significantly higher.

High populations of temperate-breeding Canada Geese also cause significant aesthetic concerns (for example, noise, droppings, water quality), and considerable but unquantified amounts of damage to private property (for example, golf courses, public recreation grounds). Most importantly, present population levels pose significant risks to human safety, both through risk of aircraft and vehicular collisions. From 2015-2018, an annual average of $372,528 in vehicle collision claims (physical damage and personal injury) attributed to Canada Geese occurred in Manitoba, and were distributed across 98 communities, although 56% and 58% of claims occurred in Winnipeg in 2017 and 2018, respectively (Manitoba Public Insurance, unpublished data).

Management measures to reduce conflicts with Canada Geese

In response to aesthetic and human safety concerns, ECCC issues Damage or Danger Permits to qualifying property owners and managers. From 2012-2018, the number of permits issued for translocation, euthanization, or removal of eggs of Canada Geese in Manitoba has increased by an average of 10.5% per year (Canadian Wildlife Service, unpublished data). The number of eggs managed per year in Manitoba varies annually, but more than 8400 eggs have been removed under permit in some years. In urban areas, management actions are complicated by movement of broods across multiple property boundaries, distribution of nests over large areas, in varying locations (for example, rooftops, elevated patios, parking lots, industrial areas, naturalized area), and varying sentiments of property owners towards management actions. In rural areas, brood flocks can be difficult to locate, and issuance of Damage and Danger Permits is complicated by use of multiple properties, including publicly owned lands adjacent to cropland. As evidenced by crop damage compensation paid during the summer months, brood flocks are capable of causing substantial damage to emerging crops. While Damage and Danger Permits provide property owners with options to reduce conflicts with Canada Geese and can be a useful management tool, the size and growth of the population, and distribution of conflicts requires a larger scale management option.

Special measures proposed to increase harvest rates and decrease survival rates

Similar to other populations of geese designated as overabundant, hunting is considered the most efficient means to reduce the population size, by increasing adult harvest rates and decreasing adult survival rates over time. The effectiveness of recent liberalizations to hunting regulations has likely been limited by the mixing of populations during fall migration. Based on band recovery data, northern nesting populations, as well as and moult migrant temperate-breeding Canada Geese from the United States, converge in southern Manitoba in mid-late September, which likely has a saturation effect on the harvest of local temperate-breeding Canada Geese. In order to focus the harvest on Manitoba’s temperate-breeding population, special conservation measures, in the form of a spring conservation harvest are necessary.

Manitoba Wildlife and Fisheries Branch, the Canadian Wildlife Service, and University of Manitoba (Department of Biology) are collaborating on research to identify spring migration chronology of each population of geese, towards appropriately timing a spring conservation season for temperate-breeding Canada geese. From 2016-2018, light-level archival devices commonly known as geolocators, were attached to adult females of each population on the breeding grounds. Data from geolocators was retrieved when individuals were recaptured during annual banding activities, or harvested by hunters. Analysis of spring migration tracks from 17 southern Hudson Bay Canada Geese and 12 midcontinent population Cackling Geese reveals that these populations are much later migrants than temperate-breeding Canada Geese, and do not arrive in Manitoba until approximately mid-April each year. The mean latitude of southern Hudson Bay Canada Geese on March 31, the proposed close of the conservation season, was estimated at 45.5° in 2017 (95% CL 42.5°-48.1°, n=6), 45.0° in 2018 (95% CL 40.1°-47.0°, n=6), and 42.5° in 2019 (95% CL 37.4°-46.1°, n=5). Similarly, the mean latitude of midcontinent Cackling Geese on March 31 was 44.0° in 2017 (95% CL 39.2°-48.2°, n=1), 42.6° in 2018 (95% CL 38.9°-45.7°, n=4), and 40.2° in 2019 (95% CL 36.1°-44.0°, n=7). Therefore, any harvest in March is expected to be exclusively on temperate-breeding Canada Geese, which affords the greatest opportunity to increase harvest rates of this population, while ensuring harvest rates of northern-nesting populations are unaffected.

