• Important Updates to the Hunting Regulations for Ontario 2013

    Introduction of a Mourning Dove hunting season in the Central and Southern Hunting Districts. Note: Non-toxic shot is required to hunt doves in Ontario.

    American Black Duck – The length of the hunting season is extended to 107 days in all Hunting Districts with increased bag and possession limits.

    Removal of possession limit for Canada, Cackling and Snow geese.

    Recorded Snow Goose calls may be used while hunting Snow Geese. Any species for which there is an open season may be taken while hunting Snow Geese using these recorded calls.

    Any combination of decoys can be used to hunt any migratory game bird for which there is an open season.

    Species name change
    – The species name “Moorhen” has changed to “Gallinule.”

    Barrow’s Goldeneye is listed in the Species at Risk Act as a species of special concern and the bag and possession limit of 1 remains in place.

    For complete details regarding the 2013–2014 hunting season, please refer to the Open Season and Bag and Possession Limit tables below.

    Hunting Districts


    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 60A and 61 to 95



    Area Ducks (other than Harlequin Ducks), rails (other than Yellow Rails and King Rails), gallinules, coots, snipe and geese
    (Waterfowler Heritage Day)
    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, 2013 Sept. 1 to Dec. 16, 2013 Sept. 1 to Dec. 16, 2013 Sept. 1 to Dec. 15, 2013 No open season
    2. Northern District Sept. 7, 2013 Sept. 10 to Dec. 24, 2013 Sept. 1 to Dec. 16, 2013 Sept. 15 to Dec. 15, 2013 No open season
    3. Central District Sept. 14, 2013 Sept. 21, 2013, to Jan. 4, 2014 Sept. 3 to Dec. 18, 2013 Sept. 20 to Dec. 20, 2013 Sept. 3 to Nov. 11, 2013(a)
    4. Southern District Sept. 21, 2013 Sept. 28, 2013, to Jan. 11, 2014(b) Sept. 5 to Sept. 15, 2013(c)
    Sept. 5 to Sept. 14, 2013 (except for any Sunday within this period) (d)
    Sept. 28 to Dec. 31, 2013(c)Sept. 28, 2013, to Jan. 10, 2014 (except for any Sunday within this period) (d)
    Feb. 22 to Mar. 1, 2014 (except for any Sunday within this period) (d)(e)
    Sept. 25 to Dec. 20, 2013 Sept. 5 to
    Nov. 13, 2013(a)
    (a) Non-toxic shot required.
    (b) In Wildlife Management Unit 65, recorded Snow Goose calls may be used when hunting Snow Geese; any species of migratory bird for which it is open season may be taken while hunting Snow Geese with those calls.
    (c) In municipalities where Sunday gun hunting is permitted by provincial regulations.
    (d) In municipalities where Sunday gun hunting is not permitted by provincial regulations.
    (e) Except in Wildlife Management Unit 94.


    Limits Ducks (other than Harlequin Ducks) Canada Geese and Cackling Geese White-fronted Geese and Brant Snow Geese Rails (other than Yellow Rails and King Rails) and snipe Gallinules Woodcock and coots Mourning Doves
    Daily bag 6(a) 5(c)(d)(e)(f)(g) 5 20 10 4 8 15
    Possession 18(b) No limit 15 No limit 30 12 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 3 Canada Geese or Cackling Geese, or any combination of them, may be taken daily in that portion of Wildlife Management Unit 1D in Hudson–James Bay District, and in Wildlife Management Units 23 to 31 and 37 to 41 from September 10 to December 16, 2013.
    (d) 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, 2013, to January 10, 2014.
    (e) 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, 2013.
    (f) Up to 5 additional Canada Geese or Cackling Geese, or any combination of them, may be taken daily in
    (i) Wildlife Management Units 36 and 45 from September 1 to September 9, 2013;
    (ii) Wildlife Management Units 42 to 44 and 46 to 59 from September 3 to September 20, 2013;
    (iii) Wildlife Management Units 60 to 81, 83, 86 to 92, and 95 from September 5 to September 15, 2013, and
    (iv) Wildlife Management Units 60 to 81, 83, and 86 to 92 from February 22 to March 1, 2014, in municipalities where Sunday gun hunting is not permitted.
    (g) 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 5 to September 15, 2013, and
    (ii) Wildlife Management Units 82, 84, 85 and 93, from February 22 to March 1, 2014, in municipalities where Sunday gun hunting is not permitted.


    Download the pdf file here http://www.ec.gc.ca/rcom-mbhr/99FDEC.../Ontario_e.pdf
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