Ontario Hunting Seasons:

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Last Updated: September 21 2026

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Question:Can a paralegal help me confirm the correct 2026 Ontario hunting season rules for my species, WMU, and licence details without risking a charge?

Answer:Yes. A licensed paralegal at DefendCharges.ca™ can help you interpret Ontario’s open season rules for your exact species, Wildlife Management Unit (WMU), residency status, and required firearm or bow class, so you understand what’s actually lawful under Ontario hunting law, including the controlling framework under Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act, 1997, and the applicable open-season tables in Ontario regulations like Ontario Regulation 665/98, Hunting and Ontario Regulation 670/98, Open Seasons - Wildlife.  They can also walk you through “open” versus “closed” season concepts, plus related obligations like Outdoors Card, licence, tags, accreditation, and any bag or possession limits that must match your situation.  For guidance specific to your facts in Ontario, call (647) 559-3377 to discuss your season question and avoid common compliance mistakes.

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Ontario Hunting Seasons

Ontario does not have one hunting season that applies to every species, location, hunter, and hunting method.  Open seasons can differ by wildlife species, Wildlife Management Unit, residency status, firearm class, age or sex of the animal, and other conditions established by Ontario hunting law.

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

The 2026 Ontario Hunting Regulations Summary provides the province's practical annual guide to current hunting seasons and related requirements.  The controlling provincial rules are found in the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act, 1997 and regulations made under it, particularly Ontario Regulation 665/98, Hunting, and Ontario Regulation 670/98, Open Seasons - Wildlife.

This resource explains how Ontario hunting seasons work, what open and closed seasons mean, why seasons can differ across the province, how Wildlife Management Units and firearm classes affect season rules, and where to find the current official Ontario government season information.

What Is an Open Hunting Season?

An open season is the period during which hunting, trapping, or fishing for a particular species is permitted under the applicable law.

An open season does not by itself authorize every person to hunt.  Other requirements can still apply, including:

• A valid Outdoors Card;
• The required hunting licence;
• A tag or other hunting authorization where required;
• Hunter accreditation requirements;
• Applicable firearm or bow requirements;
• Wildlife Management Unit restrictions;
• Age or sex restrictions on the animal;
• Bag or possession limits;
• Property access requirements; and
• Other conditions established by law.

The season determines when the particular hunting opportunity exists.  It does not replace the other legal requirements that apply to the hunt.

What Is a Closed Hunting Season?

A closed season is the period during which hunting, trapping, or fishing for a particular species is not permitted.  The same situation is often described as hunting out of season.

A season can be closed because:

• The opening date has not yet arrived;
• The closing date has passed;
• No open season exists for that species in the area;
• The open season applies only in another Wildlife Management Unit;
• The season applies only to a different class of firearm or hunting method;
• The season applies only to a particular class of hunter; or
• An age, sex, or other condition in the applicable season table is not satisfied.

A hunting licence or tag does not create or extend an open season.  The applicable licence, tag, season, area, and other legal conditions operate together.

What Law Sets Ontario Hunting Seasons?

The provincial hunting season framework comes primarily from the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act, 1997, Ontario Regulation 665/98, Hunting, and Ontario Regulation 670/98, Open Seasons - Wildlife.

The Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act, 1997 defines an open season as the period during which hunting, trapping, or fishing for a species is permitted and a closed season as the period during which it is not permitted.

Ontario Regulation 665/98, Hunting contains the general rules connecting the hunting of game wildlife with Ontario's open-season tables.

Under subsection 25(2), except where another rule provides otherwise, a person hunting a species of game wildlife must hunt:

• In an area specified for that species in the applicable table;
• During the open season applicable to that person and area; and
• In accordance with any age or sex specification contained in the applicable table.

Ontario Regulation 670/98, Open Seasons - Wildlife contains the principal provincial open-season tables and related requirements.

What Does Ontario Regulation 670/98 Contain?

Ontario Regulation 670/98 contains legally prescribed season tables for provincially regulated wildlife.

Depending on the species and table, the Regulation can prescribe:

• The area where the hunting opportunity applies;
• The open season;
• Permitted times;
• The class or type of firearm;
• Daily bag limits;
• Possession limits;
• Age limits; and
• Other species specific conditions.

The applicable table must therefore be read as a whole.  A listed date range does not necessarily mean that every hunter, firearm, or animal of that species falls within the hunting opportunity.

Are the First and Last Dates of an Open Season Included?

Yes.  When Ontario Regulation 670/98 describes a period as beginning and ending on specific dates, both the first and last dates are included.

The Ontario Hunting Regulations Summary uses the same approach and states that open-season dates shown in the summary are inclusive.

For example, if an open season is shown as October 1 to October 15, both October 1 and October 15 are part of the open season, subject to any other applicable requirements.

A separate rule limiting hunting to particular hours of the day can still apply.  An open calendar date does not override a restriction on lawful hunting hours.

Why Are Hunting Seasons Different Across Ontario?

Ontario hunting seasons are organized according to species, geography, wildlife management objectives, and the type of hunting opportunity.

