Illegal Importation of Wildlife in Ontario:

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Last Updated: September 13 2026

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Question: I received a ticket or summons for illegal importation of wildlife in Ontario; what should I do before my court date?

Answer: If you received an illegal importation of wildlife ticket in Ontario, do not panic and do not pay until you confirm the exact offence wording and section on your summons, because Ontario has different requirements for live versus dead wildlife and for cervids under provincial wildlife rules  Save every permit, hunting or source document, shipping records, receipts, photos, and chronic wasting disease test or cervid packaging details, then meet a paralegal at DefendCharges.ca™ to review whether a permit, exception, or lower-risk category applies and to explain next steps like disclosure requests and response strategy  Call (647) 559-3377 now at (647) 559-3377 for prompt guidance.

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Illegal Importation of Wildlife in Ontario

Received a ticket or summons for Illegal Importation of Wildlife in Ontario?  You have been charged with a provincial offence under Ontario wildlife law.  The charge may concern transporting wildlife into Ontario without a required licence or permit, bringing a live cervid into Ontario without the required permit, or transporting the whole or part of a cervid that died outside Ontario contrary to Ontario's chronic wasting disease rules.

Note: Please contact DefendCharges.ca™ by phone at: (647) 559-3377 to discuss any specific questions that you may have.

Do not panic.  Being charged does not automatically mean you will be convicted.  Ontario does not prohibit every movement of wildlife into the province, and different rules apply depending on the species, whether the wildlife is alive or dead, what parts are being transported, what permit or other authority existed, and whether a regulatory exception applied.

This page explains what an Illegal Importation of Wildlife charge means, the main Ontario import offences, the special rules for live and dead cervids, when permits or exceptions may apply, what must be proven, current fines and possible consequences, evidence, legal issues and defences, and what may happen next.  These offences are part of Wildlife Possession & Transportation Charges.

I Received an Illegal Importation of Wildlife Ticket or Summons.  What Should I Do?

A summons is a court document requiring you to attend court or respond as directed.  Read every document carefully and do not miss the response deadline or required court date.

Start with the exact offence wording and section number.  Your documents may state Unlawfully import wildlife, Transport a live cervid into Ontario without a permit, or Unlawfully transport the whole or any part of a cervid that died outside Ontario.  These are different offences with different legal requirements and set fines.

Keep permits, licences, hunting documents from the other jurisdiction, veterinary or animal health records, receipts, invoices, shipping documents, border or transportation records, photographs, taxidermy or butcher records, chronic wasting disease test information, and anything else connected with the wildlife or its movement into Ontario.  Do not delete, alter, discard, or modify potentially important evidence.

Should I Pay the Ticket?

Paying the ticket will generally be treated as pleading guilty and will result in a conviction, meaning a finding of guilt.  Before paying, identify the exact offence and compare it with the species, condition of the wildlife, place where it came from, permit requirements, and any exception that may apply.

What Is an Illegal Importation of Wildlife Charge?

Illegal Importation of Wildlife is a plain English title covering several Ontario offences involving wildlife transported into the province.  In this context, importation means transporting wildlife into Ontario from another jurisdiction.  It is not limited to crossing an international border and can include transportation into Ontario from another Canadian province or territory.

Section 53 of the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act, 1997 provides that a person must not transport into Ontario game wildlife or specially protected wildlife for which a licence or permit is required by regulation without first obtaining that licence or permit.

Game wildlife and specially protected wildlife are legal categories under Ontario's Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act, 1997.  Whether the wildlife involved in a section 53 charge falls within one of those categories depends on its species and legal classification.

Ontario Regulation 666/98 also creates more specific import restrictions for cervids, meaning members of the deer family.  These include a permit requirement for transporting live cervids into Ontario and restrictions on transporting into Ontario the whole or any part of a cervid that died outside the province.

The exact offence therefore depends on what was transported, whether it was alive or dead, the species and legal classification, the permit or other authority required, and any regulatory exception that applied.  Other wildlife possession and transportation offences are organized within Wildlife Possession & Transportation Charges.

Does Lawfully Hunting Wildlife Outside Ontario Make It Legal to Bring Into Ontario?

