Who counts as a resident?
- Your primary home is in Ontario, and you have lived there for at least 6 consecutive months of the 12 months before applying.
- Citizenship isn't part of the test. Permanent residents and temporary residents qualify the same way.
Residency rules change and have exceptions (military, RCMP, students, diplomats). Confirm with the provincial or territorial licensing office before buying a resident licence. Applying for one you aren't entitled to is an offence.
Courses you need
- Pass the Ontario Hunter Education course and exam, run by accredited instructors and often combined on the same weekend with the firearms course.
- Gun hunters also need a PAL: pass the federal Canadian Firearms Safety Course, then apply to the RCMP Canadian Firearms Program. Processing takes weeks. Bow hunters don't need one.
Buying your licence
- Get an Outdoors Card (3 years), then buy your licence and tags through Hunt & Fish Ontario (huntandfishontario.com) or ServiceOntario.
- Moose and some deer tags are allocated through a spring draw. Group applications are common.
Good to know in Ontario
- Ontario's hunting zones are called WMUs. See our Ontario WMU map guide.
- Most of northern Ontario is Crown land. In the south, almost all land is private and needs permission.
- Seasons and bag limits by zone: Ontario hunting regulations.
- The full step-by-step path: Hunting in Canada: a newcomer's guide.
How TrueNorthHunter helps
- Your zone, by GPS: see which hunting zone you're in, even offline.
- Seasons and rules for that zone, taken from the official regulations.
- Public land layers such as Crown land, parks and closures, plus community sightings and daily hunting forecasts.
Frequently asked questions
How long do I have to live in Ontario before I can hunt as a resident?
Your primary home is in Ontario, and you have lived there for at least 6 consecutive months of the 12 months before applying.
Can I hunt before I qualify as a resident?
Often, yes, on a non-resident licence. It costs more and may be limited to small game or require a licensed guide. Check the province or territory's non-resident rules.