Notion of family, age required to hunt and initiation licence

Definitions

The following definitions only apply to this chapter.

"Certificate corresponding to the hunting gear used" means that a hunter's certificate bearing code F authorizes hunting with a firearm (including air guns), that a hunter's certificate bearing code B authorizes hunting with a crossbow and that a hunter's certificate bearing code A authorizes hunting with a crossbow or a bow. Hunters can no longer hunt with a crossbow under code F.

"Spouse" designates a de facto spouse who has been living with another person in a conjugal relationship for at least one year as well as a married spouse.

"Young person", except where mentioned otherwise, designates on the one hand a person 12 to 17 years of age and on the other hand a student 18 to 24 years of age who has his valid student card on hand.

"Non-resident's hunting licence" designates a hunting licence for non-residents, whether valid or expired, that was issued between April 1^st and March 31.

Basic rules

• A person who hunts under his own licence must always have this licence on hand but does not have to bring along his hunter's certificate.
• A resident who hunts under an adult's licence must always carry with him his certificate corresponding to the weapon used, as well as his attestation when hunting for wild turkey (see page 7).
• The quantity of game bagged by all of the persons who hunt under the same licence must not exceed the authorized bag limit for the licence holder.
• When it is stipulated that a hunter must be accompanied by another person, this other person must be 18 years of age or older and be the holder of the appropriate certificate for the arm used or a non-resident's hunting licence. The holder of an initiation licence must be accompanied by a resident, at least 25 years of age, who holds the appropriate certificate for the arm used.
• Hunting under the licence of an adult does not authorize the person to hunt in a wildlife sanctuary, an outfitter establishment or a zec without being the holder of the appropriate authorization. Please contact the managers of these territories to obtain additional details on this subject.
• Important: A hunter who accompanies a holder of an authorization for a handicapped person cannot benefit from this authorization. This hunter must follow the rules in effect for the season during which he is hunting.

May both spouses hunt under a same licence?

• A licence to hunt small game, to hunt with a bird of prey, to hunt frogs and to snare hares authorizes the holder and his spouse to hunt under this licence. This does not apply to the federal migratory bird hunting licence.
• The spouse must carry the licence when not accompanied by the holder.

At what age and under what conditions may a young person hunt?

• To hunt with a firearm, crossbow or bow, you must be at least 12 years of age and, in the case of residents, be the holder of the appropriate certificate for the arm used (unless it is an initiation licence, page 7). There is no minimum age to snare hares or to hunt certain types of frogs or to hunt with a bird of prey.
• To hunt with a crossbow or bow, a young person who is aged 12 to 15 must be accompanied (see Basic rules on page 6).
• To hunt with a firearm, a young person who is aged 12 to 17 must be accompanied (see Basic rules on page 6). Additional obligations apply pursuant to the Federal firearms Act (page 11).
• In order to hunt, a young person must hold his own hunting licence or hunt under an adult's licence (see following paragraph).

May a young person hunt under an adult's licence?

A young person may hunt any game under an adult's licence according to one of the following formula:

• The adult accompanies the young person and has his licence on hand. If the young person is hunting small game, he may also be accompanied by the spouse of this adult; this spouse must then have the licence in question on hand. If the holder of the licence or his spouse is a resident, they must in addition be holders of the appropriate certificate for the arm used.
• The young person carries the hunting licence of one of his parents or the spouse of one parent. The obligation of being accompanied always applies according to the age of the young person (see at what age may a young person hunt below).

A young resident who hunts under an adult's licence must either have on hand his hunter's certificate corresponding to the weapon used or have on hand his initiation licence and respect the conditions thereof.

When hunting for migratory birds, a young person must always be the holder of a federal migratory bird hunting licence, except on Waterfowler Heritage Day (see page 7).

Big game hunting and young people

By respecting the aforementioned regulations, a young person may hunt big game under the licence of an adult (adult who accompanies him, parent or the latter's spouse) according to one of the following formulas, provided that the regular licence of this adult is still valid:

