Hunting Canada Geese Without a Permit in Ontario:

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Last Updated: September 17 2026

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Question:I’m in Ontario and received a charge for Hunting Canada Geese Without a Permit, what should I do next to protect my rights?

Answer:DefendCharges.ca™ can help you respond to a federal summons or contraventions ticket for unauthorized Canada Goose hunting by reviewing the exact offence wording and timing, confirming whether you held a valid Migratory Game Bird Hunting Permit (and the Canadian Wildlife Habitat Conservation Stamp) for the date of the hunt, and organizing evidence for the best available response strategy under Ontario and federal process.   Don’t miss deadlines on your ticket or court date.   Call (647) 559-3377 to book a paralegal review focused on possible issues like permit validity, the difference between having no authorization vs failing to carry or show it, and practical next steps to reduce risk and costs.

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Hunting Canada Geese Without a Permit in Ontario

Received a ticket or summons for Hunting Canada Geese Without a Permit in Ontario, the charge concerns whether you hunted Canada Geese without the federal authorization required to hunt migratory game birds.  For ordinary recreational Canada Goose hunting, that federal authorization is a valid Migratory Game Bird Hunting Permit.

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

Do not panic.  There is not a separate ordinary recreational permit issued only for Canada Geese.  The required federal permit is the Migratory Game Bird Hunting Permit used for migratory game birds generally, and having no valid permit is different from having a permit but failing to carry or show it.

This page explains what a Hunting Canada Geese Without a Permit charge means, what federal permit is required, how it differs from your Ontario hunting licence and conservation stamp, what must be proven, current fines and possible consequences, evidence that may matter, possible defences and legal issues, seizure and forfeiture, and what may happen next.  This offence is part of Waterfowl & Migratory Bird Charges.

I Received a Hunting Canada Geese Without a Permit Ticket or Summons.  What Should I Do?

Read the exact offence wording and section number on your documents and do not miss the response deadline or required court date.  A summons is a court document requiring you to attend court or respond as directed.  A federal ticket involving this conduct may use the wording Unauthorized hunting rather than the plain English page title used here.

Check whether the charge refers to subsection 27(1) of the Migratory Birds Regulations, 2022.  Keep your Migratory Game Bird Hunting Permit, electronic or paper permit records, purchase confirmation, Canadian Wildlife Habitat Conservation Stamp information, Ontario Outdoors Card and Small Game Licence records, photographs, messages, GPS information, and every document provided by the officer.

If you obtained a permit before the hunting described in the charge, preserve records showing when it was issued and became available to you.  If a permit was obtained only after the hunting occurred, the later purchase does not establish that federal authorization existed at the earlier time.

Should I Pay the Ticket?

If you pay a federal contraventions ticket as directed, a conviction can be entered and recorded against you.  A conviction means a finding of guilt.  Before paying, make sure the ticket actually concerns Unauthorized hunting under subsection 27(1) and not a different permit or stamp offence.

This distinction matters because federal law separately addresses hunting without authorization, hunting under a permit without the required conservation stamp, failing to have an existing permit on your person, and failing to show an existing permit to a game officer.  Different provisions and ticket fines apply to those offences.

If you believe a valid permit already existed, you were not legally hunting Canada Geese, another federal authorization applied, or the charge does not match what occurred, those issues should be reviewed before deciding how to respond.

What Is Hunting Canada Geese Without a Permit?

Hunting Canada Geese Without a Permit is the species specific plain English title used on this page for unauthorized hunting under subsection 27(1) of the Migratory Birds Regulations, 2022.  That provision states that a person must not hunt migratory game birds unless authorized by the federal regulations.

A Canada Goose is a migratory game bird for the purpose of Canada's migratory bird hunting rules.  A migratory game bird is a migratory bird that federal law permits to be hunted when the applicable authorization and other hunting requirements are satisfied.

For ordinary recreational hunting, the relevant authorization is a Migratory Game Bird Hunting Permit, often shortened to MGBH Permit.  The permit allows its holder to hunt migratory game birds primarily for human consumption and to possess the birds hunted under the permit, subject to the other federal rules.

