Migratory game bird hunting: frequently asked questions

Answer: To hunt migratory game birds in Canada, you must have a valid federal MGBH permit or Youth MGBH permit on which the Canadian Wildlife Habitat Conservation Stamp appears. The MGBH permit is valid anywhere in Canada.

Depending on the area where you wish to hunt, you will also likely require a provincial or territorial license. Check with the wildlife agency in the area where you plan to hunt as to provincial or territorial requirements prior to hunting migratory game birds in that area.

Please consult the Migratory Game Bird Hunting permit webpage for additional information about the MGBH permit and Youth MGBH permit, and where to obtain them.

Answer: Yes. If the permit was acquired through the electronic permitting system, then the hunter may either print this permit, or keep it on an electronic device that is with them, and functional, while hunting.

Hunters must carry the permit with them at all times, either in physical/paper or electronic PDF format, when hunting or when in possession of unpreserved migratory game birds or any murres, in a place other than their residence.

Answer: No. A person cannot increase their allowable take by purchasing additional MGBH permits. The daily bag and possession limits apply to the person and not to the permit.

Answer: Yes. You can purchase a MGBH permit for another person as long as you have all of their required information.

Answer: It depends. If you have purchased an e-permit, you can simply reprint a new copy of it from the confirmation email received at the time of purchase. This is one of the benefits of purchasing a permit through the MGBH e-Permitting system

If you have lost or misplaced your physical MGBH permit purchased through Canada Post or an independent vendor, you must purchase a new permit at your own expense. Canada Post and independent vendors do not keep records of individuals who purchased permits. Although Environment and Climate Change Canada does receive this information through the return of the permit stub, it takes several months to receive and record the data electronically.

Answer: Under the Migratory Birds Regulations , 2022 (MBR 2022), it is prohibited to hunt migratory birds unless authorized by the Regulations.  Hunt is defined in the MBR 2022 as chase, pursue, worry, follow after or on the trail of, lie in wait for, or attempt in any manner to capture, kill, take, injure or harass a migratory bird, whether or not it is captured, killed, taken injured or harassed. A MGBH permit allows an individual to hunt migratory game birds, primarily for human consumption, and must be held by any person who is engaged in hunting as defined under the Regulations. If you are engaged in any of the activities included in the definition of “hunt”, a MGBH permit is required.

Answer: The Youth MGBH permit is available to hunters who are minors (under the age of 18). It provides youth with the opportunity to practice their skills under the supervision of an adult hunter throughout the full open seasons and the special conservation season in spring, and provides them with their own daily bag and possession limits:

• The Youth MGBH permit and the Canadian Wildlife Habitat Conservation Stamp that appears on it are free of charge
• An adult (18 years and older) hunter, known as a mentor, must always accompany minors who hunt under a Youth MGBH permit. The Youth MGBH Permit is not transferable and can only be used by the person who is named on the permit
• Youth hunters must always carry their permits while hunting, or when in possession of unpreserved migratory game birds, or any murre, in a place other than the permit holder’s residence. The permit must be presented to game officers upon request.

The Youth MGBH permit is a new option offered as part of the Migratory Birds Regulations modernization in 2022, With this introduction, the Waterfowler Heritage Days were abolished.

Answer: Yes. The Youth MGBH permit remains valid until June 30th following the date it was issued, even if the holder turns 18 before then.

Answer: It depends. No, if you purchase a MGBH Permit and the Canadian Wildlife Habitat Conservation Stamp. However, if you hunt under a free of charge Youth MGBH permit, then you must be accompanied by a mentor. Some provinces and territories can have further requirements for youth. Contact your provincial or territorial government for the possible youth hunting requirements in the area in which you intend to hunt.

Answer: Yes, there are specific open seasons for hunting ducks, geese, woodcock, and other hunted migratory game bird species in Canada, for which the dates often vary across the country and within a province or territory. As such, it is very important to check the dates of the open seasons in the area(s) in which you will be hunting. Similarly, there are specific regulations regarding the number of birds that can be harvested (daily bag and possession limits) at certain times and in certain areas, as well as rules for hunting methods and equipment.

