September 10, 2020
Migratory Bird Hunting Regulations 2020-2021
Posted In
Information & Education | Regulations
Did you know that Migratory Game Bird hunting is a federally regulated hunting sport? Regulations on open seasons, districts, and bag limits can be found on the government of Canada website.
In order to hunt Migratory Game Birds in Canada you must have:
- A valid Migratory Game Bird Hunting Permit, and
- A Canadian Wildlife Habitat Conservation Stamp
- Either affixed to or printed on the permit
These are issued by the Federal Government and lucky for you, are valid in all provinces and territories. They can be purchased online, at Canada Post location, or through an independent vendor. Once you’ve purchased the permit and signed it, it’s valid immediately.
Permits are sold each year beginning August 1st and are valid until June 30th of the following year, ie. if you purchase your permit August 2020, it’s valid from then until June 30, 2021.
Remember to have this printed permit on you when hunting if you decide to purchase it electronically.
It’s important to keep in mind that although these permits are valid throughout Canada, most provinces and territories have other licence requirements for individuals to hunt the Migratory Game Birds and/or to carry firearms that you’ll need to confirm details on.
Each province has it’s own individual regulations on hunting zones, individual bag and possession limits and Waterfowler Heritage Days (more on what this is below).
Waterfowler Heritage Days
This Canada wide day helps to facilitate minor hunters the ability to learn from adult licensed hunters who act as a mentor to the young hunter. This gives the young hunter the opportunity to learn about wildlife conservation, have safety training reinforced and practice their hunting skills. The age range for these hunters is between 12-17 in all provinces, except British Columbia, where it is 10-17.
Liability Insurance while Hunting
Remember, some areas across Canada, such as the Fraser Valley of BC, will require that you obtain a special permit or affirm to holding third party liability insurance in order to legally hunt in that area. The Silvercore Club membership includes liability insurance which is valid throughout North America and will assist in ensuring you are properly covered.
Let’s get to specific regulations for the following provinces and territories.
- Alberta
- British Columbia
- Manitoba
- New Brunswick
- Newfoundland and Labrador
- Northwest Territories
- Nova Scotia
- Nunavut
- Ontario
- Prince Edward Island
- Quebec
- Saskatchewan
- Yukon Territory
Alberta
| Limit | Daily Bag | Possession |
| Ducks | 8 (a) | 24 (b) |
| Snow Geese & Ross’s Geese | 50 | No limit |
| Canada Geese, Cackling Geese & White-Fronted Geese | 8 (c) | 24 (d) |
| Coots | 8 | 24 |
| Snipe | 8 | 24 |
| Sandhill Cranes | 5 | 15 |
(a) For non-residents of Canada, not more than 2 may be Barrow’s Goldeneye or Common Goldeneye or any combination of them.
(b) For non-residents of Canada, not more than 6 may be Barrow’s Goldeneye or Common Goldeneye or any combination of them.
(c) Not more than 5 may be White-fronted Geese.
(d)Not more than 15 may be White-fronted Geese.
British Columbia
| Limit | Daily Bag | Possession |
| Ducks | 8 (a), (b), (c), (d) | 24 (e), (f), (g), (h) |
| White Geese (Snow Geese & Ross’s Geese) | 5 | 15 (j) |
| Dark Geese (Canada, Cackling & White-Fronted Geese) | 5 (k), 10 (l) | 15 (k), 30 (l) |
| Brant | 3 (m) | 9 (m) |
| Coots | 10 | 30 |
| Snipe | 10 | 30 |
| Band-tailed Pigeons | 5 | 15 |
| Mourning Doves & Eurasian Collared-Doves | 5 (n) | 15 (n) |
(a) Not more than 4 may be Northern Pintails.
(b) Not more than 4 may be Canvasbacks.
(c) Not more than 2 may be Goldeneyes.
(d) Not more than 2 may be Harlequin Ducks.
(e) Not more than 12 may be Northern Pintails.
