Guide to hunting in Ontario
Algoma Country | Beasley Brothers Outdoors Inc.
Hunting in Ontario is subject to rules and regulations to help maintain healthy wildlife populations and ensure a safe and successful excursion.
Learning about all the rules and requirements is the first step to planning a hunting trip. These include licensing requirements, as well as species-specific laws around open seasons (when), hunting locations (where), tags and bag limits (what and how many) and more. Illegal harvesting of an animal carries severe penalties, including fines and potentially jail time.
Some hunting regulations differ between residents of the province and those who live outside of Ontario (non-residents). Learn more about the rules for out-of-province visitors coming to hunt in Ontario.
Many of Ontario’s hunting rules are established by the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act, 1997 and are enforced by the Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR).
To find all the information you need, download the Ontario Hunting Regulations Summary and visit Ontario.ca for more hunting resources.
Wildlife Management Units
Ontario is divided into Wildlife Management Units (WMU), with varying regulations and open season dates.
Hunters are responsible for knowing which WMU they are hunting in and the hunting regulations for that location. Learn more about where to hunt in Ontario.
Game wildlife, seasons and times
In Ontario, hunters are permitted to target small and big game species, from rabbits and squirrels to white-tailed deer, moose and black bears. In addition, popular game birds include ruffed and spruce grouse and wild turkey. Migratory game birds include woodcock and waterfowl such as ducks and geese.
Rules and requirements, including licences, tags, seasons and limits, vary by species. Licensed hunting for specific species is permitted during designated seasons. These season dates may vary by location or Wildlife Management Unit.
The annual Ontario hunting regulations provide detailed information on hunting seasons and locations for:
Waterfowl and other migratory species are regulated federally under the Migratory Birds Convention Act (MBCA). Refer to the Canadian Wildlife Service for more information.
Hunting hours for most species are from half an hour before sunrise to half an hour after sunset. Night hunting is generally not permitted in Ontario, and firearms must be unloaded and encased during this period. Check sunrise and sunset times prior to the hunt and plan accordingly.
Licence, Outdoor Card and tags
Before hunting in Ontario, you’ll need to obtain an Outdoors Card (with hunter accreditation), a hunting species-specific licence and for some quarry, a tag to hunt in Ontario. Review the requirements for Ontario residents (and for non-residents) to legally hunt in Ontario.
Additional requirements include age limits. Residents must be at least 16, or 15 with written parental consent, to hunt in Ontario (non-residents must be at least 16). Ontario residents aged 12 to 14 are eligible to participate in Ontario’s Hunter Apprenticeship Safety Program. This program helps develop hunting skills while under the direct supervision of a qualified and licensed mentor.
The Ontario Hunter Education Course (or Ontario-recognized equivalent accreditation) is also required, available in-person or online. Hunters are required to take the course and pass an exam before they can purchase their first hunting licence.
Purchase an Outdoors Card and hunting licence online from Fish and Wildlife Licensing Service, in-person at select ServiceOntario locations or from a ministry-approved licence issuer.
Your licence and Outdoors Card must be carried while hunting, along with any associated tags for the species you are hunting. Hunters are not permitted to carry another hunter’s Outdoors Card, tag or validation certificate while hunting.
Refer to the Ontario Hunting Regulations Summary for further details. If you are looking to travel to Ontario to hunt, you’ll need to review the rules and requirements for non-residents.
Firearms and equipment
Review the rules for transporting, handling and discharging hunting firearms, such as rifles, shotguns, muzzle-loading guns, pellet guns and bows. This includes the requirement for hunters to carry proof of firearms accreditation.
When travelling in a vehicle, firearms must be unloaded. Firearms must not be discharged from a vehicle, including a snowmobile, ATV, aircraft or motorboat. It’s also illegal to shoot from, down or across a public road while hunting.
Hunting safety and attire (hunter orange)
For optimum visibility and safety, licensed hunters must wear a minimum of 2,580 square centimetres (400 square inches) of solid orange clothing and a head covering, such as a vest or coat, worn above the waist and visible from all sides during a gun season for deer, elk and moose. Black bear hunters are also required to wear hunter orange, except when in a tree stand. The hunter orange requirement does not apply to persons who are hunting double-crested cormorants or migratory game birds, except woodcock. The “hunter orange” must be solid and cannot include camouflage or mesh.
Hikers and outdoor enthusiasts are also encouraged to wear hunter orange during gun seasons in Ontario.
Tagging
In most cases, hunters are required to attach the tag to a harvested animal immediately after it is dispatched. Be sure to properly notch your tag in accordance with the tagging instructions, especially if you will no longer be accompanying the animal in transport or are not immediately available to produce the tag.
Trespassing
Do not trespass. Hunters must have permission to hunt on privately owned lands. If you wound an animal and it runs onto private property, you must secure permission prior to following the animal onto the property.
If you have any questions, consult the Ontario Hunting Regulations to ensure you are hunting in accordance with the rules.
Indigenous hunting rights
Indigenous communities have constitutionally protected rights to hunt in Ontario. The ministry recognizes and respects these rights, which may include hunting for food, social, or ceremonial purposes. These rights are fundamentally different than the privileges given to licensed hunters. For example, Indigenous people may hunt with different methods or at different times.
Learn more about the rights of Indigenous hunters in Ontario.
These are just some of the regulations designed to keep hunters safe and to maintain healthy wildlife populations in the province of Ontario. It’s vital to learn about the specific licences, seasons, rules and regulations for hunting each type of game from the Ontario Hunting Regulations.
Last updated: May 21, 2026