Refer to the Migratory Birds Regulations, 2022, for all rules regarding migratory game bird hunting in Canada. Open season, daily bag and possession limits are set out in Schedule 3 of the regulations, and are included in the provincial/territorial Migratory Game Bird Hunting Regulation Summaries that are posted each year before the beginning of the hunting season.

Refer to the provincial or territorial government where you plan to hunt for additional provincial or territorial regulations that may be applicable.

Answer: Legal hunting hours for migratory game birds in Canada are as follows:

• South of the 60th latitude , you can hunt a half (1/2) hour before sunrise to a half (1/2) hour after sunset.
• North of the 60th latitude, you can hunt from one (1) hour before sunrise to one (1) hour after sunset.

Some provinces and territories may have further restrictions. Contact your provincial or territorial government in the area that you intend to hunt.

Answer: Environment and Climate Change Canada does not collect information on hunting areas. There are a number of resources available on the internet such as provincial wildlife agencies’ websites, provincial and territorial hunting and angling organizations or those of outfitter associations in the area where you plan on hunting.

Answer: The Migratory Birds Regulations, 2022 do not require a hunter to be accompanied by a guide. However, you should check the provincial or territorial regulations for the area where you plan to hunt to see if one is needed.

Answer: The only permitted weapons for hunting migratory game birds in Canada are bows, crossbows, and shotguns not larger than 10 gauge. The capacity of shotguns must be either designed or modified so that they can hold no more than three cartridges in the magazine and chamber combined.

Answer: Bows that are authorized for hunting migratory game birds in Canada must have a minimum draw weight of 18 kg (40 lbs) and an arrow with a broadhead that has at least two sharp blades and is a minimum of 22 mm wide. Authorized crossbows must have a minimum draw weight of 45 kg (100 lbs) and a bolt that has a broadhead with at least two sharp blades and is a minimum of 22 mm wide.

Answer: Yes. It is legal to possess more than one shotgun while hunting. However, the extra shotgun(s) must be unloaded and disassembled or unloaded and in a closed case. Only one shotgun can be ready for use at a time.

Answer: Migratory game birds can be hunted with bows, crossbows and shotguns only. Pellet guns are prohibited because they are not powerful enough to ensure that birds are killed cleanly and there is a risk of inflicting injuries to the bird.

Answer: Yes. However, the detachable magazine must not be capable of holding more than two (2) cartridges. The chamber and detachable magazine together may have a combined capacity of no more than three (3) cartridges. Only one shotgun may be ready for use at a time.

Answer: Yes, you have to use non-toxic shot when hunting migratory game birds in Canada. The use and possession of lead shot while hunting migratory game birds is prohibited in all areas of Canada. However, the use and possession of lead shot is permitted for hunting Murres, American Woodcock, Band-tailed Pigeons, Eurasian Collared-Doves, and Mourning Doves, except in Ontario and Quebec where non-toxic shot must be used for hunting Mourning Doves.

In a combined hunting trip for waterfowl and upland birds or murres and sea ducks, hunters can be in possession and use of lead shot only during the hunt of species for which the use of lead shot is allowed.

Answer: No. It is prohibited to use remotely piloted aircraft (commonly known as drones) for hunting migratory game birds in Canada.

Answer: Yes, you can hunt from a boat (including any boat, canoe or yacht) that is equipped with a motor, as long as the boat is not moving under the power of the motor when hunting.

There is an exception for murres, who may be shot from a boat that is moving by the power of its engine in Newfoundland and Labrador, by residents of that province.

Everywhere in Canada, injured or dead migratory game birds that have been shot while hunting may be retrieved by using a boat that is moving under the power of the engine. When wounded birds are being retrieved, they can only be shot when the boat has stopped moving.

Answer: You are required to have adequate means at your immediate disposal to retrieve a downed bird, and to do so as soon as the circumstances allow it. In the case where a migratory game bird has been injured, you must retrieve and kill the bird as soon as the circumstances allow it.

