Summary of Migratory Birds Hunting Regulations: Manitoba, August 2025 to July 2026
Notice
Avian influenza virus (bird flu) is a contagious viral infection that can affect domestic and wild birds throughout the world. Guidelines have been developed to prevent or mitigate the spread of this virus, and for precautionary measures to take when handling wild game. For more information, please refer to the Avian influenza in wild birds web page and the Wildlife and Avian Influenza – Handling Guidelines to Protect Your Health web page on the Government of Canada website.
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Summary
To hunt migratory game birds in Canada, you must possess:
- a valid Migratory Game Bird Hunting (MGBH) 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.
The 2025 federal permit is also valid for the 2026 spring special conservation harvest for Snow Geese, Ross’s Geese, and Canada Geese. The Province of Manitoba requires spring Snow Goose and Ross’s Goose hunters, and spring Canada Goose hunters to obtain a free electronic license, available at Manitoba e-licensing.
Hunting zones

Long description
Zone No. 1: the portion of Manitoba lying north of latitude 57°N and the portion lying east of longitude 94°W and north of latitude 56°N.
Zone No. 2: the portion of Manitoba lying between Provincial Game Bird Hunting Zone No. 1 and the line commencing at the intersection of the boundary between Manitoba and Saskatchewan and latitude 53°N; from there easterly along that parallel of latitude to the east shore of Lake Winnipegosis; from there southeasterly along the shoreline of that lake to the northern limit of Township 43; from there easterly along the northern limit of that township to the boundary between Manitoba and Ontario.
Zone No. 3: the portion of Manitoba lying between Provincial Game Bird Hunting Zone No. 2 and Provincial Game Bird Hunting Zone No. 4.
Zone No. 4: Provincial Game Hunting Areas No. 22, 23, 24, 25A, 25B, 27, 28, 29, 29A, 30, 31, 31A, 32, 33, 34, 34A, 34B, 34C, 35, 35A, 36 and 38 as described in Manitoba’s Hunting Areas and Zones Regulation, M.R. 220/86, made under The Wildlife Act, C.C.S.M., c. W130.
For more information on restrictions and requirements for hunting migratory game birds, please refer to the Migratory Birds Regulations, 2022 (MBR), and/or consult the Government of Canada Migratory Game Bird Hunting website, which includes a frequently asked questions page.
The province of Manitoba has introduced new restrictions on foreign resident hunters. For more information, please refer to the Manitoba Waterfowl and Migratory Game Bird Hunting web page.
The Canadian Firearms Act outlines the requirements for the storage, transportation and possession of firearms, as well as details requirements for licensing and registration of certain firearms. 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 and municipality where you will be hunting. Restrictions such as minimum required distances from residences and businesses for the discharge of firearms may be applicable.
Buy permit online
You can purchase and print an electronic MGBH Permit by visiting the Migratory Game Bird Hunting Permit web page.
Hunters may carry their MGBH Permit either in physical (paper) or electronic formats (such as on a mobile device). Electronic MGBH Permits must be in the PDF format provided by the e-permitting system (a photograph or screenshot of your permit is not valid). It is the hunter’s responsibility to be able to show all required permits to a game officer immediately upon request.
Consultation process and migratory birds regulatory reports
A national consultation process has been developed which includes a report on the population status of migratory game birds and a consultation document that provides an opportunity to participate in developing the hunting regulations. For more information, consult the Migratory Birds Regulatory Report Series web page on the Government of Canada website.
Youth Migratory Game Bird Hunting Permit
The Youth MGBH Permit is an option available to hunters who are minors (under the age of 18 years old on the day the permit is issued). The Youth MGBH Permit, and its associated electronic Canadian Wildlife Habitat Conservation Stamp, are free of charge and can only be obtained through the e-permitting system.
The Youth MGBH Permit provides young hunters with the opportunity to practice their skills under the supervision of an adult hunter (known as a mentor) and allows them to have their own daily bag and possession limits.
Mentors must possess their own MGBH Permit, must have held a MGBH Permit in a previous year, and may accompany no more than two Youth MGBH Permit holders at a time. Mentors may carry a firearm and may hunt.
Many provinces and territories have additional licence requirements and restrictions for hunters who are minors and/or for mentors. Please consult the applicable provincial/territorial regulations.
