Regulations Amending the Migratory Birds Regulations, 2022 – Biennial Hunting Amendments for 2026-2028

Introduction

Key findings from the strategic environmental and economic assessment (SEEA) conducted for the Regulations Amending the Migratory Birds Regulations, 2022 – Biennial Hunting Amendments for 2026-2028 (the amendments), as published in the Canada Gazette on July 1, 2026.

The amendments help protect migratory game birds by supporting sustainable hunting. They also clarify certain provisions in the Migratory Birds Regulations, 2022 (MBR, 2022). The amendments support compliance and enforcement and help Canada meet its obligations under the Migratory Birds Convention Act, 1994.

Environment and Climate Change Canada (the Department) is responsible for the conservation and management of sustainable hunting of migratory game birds. The Department assesses migratory game bird populations to help ensure that hunting continues to support conservation goals. The MBR, 2022 are amended every two years to adjust hunting season dates, daily bag limits, and possession limits. If needed to protect migratory game bird populations, urgent regulatory amendments can be made at any time.

The key amendments for the 2026 to 2027 and 2027 to 2028 hunting seasons by province are listed below:

Prince Edward Island

• Changing the Woodcock hunting season to fixed calendar dates

Nova Scotia

• Delaying the start of the goose hunting season by 7 days, with no change to the total length of the season

Quebec

• Increasing the daily bag limit for Canada Geese and Cackling Geese in some hunting districts
• Creating a Sandhill Crane hunting season in some districts, for residents of Canada only (on farmland only)
• Reducing opportunities to hunt Snow Geese during the Special Measures for Overabundant Species Season

Ontario

• Increasing opportunities to harvest Canada Geese and Cackling Geese in the Southern District
• Adding a new 7-day winter season for Canada Geese, Cackling Geese, Snow Geese, and Ross’s Geese
• Creating a Sandhill Crane hunting season in some districts, for residents of Canada only (mainly on farmland)
• Reducing opportunities to hunt Ross’s Geese and Snow Geese during the Special Measures for Overabundant Species season

Alberta

• Expanding the area where Sandhill Crane hunting is permitted

There are no regulatory changes for the 2026 to 2027 and 2027 to 2028 hunting seasons for Newfoundland and Labrador, New Brunswick, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, British Columbia, Yukon, Northwest Territories, or Nunavut.

Anticipated environmental impacts

The amendments are expected to have modest, positive impacts on migratory birds and their habitat. The updated hunting provisions will help keep migratory game bird populations healthy and ensure hunting remains sustainable. The biennial amendments to the hunting provisions of the MBR, 2022 support the following targets of Canada’s 2030 Nature Strategy:

Target 5 – Exploitation of species / wild species harvesting, use, and trade

The amendments are based on scientific information about migratory game bird populations. These updates help ensure that populations stay healthy and are not harmed by over-hunting.

Target 9 – Sustainable use and management of wild species

The amendments will help support economic benefits for Canadians as a result of sustainable hunting and non-hunting uses (such as birdwatching) of migratory birds.

Target 16/15b – Sustainable consumption

The amendments support sustainable use of migratory game birds by adjusting daily bag and possession limits. These limits help hunters make choices that protect bird populations and biodiversity.

Anticipated economic impacts

In accordance with guidance under the Cabinet Directive on Strategic Environmental and Economic Assessment, this proposal’s strategic environmental and economic assessment did not include a strategic economic analysis due to the nature and scope of the proposal.

Federal Sustainable Development Strategy and the United Nations 2030 Agenda

The amendments support the 2022-2026 Federal Sustainable Development Strategy, particularly Goal 15 “Protect and recover species, conserve Canadian biodiversity”. The amendments support Goal 15 by managing migratory game bird populations in a way that protects the lands and waters they depend on. Amendments are developed in consideration of habitat carrying capacity and ecosystem conditions. Changes to open season dates, daily bag limits, and possession limits help protect habitats and prevent damage to sensitive ecosystems. The amendments to the hunting provisions of the MBR, 2022 will also contribute to the United Nations 2030 Agenda Sustainable Development Goal 15: Life on Land, by supporting the conservation of biodiversity and avoiding habitat degradation.

Indigenous rights considerations

Although hunting regulations apply only to people who need a hunting permit and not to Indigenous peoples exercising their Section 35 rights, these amendments support broader treaty objectives. They help ensure that migratory game birds remain abundant and available for harvest by Indigenous peoples. This supports traditional harvest rights, Indigenous cultures, and socio-economic well-being.

Public perspectives

The MBR, 2022 are reviewed by the Department every two years. During this review, the Department consults with partners, stakeholders, and Canadians to gather their views and feedback. Consultations on the amendments began in the fall of 2025, when scientific information on the status of migratory game bird populations became available. Departmental biologists met with provincial and territorial governments, Indigenous partners, hunters, and non-government organizations, to review the information and discuss proposals for regulatory changes where needed.

Information gathered during consultations with partners and stakeholders was shared with the federal technical committee and used to develop the regulatory amendments. The proposed regulatory amendments, which are based on discussions with partners and stakeholders, were published online on January 16, 2026, in the report Proposals to Amend the Canadian Migratory Birds Regulations: 2026. A Notice of Intent was also published in the Canada Gazette, Part I, on January 17, 2026, to inform Canadians of the publication of the consultation document and of a 30-day public comment period from January 17 to February 15, 2026.

During the public consultation period, the Department received more than 630 written comments. Most comments came from individuals, while about 9% came from organizations such as conservation groups, hunting associations and clubs, outdoor outfitters, environmental associations, ornithology and naturalist clubs, and agricultural societies. About 28% of the comments received were part of letter writing campaigns. The largest campaign was led by a waterfowl conservation organization and included more than 160 members who supported several regional proposals to increase hunting opportunities.

Follow-up and monitoring

The Department is responsible for carrying out the follow-up and monitoring measures. The status of migratory game bird populations in Canada will continue to be monitored each year using harvest data provided by hunters, survey data, citizen-science data, and long-term population trends. Reports on the population status of migratory game birds will be published every two years through the Migratory Birds Regulatory Reports Series. This information will be compared with population objectives of the North American Waterfowl Management Plan, when available, and will help guide future changes to hunting seasons, open season dates, and daily bag and possession limits for migratory game birds.