Migratory Game Bird Hunting Permit: Overview

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To hunt migratory game birds in Canada, you must have a valid federal Migratory Game Bird Hunting Permit on which the Canadian Wildlife Habitat Conservation Stamp appears.

Buy permit

Your obligations

Your federal Migratory Game Bird Hunting (MGBH) Permit is valid anywhere in Canada where hunting migratory game birds is allowed. It can only be used by the person who is named on the permit. While you can buy a permit on behalf of another individual(s), the daily bag and possession limits apply only to the person named on the permit.

You must carry a valid permit (physical or electronic) with you at all times when hunting, or when in possession of unpreserved migratory game birds or any murres. You must be able to show it to game officers upon request. Failure to do so will be seen as a contravention of the law.

You may also need a provincial or territorial licence. Check with the wildlife agency in the area where you plan to hunt for the requirements prior to hunting migratory game birds there.

How to get your permit

The MGBH Permit is available in a physical (paper) or electronic format (e-permit). The permit fee of $17.00 plus applicable taxes includes the cost of the Canadian Wildlife Habitat Conservation (CWHC) Stamp ($8.50).

Starting August 1, 2025, you can get your permit (valid from August 1, 2025, to June 30, 2026) by choosing one of these three options:

Buy a MGBH e-permit online
Buy permit

Buy a MGBH Permit at a select Canada Post outlets (paper permit)
Buy a MGBH Permit from an independent vendor (paper permit)

Youth migratory game bird hunting permit

A Youth MGBH Permit is an option available to hunters who are minors (under the age of 18). It gives them with an chance to practice their skills while under the supervision of an adult hunter (over 18 years of age), known as a mentor.

The mentor must hold a valid MGBH Permit when out hunting with Youth MGBH Permit holders, and must also have held one in a previous year
The mentor may accompany up to 2 youth hunters at a time, except in Ontario where, as per provincial regulations, they may only accompany 1 youth hunter
A mentor may hunt while out with Youth MGBH Permit holders

This permit can be used throughout the full open seasons and the special conservation season in spring. It gives the Youth MGBH Permit holder with their own daily bag and possession limits.

Provinces and territories may have extra requirements or restrictions on youth and mentor hunting. It is important to check the regulations for where you will be hunting.

The Youth MGBH Permit and electronic CWHC Stamp are only available as of August 1, 2025, through the online MGBH e-Permitting System and are free of charge. The permit remains valid until June 30 following the date of issue, even if the holder turns 18 before that date.

Canadian Wildlife Habitat Conservation Stamp

Funds raised from the sale of the Canadian Wildlife Habitat Conservation Stamp go to Wildlife Habitat Canada, a national charitable nonprofit conservation organization. Since its inception in 1984, Wildlife Habitat Canada has received over $64M through the sales of the stamp supporting more than 1,600 conservation projects across Canada.

For more information visit: Canadian Wildlife Habitat Conservation Stamp.

Lost permits

If you have lost or misplaced your paper permit (bought through Canada Post or an independent vendor), you must buy a new permit at your own expense. Canada Post and independent vendors do not keep records of who has bought a permit.

If you have misplaced your e-permit, it can be recovered through the MGBH e-Permitting System using the same email given at the time of purchase or from the confirmation email you received.

Exporting to the United States

Hunters intending to travel to the United States with migratory game birds harvested in Canada should familiarize themselves with the United States regulations for the importation of migratory game birds. Please check the U.S. code of Federal regulations: eCFR: 50 CFR Part 20 Subpart G - Importations

Due to the outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza (bird flu), there are temporary restrictions on imports of meat from game birds into the United States from areas affected by the virus. These measures are subject to change.

If you hunt migratory birds in Canada and plan to bring harvested meat into the United States, consult Imports: Animal and Animal Products – Temporary Restrictions, or contact the U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Inspection Services (APHIS) by email at APIE@usda.gov or by phone at 301-851-3300 option 4.

Enforcement

Most migratory birds found in Canada are protected under the Migratory Birds Convention Act (MBCA) which fulfills the terms of the Migratory Birds Convention of 1916 between Canada and the United States. The Canadian government has the authority to pass and enforce regulations to protect migratory birds included in the Convention. Hunters should pay particular attention to the Migratory Birds Regulations, 2022 and the Migratory Birds Sanctuary Regulations.

In Canada, the MBCA is administered by the Government of Canada in cooperation with:

federal game officers and other federal department officers
provincial and territorial governments
the Royal Canadian Mounted Police

Depending on the offence, enforcement actions may include:

fines
suspension of hunting privileges
forfeiture of equipment
imprisonment

Contact us

For general questions about the migratory game bird hunting permit or hunting, you may contact us by phone at 1-800-668-6767 or by email at enviroinfo@ec.gc.ca.

For questions about the regulations for hunting migratory game birds (Migratory Birds Regulations, 2022), you may contact us by email at reglementsfaune-wildliferegulations@ec.gc.ca.

The information presented here is a summary of the law. If there is a discrepancy between the law and the information on this page, the law prevails.

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Date modified:: 2025-09-18

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