(f) Not more than 12 may be Canvasbacks.
(g) Not more than 6 may be Goldeneyes.
(h) Not more than 6 may be Harlequin Ducks.
(i) In PMUs 2-4 and 2-5, up to 15 White Geese including not more than 5 Ross’s Geese may be taken daily and in PMUs 2-2 and 2-3 and 2-6 to 2-19 inclusively, up to 10 White Geese including not more than 5 Ross’s Geese may be taken daily.
(j) In PMUs 2-4 and 2-5, up to 45 White Geese including not more than 15 Ross’s Geese may be possessed and in PMUs 2-2 and 2-3 and 2-6 to 2-19 inclusively, up to 30 White Geese including not more than 15 Ross’s Geese may be possessed daily.
(k) For White-fronted Geese only.
(l) Any combination of Canada Geese and Cackling Geese.
(m) PMU 2-4.
(n) Any combination of Mourning Doves and Eurasian Collared-Doves
Manitoba
| Limit | Daily Bag | Possession |
| Ducks Residents of Canada | 8 | 24 |
| Ducks Non-residents of Canada | 8 (a) | 24 (b) |
| Snow Geese & Ross’s Geese | 50 | No limit |
| Canada Geese, Cackling Geese, White-Fronted Geese & Brant Residents of Canada | 8 (c) | 24 |
| Canada Geese, Cackling Geese, White-Fronted Geese & Brant Non-residents of Canada | 5 (d), (e) | 15 (f), (j) |
| Sandhill Cranes | 5 | 15 |
| Coots | 8 | 24 |
| Snipe | 10 | 30 |
| Woodcock Residents of Canada | 8 | 24 |
| Woodcock Non-residents of Canada | 4 | 12 |
(a) In Game Bird Hunting Zone No. 4, not more than 4 may be Redheads or Canvasbacks or any combination of them.
(b) In Game Bird Hunting Zone No. 4, not more than 12 may be Redheads or Canvasbacks or any combination of them.
(c) In provincial Game Hunting Area 38, as described in the Hunting Areas and Zones Regulation, 220/86, of the Province of Manitoba, made under the Wildlife Act (C.C.S.M., c. W130), up to 4 additional Canada Geese, Cackling Geese, White-fronted Geese or Brant, or any combination of them, may be taken daily during the period beginning on September 1 and ending on September 23.
(d) Except in Game Bird Hunting Zone No. 1, where the limit is 8.
(e) Except March 1-31, where the limit is 8 Canada geese.
(f) Except in Game Bird Hunting Zone No. 1, where the limit is 24.
(g) Except March 1-31, where the limit is 24 Canada geese.
Note: The open season for non-residents of Canada in Game Bird Hunting Zone No. 4 and in provincial Game Hunting Areas 13A, 14 and 14A, that portion of Game Hunting Area 16 south of the north limit of Township 33 and Areas 18, 18A, 18B, 18C, 19, 19A, 19B, 20, 21A, 23A and 25, as described in Manitoba’s Hunting Areas and Zones Regulation, 220/86, of the Province of Manitoba, made under the Wildlife Act (C.C.S.M., c. W130), includes:
- in respect of Canada Geese, Cackling Geese, White-fronted Geese and Brant, only that part of each day from one half-hour before sunrise to 12:00 noon, local time, from the opening date (September 24) up to and including the second Sunday of October (October 11), and, after that period, from one half-hour before sunrise until one half-hour after sunset; and
- in respect of Snow Geese and Ross’s Geese, only that part of each day from one half-hour before sunrise until one half-hour after sunset.
