Northwest Ontario
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Ontario Canada Hunting Regulations:


Please note that this is a general overview of the regulations - you MUST check for any exceptions in the Hunting Regulations

To download the most recent Ontario Hunting Regulations, click here

Hunter (Blaze) Orange:

All licensed hunters, including archery hunters, hunting during the gun season for deer and moose are required to wear hunter orange. As well, all black bear hunters hunting during the black bear season are required to wear hunter orange except when in a tree stand. Hunter orange must cover a minimum of 400 square inches above the waist and be visible from all sides. A hunting coat or vest generally meets the requirement. Hunter orange headcover is also required. Camouflage or open mesh hunter orange does not satisfy the requirements.

Non-residents of Ontario must present one of the following to obtain a non-resident license to hunt in Ontario:
- an Ontario non-resident's hunting license issued to you after January 1, 1968 or
- a hunting license issued to you by a competent authority in any jurisdiction as a resident of that jurisdiction after January 1, 1968

Note: a non-resident who wishes to hunt in Ontario must be at least 16 years of age. If you wish to hunt, you must have a licence valid for the species or group of species you are hunting, and you must carry your Outdoors Card, the licence tag, and validation tags and any game seals with you while hunting. (Validation tags and game seals are considered to be part of the licence.)

Non-Resident Licenses available (prices in Canadian dollars including taxes and in effect until of Dec. 31/14)
*In order to hunt wolves or coyotes, a non-resident must have a wolf/coyote game seal, an Outdoors Card and a non-resident's small game license tag.

Check out our Hunter's checklist for more important information and helpful tips.

Moose and Deer:

Open Season - seasons vary according to the area you will hunting in - please refer to the Hunting Regulations Summary for the appropriate dates.

If you wish to hunt moose or deer in Ontario you must have a valid hunting license. If you wish to hunt moose you must be a registered guest and actually accommodated at a tourist establishment. The outfitter must apply for and receive, on your behalf, a validation tag to hunt moose. A non-resident license to hunt moose is not valid unless it has a bull, cow or calf tag affixed to it. You are only allowed to hunt moose of the age and sex specified on the validation tag. An export permit is required to export moose or deer or any part of a moose or deer (including carcass, hide or antlers). You may obtain an export permit from most Ministry of Natural Resources offices. An export permit should be obtained before reaching a border point to avoid any inconvenience.

Black Bear:

Open Season - generally August 15 to October 31 but verify the date for the area in which you will be hunting in the Hunting Regulations Summary.
If you wish to hunt black bear in Ontario, you must have a Black Bear Hunting License Validation Certificate to validate a non-resident black bear hunting license. This certificate can be obtained from a tourist operator (operator of a tourist establishment, guide or air carrier) licensed in Ontario to provide black bear hunting services.

An export permit is required to export a black bear or any part of a bear (including carcass, hide). You may obtain an export permit from most Ministry of Natural Resources offices. An export permit should be obtained before reaching a border point to avoid any inconvenience.

A rim-fire rifle, a shotgun smaller than 20 gauge when loaded with shot or any shotgun loaded with shot smaller than SG or number 1 buck cannot be used for hunting bear. You may not use any arrow (bow) or bolt (crossbow) that is not equipped with a head that has at least two sharp, unserrated, barbless, steel, straight-cutting edges or a head that is less than .9" at the widest point or any arrow (does not include bolt) that is less than 24" in length. there is no minimum length for a crossbow bolt. You may not use a crossbow less than 1129 lb. You may not use a bow (including compound and recurve bows) that has a draw weight less than 49 lb. at the draw length of 28" or less. For more firearm information and regulations, please go to our Ontario firearm regulation page.

Wolf:

Open Season - WMUs 1A, 1C, 1D, 2-42 - September 15 to March 31 of the next following year.

In the above mentioned WMUs, wolf hunting includes coyotes. You may only hunt wolves & coyotes under the authority of your small game licence accompanied by a wolf/coyote game seal purchased from Service Ontario. You can purchase a maximum of two (2) wolf/coyote game seals per calendar year. The seals may be purchased separately or at the same time. Party hunting of these animals is not permitted. Generally wolves and coyotes cannot be hunted in Provincial Parks. A royalty is payable to the province at the time that a hunter obtains a licence to send pelts to a tanner. You will need a CITES permit to export a wolf from Canada.

Small Game:

Open Season - generally September 15 to December 31 but verify the date for the area in which you will be hunting in the Hunting Regulations Summary

Possession Limits:

Ruffed and Spruce Grouse - daily limit of five (5) and possession limit of fifteen

Waterfowl:

Open Season - generally September 15 to December 31 but verify the date for the area in which you will be hunting in the Hunting Regulations Summary

Migratory Game Bird Hunting Regulation Summaries are available at Canada Post Outlets. For further information contact - Canadian Wildlife Service, Environment Canada, 867 Lakeshore Road, Burlington, Ontario L7R 4A6

For more information on Ontario Canada Hunting Regulations visit the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources on line at: www.mnr.gov.on.ca