Summary of Migratory Birds Hunting Regulations: Northwest Territories, August 2024 to July 2025

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Summary

To hunt migratory game birds in Canada, you must possess:

• a valid Migratory Game Bird Hunting Permit
• a Canadian Wildlife Habitat Conservation Stamp on the permit

These two documents are issued by the federal government and are valid in all provinces and territories.

The 2024 federal permit is also valid for the 2025 spring special conservation harvest for Snow Geese and Ross’s Geese.

Refer to the Migratory Birds Regulations, 2022 for restrictions and requirements for items such as baiting, hunting methods and equipment.

Most provinces and territories have additional licence requirements for hunting migratory birds and/or to carry firearms. To know what you require, and if there are further restrictions for hunting migratory birds, please verify the applicable regulations for the province/territory and municipality where you will be hunting. Restrictions such as minimum required distances from residences and businesses for the discharge of firearms may be applicable.

If you are hunting on private lands within an area with a settled land claim, you must ask permission first.

Consultation process and migratory birds regulatory reports

A national consultation process has been developed which includes a report on the population status of migratory game birds and a consultation document that provide an opportunity to participate in developing the hunting regulations. For more information, consult the Migratory Birds Regulatory Report Series web page on the Government of Canada website.

Youth Migratory Game Bird Hunting (MGBH) Permit

Hunters who are minors (less than 18 years old) have the option to hunt with a Youth MGBH permit. The Youth MGBH permit, as well as the Canadian Wildlife Habitat Conservation stamp, can only be obtained through our online purchasing system, free of charge. The Youth MGBH permit, as well as the Canadian Wildlife Habitat Conservation stamp, can only be obtained through our online permitting system, free of charge.

The Youth MGBH permit provides young hunters with the opportunity to practice their skills under the supervision of an adult mentor (in possession of a MGBH Permit) throughout the full open season and the special conservation season, and provides Youth MGBH Permit holders with their own daily bag and possession limits.

Mentors must possess their own MGBH permit, must have held such a permit in a previous year, and may accompany no more than two youth hunters. Mentors may carry a firearm, and may hunt. For more information on the new rules pertaining to hunting migratory game birds in the modernized Migratory Birds Regulations, 2022, please consult the Government of Canada Migratory Game Bird Hunting website.

Enforcement

Federal game officers enforce the Migratory Birds Convention Act, 1994 (MBCA) and its associated regulations throughout Canada. This law regulates human activities, such as hunting, that could adversely affect wildlife conservation. Game officers may use warnings, administrative monetary penalties, tickets or prosecutions to enforce the provisions of the MBCA and its regulations. The fines and penalties that may be imposed reflect the seriousness of the offence(s). Individuals may be subject to a fine range for a first offence associated to sections of the MBR, 2022 designated for the purposes of paragraph 13(1)(c) of the MBCA, 1994 on summary conviction of not less than $5,000 and not more than $300,000, or imprisonment for a term of not more than six months, or both.

Shot

• Lead shot is toxic to wildlife and the environment
• In the Northwest Territories, the use and possession of shot other than non-toxic shot is prohibited while hunting migratory game birds
• Within National Wildlife Areas (NWA) that allow hunting, the possession of lead shot is prohibited for all hunting, including the hunting of migratory birds and upland game birds. Refer to the Wildlife Area Regulations to know which NWAs allow hunting and for the restrictions or requirements when conducting this activity

To reduce your exposure to contaminants in meat, make sure, before cooking it, to:

• remove the skin and fat from fish-eating birds

Open season and daily bag and possession limits for migratory game birds in the Northwest Territories

Special measures for overabundant species in the Northwest Territories

Note: No person shall hunt earlier than one hour before sunrise or later than one hour after sunset.

For more information

The information presented here is a summary of the law. If there is a discrepancy between the law and this summary, the law prevails.

For more information, consult:

• the Migratory Birds Convention Act, 1994
• the Migratory Birds Regulations, 2022
• the frequently asked questions for hunters

You may also direct your questions to:

Environment and Climate Change Canada
Canadian Wildlife Service
Regional office
5019 52 Street
P.O. Box 2310
Yellowknife NT X1A 2P7

Tel.: 1-800-668-6767
enviroinfo@ec.gc.ca

Report your migratory bird bands

Call 1-800-327-BAND (2263) to leave a message or go to the the Report a bird with a federal band or color marker website.