New Brunswick
| Limit | Daily Bag | Possession |
| Ducks (other than Common & Red-breasted Mergansers, Long-tailed Ducks, Harlequin Ducks, Eiders & Scoters) | 6 (a) | 18 (b) |
| Common & Red-breasted Mergansers, Long-tailed Ducks, Eiders & Scoters | 6 (c), (d) | 12 (e), (f) |
| Geese | 5 (g) | 16 |
| Woodcock | 8 | 16 |
| Snipe | 10 | 20 |
(a) Not more than 1 may be Barrow’s Goldeneye. In Zone No. 1, during the period beginning on December 15 and ending on January 14, and in Zone No. 2, during the period beginning on December 1 and ending on December 31, not more than 4 may be American Black Ducks.
(b) Not more than 1 may be Barrow’s Goldeneye.
(c) Not more than 4 Scoters may be taken daily.
(d) Not more than 2 Eiders (1 female) may be taken daily.
(e) Not more than 8 Scoters may be possessed.
(f) Not more than 4 Eiders may be possessed.
(g) Up to 3 additional Canada Geese or Cackling Geese, or any combination of them, may be taken daily from September 8 to September 22.
Note: For more information on hunting zones, contact the New Brunswick Ministry of Energy and Resource Development
Newfoundland and Labrador
| Limit | Daily Bag | Possession |
| Ducks (other than Common & Red-breasted Mergansers, Harlequin Ducks, Eiders & Scoters) | 6 (a) | 18 (a) |
| Common & Red-breasted Mergansers | 6 | 12 |
| Eiders & Scoters | 6 | 12 |
| Geese | 5 | 10 |
| Snipe | 10 | 20 |
(a) Not more than 1 may be Barrow’s Goldeneye.
Northwest Territories
| Limit | Daily Bag | Possession |
| Ducks Residents of Canada | 25 | No limit |
| Ducks Non-residents of Canada Canada | 8 | 16 |
| Canada Geese, Cackling Geese, White-fronted Geese & Brant Residents of Canada | 15 | No limit |
| Canada Geese, Cackling Geese, White-fronted Geese & Brant Non-residents of Canada | 5 (a) | 10 (a) |
| Snow Geese & Ross’s Geese | 50 | No limit |
| Coots | 25 | No limit |
| Snipe Residents of Canada | 10 | No limit |
| Snipe Non-residents of Canada | 10 | 20 |
(a) Except that non-residents may not take more than 2 White-fronted Geese daily and may not possess more than 4.
Nova Scotia
| Limit | Daily Bag | Possession |
| Ducks (other than Common and Red-breasted Mergansers, Long-tailed Ducks, Harlequin Ducks, Eiders, and Scoters) | 6 (a) | 18 (b) |
| Common & Red-breasted Mergansers, Long-tailed Ducks, Eiders, & Scoters | 5 (c), (d) | 10 (e), (f) |
| Geese | 5 (g), (h) | 16 |
| Woodcock | 8 | 16 |
| Snipe | 10 | 20 |
(a) Not more than 1 may be Barrow’s Goldeneye. In Zone No.1, during the period beginning on December 1 and ending on January 7, and in Zone No.2, during the period beginning on December 8 and ending on January 15, not more than 4 may be American Black Ducks.
(b) Not more than 1 may be Barrow’s Goldeneye.
(c) Not more than 4 Scoters may be taken daily.
(d) Not more than 2 Eiders (1 female) may be taken daily.
(e) Not more than 8 Scoters may be possessed.
(f) Not more than 4 Eiders may be possessed.
(g) In Zone No. 1, up to 3 additional Canada Geese or Cackling Geese, or any combination of them, may be taken daily from September 8 to September 22.
(h) In Zone No. 2, up to 3 additional Canada Geese or Cackling Geese, or any combination of them, may be taken daily from September 8 to September 28.
