Small game and furbearing mammals
Ruffed grouse and spruce grouse seasons
| Wildlife management unit | Resident and non-resident - open season | Limits |
|---|---|---|
| 1–4, 16–18, 24–27 | September 15 to March 31 | Combined daily limit of five and possession limit of 15 |
| 5–15, 19–23, 28–50, 53–67, 69B | September 15 to December 31 | Combined daily limit of five and possession limit of 15 |
Ruffed grouse seasons (no season for spruce grouse in these units)
| Wildlife management unit | Resident and non-resident - open season | Limits |
|---|---|---|
| 68, 73–76, 82–84 | September 25 to December 31 | Daily limit of five and possession limit of 15 |
| 69A, 70–72, 77–81, 85–95 | September 25 to December 31 | Daily limit of two and possession limit of 6 |
Sharp-tailed grouse seasons
| Wildlife management unit | Resident and non-resident - open season | Limits |
|---|---|---|
| 1–4, 16–18, 24–27 | September 15 to March 31 | Daily limit of five and possession limit of 15 |
| 5–15, 19–23, 28–35, 38–41 | September 15 to December 31 | Daily limit of five and possession limit of 15 |
| 36, 37, 42–50, 53–67, 69B | September 15 to December 31 | Daily limit of two and possession limit of 6 |
Ptarmigan seasons
| Wildlife management unit | Resident and non-resident - open season | Limits |
|---|---|---|
| 1–4, 16–18, 24–27 | September 15 to March 31 | Daily limit of five and possession limit of 15 |
Ring-necked pheasant seasons
| Wildlife management unit | Resident and non-resident - open season | Limits |
|---|---|---|
| 1–4, 16–18, 24–27 | September 15 to March 31 | Daily limit of 10 and possession limit of 10 |
| 5–15, 19–23, 28–50, 53–67, 69B | September 15 to December 31 | Daily limit of 10 and possession limit of 10 |
| 68, 69A, 70–94 | September 25 to December 31 | Daily limit of three and possession limit of 10 |
| 95 | September 25 to the last day of February | Daily limit of 10 and possession limit of 10 |
Gray (Hungarian) partridge seasons
| Wildlife management unit | Resident and non-resident - open season | Limits |
|---|---|---|
| 36, 37, 42–50, 53–67, 69B | September 15 to December 31 | Daily limit of five and possession limit of 15 |
| 68, 69A, 70–95 | September 25 to December 31 | Daily limit of five and possession limit of 15 |
Double-crested cormorant season
| Wildlife management unit | Resident and non-resident - open season | Limits |
|---|---|---|
| 1–50, 53–95 | September 15 to December 31 | Daily limit of 15 and no possession limit |
Cottontail and European hare seasons
| Wildlife management unit | Resident and non-resident - open season | Limits |
|---|---|---|
| 36, 37, 42–50, 53–67, 69B | September 15 to March 31 | Daily limits of five and possession limits of 15 |
| 68, 69A, 70–95 | September 25 to the last day of February | Daily limits of five and possession limits of 15 |
Snowshoe (varying) hare seasons
| Wildlife management unit | Resident and non-resident - open season | Limits |
|---|---|---|
| 1–50, 53–67, 69B | September 15 to March 31 | Daily limit of five and possession limit of 15 |
| 68, 69A, 70-95 | September 25 to the last day of February | Daily limit of two and possession limit of 6 |
Gray (black) and fox squirrel seasons
| Wildlife management unit | Resident and non-resident - open season | Limits |
|---|---|---|
| 5–15, 19–23, 28–50, 53–67, 69B | September 15 to December 31 | Combined daily limit of five and possession limit of 15 |
| 68, 69A, 70–95 | September 25 to December 31 | Combined daily limit of five and possession limit of 15 |
Arctic fox seasons
| Wildlife management unit | Resident and non-resident - open season |
|---|---|
| 1–4, 16–18, 24–27 | October 25 to March 31 |
Raccoon and opossum seasons
| Wildlife management unit | Resident and non-resident - open season |
|---|---|
| 1–50, 53–95 | October 5 to January 31 |
Red fox and skunk seasons
| Wildlife management unit | Resident and non-resident - open season |
|---|---|
| 1–35, 38–41 | September 15 to the last day of February |
| 36, 37, 42–50, 53–95 | All year |
Weasel seasons
| Wildlife management unit | Resident and non-resident - open season |
|---|---|
| 1–50, 53–95 | October 25 to the last day of February |
Note: Arctic fox, raccoon, opossum, red fox, skunk, and weasel are considered furbearing mammals, which can be harvested under the authority of a small game licence. Generally, furbearing mammals may not be hunted in Provincial Parks and Crown Game Preserves.