The permit does not make every Canada Goose hunt lawful.  Separate rules govern open seasons, hunting hours, bag limits, hunting methods, ammunition, possession, transportation, and other conduct.  Those issues are separate from whether you had the federal permit required for the hunting described in this charge.

This page focuses only on the Canada Goose permit charge.  Other offences arising from the same hunt should be considered separately under Waterfowl & Migratory Bird Charges.

Is There a Separate Canada Goose Hunting Permit?

No.  Ontario hunters do not ordinarily obtain a separate recreational permit specifically called a Canada Goose permit.  The federal document used for ordinary Canada Goose hunting is the Migratory Game Bird Hunting Permit.

This distinction can matter when reviewing your ticket or your recollection of the hunt.  A person may say they did not have a "Canada Goose permit" when they actually held the federal MGBH Permit required for Canada Goose hunting.

The permit record itself, rather than the informal name used during a conversation with an officer, should be checked against the date of the hunting.

Do I Need a Federal Permit if I Have an Ontario Small Game Licence?

Yes.  An Ontario Small Game Licence does not replace the federal Migratory Game Bird Hunting Permit.  For ordinary migratory game bird hunting in Ontario, a hunter requires the federal permit and Canadian Wildlife Habitat Conservation Stamp as well as the applicable Ontario Outdoors Card and Small Game Licence.

The federal and provincial documents provide different legal authority.  A person can therefore hold a valid Ontario Small Game Licence and still face a federal Unauthorized hunting charge if the required federal permit was not valid when the Canada Goose hunting occurred.

Likewise, a valid federal permit does not replace the Ontario hunting authority required by provincial law.  Where the same incident resulted in both federal and Ontario charges, each charge should be reviewed according to its own requirements.

What Is the Canadian Wildlife Habitat Conservation Stamp?

The Canadian Wildlife Habitat Conservation Stamp is a separate federal requirement associated with the Migratory Game Bird Hunting Permit.  Federal law prohibits hunting migratory game birds under an MGBH Permit unless an authorized habitat conservation stamp appears on that permit.

For an electronic permit, the stamp image is included with the electronic permit.  A person who had an MGBH Permit but lacked the required stamp can face a different offence from Unauthorized hunting under subsection 27(1).

The exact wording on your ticket should therefore be checked before assuming that a permit problem and a conservation stamp problem are the same charge.

What If I Had a Valid Permit but Did Not Have It With Me?

That is legally different from having no federal hunting authorization.  Federal law separately requires a Migratory Game Bird Hunting Permit holder to have the permit on their person while hunting and to show it immediately when requested by a game officer.

A game officer is an officer authorized to enforce the Migratory Birds Convention Act, 1994 and its regulations.  The permit carrying and production requirements are separate from subsection 27(1).

If a valid permit had already been issued before the hunt, permit records and purchase confirmations may help distinguish an Unauthorized hunting charge from a charge concerning failure to carry or show the permit.

Can an Expired Permit Be Used to Hunt Canada Geese?

No.  The Migratory Game Bird Hunting Permit must be valid when the hunting occurs.  Under the current federal regulation, the permit expires on June 30 following its date of issue.

A permit from an earlier permit period does not continue to authorize later hunting after it expires.  If the charge concerns permit expiry, compare the issue date, expiry date, hunting date, and any later permit purchase with the enforcement evidence.

Do Minor Hunters Need a Federal Permit?

Yes.  A minor still needs a Migratory Game Bird Hunting Permit to hunt Canada Geese under the ordinary recreational hunting rules.  Federal law defines a minor as a person under 18 years of age.

A minor may obtain the federal permit and conservation stamp without the usual federal fees.  The minor permit holder must also hunt with a qualifying accompanying adult under the federal rules.

If the person charged was a minor, the permit issue should be separated from any charge concerning the required accompanying adult.  They involve different legal requirements.