The effect of the proposed conservation season will be monitored using estimates of annual survival and harvest rates, which are a result of long term banding programs in place for each population. In addition, overall harvest and hunter participation will be monitored using a spring licence issued by Manitoba Wildlife and Fisheries Branch, and the population will be monitored using data from the annual Waterfowl Breeding Population and Habitat Survey.

Literature cited

Abraham, K. F., and R. L. Jefferies. 1997. High goose populations, causes, impacts and implications. Pages 7-72 in Batt, B. D. J. (editor). Arctic Ecosystems in Peril: Report of the Arctic Goose Habitat Working Group. Arctic Goose Joint Venture Special Publication. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Washington, D.C., and Canadian Wildlife Service, Ottawa, Canada. 126 pp.

Ankney, C. D. 1996. An embarrassment of riches: too many geese. Journal of Wildlife Management 60:217-223.

Baldwin, F., J. Wollenberg, B. Lubinski. 2015. Eastern Prairie Population Breeding Population Survey Report. Mississippi Flyway Technical Section. 9 pp.

Brook, R.W. and D.R. Luukkonen. 2008. Condensed Southern James Bay Population Canada Goose Population Dynamics Model. Appendix A. in K. Abraham et al. eds. A Management Plan for the Southern James Bay Population of Canada geese.

Cooper, J.A. 1978. The history and breeding biology of the Canada geese of Marshy Point, Manitoba. Wildlife Monographs 61. 87 pp.

Luukkonen, D. R., and J. O. Leafloor, eds. 2017. A management plan for Mississippi Flyway Canada geese. Mississippi Flyway Council Technical Section, Canada Goose Committee. 83 pp.

Zenner, G. (editor). 1996. Mississippi Flyway giant Canada Goose management plan. Mississippi Flyway Council Technical Section. 66 pp.

Saskatchewan

Increasing daily bag and possession limits of Northern Pintails

Proposals

It is proposed that the daily bag limit for Northern Pintails be increased from four to eight birds per day, and that possession limits be increased from 12 to 24 pintails. Ducks can be difficult to identify early in the hunting season in Canada because male ducks are still in drab eclipse plumage. Removing the separate bag limit for pintails is intended to simplify hunting regulations by allowing an aggregate bag limit of eight ducks per day, and is not expected to increase harvest significantly.

Decreases in the daily bag and possession limits were implemented throughout much of Canada and the United States in response to Northern Pintail population declines in the 1980s. Despite harvest restrictions remaining largely in place since then, abundance of Northern Pintails has not returned to the levels observed prior to the population decline. Subsequent studies of Northern Pintails were not able to detect a decline in survival rates that coincided with the population decline of the 1980s (Rice et al. 2010, Bartzen and Dufour 2017), and found that survival rates were relatively high: 0.64 ± 0.13 (SE) and 0.74 ± 0.10 for females and males, respectively (Bartzen and Dufour 2017). In addition, there was no obvious effect of the bag limit restrictions on harvest rates. Harvest rates declined throughout much of the 1980s but have gradually increased since the early 1990s despite harvest restrictions remaining in place. The most recent ten-year average (2009-2018) for harvest rates of Northern Pintails banded in Alberta, Manitoba, Northwest Territories, and Saskatchewan were 2.7% ± 0.5 (SE) and 4.5% ± 0.6 for adult females and males, respectively, and 6.3% ± 1.2 and 9.5% ± 1.6 for hatch-year (young of the year) females and males, respectively. Considering the aforementioned survival and harvest rates, harvest accounted for no more than 8 % and 17 % of the annual mortality of adult females and males, respectively, and 18% and 37 % of the annual mortality of hatch-year females and males, respectively. These harvest rates and associated percentages of mortality are relatively low and (Bartzen and Dufour 2017). Therefore, it is likely that factors other than harvest, for example, declining recruitment rates, were the cause of the population decline in the 1980s.

