Hunting regulations summary for migratory birds: Ontario, August 2019 to July 2020

Hunting regulations for migratory birds: Ontario (PDF, 12 MB)

Summary

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

a valid Migratory Game Bird Hunting Permit
a Canadian Wildlife Habitat Conservation Stamp affixed to or printed on the permit

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

The 2019 federal permit is also valid for the 2020 spring special conservation harvest for Snow Geese and Ross’s Geese.

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.

For more information on Wildlife Management Units, contact the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry.

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.

Enforcement

In June 2017, the Environmental Violations Administrative Monetary Penalties Regulations came into force. In particular, these 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.

In July 2017, amendments to 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 came into force. In particular, these amendments 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 new fine regime, consult the About the Environmental Enforcement Act web page.

Note that south of the French and Mattawa rivers, Sunday gun hunting is permitted by provincial regulations in some municipalities, but not all. Season dates for Canada Geese and Cackling Geese in the Southern District may differ between municipalities where Sunday gun hunting is permitted and those where it is not. Hunters should consult the provincial regulations for information about Wildlife Management Unit boundaries and a list of municipalities where Sunday gun hunting is permitted.

Important updates to the hunting regulations for Ontario

American Black Duck: the liberal regulatory package remains in place for 2019-20.
Woodcock: open season dates (but not closing dates) for woodcock are the same as Ruffed Grouse across Ontario.

Game officer

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.

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.

Shot

Non-toxic shot must be used to hunt all migratory game birds (includes Mourning Dove), except for 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 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

Waterfowler Heritage Days

Waterfowler Heritage Days are intended for young hunters under 18 years of age. These days provide opportunities for young people, for a few days before or during hunting seasons, to:

develop safe hunting habits in a supervised and structured environment
be guided by adult hunters who serve as mentors and pass on their skills and knowledge
learn more about wildlife conservation

The following rules are in effect during Waterfowler Heritage Days:

young hunters can hunt without having a Migratory Game Bird Hunting Permit or Canadian Wildlife Habitat Conservation Stamp
young hunters must comply with all safety and licensing requirements found in the Firearms Act and provincial hunting regulations
young hunters must be accompanied by a licensed mentor (who is not minor)
adults acting as mentors:
- must have a valid Migratory Game Bird Hunting Permit and Canadian Wildlife Habitat Conservation Stamp
- may not hunt or carry a firearm
- may accompany no more than one young hunter
only young hunters are allowed to hunt when Waterfowler Heritage Days fall outside of the regular open seasons
daily bag limits are outlined in the Bag and Possession Limits table below, and include footnotes (a), (e), (f) and (h)

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.

Long description

Hudson-James Bay District: Wildlife Management Units 1A, 1B, and the portions of Wildlife Management Units 1D, 25, and 26 lying east of longitude 83°45′ and north of latitude 51°

Northern District: Wildlife Management Unit 1C, those parts of 1D, 25, and 26 lying west of longitude 83°45′ and south of latitude 51°, and Wildlife Management Units 2 to 24, 27 to 41, and 45

Central District: Wildlife Management Units 42 to 44 and 46 to 59

Southern District: Wildlife Management Units 60 to 95 inclusive

Open seasons and Waterfowler heritage days in Ontario (No open season for Harlequin Ducks)

Open seasons and Waterfowler heritage days in Ontario **(No open season for Harlequin Ducks)**
Area	Waterfowler Heritage Days	Open seasons in Ontario	Open seasons in Ontario	Open seasons in Ontario	Open seasons in Ontario
N/A	Ducks (other than Harlequin Ducks), rails (other than Yellow Rails and King Rails), gallinules, coots, snipe, geese, woodcock and Mourning Doves	Ducks (other than Harlequin Ducks), rails (other than Yellow Rails and King Rails), gallinules, coots, snipe and geese (other than Canada Geese and Cackling Geese)	Canada Geese and Cackling Geese	Woodcock	Mourning Doves
1. Hudson–James Bay District	Sept. 7 (a)	Sept. 1 to Dec. 16	Sept. 1 to Dec. 16	Sept. 15 to Dec. 16	No open season
2. Northern District	Sept. 7 (a)	Sept. 10 to Dec. 24	Sept. 1 to Dec. 16	Sept. 15 to Dec. 16	No open season
3. Central District	Sept. 14 (b)	Sept. 21 to Jan. 4	Sept. 1 to Dec. 16	Sept. 15 to Dec. 16	Sept. 1 to Nov. 30 (b)
4. Southern District	Sept. 21 (b)	Sept. 28, to Jan. 11 (c)	Sept. 5 to Sept. 15 (d) Sept. 5 to Sept. 15 (except for any Sunday within this period) (e) Sept. 28 to Dec. 31 (d) Sept. 28 to Jan. 10 (except for any Sunday within this period) (e) Feb. 22 to Feb. 29 (except for any Sunday within this period) (e), ( f )	Sept. 15 to Dec. 20 (g) Sept. 25 to Dec. 20 (h)	Sept. 1 to Nov. 30 (b)

(a) Except for Mourning Dove.