Are There Exceptions to the Ordinary Federal Permit Requirement?

Yes, but an exception or other authorization must actually apply to the activity involved.  Federal law recognizes that an individual exercising a hunting right recognized and affirmed by section 35 of the Constitution Act, 1982 may exercise that right without an ordinary hunting permit.

This is a specific constitutional harvesting provision, not a general exemption from federal migratory bird law.  Whether it applies depends on the particular right and the circumstances in which it was being exercised.

Federal law can also authorize certain migratory bird activities under other permits, including activities connected with damage or danger in specified circumstances.  Another permit matters to this charge only if it actually authorized the Canada Goose activity described in the case.

What Law Applies?

The principal federal laws are the Migratory Birds Convention Act, 1994 and the Migratory Birds Regulations, 2022.  Subsection 27(1) of the regulations prohibits hunting migratory game birds unless the person is authorized by the regulations.

Section 30 describes the ordinary Migratory Game Bird Hunting Permit authority.  Related provisions address the conservation stamp, minor hunters, permit expiry, carrying and showing the permit, and the consequences that can follow certain guilty findings.

Subsection 27(1) is also a designated regulatory provision for enforcement under the Migratory Birds Convention Act, 1994.  The federal Contraventions Regulations provide the short form description Unauthorized hunting and the applicable ticket fine.

What Must Be Proven?

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

For a Hunting Canada Geese Without a Permit charge based on Unauthorized hunting under subsection 27(1), the important issues will generally include whether:

• You were the person involved in the hunting activity;
• Your conduct legally amounted to hunting;
• The bird involved was a Canada Goose or other migratory game bird governed by the provision;
• The activity occurred on the date and at the location relied upon in the charge; and
• You were not authorized under the Migratory Birds Regulations, 2022 to engage in that hunting activity.

The permit issue should be determined using the records and circumstances that existed when the hunting occurred.  Evidence that a permit was purchased later does not answer whether authorization existed at the earlier time.

Can You Be Charged if No Canada Goose Was Shot or Killed?

Yes.  A successful harvest is not required before conduct can legally amount to hunting under federal migratory bird law.

The Migratory Birds Regulations, 2022 define hunt to include chasing, pursuing, following, lying in wait for, or attempting in any manner to capture, kill, take, injure, or harass a migratory bird, whether or not the bird is actually captured, killed, taken, injured, or harassed.

A missed shot, pursuit, or other conduct meeting that definition can therefore be relevant to an Unauthorized hunting charge.  Simply being in an area where Canada Geese are hunted, travelling with another hunter, scouting, or possessing outdoor equipment does not automatically establish every part of the offence.

What Common Situations Lead to This Charge?

No Federal Permit Had Been Obtained

The permit records may show that no valid Migratory Game Bird Hunting Permit existed when the officer says the Canada Goose hunting occurred.  Having an Ontario hunting licence does not replace that federal permit.

The Permit Was Purchased After the Hunting

A hunter may have obtained the federal permit later on the same day or after contact with an officer.  The transaction time can be important because a later permit does not retroactively authorize earlier hunting.

The Hunter Relied on an Expired Permit

The hunter may have retained a permit from an earlier permit period and believed it remained valid.  The issue and expiry dates should be compared with the date identified in the charge.

A Valid Permit Existed but Was Not Produced

The officer may have been unable to confirm the permit during the encounter.  If records establish that a valid permit existed before the hunting, the issue may concern carrying or showing the permit rather than lack of federal hunting authority.

A Minor Hunted Without Obtaining the Permit

A minor can obtain the permit and conservation stamp without the usual federal fees but still requires the permit.  Age alone does not remove the ordinary federal permit requirement.

What Is the Fine for Hunting Canada Geese Without a Permit?

The current federal Contraventions Regulations list a $250 per bird ticket fine for Unauthorized hunting under subsection 27(1) of the Migratory Birds Regulations, 2022.  This is the federal ticket offence that most directly corresponds to Hunting Canada Geese Without a Permit.

