Summary of Migratory Birds Hunting Regulations: British Columbia, August 2022 to July 2023

BC_E_2022-2023.pdf [PDF - 665 KB]

Notice

Temporary restrictions on importing or exporting harvested meat from migratory game birds hunted in areas affected by highly pathogenic avian influenza.

Summary

To hunt migratory game birds in Canada, you must possess:

a valid Migratory Game Bird Hunting Permit
a Canadian Wildlife Habitat Conservation Stamp on the permit

These two documents are issued by the federal government and are valid in all provinces and territories.

Hunting zones

Long description

Provincial Management Units (PMUs) Nos. 1-1 to 1-15 inclusive
PMUs Nos. 2-2 to 2-19 inclusive
PMUs Nos. 3-12 to 3-20, 3-26 to 3-44 inclusive
PMUs Nos. 4-1 to 4-9, and 4-14 to 4-40 inclusive
PMUs Nos. 5-1 to 5-15 inclusive
PMUs Nos. 6-1 to 6-30 inclusive
PMUs Nos. 7-2 to 7-58 inclusive
PMUs Nos. 8-1 to 8-15 inclusive, and 8-21 to 8-26 inclusive

Most provinces and territories have additional licence requirements for hunting migratory birds and/or to carry firearms. To know what you require, and if there are further restrictions for hunting migratory birds, please verify the applicable regulations for the province/territory where you will be hunting. Municipalities may have additional restrictions on discharging firearms. Note that all required permits and licences must be in your possession while you are hunting.

Buy permit online

You can purchase and print your Migratory Game Bird Hunting Permit by visiting the Migratory Game Bird Hunting Permit web page.

New! It is no longer required to sign the Migratory Game Bird Hunting Permit (both physical and electronic forms). This allows you to carry your permit in a digital format, such as on a mobile device. If you choose to carry your permit on your mobile device, it must be in the PDF format provided by the e-permitting system (a photograph or screenshot of your permit is not valid). It is also your responsibility to be able to show the permit to a game officer immediately upon request.

Consultation process and migratory birds regulatory reports

A national consultation process has been developed to provide an opportunity for everyone to participate in developing the migratory birds hunting regulations. For more information, consult the Migratory Birds Regulatory Report Series web page.

Important updates

The format of the Summary has changed. The Migratory Birds Regulations have been modernized. Many important clarifications and changes have been made to the regulations regarding migratory game bird hunting, including: the concept of possession, gifting of harvested birds, labelling requirements, hunting methods and equipment, and the introduction of new permits.

New! Youth Migratory Game Bird Hunting (MGBH) Permit

Waterfowler Heritage Days have been abolished and replaced with a MGBH permit for youth, which is referred to as the Youth MGBH permit.

Hunters who are minors (less than 18 years old) may now hunt with a Youth MGBH permit. The Youth MGBH permit, as well as the Canadian Wildlife Habitat Conservation stamp, can be obtained through our online purchasing system, free of charge.

The Youth MGBH permit provides young hunters with the opportunity to practice their skills under the supervision of an adult mentor (in possession of a MGBH Permit) throughout the full Open season and the special conservation season, and provides Youth MGBH Permit holders with their own daily bag and possession limits.

Mentors must possess their own MGBH permit, must have held such a permit in a previous year, and may accompany no more than two youth hunters. For more information on the new rules pertaining to hunting migratory game birds in the modernized Migratory Birds Regulations, 2022, please consult please consult the Migratory Game Bird Hunting web page.

Enforcement

The Environmental Violations Administrative Monetary Penalties Regulations authorize game officers to use administrative monetary penalties (AMPs) to enforce the provisions of the Migratory Birds Convention Act, 1994 (MBCA) and its associated regulations.

The fine regime and penalty provisions in the MBCA and the Designation of Regulatory Provisions for Purposes of Enforcement (Migratory Birds Convention Act, 1994) Regulations allow courts to impose penalties that reflect the seriousness of offences following a conviction pursuant to the MBCA or its associated regulations.

