Migratory Game Bird Hunting Permit in Canada: How to Get One

By Travis Bader, Silvercore Outdoors

Last updated: 13 November 2026

To hunt ducks, geese or any other migratory game bird in Canada you need a valid federal Migratory Game Bird Hunting (MGBH) Permit with the Canadian Wildlife Habitat Conservation Stamp on it. The permit costs $17.00 plus applicable taxes, and that price includes the $8.50 stamp. You buy it online from Environment and Climate Change Canada, at select Canada Post outlets or from an independent vendor, and it expires on June 30 after the date of issue.

This page is general information, not legal advice. The law is the Migratory Birds Convention Act, 1994 and the Migratory Birds Regulations, 2022.

Who needs a Migratory Game Bird Hunting Permit?

A person who hunts migratory game birds in Canada needs one, with two exceptions written into the regulations. Section 27(1) of the Migratory Birds Regulations, 2022 states: "A person must not hunt migratory game birds unless authorized by these Regulations." Section 31(1) adds that a person must not hunt under the permit unless a habitat conservation stamp authorized by the Minister appears on it.

The two exceptions: section 21 lets an individual exercising a right recognized and affirmed by section 35 of the Constitution Act, 1982 hunt migratory birds without a permit, and section 27(2) lets the holder of a general hunting licence under Northwest Territories or Nunavut wildlife law hunt in that territory without one.

The Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) permit page sets out how the permit works:

• One permit, all of Canada. The permit is valid anywhere in Canada where migratory game bird hunting is allowed.
• Named holder only. Only the person named on the permit can use it.
• Carry it. You carry the paper or electronic permit at all times when hunting, and when you have unpreserved migratory game birds in your possession.

A companion who takes part needs a permit too. The ECCC frequently asked questions say a person without a permit cannot participate in hunting activities such as setting decoys, calling birds or retrieving birds.

How much does the permit and stamp cost?

The permit fee is $17.00 plus applicable taxes, and it includes the $8.50 Canadian Wildlife Habitat Conservation Stamp. You do not buy the stamp separately. The Youth MGBH Permit and its stamp are free of charge.

If you hunt waterfowl, every Silvercore Club member in good standing carries individual third-party liability coverage to a limit of $5 million that applies to hunting across Canada and the United States.

Is the stamp the same thing as the "duck stamp"?

Yes. ECCC's stamp page says the Canadian Wildlife Habitat Conservation Stamp is also known unofficially as the Canadian Duck Stamp. The funds go to a program managed by Wildlife Habitat Canada. On a paper permit the stamp is affixed. On an e-permit an image of the stamp appears on the PDF.

Where do I buy a migratory bird permit?

ECCC lists three places to buy the permit:

1. Online. Buy an e-permit through ECCC's Regulatory Services Platform. You can show it as a PDF on a working electronic device or as a printed copy.
2. Canada Post. Select Canada Post outlets sell the paper permit.
3. Independent vendors. ECCC publishes a list of independent vendors by province. That list shows no independent vendors in Quebec, Newfoundland and Labrador, Yukon, the Northwest Territories or Nunavut.

ECCC states that physical permits with physical stamps may be phased out as early as the 2027 to 2028 hunting season, and that e-permits will remain available online.

How long is the permit valid?

The permit expires on June 30 following the date of issue, under section 33 of the regulations. The 2026 permit went on sale on August 1, 2026 and is valid to June 30, 2027. Under section 31(3), the stamp is valid for as long as the permit it appears on.

What are the youth permit rules?

A hunter under 18 on the day the permit is issued can get a Youth MGBH Permit free of charge, online through the Regulatory Services Platform. Section 32 of the regulations and the ECCC permit page set the conditions:

• A mentor is required. The minor must be accompanied by an adult who holds a valid MGBH permit and has held one in a previous year.
• Two youths per mentor. A mentor may accompany no more than two minors at one time.
• The mentor may hunt. ECCC states the mentor may carry a firearm and hunt.
• Turning 18. The youth permit stays valid until June 30 after it was issued, even if the holder turns 18 first.

ECCC adds that provinces and territories may set their own youth and mentor requirements.

Do I still need a provincial licence and a PAL?

Yes, where they apply. The MGBH permit is a federal hunting permit only. ECCC states that you may also need a provincial or territorial licence, and tells hunters to check with the wildlife agency where they plan to hunt.

Firearms licensing is a separate federal requirement. The RCMP Minors page says a minor between 12 and 17 can get a Minor's Licence to borrow non-restricted firearms for approved purposes, hunting included, and that a minor can use firearms without a licence under the direct and immediate supervision of someone licensed to have that firearm. For adults, start with how to get your PAL.

Do I have to use non-toxic shot?