The current federal ticket fines for some related but different offences are:

• Hunting under a permit without a conservation stamp: $150;
• Failure to have the hunting permit on your person: $250; and
• Failure to show the hunting permit to a game officer: $250.

The exact provision on your ticket determines which fine applies.  Because the Unauthorized hunting fine is expressed as $250 per bird, the number of birds identified in the charging document should also be checked.

The federal definition of hunting does not require a bird to have been killed, while the Contraventions Regulations describe the ticket fine as a per bird amount.  If no goose was killed or taken, the exact ticket wording and amount should be reviewed rather than assuming how the per bird fine has been applied.

A ticket proceeding is different from a prosecution under the full offence and penalty provisions of the Migratory Birds Convention Act, 1994.  A person convicted in a proceeding commenced by means of a contraventions ticket is not liable to imprisonment under the Contraventions Act.

If a designated offence is prosecuted under the Migratory Birds Convention Act, 1994 rather than dealt with as an ordinary ticket, the statutory penalties can be substantially higher.  For an individual convicted of a first offence on summary conviction, the Act provides a fine from $5,000 to $300,000, imprisonment for up to six months, or both.  If prosecuted by indictment, the first offence range is a fine from $15,000 to $1,000,000, imprisonment for up to three years, or both.  An indictment is the more serious federal prosecution procedure.

Those statutory ranges are not the automatic consequence of an ordinary $250 per bird ticket.  The procedure actually used in your case determines the available sentencing consequences.

A guilty finding for Unauthorized hunting can also affect federal migratory game bird hunting privileges.  Subject to the court and Ministerial provisions in the regulations, a Migratory Game Bird Hunting Permit held by the person can cease to be valid, and the person is generally prohibited from applying for another permit for 12 months unless the Minister first gives permission.

What Evidence May Be Used?

These cases often depend on federal permit records and evidence showing whether you were actually hunting Canada Geese.

Federal Permit Records

Your Migratory Game Bird Hunting Permit, purchase confirmation, issue date, expiry date, electronic account information, and transaction timestamp may establish whether federal authorization existed when the hunting occurred.

Ontario Licence and Stamp Records

Your Ontario Outdoors Card and Small Game Licence can show what provincial authority you held, while the Canadian Wildlife Habitat Conservation Stamp information can help distinguish a permit charge from a separate stamp issue.

Officer and Witness Evidence

Game officer observations, notes, photographs, video, statements, and witness accounts may be used to establish what you were doing, where the activity occurred, and whether your conduct met the federal definition of hunting.

Bird and Hunting Equipment Evidence

Recovered geese, photographs, feathers, firearms, ammunition, decoys, calls, blinds, boats, or other equipment may help establish the species and nature of the hunting activity.

Electronic and Location Evidence

GPS records, photographs, messages, timestamps, phone information, and electronic permit transactions may help establish the date, location, purpose of the activity, or timing of the permit purchase.

Disclosure is the evidence and information the prosecution must provide as required by law so that you can understand and answer the charge.  It should be compared with your permit records and the exact offence wording on your documents.

What Possible Defences and Legal Issues May Apply?

The legal issues depend on the exact charge, your permit history, what you were doing, the bird involved, and the reliability of the evidence.  No particular issue guarantees that the charge will be dismissed.

A Valid Federal Permit Already Existed

Federal permit records may establish that a Migratory Game Bird Hunting Permit had already been issued and remained valid when the Canada Goose hunting occurred.  The permit holder's identity, issue date, expiry date, and hunting date should be compared carefully.

The Problem Was Carrying or Showing the Permit

If a valid permit existed but was not produced during the encounter, the facts may involve the separate permit carrying or showing requirements rather than Unauthorized hunting.  The offence section written on the ticket is important.

You Were Not Hunting Canada Geese

You may have been scouting, photographing birds, retrieving equipment, travelling, operating a boat, or accompanying another hunter without engaging in conduct that meets the federal definition of hunting.  The actual activity and purpose shown by the evidence should be reviewed.

