Black bear hunting

Before hunting

• Choose the site at which you wish to hunt and obtain the necessary permission if you will be hunting on private land that does not belong to you.
• Identify the hunting zone in which your area is located, and the applicable hunting dates.
• Purchase your black bear hunting licence.
• Review the rules applicable to the handling, use and transportation of your weapon.
• Read and make sure you understand the general rules and the special rules.

Comply with the rules respecting:

• The baiting period for black bear
• The hunting licence, including:
  • Carrying your licence with you and a photo ID, issued by a government or a public body
  • Sharing your black bear hunting licence with a young hunter
• The times when hunting is permitted.
• The types of weapons and ammunition that may be used and how they must be handled and transported.
• Wearing a fluorescent orange bib.
• The restrictions applicable to certain hunting gear (sound amplifiers, etc.).
• Firing from a public road.
• Identifying your game animal.
• The safety and handling of your weapon, and firing safely (do not endanger other hunters).
• Bag limits.

• If necessary, follow the rules for locating an injured game animal.
• In the event that the animal is illegally killed (by accident or by mistake), follow the applicable rules.
• When you have found the animal, attach the required transportation coupon
• Transport your weapon in accordance with the rules (empty, in a closed case, etc.).
• Collect and eliminate waste properly (empty cartridges, waste from meals, etc.).
• Register your game online or at a registration station within 48 hours of leaving the hunting area.
• Leave the transportation coupon on the carcass, or on the skin if you do not keep the flesh, until the flesh is cut up or the skin is cured.

A hunter may kill 2 black bears per year: one during the spring season and one in selected zones during the fall season.

Harvesting is allocated by hunting zone, as follows:

Spring season: one black bear in all hunting zones except zones 20 and 22

Fall season: one black bear in hunting zones 1, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 15, 19, 23, 24, 26, the western portion of zone 27 and zone 29.

Food may not be used as bait for black bear during the following periods:

• From July 1 to August 15 in zones 16, 17, 19, the western portion of zone 27 and zone 29
• From July 1 to August 31 in zones 1 to 15, 18, 26, the eastern portion of zone 27 and zone 28.

See the hunting zone maps.