For more information on AMPs and the fine regime, consult the About the Environmental Enforcement Act web page

Game officers

Game officers enforce the federal MBCA throughout Canada. This law regulates human interventions, such as hunting that could adversely affect long-term wildlife conservation. For any questions, please contact Wildlife Enforcement by telephone or by email at the contact information at the end of this hunting summary.

Shot

Non-toxic shot must be used to hunt all migratory game birds, except for Band-tailed Pigeons and Mourning Doves
In National Wildlife Areas that allow hunting, the possession of lead shot is prohibited for all types of hunting, including the hunting of migratory birds and upland game birds
Hunters should consult provincial or territorial regulations for additional restrictions

To reduce your exposure to contaminants in meat, make sure, before cooking it, to:

remove the shot from birds hunted with lead shot
remove the skin and fat from fish-eating birds

Crime stoppers

Anyone wishing to report illegal hunting activities, illegal selling of birds or other offences related to migratory birds is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or “Échec au crime” in the province of Quebec at 1-800-711-1800. Your call is anonymous, and you may be eligible for a cash reward.

Open season and daily bag and possession limits for migratory game birds in British Columbia

District No. 1
Species	Open season	Daily bag limit	Possession limit
All ducks, combined	October 8 to January 22	8 (not more than 4 may be Northern Pintails, not more than 4 may be Canvasbacks, not more than 2 may be Goldeneyes and not more than 2 may be Harlequin Ducks)	24 (not more than 12 may be Northern Pintails, not more than 12 may be Canvasbacks, not more than 6 may be Goldeneyes and not more than 6 may be Harlequin Ducks)
Canada Geese and Cackling Geese, combined	September 3 to September 13 (only in PMUs 1-1, 1-2 and 1-4 to 1-7) October 8 to November 20 November 21 to December 16 (only in PMUs 1-3 and 1-8 to 1-15) December 17 to January 8 January 9 to January 22 (only in PMUs 1-3 and 1-8 to 1-15) February 10 to March 10 (only in PMUs 1-1, 1-2 and 1-4 to 1-7)	10	30
White-fronted Geese	October 8 to January 22	5	15
Snow Geese and Ross’s Geese, combined	October 8 to January 22	5	15
Brant	No Open season	N/A	N/A
Coots	October 8 to January 22	10	30
Snipe	October 8 to January 22	10	30
Mourning Doves and Eurasian Collared Doves, combined	No Open season	N/A	N/A
Band-Tailed Pigeons	September 15 to September 30	5	15

District No. 2
Species	Open season	Daily bag limit	Possession limit
All ducks, combined	October 8 to January 22	8 (not more than 4 may be Northern Pintails, not more than 4 may be Canvasbacks, not more than 2 may be Goldeneyes and not more than 2 may be Harlequin Ducks)	24 (not more than 12 may be Northern Pintails, not more than 12 may be Canvasbacks, not more than 6 may be Goldeneyes and not more than 6 may be Harlequin Ducks)
Canada Geese and Cackling Geese, combined	September 3 to September 13 October 8 to November 20 December 17 to January 8 February 10 to March 10	10	30
White-fronted Geese	October 8 to January 22	5	15
Snow Geese and Ross’s Geese, combined	October 8 to January 3 February 20 to March 10	10 (not more than 5 may be Ross’s Geese). An additional 5 Geese may be killed or taken in PMUs 2-4 and 2-5	30 (not more than 15 may be Ross’s Geese). An additional 15 Geese may be possessed in PMUs 2-4 and 2-5
Brant	March 1 to March 10 (only in PMU 2-4)	3	9
Coots	October 8 to January 22	10	30
Snipe	October 8 to January 22	10	30
Mourning Doves and Eurasian Collared Doves, combined	No Open season	N/A	N/A
Band-Tailed Pigeons	September 15 to September 30	5	15