Answer: Training clubs and individuals are allowed to possess up to 200 carcasses of legally harvested migratory game birds for training dogs as retrievers. When they exceed their possession limits of migratory birds, as is indicated in Schedule 3 of the Migratory Birds Regulations, 2022 they must register with Environment and Climate Change Canada. Please visit the Retriever dog training registration form page for more information on how to register.

Individuals or clubs who do not exceed their individual possession limits do not need to register with the department.

Answer: You can mount any legally obtained migratory game birds (such as waterfowl) for personal purposes without a taxidermist permit. A taxidermist permit is required once you plan on mounting migratory birds for commercial or business purposes. Anyone interested in migratory bird taxidermy as a business should contact Environment and Climate Change Canada for more information.

Answer: No, you can’t use electronic bird calls (recorded bird calls) when hunting migratory game birds. However, electronic bird calls are allowed to be used when hunting species that have been legally designated as overabundant. Check the regulations for the area that you intend to hunt to determine whether this applies in that area.

Answer: No. It is illegal to hunt migratory birds within 400 metres (437 yards) of a place where bait has been deposited, unless that place has been free of bait (no bait remains) for at least seven (7) days. In addition, baiting must cease 14 days before the first day of any open season for that place.

Answer: No. It is prohibited to use bait 14 days prior and during an open season to attract migratory game birds. The definition of bait includes all feed and anything that may look like it and attract waterfowl.

Answer: The daily bag limit is the maximum number of birds (by species or group of species; e.g., ducks) that a hunter may harvest during any single day of hunting. The possession limit is the maximum number of unpreserved birds, or any murres, that a person may have in their possession at any time. The possession limit applies to all persons (including non-hunters who receive unpreserved birds or any murres as a gift), and for all bird species.

For murre hunters, the possession limit includes both unpreserved and preserved birds.

Answer: It is important to note that if you hunt in different areas that have varying bag and/or possession limits, you must respect the daily bag limit and possession limit of each area. You cannot combine the total of the daily bag or possession limits for the various areas where you hunt. You would be limited to the higher daily bag limit and possession limit of those areas where you hunt.

For example, an individual hunts in area A in the morning, which has a bag limit for ducks of five (5), but they only harvest one (1) duck. Later in the day, this individual hunts in Area B, which has a bag limit of three (3) ducks, The individual, while hunting in Area B can only harvest three (3) ducks, which is the bag limit for that area. If the hunter succeeds in harvesting three (3) ducks in area B, then at the end of the hunting day, they would be within the law (higher bag limit) with the four (4) ducks that they have harvested. If the hunter had succeeded in hunting 5 ducks in Area A, they then could not go to area B (with a lower bag limit) to continue duck hunting in the same day.

Answer: Once a bird is preserved for future use, it no longer counts as part of a hunter’s possession limit, with the exception of murres. A bird is preserved when it has:

• been eviscerated and plucked in any location and then been frozen, made into sausage, cooked, dried, canned or smoked in a location other than the hunting area
• in a location other than the hunting area, had its edible portions removed from its carcass and then been frozen, made into sausage, cooked, dried, canned or smoked; or
• been mounted for taxidermy

The daily bag limit still applies to birds that are preserved the day they were harvested. A hunter that harvested their daily bag limit, and then immediately preserves their birds may not continue hunting on the same day for those species.

Answer: Preservation is a two-step process. In the first step, birds may be partially preserved, i.e. plucked and eviscerated in any location, including in the hunting area. However, meat and a fully feathered-head or wing must remain attached to the carcasses until the birds are later completely preserved. This is so the species can be identified by game officers upon request. During the second step of preservation, the bird or its edible parts are frozen, cooked, made into sausage, dried, canned or smoked. Birds are then completely preserved. This final stage of preservation must be completed in a location that is outside of the hunting area, and during this stage, the feathered-head or wing can be removed from the carcass.

