Summary of Migratory Birds Hunting Regulations: Nova Scotia, August 2025 to July 2026

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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.

Hunting districts

Zone No. 1: the counties of Antigonish, Pictou, Colchester, Cumberland, Hants, Kings, and Annapolis.

Zone No. 2: the counties of Digby, Yarmouth, Shelburne, Queens, Lunenburg, Halifax, Guysborough, Cape Breton, Victoria, Inverness, and Richmond.

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 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 Sunday hunting closures and minimum required distances from residences and businesses for the discharge of firearms may be applicable.

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, as well as the 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 Nova Scotia, 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 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. 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

Species at Risk

• Barrow’s Goldeneye is listed in the Species at Risk Act as a species of special concern, and the daily bag and possession limit is 1 bird
• Harlequin Duck is listed in the Species at Risk Act as a species of special concern. There is no open season for this species

Open season and daily bag and possession limits for migratory game birds in Nova Scotia

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 bird hunting

You may also direct your questions to:

Environment and Climate Change Canada
Canadian Wildlife Service
Regional Office
17 Waterfowl Lane
P.O. Box 6227
Sackville NB  E4L 1G6

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.