Note: For more information on hunting districts, contact the Nova Scotia Department of Lands and Forestry
Nunavut
| Limit | Daily Bag | Possession |
| Ducks Residents of Canada | 25 (a) | No Limit (b) |
| Ducks Non-residents of Canada | 8 (a) | 24 (b) |
| Canada Geese, Cackling Geese, White-Fronted Geese & Brant Residents of Canada | 15 (c) | No Limit (d) |
| Canada Geese, Cackling Geese, White-Fronted Geese & Brant Non-residents of Canada | 5 (e) | 15 (d), (f) |
| Snow Geese & Ross’s Geese | 50 | No Limit |
| Coots | 25 | No Limit |
| Snipe Residents of Canada | 10 | No Limit |
| Snipe Non-residents of Canada | 10 | 30 |
(a) Except in that portion of the islands and waters of James Bay that are south of 55°N latitude, where the limit is 6, of which (i) not more than 2 may be American Black Ducks and 1 may be Barrow’s Goldeneye, in the area west of 80°15’W longitude; and
(i) not more than 2 may be American Black Ducks and 1 may be Barrow’s Goldeneye, in the area west of 80°15’W longitude; and
(ii) not more than 4 may be American Black Ducks, 1 may be Barrow’s Goldeneye, and 1 may be Blue-winged Teal, in the area east of 80°15’W longitude.
(b) Except in that portion of the islands and waters of James Bay that are south of 55°N latitude, where the limit is 18, of which
(i) not more than 6 may be American Black Ducks and 1 may be Barrow’s Goldeneye, in the area west of 80°15’W longitude; and
(ii)not more than 1 may be Barrow’s Goldeneye and 2 may be Blue-winged Teal, in the area east of 80°15’W longitude.
(c) In that portion of the islands and waters of James Bay that are west of 80°15’W longitude and south of 55°N latitude, not more than 5 may be Canada Geese or Cackling Geese or any combination of them.
(d) Except in the portion of the islands and waters of James Bay that are east of 80°15’W longitude and south of 55°N latitude, where the limit is 20.
(e) Not more than 2 may be White-fronted Geese.
(f) Not more than 6 may be White-fronted Geese. In that portion of the islands and waters of James Bay that are west of 80°15’W longitude and south of 55°N latitude, there is no limit on Canada Geese and Cackling Geese.
Note: No person shall hunt earlier than one half-hour before sunrise or later than one half-hour after sunset, except north of the 60th parallel, where no person shall hunt earlier than one hour before sunrise or later than one hour after sunset.
Ontario
| Limit | Daily Bag | Possession |
| Ducks (other than Harlequin Ducks) | 6 (a) | 18 (b) |
| Canada Geese & Cackling Geese | 5 (c), (d), (e), (f) | No Limit |
| Snow Geese & Ross’s Geese | 20 (g) | No Limit |
| Other Geese | 5 | 15 |
| Rails (other than Yellow Rails and King Rails), Coot & Gallinules | 10 (h) | 30 |
| Snipe | 10 | 30 |
| Woodcock | 8 | 24 |
| Mourning Doves | 15 | 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.
(c) A total of not more than 3 Canada Geese or Cackling Geese, or any combination of them, may be taken daily in Wildlife Management Unit 94 from September 26 to January 9.
(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 65, 82, 84, 85 and 93 from September 26 to October 30 .
(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 18;
(iii) 60 to 81, 83, 86 to 92, and 95 from September 10 to September 20;
(iv) 60 to 81, 83, and 86 to 92 from February 27 to March 6, in municipalities where Sunday gun hunting is not permitted.
(f) Up to 3 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 10 to September 20; and
(ii) Wildlife Management Units 82, 84, 85 and 93 from February 27 to March 6, in municipalities where Sunday gun hunting is not permitted.
(g) Up to 30 additional Snow Geese or Ross’s Geese, or any combination of them, 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.
Prince Edward Island
| Limit | Daily Bag | Possession |
| Ducks (other than Common & Red-breasted Mergansers, Long-tailed Ducks, Harlequin Ducks, Eiders, & Scoters) | 6 (a) | 18 (b) |
| Common & Red-breasted Mergansers, Long-tailed Ducks, Eiders, & Scoters | 6 (c) | 12 (d) |
| Geese | 5 (e), (f) | 16 |
| Woodcock | 8 | 16 |
| Snipe | 10 | 20 |
(a) Not more than 1 may be Barrow’s Goldeneye, and during the period beginning on December 1 and ending on December 31, not more than 4 may be Mallard-American Black Duck hybrids or American Black Ducks, or any combination of them.