The ten-year average harvest was 1,535,168 ± 258,769 (SD) for Northern Pintails in Canada and the United States for the 1970s but declined to only 595,769 ± 134,851 for the most recent ten years (2009-2018); harvest in Alberta and Saskatchewan accounted for approximately 7% and 5% in the two aforementioned time periods, respectively. Based on an analysis of historic frequency of daily bags of Northern Pintails under a bag limit of 8 (1980-1984), removal of harvest restrictions in Alberta and Saskatchewan is expected to result in an increase in harvest of less than 5%. A 5% increase in harvest would equate to approximately 1,500 more Northern Pintails harvested annually in Alberta and Saskatchewan, but those two provinces would still only account for 5% of the total harvest in Canada and the United States based on the most recent ten-year averages. In addition, more than 75% of the harvest of Northern Pintails in Alberta and Saskatchewan consists of hatch-year birds, which are known to have less impact on population dynamics than do adults. Consequently, the effect of removing the daily bag limit restriction for Northern Pintails in Alberta and Saskatchewan on harvest in Canada is expected to be negligible, with little risk of causing the population to decline further in abundance. Harvest estimates from Canada’s National Harvest Survey, harvest and survival rates derived from banding efforts, and population abundance from the Waterfowl Breeding Population and Habitat Survey will all be monitored for potential effects of this regulation change.

Literature cited

Bartzen, B. A., and K. W. Dufour. 2017. Northern Pintail (Anas acuta) survival, recovery, and harvest rates derived from 55 years of banding in Prairie Canada, 1960-2014. Avian Conservation and Ecology 12(2):7.

Rice, M. B., D. A. Haukos, J. A. Dubovsky, and M. C. Runge. 2010. Continental survival and recovery rates of northern pintails using band-recovery data. Journal of Wildlife Management 74:778-787.

Open Last Mountain Lake National Wildlife Area to Sandhill Crane hunting

It is proposed to open Last Mountain Lake National Wildlife Area to Sandhill Crane hunting; this change would make hunting of migratory game birds in Last Mountain Lake National Wildlife Area consistent with other areas in Saskatchewan where the hunting of migratory game birds is permitted, including most other National Wildlife Areas in Saskatchewan. Part of the original intent of the closure was for the protection of Whooping Cranes during migration. However, there are areas outside of the National Wildlife Area open to Sandhill Crane hunting that are more frequently used by Whooping Cranes and in greater abundance. In addition, the hunting of other migratory game birds is already permitted within the Last Mountain Lake National Wildlife Area. If this National Wildlife Area was opened to Sandhill Crane hunting, Federal or Provincial game officers would still have the ability to prohibit Sandhill Crane hunting if Whooping Cranes were present in the area, similar to other areas of Saskatchewan. Therefore, if Last Mountain Lake National Wildlife Area was opened to Sandhill Crane hunting, the increased risk to Whooping Cranes would be minimal.

Alberta

Simplify hunting zones in Alberta

It is proposed to reduce the number of hunting zones from eight to two zones. Zones 1, 2, 3, 4 and 8 would be changed to zone 1. Zones 5, 6, 7 would be changed to zone 2. Essentially, provincial hunting regulations have been operating on a two-zone format for many years. The northern zone, which includes 1,2,3,4 and 8, opens September 1st and the southern zone, which includes zones 5, 6 and 7, opens a week later. Bag and possession limits are identical in northern and southern zones. The province lists hunting seasons in their regulations by Provincial Wildlife Management Unit (PWMU), so this change would not affect hunting seasons in any way. The maps below show the current eight-zone format (with PWMUs) as well as the proposed two-zone format (with PWMUs). The proposed change would simplify migratory game bird hunting regulations for hunters in Alberta.