• The young person is hunting big game under the regular licence of an adult. If he bags an animal, he must then affix to this animal the transportation coupon of that licence. Afterwards, neither the young person nor the adult will be able to hunt for this species, unless the licence contains two transportation coupons. In the case of a moose, the young person must then affix to the animal, on the day of the animal's death, the number of additional transportation coupons corresponding to the established annual bag limit.
• The young person is the holder of a regular licence and is hunting antlerless deer under the antlerless deer hunting licence (random draw) of an adult whose regular licence is valid. If the young person bags an antlerless deer, he then affixes to this deer the transportation coupon from his own licence and perforates the adult's antlerless deer hunting licence. Only the adult may continue to hunt deer under the authority of his regular licence according to the regulations in force in the season during which he is hunting (his antlerless deer hunting licence is no longer valid).
• The young person is hunting white-tailed deer (with or without antlers) under the regular licence of an adult, but is the holder of his own antlerless deer hunting licence (random draw). If he bags an animal, he affixes the transportation coupon from the adult's licence and, in the case of an antlerless deer, he perforates his own antlerless deer hunting licence. Afterwards, neither the young person nor the adult will be able to hunt white-tailed deer.
• The young person is hunting white-tailed deer under the 1^st harvest antlerless deer hunting licence (random draw) of an adult whose regular licence is valid. If he bags an antlerless deer, he affixes the transportation coupon from the 1^st harvest antlerless deer hunting licence of the adult (obviously, this 1^st harvest antlerless deer hunting licence is no longer valid). The adult will be able to continue hunting white-tailed deer under his regular licence and the young person under the regular licence of an adult or his own regular licence and according to the rules in effect in the season during which they are hunting.
• The young person is hunting white-tailed deer under the regular licence of an adult, but is the holder of his own 1^st harvest antlerless deer hunting licence (random draw). If he bags an antlerless deer in the zone indicated on the 1^st harvest antlerless deer hunting licence, he affixes the transportation coupon from his 1^st harvest antlerless deer hunting licence. The adult will be able to continue hunting white-tailed deer under his regular licence and the young person under the regular licence of an adult person or his own regular licence and according to the rules in effect in the season during which they are hunting. If a young person bags a first deer under a regular licence, he cannot go on to bag a second deer under a 1^st harvest antlerless deer hunting licence.
• The young person is hunting a moose cow under a moose cow hunting licence (random draw) of an adult, but is the holder of his own regular licence. If he bags a moose cow, he then affixes the transportation coupon from his licence and perforates the moose cow hunting licence of the adult. He must then make sure, on the day of the kill, that the appropriate number of additional transportation coupons corresponding to the annual bag limit established (see page 13) are affixed to the animal. Obviously, the moose cow hunting licence is no longer valid.
• The young person is hunting moose (cow or other) under the regular licence of an adult, but is the holder of his own moose cow hunting licence (random draw). If he bags a moose, he affixes the transportation coupon from the adult's licence and, if it is a moose cow, he perforates his own moose cow hunting licence. He must then make sure, on the day of the kill, that the appropriate number of additional transportation coupons corresponding to the annual bag limit established (see page 13) are affixed to the animal. Obviously, the moose cow hunting licence is no longer valid.

Hunting wild turkeys and young people

A young person may hunt wild turkey under the wild turkey licence of an adult (adult accompanying the young person, parent or spouse of the young person). If he bags a turkey, he must then affix the transportation coupon from the adult's licence. Afterwards, neither the young person nor the adult may hunt this species.

It is important to remember that although the young person is hunting under the licence of an adult, he must respect the annual bag limit of the species that he is hunting and the adult cannot purchase more licences than the number authorized by regulation. In addition, the young person must respect the obligations that apply after the game is killed (see the section entitled affixing of transportation coupons and perforation of licences, page 14).

Can a child under 12 hunt under an adult's licence?

A child under 12 years of age can hunt with a bird of prey, snare hares or hunt certain types of frogs under the licence of a resident aged 18 or over according to one of the following formulas:

• The child is practicing the activity under the licence to hunt small game (resident), to hunt frogs, to hunt with a bird of prey or to snare belonging to a person at least 18 years of age who is accompanying the young person and who has the appropriate licence on hand. The child may also be accompanied by the spouse of this holder, at least 18 years of age; this spouse must then carry the licence concerned.
• The child has in his possession the licence to hunt small game (resident), to hunt frogs, to hunt with a bird of prey or to snare belonging to one of his parents or to the spouse of one of them.

Note: A young person (from12 to 17 years of age and students from 18 to 24 years of age) can also practice these activities according to these two same formulas.

Waterfowler Heritage Day - Migratory birds

On "Waterfowler Heritage Day", a young person, who is aged 12 to 17, who carries his appropriate certificate for the arm used can hunt migratory birds without a licence. This young person must be accompanied by a person at least 18 years of age, who holds a small game hunting licence and a licence to hunt migratory birds. On that day, the person who is 18 or over cannot have in his possession or use a firearm when he accompanies a young person. Nor can he accompany more than two young persons at a time. Students who are aged 18 to 24 cannot hunt on Waterfowler Heritage Day. For more information on this "Waterfowler Heritage Day", contact the Canadian Wildlife Service, at 1 800 668-6767.

Initiation licence - What are the possibilities for me to become initiated to hunting if I am not certified?

A resident who is at least 12 and who has never held a hunter's certificate may, during the same year and only once in his life, obtain any hunting licence. When he hunts, this person benefits from the same privileges and is subject to the same obligations as a regular hunter but he must however be accompanied by a resident who is at least 25 and who is the holder of the appropriate certificate for the arm used. The holder of a hunter's certificate may only accompany one person who is not certified at a time. To obtain this licence, call 1 866 4chasse (1 866 424-2773) or, for the Québec city area, 418 521-3905. To hunt wild turkey, the holder of an initiation licence is not required to hold the attestation concerning the wild turkey hunting course, but a person accompanying him must hold this attestation.

Important: A hunter who accompanies the holder of an authorization for a handicapped person cannot benefit from this authorization. This hunter must respect the rules in effect for the period during which he is hunting.