Two licences, always
Ducks, geese, woodcock, snipe, doves and cranes are federally regulated: hunting them anywhere in Canada requires two documents: your provincial small-game (or equivalent) licence and the federal Migratory Game Bird Hunting Permit.
- Federal permit: $17.00 + tax, which includes the electronic Canadian Wildlife Habitat Conservation Stamp ($8.50 funds Wildlife Habitat Canada).
- Youth under 18: free e-permit and e-stamp, online only.
- On sale August 1, valid to June 30 of the following year, valid across Canada, non-transferable.
- Buy at permis-permits.ec.gc.ca (print it or carry it on your phone) or any Canada Post office.
The national rules that apply everywhere
- Hunting hours: no earlier than 30 minutes before sunrise, no later than 30 minutes after sunset.
- Non-toxic shot is mandatory for migratory game birds: possessing lead shot while hunting them is prohibited (Canada-wide since 1999).
- Baiting: hunting over bait or within a baited area is prohibited under the Migratory Birds Regulations; areas stay 'baited' for days after bait removal.
- Sunday hunting is provincially regulated: e.g. Ontario allows Sunday gun hunting in most (not all) municipalities south of the French and Mattawa rivers.
Bag-limit examples (2026-27 ECCC summaries)
| Province | Ducks | Canada geese | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ontario | 6/day, 18 possession | 5/day, no possession limit | Max 1 Barrow's Goldeneye; max 3 black ducks in WMUs 88–95; seasons by district (e.g. Southern Sept 26 – Jan 10) |
| Saskatchewan | 8/day, 24 possession | 8/day, 24 possession | Snow/Ross's geese 20/day with no possession limit; spring conservation season Mar 15 – Jun 15 with electronic calls allowed for snow geese |
Always read the current ECCC provincial summary for your hunting district: dates and limits are set by district, not just by province.
Putting it together
- Provincial licence first (see our hunting licence guide), federal permit second, then the district dates in the ECCC summary.
- Practical blind and decoy strategy: our Duck Blind Setup Guide covers layouts, spreads and wind, with the decoy setup guide and calling tutorial for the full picture.
- Species season tables with citations live on the ducks species page.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I buy the migratory bird permit?
Online at permis-permits.ec.gc.ca (valid as an e-permit on your phone) or in person at any Canada Post office. It's $17.00 + tax and valid Aug 1 – Jun 30 across Canada.
Do youth need the federal permit?
Youth under 18 get the permit and conservation stamp free: issued online only.