Moose and black bear teeth collection

Each year, hunters and trappers can actively contribute to the monitoring of moose and black bear populations in different regions of Québec, by providing the teeth of game that they have hunted, or trapped in the case of bears. In return, they can know the age of the animal they harvested.

A tooth sample can be collected in a variety of ways:

• by a clerk of a big game registration station;
• by an employee or hunting guide for those hunting in structured wildlife territories;
• through postal solicitations;
• through various other partners (e.g., some regional trapper associations, butcher shops, etc.).

The information taken during sample collection is the same as that requested during game registration.

With your registration form or license number, you can obtain the age of the animal you harvested. Results are generally available in the following summer.

Tooth collection is a simple but very effective way to collaborate with the ministère de l'Environnement, de la Lutte contre les changements climatiques, de la Faune et des Parcs. The analysis of these samples allows it to calculate harvest rates and productivity indicators. The exercise also validates trends in these populations. These trends may influence the hunting patterns of the different participating regions and enable optimal and sustainable management of these populations.

For more information on tooth collection, or if you would like to participate, contact the Direction de la gestion de la faune of your region.

You can refer to the black bear tooth extraction procedure (PDF 421 Kb) for guidance on each step. 

Results are generally available one year after being sent to the Department.

For example, for a sample submitted in the summer of 2025, the results will be available at the end of the summer of 2026. If the submitted tooth is broken or if information is missing from the envelope, the sample cannot be analyzed and no result will be displayed.

Please enter the registration file number*, the hunting licence number or the trapping licence number**.

* 11 digits: this is your registration confirmation number (or file number) received when you registered your game.

** 12 digits: this is the number indicated at the top right of your licence. This number normally begins with the current year, followed by eight digits (e.g. 202412345678). For moose, please enter the licence number that was entered first when registering your game.