(b) Non-toxic shot required.

(c) In Wildlife Management Unit 65, recorded Snow Goose and Ross’s Goose calls may be used when hunting those geese; any species of migratory bird for which it is open season may be taken while hunting Snow Geese and Ross’s Geese with those calls.

(d) In municipalities where Sunday gun hunting is permitted by provincial regulations.

(e) In municipalities where Sunday gun hunting is not permitted by provincial regulations.

(f) Except in Wildlife Management Unit 94.

(g) In Wildlife Management Units 60-67, 69B.

(h) In Wildlife Management Units 68, 69A, 70-95.

Bag and possession limits in Ontario

Bag and possession limits in Ontario
Limits	Ducks (other than Harlequin Ducks) (combined)	Canada Geese and Cackling Geese (combined)	Snow Geese and Ross’s Geese (combined)	Other Geese (combined)	Rails (other than Yellow Rails and King Rails), Coot and Gallinules (combined)	Snipe	Woodcock	Mourning Doves
Daily bag	6 (a)	5 (c), (d), (e), ( f )	20 (g)	5	10 (h)	10	8	15
Possession	18 (b)	No limit	No limit	15	30 (i)	30	24	45

(a) Not more than 1 may be Barrow’s Goldeneye. In the Southern District, not more than 2 may be American Black Ducks, and in the Hudson–James Bay District, Northern District and Central District, not more than 4 may be American Black Ducks.

(b) Not more than 1 may be Barrow’s Goldeneye. In the Southern District, not more than 6 may be American Black Ducks, and in the Hudson–James Bay District, Northern District and Central District, not more than 12 may be American Black Ducks.

(c) A total of not more than 2 Canada Geese or Cackling Geese, or any combination of them, may be taken daily in Wildlife Management Unit 94 from September 28 to January 10.

(d) A total of not more than 3 Canada Geese or Cackling Geese, or any combination of them, may be taken daily in Wildlife Management Units 82, 84, 85 and 93 from September 28 to October 31.

(e) Up to 5 additional Canada Geese or Cackling Geese, or any combination of them, may be taken daily in the following Wildlife Management Units:

(i) 8, 10, 13, 36, 37, 39, 41 and 45 from September 1 to September 9
(ii) 42 to 44 and 46 to 59 from September 1 to September 20
(iii) 60 to 81, 83, 86 to 92, and 95 from September 5 to September 15
(iv) 60 to 81, 83, and 86 to 92 from February 22 to February 29, in municipalities where Sunday gun hunting is not permitted

(f) Up to three additional Canada Geese or Cackling Geese, or any combination of them, may be taken daily in

(i) Wildlife Management Units 82, 84, 85, 93 and 94 from September 5 to September 15; and
(ii) Wildlife Management Units 82, 84, 85 and 93 from February 22 to February 29, in municipalities where Sunday gun hunting is not permitted

(g) Up to 30 additional Snow Geese and Ross’s Geese may be taken daily in the Hudson–James Bay District.

(h) Not more than 4 may be Gallinules and not more than 8 may be Coots.

(i) Not more than 12 may be Gallinules and not more than 24 may be Coots.

Overabundant species

The Migratory Birds Regulations also provide for special conservation harvest periods when hunters may take overabundant species. See the table below for details.

Measures in Ontario concerning overabundant species

Measures in Ontario concerning overabundant species
Area	Period during which Snow Geese and Ross’s Geese may be killed	Additional hunting method or equipment
Wildlife Management Unit 65	Mar. 1 to May 31 (a)	Recorded bird calls (b)

(a) Hunting and hunting equipment are allowed only on farmland.

(b) “Recorded bird calls” refers to bird calls of a species referred to in the heading of column 2.

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.

Please consult:

You can also address your questions to:

Environment and Climate Change Canada
Canadian Wildlife Service
4905 Dufferin Street
Toronto, ON, M3H 5T4

Tel.: 1-800-668-6767
ec.enviroinfo.ec@canada.ca

Report 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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