No.  Lawful hunting or possession in another jurisdiction does not automatically make transportation into Ontario lawful.  Ontario can impose its own import, disease control, permit, marking, and possession requirements on wildlife brought into the province.

This distinction is especially important for cervids.  A deer, elk, moose, caribou, or another member of the deer family may have been lawfully harvested elsewhere but still be subject to Ontario restrictions on which parts may be brought into the province.

What Are the Rules for a Cervid That Died Outside Ontario?

Ontario Regulation 666/98 generally prohibits transporting into Ontario the whole or any part of a cervid that died outside Ontario unless an exception applies.  These rules are intended to reduce the risk of introducing or spreading chronic wasting disease.

Chronic wasting disease is a transmissible disease of the nervous system that affects members of the deer family.  For a cervid that died outside Ontario, the regulation allows certain lower risk items to be transported into the province, including:

• Meat that was butchered, deboned, and packaged before being transported into Ontario;
• A finished taxidermy mount;
• Tanned skin; and
• Antlers, or a skull cap with antlers attached, where no tissue or skin remains attached and the antlers or skull cap are separate from the skull.

The regulation also contains limited exceptions for qualifying research and for a person temporarily travelling through Ontario with the cervid remains securely contained.  The exceptions for the items listed above and the temporary transit exception do not apply where the person knew or ought to have known before the cervid was transported into Ontario that it had tested positive for chronic wasting disease.

If an exception is relied upon, additional marking or container requirements may apply.  The exact condition of the wildlife and how it was packaged or labelled can therefore be important evidence.

What Are the Rules for Importing a Live Cervid?

A person must not transport a live cervid into Ontario without a permit from the Minister authorizing the transport.  This rule applies even where the cervid is intended to be kept as a farmed animal.

The live cervid permit system includes disease control requirements connected with the jurisdiction and herd from which the animal originates.  A permitted cervid must also be delivered as required by the regulation, and identification and secure transport requirements can apply after the permit is issued.

The import permit itself is therefore only one part of the regulatory scheme.  If your ticket concerns delivery, identification, possession after an unlawful import, or secure containment rather than the initial import without a permit, the exact regulation stated on the ticket should be reviewed separately.

What Law Applies?

The principal statutory import provision is section 53 of the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act, 1997.  Ontario Regulation 666/98, Possession, Buying and Selling of Wildlife, contains the current cervid specific import and disease control rules.

Section 4.1 of Ontario Regulation 666/98 regulates transporting into Ontario and possessing the whole or any part of a cervid that died outside Ontario.  Section 30.1 regulates the transport of live cervids into Ontario and the related permit requirements.

Different provisions govern releasing imported wildlife after it has entered Ontario, transporting wildlife out of Ontario, transporting unlawfully killed or possessed wildlife, and transporting wildlife in containers.  Those are separate offences and should not be treated as the same charge merely because transportation is involved.

What Must Be Proven?

The prosecutor, meaning the lawyer or representative presenting the government's case, must prove every required part of the particular charge beyond a reasonable doubt.  Beyond a reasonable doubt is the high legal standard that must be met before the court can find you guilty.

For a section 53 charge of unlawfully importing wildlife, the issues may include:

• Your identity as the person who transported the wildlife into Ontario;
• The wildlife and species involved;
• That it was game wildlife or specially protected wildlife within the charged provision;
• That the wildlife was transported into Ontario;
• That a licence or permit was required by the applicable regulation; and
• That the required licence or permit had not been obtained before the transport.

For a charge involving a cervid that died outside Ontario under subsection 4.1(1) of Ontario Regulation 666/98, the prosecution may need to establish that the item was the whole or part of a cervid, that the cervid died outside Ontario, and that it was transported into Ontario in circumstances prohibited by the regulation.

For a live cervid charge under subsection 30.1(1), the prosecution may need to establish that you transported a live cervid into Ontario and that the required Minister's permit had not been issued before the transport.

If you rely on a statutory or regulatory authorization, exception, exemption, or qualification, the applicable burden concerning that provision must also be considered.

What Are the Current Set Fines?

