Summary of Migratory Birds Hunting Regulations: Nova Scotia, 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.

Hunting districts

Zone No. 1 means the counties of Antigonish, Pictou, Colchester, Cumberland, Hants, Kings, and Annapolis.

Zone No. 2 means the counties of Digby, Yarmouth, Shelburne, Queens, Lunenburg, Halifax, Guysborough, Cape Breton, Victoria, Inverness, and Richmond.

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 Sunday hunting closures and minimum required distances from residences and businesses for the discharge of firearms may be applicable.

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.

Important updates to the hunting regulations for Nova Scotia

The bag limit for American Black Ducks has been increased from 4 to 6 ducks per day throughout Nova Scotia for the entire season.

General duck hunting season length has been increased by up to 8 days to the maximum allowable of 107 days, with new season closing dates. The eider open season dates have changed and are now from November 2 to December 31.

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 Nova Scotia, the use and possession of shot other than non-toxic shot is prohibited while hunting migratory game birds other than woodcock
• Within National Wildlife Areas that allow hunting, the possession of lead shot is prohibited for all types of 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 shot from birds hunted with lead shot
• remove the skin and fat from fish-eating birds

Species at Risk

• Barrow’s Goldeneye is listed in the Species at Risk Act as a species of special concern, and the daily bag and possession limit is 1 bird

Open season and daily bag and possession limits for migratory game birds in Nova Scotia

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
17 Waterfowl Lane
P.O. Box 6227
Sackville NB E4L 1G6

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 Report a bird with a federal band or color marker website.