Enforcement
Federal game officers enforce the Migratory Birds Convention Act, 1994 (MBCA) and its associated regulations throughout Canada. This law regulates human activities, such as hunting, that could adversely affect wildlife conservation. Game officers may use warnings, administrative monetary penalties, tickets or prosecutions to enforce the provisions of the MBCA and its regulations. The fines and penalties that may be imposed reflect the seriousness of the offence(s). Individuals may be subject to a fine range for a first offence associated to sections of the MBR designated for the purposes of paragraph 13(1)(c) of the MBCA on summary conviction of not less than $5,000 and not more than $300,000, or imprisonment for a term of not more than six months, or both.
Shot
- Lead shot is toxic to wildlife and the environment
- In Manitoba, the use and possession of shot other than non-toxic shot is prohibited while hunting migratory game birds other than woodcock
- Within National Wildlife Areas (NWA) that allow hunting, the possession of lead shot is prohibited for all hunting, including the hunting of migratory birds and upland game birds. Refer to the Wildlife Area Regulations to know which NWAs allow hunting and for the restrictions or requirements when conducting this activity
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). 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 Manitoba
Area |
Species |
Open season |
Daily bag limit |
Possession limit |
---|---|---|---|---|
Game Bird Hunting Zone No. 1 |
All ducks, combined |
September 1 to October 31 |
8 |
24 |
Canada Geese, Cackling Geese, White-fronted Geese and Brant, combined |
September 1 to October 31 |
8 |
24 |
|
Sandhill Cranes |
September 1 to November 30 |
5 |
15 |
|
Coots |
September 1 to October 31 |
8 |
24 |
|
Woodcock |
No open season |
N/A |
N/A |
|
Snipe |
September 1 to October 31 |
10 |
30 |
|
Game Bird Hunting Zone No. 2 |
All ducks, combined |
September 1 to September 7, for residents of Canada only |
8 |
24 |
September 8 to November 30 |
||||
Canada Geese, Cackling Geese, White-fronted Geese and Brant, combined |
September 1 to September 7, for residents of Canada only |
8 |
24 |
|
September 8 to November 30 |
8 for residents of Canada |
24 for residents of Canada |
||
5 for non-residents of Canada |
15 for non-residents of Canada |
|||
Sandhill Cranes |
September 1 to November 30 |
5 |
15 |
|
Coots |
September 1 to September 7, for residents of Canada only |
8 |
24 |
|
September 8 to November 30 |
||||
Woodcock |
No open season |
Not applicable |
Not applicable |
|
Snipe |
September 1 to September 7, for residents of Canada only |
10 |
30 |
|
September 8 to November 30 |
||||
Game Bird Hunting Zone No. 3 |
All Ducks, combined |
September 1 to September 23, for residents of Canada only |
8 |
24 |
September 24 to December 6 |
||||
Canada Geese, Cackling Geese, White-fronted Geese and Brant, combined |
September 1 to September 23, for residents of Canada only |
8 |
24 |
|
September 24 to December 6 |
8 for residents of Canada |
24 for residents of Canada |
||
5 for non-residents of Canada |
15 for non-residents of Canada |
|||
Sandhill Cranes |
September 1 to December 6 |
5 |
15 |
|
Coots |
September 1 to September 23, for residents of Canada only |
8 |
24 |
|
September 24 to December 6 |
||||
Woodcock |
September 8 to December 6 |
8 for residents of Canada |
24 for residents of Canada |
|
4 for non-residents of Canada |
12 for non-residents of Canada |
|||
Snipe |
September 1 to September 23, for residents of Canada only |
10 |
30 |
|
September 24 to December 6 |
||||
Game Bird Hunting Zone No. 4 |
All Ducks, combined |
September 1 to September 23, for residents of Canada only |
8 |
24 |
September 24 to December 6 |
8 for residents of Canada |
24 for residents of Canada |
||
8 for non-residents of Canada (not more than 4 may be Redheads or Canvasbacks in any combination) |
24 for non-residents of Canada (not more than 12 may be Redheads or Canvasbacks in any combination) |
|||
Canada Geese, Cackling Geese, White-fronted Geese and Brant, combined |
September 1 to September 23, for residents of Canada only |
8 (plus an additional 4 in Provincial Game Hunting Area 38) |
24 |
|
September 24 to December 6 |
8 for residents of Canada |
24 for residents of Canada |
||
5 for non-residents of Canada |
15 for non-residents of Canada |
|||
Sandhill Cranes |
September 1 to December 6 |
5 |
15 |
|
Coots |
September 1 to September 23, for residents of Canada only |
8 |
24 |
|
September 24 to December 6 |
||||
Woodcock |
September 8 to December 6 |
8 for residents of Canada |
24 for residents of Canada |
|
4 for non-residents of Canada |
12 for non-residents of Canada |
|||
Snipe |
September 1 to September 23, for residents of Canada only |
10 |
30 |
|
September 24 to December 6 |
Note to hunters who are non-residents of Canada: In Game Bird Hunting Zone No. 4 or in Provincial Game Hunting Areas 13A, 14 and 14A, that portion of Area 16 south of the north limit of Township 33 and Areas 18, 18A, 18B, 18C, 19, 19A, 19B, 20, 21A, 23A and 25 you may only hunt Canada Geese, Cackling Geese, White-fronted Geese and Brant from half an hour before sunrise until noon local time during the period that begins on the first day of an open season up to and including the second Sunday of October as set out in the table above.