District No. 3
Species	Open season	Daily bag limit	Possession limit
All ducks, combined	September 8 to December 23	8 (not more than 4 may be Northern Pintails, not more than 4 may be Canvasbacks, not more than 2 may be Goldeneyes and not more than 2 may be Harlequin Ducks)	24 (not more than 12 may be Northern Pintails, not more than 12 may be Canvasbacks, not more than 6 may be Goldeneyes and not more than 6 may be Harlequin Ducks)
Canada Geese and Cackling Geese, combined	September 8 to September 20 October 1 to December 23 March 1 to March 10	10	30
White-fronted Geese	September 8 to December 23	5	15
Snow Geese and Ross’s Geese, combined	September 8 to December 23	5	15
Brant	No Open season	N/A	N/A
Coots	September 8 to December 23	10	30
Snipe	September 8 to December 23	10	30
Mourning Doves and Eurasian Collared Doves, combined	September 1 to September 30	5	15
Band-Tailed Pigeons	September 15 to September 30 (only in PMUs 3-13 to 3-17)	5	15

District No. 4
Species	Open season	Daily bag limit	Possession limit
All ducks, combined	September 8 to December 23	8 (not more than 4 may be Northern Pintails, not more than 4 may be Canvasbacks, not more than 2 may be Goldeneyes and not more than 2 may be Harlequin Ducks)	24 (not more than 12 may be Northern Pintails, not more than 12 may be Canvasbacks, not more than 6 may be Goldeneyes and not more than 6 may be Harlequin Ducks)
Canada Geese and Cackling Geese, combined	September 8 to December 23	10	30
White-fronted Geese	September 8 to December 23	5	15
Snow Geese and Ross’s Geese, combined	September 8 to December 23	5	15
Brant	No Open season	N/A	N/A
Coots	September 8 to December 23	10	30
Snipe	September 8 to December 23	10	30
Mourning Doves and Eurasian Collared Doves, combined	September 1 to September 30	5	15
Band-Tailed Pigeons	No Open season	N/A	N/A

District No. 5
Species	Open season	Daily bag limit	Possession limit
All ducks, combined	September 13 to December 25	8 (not more than 4 may be Northern Pintails, not more than 4 may be Canvasbacks, not more than 2 may be Goldeneyes and not more than 2 may be Harlequin Ducks)	24 (not more than 12 may be Northern Pintails, not more than 12 may be Canvasbacks, not more than 6 may be Goldeneyes and not more than 6 may be Harlequin Ducks)
Canada Geese and Cackling Geese, combined	September 13 to December 25	10	30
White-fronted Geese	September 13 to December 25	5	15
Snow Geese and Ross’s Geese, combined	September 13 to December 25	5	15
Brant	No Open season	N/A	N/A
Coots	September 13 to December 25	10	30
Snipe	September 13 to December 25	10	30
Mourning Doves and Eurasian Collared Doves, combined	No Open season	N/A	N/A
Band-Tailed Pigeons	No Open season	N/A	N/A

