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:

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

map of hunting bird zones, please read long description
Game Bird 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

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

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

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

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:

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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