Yes, for almost every species. Section 38(1) of the regulations prohibits hunting migratory game birds while using shot other than non-toxic shot, or while having it in your possession in the hunting area. Section 38 lists the exceptions: American Woodcock, Band-tailed Pigeon, murres, Eurasian Collared-Dove, and Mourning Dove in British Columbia. Ducks and geese are not on that list anywhere in Canada.

What are the possession and labelling rules in the 2022 regulations?

The Migratory Birds Regulations, 2022 tie possession and labelling to whether a bird is "preserved":

• Possession limit (section 46). You must not have more unpreserved birds of a species than the possession limit for the area. A bird given to you counts toward your limit once you accept it.
• Preserved birds (section 1). A bird is preserved once it has been plucked and eviscerated, or had its edible portions removed outside the hunting area, and then frozen, cooked, dried, canned, smoked or made into sausage outside the hunting area. A bird mounted for taxidermy is also preserved.
• Labelling (section 50). An unpreserved bird must be labelled before it enters another person's possession, even temporarily. The label shows the hunter's full name and contact information, the date the bird was taken and the permit number, and the hunter signs it.
• Wing or head attached (section 52). An unpreserved bird must keep at least one fully feathered wing or the fully feathered head attached so the species can be identified.

What the Silvercore Club gives a waterfowl hunter

Every Silvercore Club member in good standing carries individual third-party liability coverage to a limit of $5 million, placed through HUB International and underwritten at Lloyd's. It applies to lawful firearms use, hunting, fishing, archery, camping and hiking, across Canada and the United States, and it sits on top of any personal liability policy you already hold. Members also get regulatory updates by email. Membership is $59 CAD a year, and anyone can join, with or without a PAL. Join the Silvercore Club.

Where are season dates and bag limits published?

ECCC publishes them each year in the provincial and territorial summaries, which include open season dates, daily bag limits and possession limits. Read the summary for the place you will hunt before every season. ECCC states that paper copies will no longer be offered starting with the 2027 to 2028 hunting season, and that electronic versions will stay on that page.

What do BC hunters need on top of the federal permit?

BC hunters need a Fish and Wildlife ID (FWID) and a BC hunting licence as well as the federal permit. The Province's hunting licences page lists a valid FWID as a general requirement, and its hunting FAQ states that migratory birds are regulated by the federal government and classified as small game in BC.

Season dates and limits for BC are in ECCC's British Columbia summary. Our guide to the ducks of BC covers the species with their own limits. The provincial steps are in how to hunt in BC.

Where can I learn to hunt ducks and geese?

Silvercore's online Waterfowl 101 course has sections on ecology, scouting, decoys, concealment, calling, shotguns and strategies for duck and goose hunting.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a migratory bird licence to hunt ducks in Canada?

Yes. To hunt ducks, geese or other migratory game birds in Canada you need a valid federal Migratory Game Bird Hunting Permit with the Canadian Wildlife Habitat Conservation Stamp on it. The permit is valid anywhere in Canada where this hunting is allowed. You may also need a provincial or territorial hunting licence.

How much is a migratory bird permit in Canada?

The Migratory Game Bird Hunting Permit costs $17.00 plus applicable taxes. That fee includes the $8.50 Canadian Wildlife Habitat Conservation Stamp, so you do not buy the stamp separately. The Youth Migratory Game Bird Hunting Permit and its stamp are free of charge for hunters under 18.

Where can I buy a migratory game bird hunting permit?

Environment and Climate Change Canada sells the e-permit online through its Regulatory Services Platform. Select Canada Post outlets and independent vendors sell the paper permit. Environment and Climate Change Canada states that paper permits with physical stamps may be phased out as early as the 2027 to 2028 hunting season.

When does a migratory bird permit expire?

A Migratory Game Bird Hunting Permit expires on June 30 following the date of issue, under section 33 of the Migratory Birds Regulations, 2022. The 2026 permit went on sale on August 1, 2026 and is valid to June 30, 2027. You buy a new permit for each season.

Can I use lead shot for ducks and geese in Canada?

No. Section 38 of the Migratory Birds Regulations, 2022 prohibits hunting migratory game birds with shot other than non-toxic shot, and prohibits having other shot in your possession in the hunting area. The listed exceptions are American Woodcock, Band-tailed Pigeon, murres, Eurasian Collared-Dove, and Mourning Dove in British Columbia.

Does a youth need a permit to hunt migratory birds?

Yes. A hunter under 18 can get a free Youth Migratory Game Bird Hunting Permit. The youth must be accompanied by a mentor who is 18 or older, holds a valid permit and has held one in a previous year. A mentor may accompany no more than two youth hunters at a time.

The Silvercore Path

• Join the Silvercore Club
• Waterfowl 101: online duck and goose hunting course
• How to hunt in BC: licence cost and steps
• Do I need a PAL to hunt in BC?
• CORE Hunter Education Course (Online)
• How to get your PAL in Canada