Migratory bird hunting rules updated: Harlequin Ducks closed nationwide, Sandhill Crane seasons added in several provinces, and multiple bag limits and season dates revised

Plain-language summary · AI-assisted · not legal advice

The federal migratory bird hunting regulations have been updated with several practical changes affecting hunters across Canada. Harlequin Ducks are now explicitly listed as having no open season in all hunting zones across Newfoundland, Labrador, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Quebec, and Ontario — where previously they were simply excluded from other duck categories without a dedicated 'no open season' entry. Limited Sandhill Crane hunting seasons have been added for residents of Canada hunting on farmland in specific wildlife management units in Ontario (Hudson-James Bay, Northern, and Central Districts) and in Quebec Districts C/D; most other areas retain no open season for cranes. Spring Snow Goose conservation seasons in Quebec, Ontario, Alberta, and other jurisdictions have had their dates shortened and daily bag limits reduced. Canada Goose season structures in Quebec Districts C/D and F, and in Ontario's Southern District, have been reorganized with some sub-period distinctions removed or consolidated. Hunters should review the specific zones and dates that apply to their area before the season opens, as open season windows, bag limits, and eligible wildlife management units have changed in several provinces.

Who this affects: migratory bird hunters · waterfowl hunters in Atlantic Canada · Ontario and Quebec duck and goose hunters · Sandhill Crane hunters on farmland · Snow Goose hunters in spring conservation seasons