Falconry seasons and limits
Falconry involves the use of trained raptors (birds of prey, such as red-tailed hawk) to hunt small game. All falconers must have a valid small game licence. A falconry licence is required to possess falconry birds. There are other requirements both for falconry birds and for non-indigenous falconry birds (such as leg bands, reporting). For a complete list of all native falconry birds and non-indigenous falconry birds that can be used for falconry in Ontario, go to Falconry.
Falconry season are from September 1 to March 31 for residents and non-residents.
| Species | Wildlife management unit | Limits |
|---|---|---|
| Ruffed grouse and spruce grouse | 1–50, 53–67, 69B | Combined daily limit of three and possession limit of 15 |
| Ruffed grouse | 68, 73–76, 82–84 | Daily limit of three and possession limit of 15 |
| Ruffed grouse | 69A, 70–72, 77–81, 85–95 | Daily limit of two and possession limit of six |
| Sharp-tailed grouse | 1–35, 38–41 | Daily limit of three and possession limit of 15 |
| Sharp-tailed grouse | 36, 37, 42–50, 53–67, 69B | Daily limit of two and possession limit of six |
| Ptarmigan | 1–4, 16–18, 24–27 | Daily limit of three and possession limit of 15 |
| Ring-necked pheasant | 1–50, 53–95 | Daily limit of two and possession limit of 10 |
| Gray (Hungarian) partridge | 36, 37, 42–50, 53–95 | Daily limit of two and possession limit of 15 |
| Cottontail and European hare | 36, 37, 42–50, 53–95 | Daily limit of five Cottontail and three European Hare. Possession limit of 15 of each species. |
| Snowshoe (varying) hare | 1–50, 53–67, 69B | Daily limit of three and possession limit of 15 |
| Snowshoe (varying) hare | 68, 69A, 70–95 | Daily limit of two and possession limit of six |
| Gray (black) and fox squirrel | 5–15, 19–23, 28–50, 53–95 | Combined daily limit of five and possession limit of 15 |
Bullfrog seasons
| Wildlife management unit | Resident and non-resident - open season | Daily and possession limit |
|---|---|---|
| 1-50, 53–59, 72B, 76–95 | July 15 to October 15 | 10 |
Small game and furbearing mammal hunting requirements
Anyone wishing to hunt small game or furbearing mammals must have the following:
- Outdoors Card
- small game licence listed on your licence summary or on the back of your Outdoors Card
- proof of firearm accreditation if you are hunting with a gun
A tag is required for wild turkey, and for wolf/coyote in select Wildlife Management Units (WMU). Go to the wild turkey and wolf/coyote sections for more information.
A municipal licence may also be required for hunting ring-necked pheasant, cottontail (rabbit) and hare in some municipalities in southwestern Ontario. Municipal licences can be obtained from the relevant municipal office. Go to the WMU maps (Southwestern Ontario, Southeastern Ontario and Northern Ontario) for more information on where a municipal licence is required.
A falconry licence is also required to hunt with raptors native to Ontario.
Additional licensing requirements apply to migratory game birds. Go to migratory game birds and the hunting licence information section for more information.
Small game and furbearing mammal hunting regulations
A small game licence is not valid in Northern and some parts of Central Ontario from June 16 to August 31. Go to WMU maps (Southwestern Ontario, Southeastern Ontario and Northern Ontario) for more information.
Firearms
If you are hunting small game in an area where there is an open season for deer, moose, elk, or black bear, you may not possess or use a centre-fire rifle or shells loaded with ball or with shot larger than No. 2 shot (except for steel shot not larger than triple BBB, or bismuth shot not larger than double BB), unless you have a valid licence to hunt big game (deer, moose, elk or black bear) during the relevant open season.
This restriction does not apply south of the French and Mattawa rivers during an open season for deer that is restricted to the use of bows, or to hunters with a valid small game licence who are hunting wolf or coyote during an open season for deer, moose, elk or black bear.
A person hunting small game may not carry or use a rifle of greater calibre than a .275-calibre rifle, except a muzzle-loading gun, in the geographic areas of Brant, Chatham-Kent, Durham, Elgin, Essex, Haldimand, Halton, Hamilton, Huron, Lambton, Middlesex, Niagara, Norfolk, Northumberland, Oxford, Peel, Perth, Toronto, Waterloo, Wellington or York. Note: It is illegal to hunt ring-necked pheasants with a rifle.
