Hunting notices and updates

Avian influenza (bird flu)

Avian influenza, specifically highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) is a very contagious virus that can infect all bird species, most commonly:

• waterfowl
• shorebirds
• raptors (birds of prey)
• corvids (crows and ravens)
• domestic flocks
  • chickens
  • turkeys
  • quail

Some mammals have also been infected, including:

• wild animals like:
  • red fox
  • skunks
  • mink
• domestic species like:
  • dairy cattle in the USA

Increase in HPAI cases

Since spring 2022, there has been a world-wide increase in HPAI including ongoing detections in both Canada and the United States. In the future, HPAI cases are expected to continue across North America, especially during spring and fall bird migration.

The chance of human infection with avian influenza viruses is currently low, but it can cause illness and possible death. Use caution when handling wild birds and mammals to reduce risk of exposure to this and other diseases.

Avoid contact with wildlife

Members of the public, and their pets, should avoid direct contact with wildlife (alive or dead), including:

• wild birds
• wild mammals
• feces

If contact with wildlife is unavoidable, learn how to take appropriate precautions including handling guidelines to protect your health.

Learn more about HPAI outbreaks and guidance in Canada at Avian influenza.

If you encounter a sick or dead wild animal, report it to the Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative by phone at 1-866-673-4781 or online.

Chronic wasting disease prevention

Chronic wasting disease (CWD) is a fatal and untreatable disease which affects members of the deer (cervid) family including:

• white-tailed deer
• elk
• moose
• caribou

CWD has not been detected in Ontario wild cervids, but it is important to be vigilant. We are taking measures to help prevent CWD from coming into Ontario, including:

• restrictions on importing and moving live cervids
• restrictions on importing cervids hunted outside of Ontario
• making the use and possession of natural lures and attractants made from cervids illegal

Learn more about how we are keeping CWD out of Ontario.

2025 black bear second tag information

Field dressing, transporting and preparing wild game

Hunters are reminded to use proper handling of their harvested game for a quality food product for the table. Meat from wild game is not government inspected. Hunters are responsible for ensuring that they properly field dress, transport and process wild game to ensure the final meat product is as safe as possible for human consumption.

Some best practices include:

• Immediately field dress game with its entrails and hide removed and cooled to a temperature of at least 5ºC (or 40º F) to prevent spoilage.
• Remove any damaged tissue around the bullet or arrow entry and exit holes.
• When field dressing wild game, avoid contaminating meat with dirt, debris or natural water sources. Do not wash the body cavity with natural water sources. Use clean paper towels to wipe out the carcass.
• Take care if you need to drag the animal to avoid water, mud and debris getting inside the body cavity.
• Always use clean tools and, if possible, wear disposable gloves.
• Cool the animal as soon as possible and in warmer weather, remove the skin to aid cooling. Use cheesecloth or meat bags, not plastic, to help keep the meat clean. Do not stack warm quarters on top of each other.
• For big game, always prepare for cold storage close to your hunting area prior to your hunt to ensure suitable facilities are available should the weather turn warm.
• Remove hides and entrails from small game, such as rabbits, hares and squirrels, and entrails from game birds as soon as possible and trim any shot-damaged meat. Prepare a cooler of ice to keep small game cool during transport, especially if travelling long distances.
• When preparing wild game for consumption, keep raw meat away from other food.
• Ensure utensils, equipment and food contact surfaces are cleaned and sanitized after each use.
• Cook meat thoroughly.

For more information on safe handling and preparation, contact your local public health unit.

Harvested animals with ear-tags

If you harvest an animal that is wearing an ear-tag with the phone number 1-866-514-2327, this animal was chemically immobilized in the past using veterinary drugs. Health Canada has guidelines for consumption. Call 1-866-514-2327 to learn more about whether it is safe to eat the meat.

Cadmium

The ministry recommends that people not eat the liver and kidneys of moose, deer, and elk because of concerns about cadmium levels in these internal organs.

Lead

Recent research has shown that the amount of lead found in a small percentage of game meat could have health impacts for people who regularly eat meat which was harvested using lead ammunition. To date, there is no known evidence linking eating wild game to acute lead poisoning.

Exposure to lead can be reduced by:

• avoiding meat with excessive shot damage and trimming generous distances around wound channels while processing game
• using non-lead ammunition
• practicing marksmanship to avoid penetrating major muscle areas. Aim for vital organs on big game
• avoiding eating internal organs