The current set fine depends on the offence stated on your ticket.  A set fine is the preset fine used when a particular provincial offence is dealt with by ticket.

Current Ontario set fines for the principal import offences covered by this page include:

• $250 for unlawfully importing wildlife under section 53 of the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act, 1997;
• $750 for unlawfully transporting the whole or any part of a cervid that died outside Ontario under subsection 4.1(1) of Ontario Regulation 666/98; and
• $750 for transporting a live cervid into Ontario without a permit under subsection 30.1(1) of Ontario Regulation 666/98.

Other related cervid offences can carry different set fines, including offences involving possession after an unlawful live import, required identification, delivery, marking, or chronic wasting disease reporting.  The exact wording and section number on your ticket determine which fine applies.

The set fine is not necessarily the total amount payable.  A victim fine surcharge is an additional amount Ontario adds to a fine after conviction, and applicable court costs may also be added.

The general statutory maximum for an individual convicted of an offence under the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act, 1997 is a fine of up to $25,000, imprisonment for up to one year, or both.  If an offence was committed for commercial purposes, the enhanced maximum can be a fine of up to $100,000, imprisonment for up to two years, or both.  These are statutory maximums and are not the automatic or usual result of a ticket.

Can This Charge Affect a Licence or Authorization?

A licence cancellation or prohibition is not automatic merely because you have been charged.  A charge is not a conviction.

After conviction, however, the court may prohibit a person for a specified period from possessing, applying for, or obtaining a licence or authorization related to the offence and from engaging in the activity for which it would be required.  If the person already holds the affected licence or authorization, the court must order it cancelled when such a prohibition is imposed.

Could Wildlife or Other Property Be Seized?

Yes, where the statutory requirements for seizure are met.  A seizure means wildlife or other property has been taken into official custody.

Depending on the investigation, relevant property may include the wildlife or wildlife parts, containers, permits, licences, veterinary or animal health records, shipping or border records, hunting documents from another jurisdiction, electronic records, and other evidence connected with the transport.

Forfeiture means permanent loss of ownership.  Seizure does not itself establish guilt or automatically mean property will be permanently lost, but wildlife and other seized property may be subject to forfeiture where the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act, 1997 authorizes it.

What Evidence May Be Used?

Illegal importation cases often depend on species identification, where the wildlife came from, what condition it was in, when it crossed into Ontario, and what permit or exception applied.  Relevant evidence may include:

• The wildlife, carcass, parts, meat, hide, antlers, taxidermy item, or live animal involved;
• Photographs, videos, samples, or species identification evidence;
• Ontario permits, licences, authorizations, and applications;
• Hunting licences, tags, permits, or harvest records from another jurisdiction;
• Shipping documents, receipts, invoices, border records, travel records, or vehicle information;
• Butcher, taxidermy, veterinary, herd certification, or chronic wasting disease records;
• Packaging, labels, and markings on containers or wildlife parts;
• Conservation Officer notes, photographs, recordings, and observations;
• Witness evidence; and
• Statements or electronic communications attributed to you or other people involved.

Disclosure is the relevant information and evidence in the prosecutor's possession or control that you are entitled to receive, subject to the law.  Disclosure should be obtained and reviewed before important decisions are made about a disputed charge.

What Possible Defences or Legal Issues May Apply?

The defence depends on the exact import offence, species, condition of the wildlife, permit requirements, origin, packaging, applicable exceptions, and available evidence.  Not every defence or legal issue applies to every charge.

The Wildlife Was Not Covered by the Charged Provision

A section 53 charge depends on the wildlife falling within the legal category stated in the offence and on a licence or permit being required by regulation.  A cervid specific charge depends on the animal meeting the regulatory definition and the facts required by the particular provision.  Species identification and legal classification may therefore be important.

The Required Permit Had Been Obtained

If the charge is based on transporting wildlife into Ontario without a required permit, a valid permit issued before the transport may answer an important part of the charge.  The permit must apply to the wildlife, person, movement, and circumstances involved.