Map 1 — Proposed new hunting zones in Alberta

Map 2 — Current hunting zones in Alberta

Increasing the daily bag and possession limits of Northern Pintails

Proposal

It is proposed that the daily bag limit for Northern Pintails be increased from 4 to 8 birds per day, and that possession limits be increased from 12 to 24 pintails. Ducks can be difficult to identify early in the hunting season in Canada because male ducks are still in drab eclipse plumage. Removing the separate bag limit for pintails is intended to simplify hunting regulations by allowing an aggregate bag limit of 8 ducks per day, and is not expected to increase harvest significantly.

Decreases in the daily bag and possession limits were implemented throughout much of Canada and the United States in response to Northern Pintail population declines in the 1980s. Despite harvest restrictions remaining largely in place since then, abundance of Northern Pintails has not returned to the levels observed prior to the population decline. Subsequent studies of Northern Pintails were not able to detect a decline in survival rates that coincided with the population decline of the 1980s (Rice et al. 2010, Bartzen and Dufour 2017), and found that survival rates were relatively high: 0.64 ± 0.13 (SE) and 0.74 ± 0.10 for females and males, respectively (Bartzen and Dufour 2017). In addition, there was no obvious effect of the bag limit restrictions on harvest rates. Harvest rates declined throughout much of the 1980s but have gradually increased since the early 1990s despite harvest restrictions remaining in place. The most recent ten-year average (2009-2018) for harvest rates of Northern Pintails banded in Alberta, Manitoba, Northwest Territories, and Saskatchewan were 2.7% ± 0.5 (SE) and 4.5% ± 0.6 for adult females and males, respectively, and 6.3% ± 1.2 and 9.5% ± 1.6 for hatch-year (young of the year) females and males, respectively. Considering the aforementioned survival and harvest rates, harvest accounted for no more than 8 % and 17 % of the annual mortality of adult females and males, respectively, and 18% and 37 % of the annual mortality of hatch-year females and males, respectively. These harvest rates and associated percentages of mortality are relatively low and there is currently little evidence to suggest that harvest mortality is substantially additive to non-harvest mortality (Bartzen and Dufour 2017). Therefore, it is likely that factors other than harvest, for example, declining recruitment rates, were the cause of the population decline in the 1980s.

Literature cited

Rice, M. B., D. A. Haukos, J. A. Dubovsky, and M. C. Runge. 2010. Continental survival and recovery rates of northern pintails using band-recovery data. Journal of Wildlife Management 74:778-787.

Establishing a hunting season for Sandhill Crane

It is proposed that a hunting season for Sandhill Crane with a daily bag limit of 5 and a possession limit of 15 be implemented from September 1 to December 16, in Provincial Wildlife Management Units (PWMUs) 200, 202, 203, 204, 206, 208, 220, 222, 226, 228, 230, 232, 234, 236, 238, 240, 242, 244, 248, 250, 252, 254, 256, 258, 260, 500, and from September 8 to December 21, in PWMUs 102, 104, 106, 112, 116, 118, 119, 124, 128, 130, 132, 134, 136, 138, 140, 142, 144, 148, 150, 151, 152, 156, 158, 160, 162, 163, 164, 166, 210. These hunting season dates are consistent with existing dates for hunting waterfowl in these PWMUs. Selected PWMU’s were chosen to avoid known Whooping crane migratory routes. Additionally, Whooping crane descriptions are currently published online and in Alberta’s guide to hunting regulations. Educating hunters to differences between Whooping cranes and Snow geese has been done for several years and will be amended to include Sandhill cranes. If Aransas/Wood Buffalo population of Whooping cranes occur in an area open to Sandhill crane hunting, risk will be assessed and measures taken to protect them by altering hunting areas in the future.

Map 3 — Proposed Sandhill Crane hunting season in Alberta

Mid-continent population Sandhill Cranes are monitored through an annual photo-corrected aerial transect survey in Nebraska’s Platte River Valley. These indices indicate an increasing population trend since 1982. The latest 3-year average (2016-2018) of 659,899 birds is above mid-continent population management plan objectives of 349 000 to 472 000 birds. Plan objectives represent both minimum and maximum population levels, reflecting both social and agricultural limits on migration routes. As the current mid-continent population (3-yr average) has shown a 52% increase since the 3-year average calculated in 2000, and is 40% above its maximum population threshold, there is an opportunity to advance a fall hunting season for these birds in Alberta.