Special measures for overabundant species in Manitoba
Area |
Species |
Open season |
Daily bag limit |
Possession limit |
Additional hunting method or equipment |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Game Bird Hunting Zone No. 1 |
Snow Geese and Ross’s Geese, combined |
August 15 to August 31 |
50 |
No limit |
Electronic bird calls of Snow Geese and Ross’s Geese may be used. |
September 1 to October 31 |
Electronic bird calls of Snow Geese and Ross’s Geese may be used. While hunting those species with those calls, any other species of migratory bird for which it is the open season may be hunted. |
||||
April 1 to June 15 |
Electronic bird calls of Snow Geese and Ross’s Geese may be used. |
||||
Game Bird Hunting Zone No. 2 |
Snow Geese and Ross’s Geese, combined |
September 1 to September 7, for residents of Canada only |
50 |
No limit |
Electronic bird calls of Snow Geese and Ross’s Geese may be used. While hunting those species with those calls, any other species of migratory bird for which it is the open season may be hunted. |
September 8 to November 30 |
|||||
March 15 to May 31 |
Electronic bird calls of Snow Geese and Ross’s Geese may be used. |
||||
Game Bird Hunting Zone No. 3 |
Snow Geese and Ross’s Geese, combined |
September 1 to September 16, for residents of Canada only |
50 |
No limit |
Electronic bird calls of Snow Geese and Ross’s Geese may be used. While hunting those species with those calls, any other species of migratory bird for which it is the open season may be hunted. |
September 17 to December 6 |
|||||
March 15 to May 31 |
Electronic bird calls of Snow Geese and Ross’s Geese may be used. From March 15 to April 10, electronic bird calls of Canada Geese may be used. While hunting Canada Geese with those calls, any other species of migratory bird for which it is the open season may be hunted. |
||||
Canada Geese |
March 1 to April 10 |
8 |
24 |
Electronic bird calls of Canada Geese may be used. From March 15 to April 10, electronic bird calls of Snow Geese and Ross’s Geese may be used. While hunting that species with those calls, any other species of migratory bird for which it is the open season may be hunted. |
|
Game Bird Hunting Zone No. 4 |
Snow Geese and Ross’s Geese, combined |
September 1 to September 16, for residents of Canada only |
50 |
No limit |
Electronic bird calls of Snow Geese and Ross’s Geese may be used. While hunting those species with those calls, any other species of migratory bird for which it is the open season may be hunted. |
September 17 to December 6 |
|||||
March 15 to May 31 |
Electronic bird calls of Snow Geese and Ross’s Geese may be used. From March 15 to April 10, electronic bird calls of Canada Geese may be used. While hunting those species with those calls, any other species of migratory bird for which it is the open season may be hunted. |
||||
Canada Geese |
March 1 to April 10 |
8 |
24 |
Electronic bird calls of Canada Geese may be used. From March 15 to April 10, electronic bird calls of Snow Geese and Ross’s may be used. While hunting that species with those calls, any other species of migratory bird for which it is the open season may be hunted. |
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:
- the Migratory Birds Convention Act, 1994
- the Migratory Birds Regulations, 2022
- the frequently asked questions on migratory game bird hunting
You may also direct your questions to:
Environment and Climate Change Canada
Canadian Wildlife Service
Regional Office
123 Main Street
Suite 150
Winnipeg MB R3C 4W2
Tel.: 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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