Hunting licence (Ontario residents)

Overview

You are an Ontario resident if both of the following apply: 

• your primary residence is in Ontario
• you have lived in Ontario for a period of at least six consecutive months during the 12 months immediately before applying for a licence

To hunt in Ontario as a resident, you must:

• be at least 16 years old (or 15 with written parental consent)
• have successfully taken the Ontario Hunter Education Program (or an Ontario-recognized equivalent accreditation) and have submitted valid documentation to have hunter accreditation added to your Fish and Wildlife Licensing Service account
• follow all federal firearm regulations and carry appropriate documentation with you if you are hunting with a gun
• have a valid Outdoors Card
• have the required hunting licence(s) and tag(s) for the game you wish to hunt

Ontario residents who are 12 to 14 years old are eligible to participate in Ontario’s Hunter Apprenticeship Safety Program. This program helps develop their hunting skills while under the direct and immediate supervision of a qualified and licenced mentor.

Rules for hunting

You must follow all rules related to hunting in Ontario — including where and when you hunt, the type of firearm that can be used and the clothing you are required to wear when hunting.

Hunting licences

A hunting licence is required to hunt in Ontario. All licences are specific to the game you wish to hunt and will be listed on your licence summary. Licences expire on December 31 each year, unless otherwise stated. Requirements depend on the hunting activity you are undertaking.

It is your responsibility to know the type of season and open season dates for the species you wish to hunt along with any other hunting rules that may apply.

Small game hunting:

You are required to carry:

• a valid Outdoors Card
• a licence summary listing your valid small game hunting licence (unless your small game licence is printed on the back of your Outdoors Card)
  • your licence summary can be carried in a paper or digital format (such as a smartphone)
• federal firearms accreditation (for example, your Possession and Acquisition Licence, minor’s licence) if you are hunting with a gun
• any associated tags if applicable (for example, wild turkey or wolf/coyote tags)

Small game species:

• cottontail (rabbit) and hares
• grouse (ruffed, sharp-tailed, spruce)
• squirrel (gray and fox)
• gray (Hungarian) partridge
• ring-necked pheasant
• ptarmigan
• raccoon
• fox (red and Arctic)
• skunk
• weasel
• opossum
• American crow
• groundhog
• porcupine
• wild turkey (a tag is required in addition to your small game licence)
• wolf/coyote (a tag is required in addition to your small game licence in certain Wildlife Management Units)
• migratory game birds (a federal migratory game bird hunting permit is required in addition to your small game licence)

Big game hunting:

You are required to carry:

• a valid Outdoors Card
• a licence summary listing the licence of the species you are hunting
  • your licence summary can be carried in a paper or digital format (such as a smartphone)
• federal firearms accreditation (for example, your Possession and Acquisition Licence) if you are hunting with a gun
• any associated tags (note: all big game species have tag requirements)

Big game species:

• black bear
• moose
• white-tailed deer
• elk

Tags

A tag is a component of a hunting licence. The tag authorizes the hunter to hunt the game species indicated on the tag (such as a wild turkey), subject to conditions listed on the tag (such as season, animal type or firearm. A tag can be purchased online, at a licence issuer or participating ServiceOntario location. Tags can be printed from home, at a licence issuer or a participating ServiceOntario location, either right after purchase or once draw results are available. Any tag replacements will be tracked through the licensing service and must be obtained at a licence issuer or participating ServiceOntario location.

A tag is required to hunt:

• moose
• deer
• wolf/coyote (only in certain Wildlife Management Units)
• wild turkey
• black bear
• elk

It is the hunter’s responsibility to know the tagging requirements for the species being hunted. Tags must be protected, intact and legible at all times.

General tagging instructions are available in the Ontario Hunting Regulation Summary, Specific tagging instructions will be provided with your tag.

Mandatory hunter reporting

All hunters must complete a mandatory hunter report if they either:

• purchase or are issued a tag to hunt deer, elk, black bear, wild turkey, wolf/coyote (in Wildlife Management Units where a tag is required)
• are issued a licence to hunt moose

Even if you did not hunt or harvest an animal, you are required to complete a hunter report.

Animal	Outdoors Card	Licence (each year)	Tags	Apply to a draw or allocation
Antlered deer	Yes	Deer	Yes	No
Antlerless deer	Yes	Deer	Yes	Yes
Deer in a controlled area	Yes	Deer	Yes	Yes
Adult moose	Yes	Moose	Yes	Yes
Black bear	Yes	Bear	Yes	No
Elk	Yes	Elk	Yes	Yes (for tag and/or licence)

Hunting moose with a tourist outfitter

Beginning in 2021, there will no longer be moose validation certificates. Outfitters will provide instructions to prospective clients on the steps you need to take to purchase a moose licence and separate tag before you arrive at the outfitter. The outfitter can only provide the tag once a client has paid for the tag. The moose tag fees provided below apply to both residents and non-residents.

A hunter must be a registered guest of the outfitter and carry documentation provided by the outfitter to verify this if they:

• receive a moose tag from an outfitter
• hunt in a party with another hunter who receives a moose tag from an outfitter

Learn more about hunting moose with a tourist outfitter

Hunting fees for residents of Ontario

For new hunters, your hunter accreditation must be on file with the Fish and Wildlife Licensing Service before you can purchase hunting products. This can only be done at a participating ServiceOntario location.

Learn more about how to submit your hunter accreditation.

Once hunter accreditation is on file within the service, residents can buy products online, by phone, at a licence issuer or participating ServiceOntario location.

All products with a fee are subject to HST.

Resident products	2021 fee
Buy or renew an Outdoors Card (valid for 3 calendar years)	$8.57
One-year small game licence	$22.76
Three-year small game licence	$68.28
Moose allocation application	$15.00
Moose Licence	$35.29
Moose calf tag	$30.00
Moose cow/calf tag	$150.00
Moose bull tag	$200.00
Elk draw application	$15.00
Elk licence and tag	$48.25
Deer licence and tag	$43.86
Farmer’s deer licence and tag	$25.14
Deer draw applications	No fee
Additional tag for deer (only for select Wildlife Management Units)	$43.86
Black bear licence and tag	$43.86
Second tag for black bear (only for select Wildlife Management Units)	$43.86
Wolves/coyotes tag (only for select Wildlife Management Units)	$10.05
Wild turkey tag – Spring	$26.33
Wild turkey tag – Fall	$26.33
Dog licence	$12.21

Apply to hunt big game

Learn how to apply to hunt big game.

Indigenous communities

Generally, if you belong to an Indigenous community with established Aboriginal or treaty hunting rights in Ontario, you can hunt without a licence when you’re hunting:

• within your traditional or treaty area
• for food, social or ceremonial purposes

If you are exercising hunting rights, you should be prepared to provide community identification.

If you hunt outside your traditional or treaty area, you will need to have an Outdoors Card with appropriate hunting licences and tags, or written permission from a First Nation to hunt in their traditional territory.

Get a hunting licence