Game bird hunting preserves
You may hunt ring-necked pheasant, northern bobwhite, wild turkey, gray (Hungarian) partridge and chukar throughout the year on a licensed game bird hunting preserve. Note: There are prohibitions on northern bobwhite and wild turkey in some areas. You must arrange with the owner/operator of the licensed game bird hunting preserve as to when you can hunt.
You are required to have a valid Outdoors Card, hunter accreditation (for example, licence summary noting your accreditation), and proof of firearm accreditation if you are hunting with a gun. You will be required to present this documentation to the owner/ operator of a licensed game bird hunting preserve before hunting.
Migratory game birds
Migratory game bird seasons are the responsibility of the federal government. The Migratory Birds Convention Act, 1994 and associated Migratory Birds Regulations, 2022 govern the hunting of migratory game birds. In 2022, the Regulations were modernized with important changes, such as possession limits, labelling requirements and the use of crossbows. Also, please note that Waterfowler Heritage Days have been abolished and replaced with a Migratory Game Bird Hunting Permit (MGBHP) for youth. For more information on the changes to hunting migratory game birds, please consult the migratory game bird hunting web page at Migratory game bird hunting.
You must have a federal Migratory Game Bird Hunting Permit (MGBHP), Wildlife Habitat Conservation Stamp, and an Ontario small game licence in order to hunt migratory game birds. This includes hunting with falconry birds (falconry licence required) or non-indigenous falconry birds. MGBHP and Wildlife Habitat Conservation Stamp are available for purchase at most post offices, or online. Season dates and bag limits are announced mid-summer in the Migratory Birds Hunting Regulations Summary.
It is illegal to hunt migratory birds within 400 m (437 yd.) of where bait has been deposited unless that place has been free of bait for at least seven days. It is also illegal to deposit bait in any place during the period beginning 14 days before the first day of the open season for that place and ending on the day immediately following the last day of the open season for that place for any hunted migratory game bird.
More information on migratory birds is available at the:
Canadian Wildlife Service
4905 Dufferin Street
Toronto, Ontario
M3H 5T4
Telephone:
Email: enviroinfo@ec.gc.ca
Double-crested cormorants
Double-crested cormorants may be hunted during their fall hunting season in accordance with general small game licensing requirements, similar to other game bird species, subject to additional rules and requirements.
Cormorants can only be hunted using shotguns, including muzzle-loading shotguns, not larger than 10 gauge with non-toxic ammunition. You cannot use a shotgun loaded with a shell containing a single projectile.
Hunters are permitted to hunt double-crested cormorant from a stationary motorboat. This means the motorboat must not be in motion and the power to the motor must be turned off.
Hunters must have adequate means of retrieving any double-crested cormorant that is shot and must immediately retrieve the bird and include it in their bag limit. Should hunters choose not to use the birds they harvest, they must be retrieved and disposed of by either:
- delivering it to an approved waste disposal site that permits the disposal of dead animals
- delivering it to a disposal facility, or using the services of a licensed collector, under the under the Disposal of Deadstock Regulation (Ontario Regulation 105/09) made under the Food Safety and Quality Act, 2001
- burying it on private land owned by the hunter, or on private land occupied by the hunter with consent of the landowner
All other relevant federal, provincial and municipal laws/rules related to hunting apply (for example trespassing, municipal discharge of firearms by-laws, federal firearm licensing requirements, restrictions on hunting in provincial parks).
Possession of furbearing mammal pelts during the closed season
Small game hunters who harvest furbearing mammals during the open season (including wolf and coyote) and have not sold or otherwise disposed of the pelts by the close of the season must obtain a Licence to Possess a Pelt in order to possess pelts during the closed season.
Contact your local ministry work centre to obtain a Licence to Possess a Pelt (available free of charge). It is illegal to abandon or otherwise allow the pelt of a furbearing mammal to spoil or be destroyed.
For more information on royalties and shipping of furbearing mammals parts, go to the general regulations section.
Hunting raccoon at night
If you wish to hunt raccoons at night, you must be accompanied by a dog licensed for the purposes of hunting. Each dog participating in the hunt must be licensed. You can only use a rim-fire rifle. Raccoon night hunters must have their guns unloaded and encased while in a vehicle. A licensed night raccoon hunter may use a light if it is not shone from or attached to a vehicle or boat. Learn more at hunt raccoon at night.
Bullfrog requirements
Bullfrogs may be taken for personal consumption under the authority of a valid sport or conservation fishing licence. No commercial harvest of bullfrogs is permitted. The only firearms permitted for harvesting bullfrogs are bows (for example, compound, recurve, long or crossbow). A person may take bullfrogs at night without a firearm and may shine a light for that purpose.
Note: Generally, it is illegal to harvest frogs in Provincial Parks or Crown Game Preserves.