Migratory Game Bird Hunting Amendments 2026

Summary#

These are the final Regulations Amending the Migratory Birds Regulations, 2022. They change hunting season dates, daily bag limits and possession limits for many migratory game birds across several provinces for the 2026–2028 hunting cycle. The regulations came into force on June 12, 2026.

What it does#

• Restores or increases Canada Goose and Cackling Goose daily bag limits in some areas (for example, returns a limit of 5 from 3 in certain Quebec and Ontario zones).
• Adds a short winter Canada Goose hunting period in parts of southern Ontario: a 7‑day season beginning on the fourth Saturday in February (now to the following Friday) in specified Wildlife Management Units.
• Creates new limited Sandhill Crane seasons (residents of Canada only, on farmland in many areas; daily bag and possession limit 1). New seasons are set in parts of Quebec and Ontario, and Alberta’s Sandhill Crane hunting area is expanded.
• Reduces spring “special measures” limits for overabundant geese in some areas:
  • Daily bag limits for Snow Geese (and Ross’s Geese in some Ontario areas) reduced from 20 to 12.
  • Spring special‑measures seasons shortened (for example, by 53 days in parts of Quebec and by 62 days in parts of Ontario) and end/start dates adjusted (examples include April 10 to May 18 and April 1 to April 30).
• Fixes and clarifies rules and tables in Schedule 3 of the Migratory Birds Regulations, 2022, including:
  • Adding explicit entries that there is “No open season” for Harlequin Ducks in several provinces.
  • Correcting mapping coordinates and renumbering table items.
  • Adding a definition for “resident of Canada.”
• Keeps other routine technical and formatting updates used to manage hunting rules regionally and to match provincial wildlife units.

Who's affected#

• Hunters who need a federal migratory game bird hunting permit (MGBH Permit). The rules distinguish between residents of Canada and non‑residents in some places.
• Farmers and landowners in areas where Sandhill Crane seasons are introduced or where goose seasons change. Those changes are partly aimed at managing crop damage.
• Birdwatchers, conservation groups and people concerned about declining or vulnerable bird populations—some species (e.g., Snow Geese, Ross’s Geese, Harlequin Ducks) see reduced or clarified hunting opportunities.
• Provincial and territorial wildlife agencies and enforcement officers who implement and enforce the revised rules.
• Some provinces and territories (Newfoundland, New Brunswick, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, British Columbia, Yukon, Northwest Territories, Nunavut) have no regulatory changes in this cycle.

Why it matters#

• These are the regular biennial adjustments that manage how many and when migratory game birds can be hunted in Canada. The aim is to keep harvests sustainable and meet international obligations under the Migratory Birds Convention.
• Practical effects include changed hunting opportunities: some hunters get more days or higher bag limits (e.g., restored 5‑bird limits or a new February week), while others face reduced spring opportunities (e.g., daily bags cut from 20 to 12 and shorter spring seasons).
• The new limited Sandhill Crane seasons create a small, regulated harvest aimed at reducing crop damage while trying to avoid harming overall population recovery (bag/possession limit 1).
• The administrative fixes (clear “No open season” entries, corrected coordinates, clarified resident rules) are intended to reduce confusion at the licence counter and in the field.
• Environment and Climate Change Canada will monitor populations and can adjust rules again if needed to protect bird numbers or respond to disease or other threats.