Hunting by people with disabilities and compensation for accidents

If you have a persistent, significant physical impairment that prevents you from hunting in accordance with the Act respecting the conservation and development of wildlife, you may be authorized to disregard some of the Act’s provisions.

Two kinds of authorization may be available:

• An authorization to be in a stopped vehicle (or trailer) and to be in possession of an armed crossbow or loaded firearm and to fire with a firearm, bow or crossbow from the vehicle or trailer. This authorization may be granted if you have a physical impairment that prevents you from moving around otherwise than in a wheelchair or by similar means.
• An authorization to hunt using a crossbow during a period when bow hunting only is permitted, except in zones 17, 22, 23 and 24. This authorization may be granted if you have a physical impairment that prevents you from using a hunting bow recurrently and effectively, while hunting or practising.

To check your eligibility or for information on what to do to obtain these authorizations, please see the section on Hunting authorizations for people with disabilities.

These authorizations only apply to you. The hunter who accompanies you cannot take advantage of the exemptions they grant, and must comply with the rules in force for the hunting season.

If you are a licensed hunter or trapper and suffer an injury (permanent total disability or total loss of a limb or total incurable loss of an eye) as a direct result of lawful recreational hunting or trapping, you may be eligible for a lump-sum payment of between $2,500 and $5,000, subject to certain conditions.

You may also be eligible for compensation if a loved one who died while legally hunting or trapping held a hunter's or trapper's certificate.

To apply for this compensation, you must email DPEX.PFQ@environnement.gouv.qc.ca within 90 days of the date of the hunting or trapping accident with the date, location and circumstances of the accident, as well as the nature of the injuries. 

Once your file has been opened, you will need to send the following documents to complete your claim:

• Hunting or Trapping Accident form (PDF 409 Kb).
• Attending physician’s certificate.
• Death certificate (if applicable).
• Provincial and federal estate tax receipts (if applicable).

You should then send all completed documents to the following address as soon as possible:

Ministère de l’Environnement, de la Lutte contre les changements climatiques, de la Faune et des Parcs
Direction des partenariats et de l’expertise
880, chemin Sainte-Foy
Québec (Québec) G1S 4X4

Information about checking your eligibility or that of a loved one and claim procedure details is available on the LégisQuébec website. Alternatively you can reach out to our customer service staff using the contact information shown below.

See also: Cancelling the certificate of a deceased person.