Sandhill Cranes are harvested throughout their range, including in Saskatchewan and Manitoba, as well as most states in the Central Flyway. Harvest of migratory game birds is allocated based on a 50/50 ratio between Canada and the US. Canada’s most recent harvest estimate (2017) of mid-continent Sandhill Cranes constituted 31% of the total continental harvest estimate. Addition of a hunting season in Alberta is expected to increase Canada’s estimated harvest by less than 5% (5% is equal to Manitoba’s 2017 harvest), well below suggested management targets. Hunter numbers and harvest will be monitored by the CWS National Harvest Survey, which estimates Canadian harvest of migratory game birds annually and Alberta’s mandatory online game harvest survey. Alberta’s online survey is mandatory for all hunters and provides harvest estimates by Provincial Wildlife Management Unit.

The proposed Sandhill Crane season would provide a new hunting opportunity in Alberta and provide a mechanism to deal with crop depredation issues caused by cranes. This has been the subject of repeated requests by both resident and non-resident hunters as well as Alberta agricultural producers.

British Columbia

Increase opportunity to harvest waterfowl

It is proposed to shift the hunting season dates for ducks, Snow Geese, Ross’s geese and White-fronted Geese in Region 8 (the Okanagan) from September 12 - December 25 to September 23 - January 5. This will provide more hunting opportunities when these species are most plentiful in the Okanagan.

Yukon Territory

No regulatory changes are proposed for the 2020-2021 and 2021-2022 hunting seasons.

Northwest Territories

No regulatory changes are proposed for the 2020-2021 and 2021-2022 hunting seasons.

Nunavut

Increase in possession limits for ducks, geese and snipe

It is proposed to increase the possession limit for non-residents of Canada for ducks, Canada and Cackling Geese, White-fronted Geese and Brant from twice the daily bag limit to three times the daily bag limit. This would represent an increase from 16 to 24 for ducks, and from 10 to 15 for Canada Geese, Cackling Geese, White-fronted Geese and Brant in aggregate, of which not more than 6 could be White-fronted Geese (up from 4).

It is also proposed to increase the possession limit for non-residents of Canada from 20 to 30 for snipe. This is to increase limit consistency with surrounding Provinces (Manitoba, Ontario and Quebec). There are no anticipated conservation concerns or implications associated with the changes in possession limits for these species.

Barrow’s Goldeneye and Blue-winged Teal are currently considered to be species of conservation concern or which could be negatively affected by increased hunting pressure. As such, no changes to possession limits for those species are proposed.

Increase in daily bag limits for Snow and Ross' Geese in James Bay

It is proposed to increase the daily bag limit from 20 to 50 for Snow and Ross' Geese across Nunavut. The daily bag limit of Snow Geese and Ross’ Geese in the portion of the islands and waters of James Bay that are south of 55°N latitude is currently restricted to 20 whereas elsewhere in the Territory and adjacent jurisdictions (Ontario and Manitoba) the limit is 50.

Due to habitat damage resulting from foraging activities, Snow Geese and Ross’s Geese were designated as overabundant species. Geese using the islands and waters of James Bay are from the midcontinent population of Lesser Snow Geese which has continued to increase despite the implementation of more liberalized bag and possession limits. Therefore, rather than limiting daily harvest in any one portion of the Territory, we believe hunting opportunities should be maximized across the Territory. The James Bay area of Quebec has a daily bag limit of 20 Snow Geese, but the harvest in that area of Quebec is mainly composed of Greater Snow Geese, which are closer to population objectives, as opposed to midcontinent Lesser Snow Geese.

