Quebec is one of the best places in the world for hunting. Locals and visitors alike take time out of their busy schedules every year to visit some of the most striking landscapes that are ideal hunting grounds.
Despite the regularity at which individuals go hunting, many remain unaware of the long list of hunting regulations that accompany the sport, especially in Quebec. To ensure your hunting trip goes as smoothly as possible, we created this guide with all the information you need to know so that you can enjoy all the hunting Quebec has to offer.
When can you hunt in Quebec?
There is no minimum age required to be allowed to go hunting. However, there are specific regulations regarding the use of firearms, as you must be at least 12 years old to handle these weapons. This means that you can only hunt bigger games in Quebec if you are at least 12 years old. If you are younger than 18, you must be accompanied by an adult hunter.
Hunting season dates by species and weapon
There are specific times of the year when you can hunt specific species and use specific weapons. It is important to know when these seasons are, not only to abide by hunting rules, but also to ensure your safety and the safety of those around you.
White-Tailed Deer
If it is white-tailed deer that you are hoping to spot and hunt with just a crossbow or a regular bow, the season usually starts at the start of October and runs until mid-October in most zones. However, in a select few zones, the season runs from the end of the first week of November for around 5 days. If you plan on using any other kinds of weapons, the hunting season for white-tailed deer is a week or two later.
Wild Turkey
Hunting wild turkey does not have specific times or seasons based on weapons, but if you plan on hunting turkey, you can do so from around the end of April to the beginning or mid-May. You can resume hunting turkey again from roughly the last week of October. There are specific times of day to hunt turkey, which is from half an hour before sunrise till noon.
Black Bear
Black bear hunting has a lot of season variations depending on the area in which you wish to hunt. We highly recommend looking up the dates for your specific zone. The hunting season for black bears ranges anywhere from mid-May to early November.
Moose
Moose hunting usually runs from the end of September to the beginning or middle of October. Similarly to hunting black bears, there is a lot of variation between zones, so be sure to check the regulations in the zone that you are hoping to hunt and ensure you have your moose hunting license if needed.
What do you need to hunt in Quebec?
What you need to hunt in Quebec:
- Hunting licenses and certificates
- Hunting weapons, ammunition and other gear
Hunting license and certificate
Many hunters need a license or certificate to go hunting in Quebec, so it is important to know if you need one, as hunting without a license is illegal. If you are a resident of Quebec, you need to obtain a certificate, but can only do so if you meet certain requirements.
You must be 12 years old or older, you must have taken all the needed training for any weapons that you plan on using and must have passed any prerequisite exams. However, if you are not a resident of Quebec, other rules apply. For more information, consult the government’s website.
Hunting Weapons, Ammunition and Other Gear
If you plan on going hunting in Quebec, you must ensure you have all of the relevant weapons and gear. Certain weapons are better suited for certain hunting activities so you need to make sure you have the right stuff before you set off, or else you are likely to have an unsuccessful hunting trip. Other weapons are unauthorized depending on the season; therefore it is important to be informed and to plan.
Crossbow and Bow
Crossbows and bows are some of the most common weapons used in hunting, especially when hunting larger animals, such as moose and bears. The specific license letter needed to use any kind of bow comes under code A or B.
You must ensure that the tip of your arrow is extremely sharp to have a successful hunt. Once you have managed to hit the animal, you must make sure you wait anywhere from 30 minutes to a couple of hours before approaching the animal to ensure that the animal has the time and space to die.
Shotgun and Rifle
If you wish to hunt with any kind of firearm, you need a license that comes under code F. In order to own a firearm in the first place, you must have passed the relevant regulatory training to ensure you can safely operate the gun.
Once this certificate has been acquired, there are some additional rules and situations in which you can and cannot use the weapon. For example, you are free to use it against small games but cannot shoot wild turkeys or migrating birds.
Authorized Gear
There are specific gear and perks to gear that is authorized. Below are examples of authorized gear:
- Lasers
- Electronic devices
- Snares (only for certain animals)
- Vehicles
Prohibited Gear
Just as there is authorized gear, there is also prohibited gear, and it is important to know what is prohibited to ensure you do not get caught ignoring regulations.
Below are some of the things to look out for:
- Using electronic devices that instantly identify animals
- Using live animals as bait
- Using natural urine
- Using poison
- Using explosives
- Using military-type bullets
- Using aircrafts
General rules
There are a whole range of rules that you must follow when hunting, and you must be aware of them for safety reasons. In addition to guaranteeing your own safety, hunting rules are in place to protect certain species and create a beneficial hunting environment:
- There is a list of animals that you must declare if you kill. These include species such as bobcats, moose and wolverine.
- You cannot use a vehicle to kill any animals or shoot from any kind of vehicle.
- You and anyone you are with must wear a fluorescent orange bib that covers at least 400 square inches of your back, shoulders and chest.
- Most species can only be hunted from half an hour before sunrise to half an hour after sunset.
- When hunting at night, you cannot use a spotlight.
- You can use a dog that has been trained to find game you have killed, but they cannot roam around before the game has been killed.
- In some zones, you cannot shoot from a public road.
- You must register game that needs to be registered 48 hours after you have left the hunting area.
- You must attach a transportation coupon to your kill when moving big game.
- You cannot sell, exchange or purchase bear gallbladders and bile, migratory birds, the flesh of white-tailed deer, moose, ruffed grouse, rock ptarmigan, willow ptarmigan, gray partridge, spruce goose and sharp-tailed grouse.
Organize a hunting trip to Quebec’s most remote regions
Some of the best hunting in Quebec is in some of the most remote regions, which can sometimes be difficult to access. Thankfully, if you want a unique hunting experience, our seaplane service is the perfect solution.
Our team can take you to up to 600 different outfitters in Quebec. We work hand in hand with Quebec outfitter fishing companies as well as moose outfitters and other amazing hunting places to ensure you have as successful a hunting trip.