District No. 6
Species	Open season	Daily bag limit	Possession limit
All ducks, combined	September 1 to September 30 (in PMUs 6-1, 6-2, 6-4 to 6-10 and 6-15 to 6-30) October 1 to November 30 December 1 to January 15 (only in PMUs 6-3 and 6-11 to 6-14)	8 (not more than 4 may be Northern Pintails, not more than 4 may be Canvasbacks, not more than 2 may be Goldeneyes and not more than 2 may be Harlequin Ducks)	24 (not more than 12 may be Northern Pintails, not more than 12 may be Canvasbacks, not more than 6 may be Goldeneyes and not more than 6 may be Harlequin Ducks)
Canada Geese and Cackling Geese, combined	September 1 to September 30 (only in PMUs 6-1, 6-2, 6-4 to 6-10 and 6-15 to 6-30) October 1 to November 30 December 1 to January 15 (only in PMUs 6-3 and 6-11 to 6-14)	10	30
White-fronted Geese	September 1 to September 30 (only in PMUs 6-1, 6-2, 6-4 to 6-10 and 6-15 to 6-30) October 1 to November 30 December 1 to January 15 (only in PMUs 6-3 and 6-11 to 6-14)	5	15
Snow Geese and Ross’s Geese, combined	September 1 to September 30 (only in PMUs 6-1, 6-2, 6-4 to 6-10 and 6-15 to 6-30) October 1 to November 30 December 1 to January 15 (only in PMUs 6-3 and 6-11 to 6-14)	5	15
Brant	No Open season	N/A	N/A
Coots	September 1 to September 30 (only in PMUs 6-1, 6-2, 6-4 to 6-10 and 6-15 to 6-30) October 1 to November 30 December 1 to January 15 (only in PMUs 6-3 and 6-11 to 6-14)	10	30
Snipe	September 1 to September 30 (only in PMUs 6-1, 6-2, 6-4 to 6-10 and 6-15 to 6-30) October 1 to November 30 December 1 to January 15 (only in PMUs 6-3 and 6-11 to 6-14)	10	30
Mourning Doves and Eurasian Collared Doves, combined	No Open season	N/A	N/A
Band-Tailed Pigeons	No Open season	N/A	N/A

District No. 7
Species	Open season	Daily bag limit	Possession limit
All ducks, combined	September 1 to November 30	8 (not more than 4 may be Northern Pintails, not more than 4 may be Canvasbacks, not more than 2 may be Goldeneyes and not more than 2 may be Harlequin Ducks)	24 (not more than 12 may be Northern Pintails, not more than 12 may be Canvasbacks, not more than 6 may be Goldeneyes and not more than 6 may be Harlequin Ducks)
Canada Geese and Cackling Geese, combined	September 1 to November 30	10	30
White-fronted Geese	September 1 to November 30	5	15
Snow Geese and Ross’s Geese, combined	September 1 to November 30	5	15
Brant	No Open season	N/A	N/A
Coots	September 1 to November 30	10	30
Snipe	September 1 to November 30	10	30
Mourning Doves and Eurasian Collared Doves, combined	No Open season	N/A	N/A
Band-Tailed Pigeons	No Open season	N/A	N/A

District No. 8
Species	Open season	Daily bag limit	Possession limit
All ducks, combined	September 23 to January 7	8 (not more than 4 may be Northern Pintails, not more than 4 may be Canvasbacks, not more than 2 may be Goldeneyes and not more than 2 may be Harlequin Ducks)	24 (not more than 12 may be Northern Pintails, not more than 12 may be Canvasbacks, not more than 6 may be Goldeneyes and not more than 6 may be Harlequin Ducks)
Canada Geese and Cackling Geese, combined	September 20 to November 28 December 20 to January 5 February 21 to March 10	10	30
White-fronted Geese	September 23 to January 7	5	15
Snow Geese and Ross’s Geese, combined	September 23 to January 7	5	15
Brant	No Open season	N/A	N/A
Coots	September 23 to January 7	10	30
Snipe	September 23 to January 7	10	30
Mourning Doves and Eurasian Collared Doves, combined	September 1 to September 30	5	15
Band-Tailed Pigeons	No Open season	N/A	N/A

For more information

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

For more information, consult:

You may also direct your questions to:

Environment and Climate Change Canada
Canadian Wildlife Service
Pacific Wildlife Research Centre
R.R. 1 5421 Robertson Road
Delta BC V4K 3N2

Tel.: 604-350-1950
Toll free: 1-800-668-6767
enviroinfo@ec.gc.ca

Report your migratory bird bands

Call 1-800-327-BAND (2263) to leave a message or go to the Report a bird with a Federal Band or Color Marker website.

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