Summary of Migratory Birds Hunting Regulations: Prince Edward Island, August 2023 to July 2024
Notice
Avian influenza virus (AIV) 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 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.
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.
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.
Use of bait prior to and during the migratory bird hunting season is restricted; please consult the Migratory Birds Regulations, 2022 for restrictions regarding deposition of bait. Check your permit and provincial hunting regulations for additional restrictions, such as Sunday closures and minimum required distances from residences and businesses.
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 on the Government of Canada website.
Youth Migratory Game Bird Hunting (MGBH) Permit
Hunters who are minors (less than 18 years old) have the option to hunt with a Youth MGBH permit. The Youth MGBH permit, as well as the Canadian Wildlife Habitat Conservation stamp, can only be obtained through our online purchasing system, free of charge. The Youth MGBH permit is not available for purchase from independent vendors.
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. Mentors may carry a firearm, and may hunt. For more information on the new rules pertaining to hunting migratory game birds in the modernized Migratory Birds Regulations, 2022, please consult the Government of Canada Migratory Game Bird Hunting website.
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 on the Government of Canada website.
Game officers
Game officers enforce the federal MBCA throughout Canada. This law regulates human activities such as hunting that could adversely affect long-term wildlife conservation. Individuals may be subject to a minimum penalty of $5000 if they are found liable for committing an offence on summary conviction. For any questions, please contact Wildlife Enforcement by the telephone or email found with the regional office address at the end of this summary.
Shot
- Lead shot is toxic to wildlife and the environment
- In Prince Edward Island, the use and possession of shot other than non-toxic shot is prohibited while hunting migratory game birds other than woodcock
- 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
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
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 Prince Edward Island
Species |
Open season |
Daily bag limit |
Possession limit |
|---|---|---|---|
Common and Red-breasted Mergansers, Long-tailed Ducks, Eiders and Scoters, combined |
October 1 to December 31 |
6 (not more than 4 may be Eiders and not more than 4 may be Scoters) |
12 (not more than 8 may be Eiders and not more than 8 may be Scoters) |
| Ducks (other than Harlequin Ducks, Common and Red-breasted Mergansers, Long-tailed Ducks, Eiders and Scoters), combined |
October 1 to December 31 |
6 (not more than 1 may be Barrow’s Goldeneye) from October 1 to November 30 |
18 (not more than 1 may be Barrow’s Goldeneye) |
| Ducks (other than Harlequin Ducks, Common and Red-breasted Mergansers, Long-tailed Ducks, Eiders and Scoters), combined |
October 1 to December 31 | 6 (not more than 1 may be Barrow’s Goldeneye and not more than a total of 4 may be American Black Duck and Mallard-American Black Duck hybrids in any combination) from December 1 to December 31 |
18 (not more than 1 may be Barrow’s Goldeneye) |
| All geese, combined |
September 1 to September 15 |
5 (plus an additional 5 Canada Geese or Cackling Geese in any combination) |
20 |
| All geese, combined | October 1 to December 31 |
5, from October 1 to November 14 |
20 |
| All geese, combined | October 1 to December 31 | 3, from November 15 to December 31 |
20 |
Woodcock |
September 25 to December 9 |
8 |
16 |
Snipe |
October 1 to December 31 |
10 |
20 |
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 for hunters
You may also direct your questions to:
Environment and Climate Change Canada
Canadian Wildlife Service
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.
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