Status update on modernization of Migratory Birds Regulations

Drafted in 1917, the Migratory Birds Regulations have never been comprehensively updated or revised. As such, the Department is currently undertaking the process of amending the Regulations to update the language to modern standards, correct errors, restructure the regulations for clarity, address enforcement issues, and clarify the provisions relating to the management of migratory bird hunting. The amendments also include references to Aboriginal Peoples of Canada (implementation of the Parksville Protocol to the Migratory Birds Convention between Canada and the United States).

Pre-consultations on the proposed amendments were conducted in 2014. Consultations related to baiting for the purpose of hunting were held in 2017. The comments received during these consultations were carefully considered.

The proposed new regulations were published in the Canada Gazette Part I in June 2019 for a 120-day period consultation.

It is anticipated that the final Regulations will be published in the Canada Gazette, Part II in the spring of 2020 and come into force in time for the 2020 fall hunting season.

The Government of Canada is allowing the temporary possession of dead migratory birds

The Government of Canada wants to inform the public of a variance to paragraph 6(b) of the Migratory Birds Regulations, to allow for the temporary possession of found dead migratory birds, which is in effect until August 24, 2020 (Public notice allowing temporary possession).

As public participation in the study of dead migratory birds is necessary to help conduct surveys on avian viruses, it is permitted to temporarily possess dead migratory birds to allow for swift delivery of such birds to provincial or territorial authorities for analysis. The Government of Canada is responsible, under the Migratory Birds Convention Act, 1994, to ensure that migratory birds are protected and conserved, and testing dead birds is believed to be the most effective method available for the detection of avian viruses.

What to do if you find a dead migratory bird:

contact the Canadian Cooperative Wildlife Health Centre by visiting the website or by telephoning 1-800-567-2033.
visit the Public Health Agency of Canada website for guidance on precautions to take when handling wild birds.
more information on the Migratory Birds Convention Act, 1994 is available online.

Migratory Game Bird Hunting Permit - optimizing availability to all Canadians

Point of sale options for migratory game bird hunting (MGBH) permits have evolved over time in order to increase service and optimize availability to hunters. MGBH permits along with the Canadian Wildlife Habitat Conservation (CWHC) Stamps can be purchased:

At select Canada Post corporation outlets
At some independent vendors
Electronically

Canada Post is the original MGBH permit vendor and continues to offer them in over 70% of their postal outlets. ECCC works closely with Canada Post to promote communication with outlets and manage inventory and distribution.

There are also approximately 50 independent vendors across six provinces that sell MGBH permits. Examples of vendors include Canadian Tire and Cabela’s as well as small local convenience stores and registry offices.

The newest option is the electronic permit system, which provides hunters additional convenience and benefits. The system is accessible to hunters 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Hunters can purchase a permit and the conservation stamp online, receive electronic copies of the stamp and permit by email, and print these documents from the comfort of their own home, and once signed is valid immediately. MGBH permits that were purchased online can also be reprinted if lost or damaged. There have been versions of the Electronic system since 2014 and every year the number of permits purchased online continues to increase. Every hunting season, MGBH permits sales start on August 1st and end on June 30th the following year. In 2014, there were 3,500 hunters purchased their permit online. In 2015 and 2016, it increased to around 15,000 and 28,000 online purchases respectively. Sales in 2017 surpassed 50,000 and online sales in 2018 increased an additional 8%. A new system was launched on August 1, 2019, and to date sales in 2019 have already reached 47,000.

It should also be noted that the MGBH e-permitting purchasing system makes it easier for hunters to respond to the questions on the permit, which help inform the National Harvest Survey. Data from this and other CWS surveys are used to assess the status of migratory game bird populations in Canada, their productivity, their survival rates, and the amount of harvest they can sustain. This information also provides data to inform hunting regulations and harvest management plans for future years.

Permits can be purchased online.

Please report bird bands

The North American Bird Banding Program relies on hunters and other members of the public to report bird bands to its office. Reporting bird bands helps scientists and wildlife managers continue to learn about, manage and conserve bird populations.