A Dead Cervid Exception Applied

The whole or part of a cervid that died outside Ontario may fall within one of the specific exceptions for properly prepared meat, finished taxidermy mounts, tanned skin, qualifying antlers or skull caps, research, or temporary transit.  The physical condition, packaging, marking, and other requirements of the relied upon exception must be satisfied.

The Evidence Does Not Establish Transportation Into Ontario

The prosecution must prove the transportation alleged in the charge.  Ownership or possession of wildlife in Ontario does not automatically prove that you were the person who transported it into the province.

Due Diligence

Due diligence means taking all reasonable care in the circumstances to prevent the offence.  The Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act, 1997 expressly recognizes this defence where its requirements are established.  Evidence that you checked Ontario import requirements, obtained permits, verified the species and origin, arranged compliant processing, or took other reasonable steps may be relevant.

Honest and Reasonable Mistake of Fact

An honest and reasonable mistake of fact means honestly and reasonably believing facts that, if true, would make the conduct innocent.  The Act expressly recognizes this defence.  A factual mistake might concern the species, whether the wildlife had been properly processed, whether a permit applied to the particular animal, or another material fact.  This is different from simply not knowing Ontario's import rules.

Evidence or Statement Issues

Species evidence, permits, shipping documents, processing records, chronic wasting disease information, officer observations, electronic records, witness evidence, and statements should be reviewed carefully.  Their accuracy, completeness, context, reliability, and lawful use can affect whether the charge is proven.

What Happens Next?

Your ticket or summons should identify the next procedural step and any response deadline or court date.  Do not miss that deadline while obtaining legal advice, requesting disclosure, or deciding how to respond.

After disclosure is obtained, the charge can be compared with the wildlife, species classification, place of origin, condition and processing of the wildlife, permit requirements, transportation records, applicable exceptions, Conservation Officer evidence, and any defence supported by the circumstances.

The prosecutor may withdraw the charge, meaning the charge is no longer being pursued, or the matter may be resolved by a guilty plea or another agreement, or proceed to trial.  The appropriate response depends on the evidence, legal issues, possible consequences, and circumstances of your case.

How Can DefendCharges.ca™ Help?

DefendCharges.ca™ can review the wording on your ticket, summons, seizure notice, or other documents and compare it with the wildlife, records, permits or authorizations, origin, processing, and transportation involved.  This can help identify the exact charge, the legal requirements that apply, and the factual issues that may be important to your case.

If the matter proceeds through court, DefendCharges.ca™ can explain the court process, review the available evidence and legal issues, discuss possible penalties or other consequences, and help you understand your options for responding to the charge.

Have Questions About Hunting Charges?

Whether you have been charged with one hunting or wildlife offence or several, understanding your legal options is important.  DefendCharges.ca™ can review your case, explain the charges you are facing, and help you understand your legal options and the best course of action.  Contact us today to discuss your situation.

Key Takeaways

• Illegal Importation of Wildlife is a plain English title covering more than one Ontario offence involving wildlife transported into the province;
• Section 53 prohibits transporting regulated game wildlife or specially protected wildlife into Ontario without first obtaining the required licence or permit;
• Ontario has separate strict rules for live cervids and for the whole or parts of cervids that died outside Ontario;
• Lawful hunting or possession in another jurisdiction does not automatically make importation into Ontario lawful;
• Current set fines include $250 for unlawfully importing wildlife under section 53 and $750 for the principal live cervid and dead cervid import offences under Ontario Regulation 666/98;
• The species, origin, condition of the wildlife, permit status, processing, and any applicable exception can be central to the charge; and
• The exact offence wording and disclosure should be reviewed before deciding how to respond.

Conclusion

An Illegal Importation of Wildlife charge should be reviewed using the exact offence wording, wildlife and species, where it came from, whether it was alive or dead, how it was processed or packaged, what permit or authority was required, and whether a regulatory exception applied.  Ontario's import rules can apply even where the wildlife was lawfully hunted, possessed, or acquired elsewhere.

Before paying the ticket or entering a plea, review the charge, disclosure, permits, hunting and transportation records, processing or animal health records, possible exceptions or defences, and potential consequences.  Legal representation can help determine which Ontario import rule applies and whether the evidence proves the offence.