The Bird Was Not a Migratory Game Bird

The prosecution must connect the charge to a bird covered by the federal hunting provision.  Species identification may matter where the bird category is genuinely disputed.  Misidentification as one migratory game bird instead of another will not necessarily resolve a permit charge because the same federal permit can apply to multiple migratory game bird species.

Another Federal Authorization Applied

The activity may have been carried out under another federal permit that specifically authorized what occurred.  The permit conditions, person authorized, location, purpose, and activity should be compared with the charge.

A Constitutionally Protected Harvesting Right Applied

The evidence may establish that the activity was an exercise of a right recognized and affirmed by section 35 of the Constitution Act, 1982 and came within the federal harvesting provision.  Whether that authorization applies depends on the particular right and circumstances.

Due Diligence

The Migratory Birds Convention Act, 1994 recognizes a due diligence defence for this type of offence.  Due diligence means taking all reasonable care in the circumstances to prevent the offence.

Permit purchase confirmations, records of efforts to verify permit status, technical records, communications, and other evidence may be relevant.  Simply not knowing that a federal permit was required is different from establishing that reasonable steps were taken to prevent the offence.

Could Canada Geese, Hunting Equipment, or Other Property Be Seized or Forfeited?

Yes, where the federal statutory requirements are met.  During a lawful inspection, a game officer can seize something the officer believes on reasonable grounds was involved in a contravention or will provide evidence of one.

Depending on the investigation, this may include Canada Geese, hunting equipment, permit records, documents, or other property connected with the charge.  Seizure means property has been taken into official custody and does not itself establish guilt.

Forfeiture means permanent loss of ownership.  Following conviction, a court may order forfeiture of seized property by means of or in relation to which the offence was committed where the statutory requirements are satisfied.  Keep every seizure notice, inventory, receipt, and document identifying what was taken.

What Happens Next?

What happens next depends on the document you received, how you respond, and whether the incident resulted in only the federal permit charge or additional offences.  Do not miss the response deadline or court date while obtaining legal advice or requesting disclosure.

If you dispute the charge, compare the disclosure with your federal permit records, purchase timestamps, conservation stamp information, Ontario licence records, officer observations, species evidence, location information, witness accounts, and any records supporting another form of authorization.

The matter may resolve without a trial or may proceed to trial if the charge remains disputed.  At trial, the prosecutor must prove the required parts of the charge beyond a reasonable doubt, while any defence relied upon must be considered under the applicable federal law.

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, and activity 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 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

• There is no separate ordinary recreational Canada Goose permit; the federal permit used for Canada Goose hunting is the Migratory Game Bird Hunting Permit;
• An Ontario Small Game Licence does not replace the federal permit, and ordinary Canada Goose hunting in Ontario requires both federal and provincial authority;
• The federal short form offence most directly corresponding to hunting Canada Geese without authorization is Unauthorized hunting under subsection 27(1);
• The current federal contravention fine for Unauthorized hunting is $250 per bird;
• Having no valid permit is different from having a valid permit but failing to carry or show it;
• A Canada Goose does not have to be killed because the federal definition of hunting includes pursuit, lying in wait, and attempts; and
• Federal permit records, transaction timestamps, officer observations, species evidence, and evidence showing what you were doing may be central to the case.

Conclusion

A Hunting Canada Geese Without a Permit charge should be reviewed using the exact offence wording and section number, your federal permit history, the hunting date, the wildlife involved, and the evidence showing what you were doing.  A true Unauthorized hunting charge under subsection 27(1) is different from failing to carry or show an existing permit or hunting under a permit without the required conservation stamp.

Before paying a ticket or deciding how to respond, preserve your federal permit and Ontario licence records, obtain the available disclosure, and compare the evidence with the authorization requirements that applied when the hunting occurred.  Legal representation can help determine what must be proven and whether a valid permit, different permit offence, hunting issue, another federal authorization, protected harvesting right, due diligence defence, or another legal issue affects the charge.