Factors that can affect the applicable season include:

• Species: Deer, moose, black bear, elk, wild turkey, grouse, rabbit, hare, furbearing mammals, and other wildlife have different season structures;
• Location: Different Wildlife Management Units can have different opening and closing dates;
• Residency: Some hunting opportunities distinguish between residents and non-residents;
• Firearm class: A particular season may allow bows, guns, or another prescribed firearm class;
• Age or sex: Some hunting opportunities apply only to animals meeting specified age or sex requirements; and
• Special conditions: Particular hunts can require allocations, validations, tags, or other authority.

For this reason, a general question such as whether "deer season" or "moose season" is open may not be specific enough.  The species, WMU, date, firearm class, and applicable hunting opportunity should be identified.

How Do Wildlife Management Units Affect Hunting Seasons?

A Wildlife Management Unit, commonly called a WMU, is a geographic area Ontario uses to organize wildlife management and hunting rules.

Open season dates can differ between WMUs.  The same species can therefore be open to hunting in one part of Ontario while having a different season or no comparable hunting opportunity in another area.

WMUs can also affect:

• Firearm classes;
• Tag opportunities;
• Controlled hunts;
• Age or sex requirements;
• Bag or possession limits; and
• Other location specific hunting rules.

Find an Ontario Wildlife Management Unit (WMU) map.

Can Neighbouring WMUs Have Different Seasons?

Yes.  Crossing a WMU boundary can place a hunter in an area with different season dates or hunting requirements.

This is particularly important where a WMU boundary follows a road, river, lake, or another geographic feature.  A hunting opportunity available on one side of a boundary does not automatically apply on the other side.

Ontario recommends checking the applicable WMU carefully when hunting near a neighbouring unit with different regulations.

Can a Season Apply to One Hunting Method but Not Another?

Yes.  Some Ontario season tables prescribe the class or type of firearm that may be used during a particular hunting period.

Ontario hunting law uses the term firearm broadly, and the season tables can distinguish between different prescribed firearm classes.

A particular period may therefore be open to hunting with bows while another period permits a different firearm class.  The season dates and the firearm class shown in the applicable table should be checked together.

What Is a Bow-Only Season?

A bow-only season is an open season during which the applicable season table restricts hunting to the prescribed bow firearm class.

The existence of a bow-only season does not mean that the same dates are necessarily open to hunting with a gun.  A separate gun season may have different dates or may not exist in that WMU.

The firearm class definitions used by the open-season tables are found in Ontario Regulation 665/98.

Can Seasons Differ for Residents and Non-Residents?

Yes.  Some Ontario hunting opportunities distinguish between Ontario residents and non-residents.

Where a table creates different seasons or conditions based on residency, the season applicable to the particular hunter should be used.

A season available to another hunter in the same area does not necessarily establish that the same hunting opportunity applies to everyone.

Can the Age or Sex of an Animal Affect the Season?

Yes.  Ontario hunting law can attach age or sex requirements to particular hunting opportunities.

Subsection 25(2) of Ontario Regulation 665/98 expressly requires compliance with any age or sex specification contained in the applicable open-season table.

Depending on the species and hunting opportunity, this can include distinctions involving adult or calf animals, antlered or antlerless animals, or other classifications used by Ontario hunting law.

Does a Hunting Licence Determine When the Season Is Open?

No.  A hunting licence provides hunting authority but does not establish or extend an open season.

A person may hold a valid species licence while the season for that species is closed in the applicable WMU.

The opposite is also true.  The existence of an open season does not replace a hunting licence or other authorization that is separately required.

Does a Hunting Tag Determine the Season?

No.  A tag does not create an open season.

Where a species requires tag authority, the tag and the applicable open season are separate requirements that must work together.

A tag can also contain conditions identifying the WMU, animal type, or other hunting authority associated with it.  Those conditions should be checked together with the applicable season rules.

Where Are Deer Hunting Seasons Found?

The Ontario Hunting Regulations Summary contains a separate white-tailed deer section with current deer hunting information and open-season tables.

Deer seasons can differ significantly by WMU and by firearm class.  Controlled deer hunt opportunities and other deer specific requirements can also apply.

View Ontario white-tailed deer hunting information.

Where Are Moose Hunting Seasons Found?

Ontario publishes current moose hunting information as part of the Hunting Regulations Summary.

Moose seasons and hunting authority can depend on the WMU, firearm class, type of moose, and tag or allocation held.

View Ontario moose hunting information.

Where Are Black Bear Hunting Seasons Found?

Ontario's black bear information contains the current spring and fall hunting season information for the WMUs where those opportunities exist.

Season dates and other requirements vary by area.

View Ontario black bear hunting information.

Where Are Wild Turkey Hunting Seasons Found?

Ontario publishes separate current information for wild turkey hunting.

Spring and fall wild turkey opportunities differ, and the applicable WMUs, hunting methods, bag limits, and other conditions should be checked.

View Ontario wild turkey hunting information.

Where Are Small Game and Furbearer Seasons Found?

The Ontario Hunting Regulations Summary contains separate information for small game and furbearing mammals.