Answer: Harvested birds must be completely preserved in locations that are outside of the hunting area. Examples can include:

• hunter’s residence
• non-mobile preservation facilities such as butcher, plucker, outfitter, or taxidermist
• places where hunters stay during their hunting trips such as rented home, hotel, cabin, campsite, tent, tent trailer, or RV

Answer: Fully feathered wings or heads may only be removed from carcasses when birds are in the process of being completely preserved.

Answer: Migratory game birds that are completely preserved stop counting in the hunter’ possession limit who harvested them or the person who received the birds as a gift.

Birds that are not preserved still count in the hunter’s possession limit and a fully-feathered wing or head must remain attached to the carcass. Unpreserved birds gifted to someone count in the possession limit of the person who receives and accepts them as a gift.

Answer: Murres, whether or not they are preserved, count in the possession limit of the hunter who harvested them. When murres are gifted to someone, preserved or unpreserved, they count in the possession limit of the person who receives and accepts them as a gift.

Answer: If you find a dead or wounded bird on the ground that was shot by someone else and you decide to pick it up and keep it, that bird must be included in your daily bag and possession limits.

Answer: Only unpreserved birds count in an individual’s possession limit. For example, if birds harvested in a previous year were frozen unplucked, eviscerated or not , for retriever dog training purposes or personal consumption, then they still count towards the possession limit of the individual who possesses them.

Answer: No, there is no limit as long as the birds were harvested legally and are completely preserved.

Answer: No. It is strictly prohibited to abandon harvested birds or to let the meat become inedible. Hunters must make use of the birds they hunted. For examples, hunters can consume their birds or use them for training dogs as retrievers. If you wish to give away birds you harvested, the person who receives the birds as a gift must agree to take them, and if the birds are unpreserved they must be properly labelled.

Answer: Migratory game birds harvested under a MGBH permit may be gifted to another person for food, retriever dog training, taxidermy, or for charitable purposes. In most cases, the recipient does not require a permit in order to possess such legally harvested birds. However, when preserved birds are gifted to charities such as soup kitchens, food banks, or organizations that hold fundraising dinner events, the person who receives the birds as a gift must be the holder of a Charity permit in order to legally receive and possess those birds.

Answer: Unpreserved and preserved birds taken under a MGBH permit may be gifted to another person. When unpreserved birds are given away, the hunter who harvested them must leave a fully feathered-wing or head attached to the carcasses. Also, these unpreserved birds must be labelled with the following information:

• the name and contact information of the hunter and their signature
• the MGBH permit number under which the birds were taken
• the date on which the birds were taken

In the case of gifting a group of unpreserved birds, only one label that contains the information for each bird is required. This label can be attached either to a package containing the birds, or to one of the carcasses.

Once the birds have been preserved, they do not need to be labelled prior to being gifted. The labelling requirement ends when birds are fully preserved.

Individuals who are offered birds as a gift must agree to take those birds before the birds are gifted, and if the gifted bird is not preserved ensure they do not exceed their possession limit for that species of migratory game birds.

It is prohibited to gift to anyone species that are listed under the Species at Risk Act such as the Eastern population of Barrow’s Goldeneye and the Band-tailed Pigeon.

Answer: No, they no longer count as part of the hunter's possession limit. If the birds being gifted have not yet been preserved, then they count as part of the new owner’s possession limit until the time they are preserved. On the other hand, if the birds that are being gifted have been preserved, they do not count in the new owner’s possession limit either. In either circumstance, the hunter must still abide by daily bag limits on each day they hunt, even if they gift birds on the day they are harvested.

Answer: Hunters must retain either the fully feathered-wing or head on unpreserved carcasses for identification purposes. In many areas of Canada, daily bag limits and possession limits vary by species. Either a fully feathered-wing or head allow game officers to accurately inspect and identify the hunter's daily bag limits.

The wing or head can only be removed once the bird is being fully preserved, which must occur outside of the hunting area. The wing or head must remain attached on unpreserved carcasses including when they are in the hands of the hunter who harvested them, are in temporary custody (for example in the possession of a hunting partner), or have been gifted to someone and accepted by that person.