Bird band encounters can be reported to the Canadian Bird Banding Office:

online at www.reportband.gov,
by email at ec.bbo.ec@canada.ca,
by calling toll-free 1-800-327-BAND (2263), or
by writing to:
Bird Banding Office
National Wildlife Research Centre
Canadian Wildlife Service
Environment and Climate Change Canada
Ottawa ON, K1A 0H3

After submitting your encounter reports online, you will promptly receive banding information, and have the option to print a certificate of appreciation.

Hunters can still expect to find various types of bands on game birds, including bands with or without the website or phone number. Hunters may report any bands and are encouraged to use the online reporting method

Appendices

Appendix A. special conservation measures for fall 2019 and spring 2020

Measures in Quebec concerning overabundant species
No.	Column 1	Column 2	Column 3
Item	Area	Period during which Snow Geese may be killed	Additional hunting method or equipment
1.	District A	September 1 to December 16, 2019	Recorded bird calls(d)(f)
1.	District A	May 1 to June 30, 2020	Recorded bird calls(d)
2.	District B	September 14 to December 28, 2019	Recorded bird calls(d)(f)
3.	Districts C and D	September 1 to September 13, 2019 (a), and September 14 to December 28, 2019	Recorded bird calls(d)(f)
3.	Districts C and D	March 1 to May 31, 2020(a)	Recorded bird calls(d)
4.	District E	September 1 to September 13, 2019 (a), and September 14 to December 28, 2019	Recorded bird calls(d)(f); bait crop area(e)
4.	District E	March 1 to May 31, 2020(a)	Recorded bird calls(d); bait(e)
5.	District F	September 6 to September 20, 2019(a), and September 21, 2019, to January 4, 2020	Recorded bird calls(d)(f); bait crop area(e)
5.	District F	March 1 to May 31, 2020 (a)(b)(c)	Recorded bird calls(d); bait(e)
6.	District G	September 28 to December 26, 2019	Recorded bird calls(d)(f)

(a) Hunting and hunting equipment are allowed only on farmland.

(b) In District F, no person shall hunt south of the St. Lawrence River and north of the road right-of-way of Route 132 between the western limit of the Montmagny municipality and the eastern limit of Cap-Saint-Ignace municipality, other than in lots 4 598 472, 2 611 981 and 2 611 982 of the cadastre of Quebec (all located in the Montmagny municipality).

(c) In District F, on the north shore of the St. Lawrence River, no person shall hunt north of the St. Lawrence River and south of a line located at 1,000 m north of Highway 40 between Montée St-Laurent and the Maskinongé River. On the south shore of the St. Lawrence River, no person shall hunt south of the St. Lawrence River and north of the railroad right-of-way located near Route 132 between the Nicolet River in the east and Lacerte Road in the west.

(d) “Recorded bird calls” refers to bird calls of a species referred to in the heading of column 2.

(e) Hunting with bait or in a bait crop area is permitted if the Regional Director has given consent in writing pursuant to section 23.3.

(f) Any species of migratory bird for which it is open season may be taken while hunting Snow Geese with recorded Snow Geese calls.

Note: Hunters interested in participating in the spring conservation harvest of Snow Geese should keep their 2019 federal permits.

Measures in Ontario concerning overabundant species
No.	Column 1	Column 2	Column 3
Item	Area	Period during which Snow Geese may be killed	Additional hunting method or equipment
1.	Wildlife Management Unit 65	March 1 to May 31, 2020 (a)	Recorded bird calls(b)

(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.

Note: Hunters interested in participating in the spring conservation harvest of Snow Geese should keep their 2019 federal permits.

Measures in Manitoba concerning overabundant species
No.	Column 1	Column 2	Column 3
Item	Area	Period during which Snow Geese and Ross’s Geese may be killed	Additional hunting method or equipment
1.	Zone 1	August 15 to August 31, 2019, and April 1 to June 15, 2020	Recorded bird calls(a)
2.	Zones 2, 3, 4	March 15 to May 31, 2020	Recorded bird calls(a)

(a) “Recorded bird calls” refers to bird calls of a species referred to in the heading of column 2.