Open seasons for species such as grouse, rabbit, hare, and furbearing mammals can depend on the WMU and species involved.

View Ontario small game and furbearing mammal information.

Are Migratory Game Bird Seasons Ontario Provincial Seasons?

Migratory game bird seasons are primarily governed by federal law rather than Ontario Regulation 670/98.

Ducks, geese, American Woodcock, common snipe, Mourning Doves, and other migratory game birds are governed principally by the federal Migratory Birds Convention Act, 1994 and Migratory Birds Regulations, 2022.

Environment and Climate Change Canada publishes a separate annual Ontario migratory game bird hunting summary containing federal districts, seasons, bag limits, possession limits, and special measures.

View the current Ontario Migratory Game Bird Hunting Regulations Summary.

Ontario licence and other provincial hunting requirements can still apply to the same migratory game bird hunt.

Can Ontario Hunting Seasons Change?

Yes.  Open seasons, hunting opportunities, geographic rules, and related requirements can change through amendments to Ontario hunting regulations.

Ontario also publishes a new Hunting Regulations Summary each year and can issue hunting notices and updates after the annual summary is released.

A previous year's season information should therefore not automatically be used for a later hunting year.

View Ontario Hunting Notices and Updates.

Where Can You Check the Current Ontario Hunting Seasons?

The 2026 Ontario Hunting Regulations Summary is the main practical Ontario government resource for current provincial hunting season information.

The 2026 summary is effective April 1, 2026 and contains separate sections for major species and groups of game wildlife.  It also includes WMU maps and other information used to identify the applicable hunting opportunity.

View the 2026 Ontario Hunting Regulations Summary.

Ontario states that the summary is a convenient reference and not a legal document or complete collection of the regulations.  When the exact legal wording matters, Ontario e-Laws should also be checked.

Where Can You Read Ontario Regulation 670/98?

Ontario Regulation 670/98, Open Seasons - Wildlife, contains the principal legally prescribed provincial open-season tables.

Read Ontario Regulation 670/98 - Open Seasons - Wildlife on Ontario e-Laws.

The Regulation should be checked for the applicable species, area, open season, firearm class or type, and any other requirement contained in the relevant table.

Where Can You Read Ontario Regulation 665/98?

Ontario Regulation 665/98, Hunting, contains general hunting requirements that work together with the open-season tables.

Read Ontario Regulation 665/98 - Hunting on Ontario e-Laws.

Section 25 contains important rules connecting game wildlife hunting with the areas, open seasons, age or sex specifications, bag limits, possession limits, and permitted times prescribed in the open-season tables.

Where Can You Read the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act, 1997?

The Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act, 1997 provides the principal provincial statutory framework for Ontario hunting law.

Read the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act, 1997 on Ontario e-Laws.

The Act contains the legal definitions of open season and closed season and provides the statutory authority for Ontario's hunting regulations.

Why Can the Exact Season Matter in a Legal Issue?

The applicable season can matter whenever a legal question depends on whether particular wildlife could lawfully be hunted at a particular place and time.

The relevant information can include the species, date, time, WMU, residency status, firearm class, age or sex of the animal, and any other conditions in the applicable table.

Where the issue concerns an earlier hunting year, the law and season information that were in force on the relevant date should be used rather than relying only on the current regulations.

How Can DefendCharges.ca™ Help?

DefendCharges.ca™ can help explain how Ontario hunting seasons, Wildlife Management Units, firearm classes, licences, tags, and other hunting requirements apply to a particular legal issue.  This can include identifying the applicable legislation, regulation, season table, WMU, or other requirement.

Where a hunting ticket, summons, investigation, seizure, or court proceeding involves season dates or location, DefendCharges.ca™ can review the applicable law and evidence, explain the legal issues and potential consequences, and help the person understand their options.

Key Takeaways

• Ontario does not have one hunting season that applies to every species, location, hunter, and hunting method;
• An open season is the period during which the applicable hunting activity is permitted, while a closed season is the period during which it is not;
• Ontario Regulation 670/98 contains the principal provincial open-season tables;
• Ontario Regulation 665/98 requires game wildlife to be hunted in the applicable area, during the applicable open season, and in accordance with any specified age or sex requirements;
• WMUs, residency status, firearm classes, age or sex requirements, and other conditions can affect the applicable hunting opportunity;
• The first and last dates stated for an Ontario open season are included;
• A hunting licence or tag does not create or extend an open season;
• Migratory game bird seasons are primarily governed by federal law rather than Ontario's provincial open-season regulation;
• The 2026 Ontario Hunting Regulations Summary is the practical starting point for current provincial season information; and
• Ontario e-Laws should be checked when the exact legal wording of a season requirement matters.

Conclusion

Ontario hunting seasons determine when particular wildlife may be hunted and can vary according to species, Wildlife Management Unit, hunter, firearm class, animal type, and other conditions.  The 2026 Ontario Hunting Regulations Summary provides a practical way to find current season information, while the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act, 1997, Ontario Regulation 665/98, and Ontario Regulation 670/98 provide the controlling provincial legal framework.  Current Ontario government information should be checked before relying on a hunting season.