A bird that is eviscerated and plucked would be considered partially preserved and must have a fully feathered wing or head attached until the migratory game bird is completely preserved.

Answer: Murre hunters can give the murres they harvest to anyone, including non-residents of Newfoundland and Labrador (NL). In order to hunt murres, the individual must be a resident of NL, as is defined in the Wild Life Act of Newfoundland and Labrador.

Answer: Yes, if the recipient of the donated bird has a Charity permit under the Migratory Birds Regulations, 2022. Migratory game birds that have been legally harvested can be donated for charitable purposes, such as to be provided as a meal at fundraising dinners related to migratory bird conservation, to be served at soup kitchens or for a food bank to provide to their clients. Birds must be preserved before they are donated. Species listed as at risk under the Species at Risk Act (e.g., Eastern population of Barrow’s Goldeneye) may not be donated for charitable purposes.

Answer: Yes. The event must be related to migratory bird conservation where any profits gained as a result of the event are used to protect or conserve wildlife and the individual or organization putting on the event has obtained a Charity permit under the Migratory Birds Regulations, 2022 Fees must not be charged for the meal where migratory game birds are served, although, in the case of fundraising dinners, there can be a charge for the event itself.

Answer: The Charity permit application is available online, and may be submitted to the regional Canadian Wildlife Service office in the region in which the activities are taking place. The charity permit is free of charge. Once issued, it is valid until the expiry date indicated on the permit or December 31 following the date it was issued if no expiry date is listed on the permit.

Answer: Migratory game birds that are not preserved may be under the temporary custody of a third party (e.g., friend, plucker, butcher, outfitter). However, those birds continue to count towards the possession limit of the hunter who harvested them, and they must be properly labelled.

The temporary possession of murres harvested by another hunter is limited to twice the daily bag limit of murres for anyone.

Answer: Until birds are completely preserved, and when they are being transported unpreserved, they must be stored in a manner such that each individual bird can be separated and identified to the species. This means that unpreserved birds must not be frozen together in a block that must be thawed out for inspection.

Answer: Yes. You may transport your hunting partners’ birds as long as they have obtained the birds legally. If the birds have not been preserved, they must be labelled. In the case of a group of birds, one label must be completed with the information for each bird, and must be placed either on or in the package. The labelling requirements also apply to a guide who is transporting game birds taken by clients to a food processor or to be stored. However, if the hunter who harvested the birds is present in the vehicle, unpreserved birds do not need to be labelled.

For murres, which may only be harvested in Newfoundland and Labrador by residents of that province, an individual can possess their daily bag limit and temporarily possess the bag limits of up to two other hunters, provided the birds are properly labelled.

Answer: It depends, when birds have been completely preserved, they can be transported without a wing attached to the carcass. A fully feathered head or wing must remain attached to birds that have been plucked and eviscerated, but not fully preserved.

Answer: To hunt migratory game birds in Canada, you must have a valid (federal) migratory game bird hunting (MGBH) permit on which the Canadian Wildlife Habitat Conservation appears. The paper copy of the MGBH permit as well as the e-Permit are available for purchase by both resident and non-resident hunters. Please note that depending on the areas where you intend to hunt, you may also require a provincial or territorial permit.

Check provincial or territorial requirements with wildlife authorities in the area where you plan to hunt, before hunting migratory game birds.

There are restrictions and requirements in order to bring wild game bird meat/carcasses into the United States from Canada. It is the responsibility of the individual to verify the current requirements with the appropriate American authorities beforehand.

Answer: You may keep the bird band, but you are asked to report all bands and band numbers online or call toll-free 1-800-327-BAND (2263) to leave a message.

Band information submitted by hunters assists wildlife biologists in monitoring bird populations and establishing hunting regulations. Environment and Climate Change Canada sets hunting season lengths and daily bag limits for migratory game birds based on the latest scientific information on the population numbers and status of each species.