(b) Not more than 1 may be Barrow’s Goldeneye.
(c) Not more than 4 Scoters or 4 Eiders may be taken daily.
(d) Not more than 8 Scoters or 8 Eiders may be possessed.
(e) Up to 3 additional Canada Geese or Cackling Geese, or any combination of them, may be taken daily from Sept. 8 to Sept. 21.
(f) Not more than 3 daily during the period beginning on November 15 and ending on December 31.
Quebec
| Limit | Daily Bag | Possession |
| Ducks (other than Harlequin Ducks) (combined) | 6 (a), (b), (f) | 18 (c), (f) |
| Canada Geese & Cackling Geese (combined) | 5 (d), (g) | No Limit |
| Snow Geese | 20 (f) | No Limit |
| Other Geese (combined) | 5 (f) | 15 (f) |
| Coots & Gallinules (combined) | 4 (f) | 12 (f) |
| Woodcock | 8 (e), (f) | 24 (f) |
| Snipe | 10 (f) | 30 (f) |
| Mourning Doves | 8 (f) | 45 (f) |
(a) In the portion of District F that is south of Route 148 and is west of Highway 15, not more than 2 may be American Black Ducks.
(b) Not more than 1 may be Blue-winged Teal and not more than 1 may be Barrow’s Goldeneye.
(c) Not more than 2 may be Blue-winged Teal and not more than 1 may be Barrow’s Goldeneye.
(d) Up to 5 additional Canada Geese or Cackling Geese, or any combination of them, may be taken daily between September 1 and September 25.
(e) For non-residents of Canada, not more than 4 may be taken daily.
(f) Not more than 3 birds may be taken or possessed during Waterfowler Heritage Days, with the additional species restrictions described in notes (a) to (c) applying within the total.
(g) From September 26 to October 31, the daily bag limit is restricted to:
- 3 in Districts A, C, and the portion of District F that is west of Highway 15 and its northerly extension consisting of Route 117;
- 2 in District D and the portion of District F that is east of Highway 15 and its northerly extension consisting of Route 117;
- no change in Districts B, E, and G.
Saskatchewan
| Limit | Daily Bag | Possession |
| Ducks | 8 | 24 |
| Snow Geese & Ross’s Geese | 20 | No Limit |
| Canada Geese, Cackling Geese & White-Fronted Geese | 8 (a) | 24 (b) |
| Sandhill Cranes | 5 | 15 |
| Coots | 10 | 30 |
| Snipe | 10 | 30 |
(a) Not more than 5 may be White-fronted Geese.
(b) Not more than 15 may be White-fronted Geese
Yukon Territories
| Limit | Daily Bag | Possession |
| Ducks | 8 (a) | 24 (a) |
| Canada Geese, Cackling Geese, White-Fronted Geese & Brant | 5 (b) | 15 (b) |
| Snow Geese & Ross’s Geese | 50 | No Limit |
| Sandhill Cranes | 2 | 4 |
| Rails & Coots | 0 (c) | 0 (c) |
| Snipe | 10 | 30 (d) |
(a) Except that in Northern Yukon territory, 17 additional ducks may be taken per day, with no possession limit.
(b) Except that in Northern Yukon territory, 10 additional geese may be taken per day, with no possession limit.
(c) Except that in Central Yukon territory and Northern Yukon territory, 25 Rails and Coots may be taken per day, with no possession limit.
(d) Except that in Northern Yukon territory, there is no possession limit.
Remember that regulations can change from time to time and that this post is meant as an educational guide and not to be taken as law. For up to date information go online to the Government website here.
Happy hunting!
Corrine Owerko
