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How to Get a Hunting Licence in Canada 2026 — Complete Step-by-Step Guide
Getting a hunting licence in Canada involves two separate systems working together: a provincial licence and — if you plan to hunt with a firearm — a federal Possession and Acquisition Licence (PAL). Understanding what each requires, in what order to apply, and how long each step takes is the difference between being ready for opening day and scrambling for paperwork the week before season opens. This guide covers the complete process for Canadian residents in Ontario, Alberta, and British Columbia — the three provinces with the highest hunter populations.
| Quick Answer: To hunt with a firearm in Canada, you need two things: (1) a federal PAL (Possession and Acquisition Licence) — obtained by completing the Canadian Firearms Safety Course (CFSC) and applying to the RCMP, and (2) a provincial hunting licence — obtained through your province’s hunter education program and licensing system. The PAL takes 3-6 months total. Your provincial licence can be obtained within weeks of completing your hunter education course. |
| Key Facts (verified from official sources, 2026): PAL federal application fee: $70.38 CAD (non-restricted) as of March 31, 2026 — adjusted annually under the Service Fees Act• Restricted PAL federal fee: $93.84 CAD• RCMP estimated processing time: 45 days (including mandatory 28-day waiting period) — in practice 3-6 months• Ontario Outdoors Card: $8.57 CAD + HST — valid 3 calendar years• Ontario Hunter Education Program: required for all first-time resident hunters• Minimum hunting age Ontario: 16 years old (15 with written parental consent)• Minimum hunting age BC: 10 years old (must be accompanied by licensed adult)• Source: ontario.ca, silvercore.ca (Travis Bader, CFSC instructor since 1994), rcmp-grc.gc.ca |
Understanding Canada’s Two-Part Licensing System
Many first-time hunters in Canada are confused when they discover that hunting requires two separate licensing processes. The provincial hunting licence covers your right to hunt specific species in specific seasons. The federal PAL covers your right to possess and use the firearm you hunt with. Both are mandatory if you hunt with a rifle or shotgun. If you hunt with a bow only, you need only the provincial hunting licence — no PAL required.
| Licence Type | Federal PAL | Provincial Hunting Licence |
| Issued by | RCMP / Canadian Firearms Program | Provincial government (Ontario MNRF, BC govt, etc.) |
| Covers | Right to possess & use firearms | Right to hunt specific species in province |
| Course required | Canadian Firearms Safety Course (CFSC) | Provincial Hunter Education Program |
| Required for bow hunting? | No | Yes |
| Required for firearms? | Yes — mandatory | Yes — mandatory |
| Valid across provinces? | Yes — Canada-wide | No — province-specific |
| Renewal | Every 5 years | Annual (licence) / 3 years (Outdoors Card in ON) |
| Fee (2026) | $70.38 CAD + course fees | Varies by province and species |
Step 1 — Getting Your Federal PAL (Possession and Acquisition Licence)
The PAL is Canada’s federal firearms licence. It is issued by the RCMP Canadian Firearms Program and authorises you to possess and acquire non-restricted firearms — including the bolt action rifles and shotguns used for the majority of Canadian hunting.
Step 1A — Complete the Canadian Firearms Safety Course (CFSC)
The CFSC is a one-day course covering safe handling, storage, and transportation of non-restricted firearms. It includes both classroom instruction and a practical evaluation. The course is available through certified instructors across every province and territory in Canada.
- Find a certified instructor at rcmp-grc.gc.ca/cfp-pcaf or through provincial firearms safety training organizations
- Course typically runs 8 hours — classroom instruction plus practical assessment
- Passing grade required on both written and practical components
- Course fees vary by provider — typically $120-$250 CAD
- If you also want restricted firearms (handguns, certain other platforms), you must also complete the Canadian Restricted Firearms Safety Course (CRFSC) on the same day or separately
Step 1B — Submit Your PAL Application to the RCMP
After passing the CFSC, complete the PAL application (RCMP form 5592) and submit it to the Canadian Firearms Program with the application fee.
- Federal application fee (non-restricted PAL): $70.38 CAD as of March 31, 2026 — confirmed by RCMP Canadian Firearms Program
- Application requires: two passport-style photos, completed form 5592, course completion documentation, proof of identity
- A 28-day mandatory waiting period applies to all first-time PAL applicants — this is legislated under the Firearms Act and cannot be waived
- RCMP estimated processing time: 45 days total (including the 28-day waiting period)
- In practice (per Silvercore Outdoors, Canada’s largest CFSC provider): 3 to 6 months from course start to PAL card in hand is the realistic expectation in 2026
| Planning Tip: If your goal is to hunt this fall, start the PAL process NOW. Applying in June or July gives you the best chance of receiving your PAL card before September archery seasons open. Do not wait until August — the processing timeline makes it too risky. |
Step 2 — Getting Your Provincial Hunting Licence
Each Canadian province administers its own hunting licensing system. The provincial licence authorises you to hunt specific game species during designated seasons within that province. Here is how to get your first hunting licence in Canada’s three major hunting provinces.
Ontario — Outdoors Card + Hunter Education Program
Ontario uses a two-part provincial system: the Ontario Hunter Education Program (completion required for all first-time hunters) and the Outdoors Card (the physical ID card required to purchase licences and tags).
- Complete the Ontario Hunter Education Program (OHEP) — a multi-day course covering hunting regulations, wildlife identification, firearms handling, and field safety. Available through Ontario’s Fish and Wildlife Licensing Service and certified instructors province-wide.
- Submit your hunter accreditation to the Fish and Wildlife Licensing Service at a participating ServiceOntario location — this is a required in-person step for first-time hunters in Ontario.
- Purchase your Ontario Outdoors Card ($8.57 CAD + HST, valid 3 years) — online through Fish and Wildlife Licensing Service, by phone, or at a ServiceOntario location. The card arrives by mail within 20 days; you can hunt immediately using your licence summary as temporary proof.
- Purchase your species-specific hunting licence and tags — small game licence, deer tag, or other species as appropriate. Available online, by phone, or at ServiceOntario and licence issuers.
| Ontario Key Fees (2026, subject to HST): Outdoors Card: $8.57 CAD• Resident small game licence (1-year): ~$25 CAD• Resident deer licence + tag: ~$40-$50 CAD• Resident moose licence (if drawn): ~$34-$69 CAD depending on zoneSource: ontario.ca/document/ontario-hunting-regulations-summary |
Alberta — Wildlife Identification Number (WiN) System
Alberta uses the Wildlife Identification Number (WiN) system for all hunting and fishing licences. First-time hunters must complete the Alberta Hunter Education program before purchasing their first Alberta hunting licence.
- Complete the Alberta Hunter Education (AHE) program — available online and in-person through Alberta Fish and Wildlife
- Register for a Wildlife Identification Number (WiN) at mywildalberta.ca — your personal hunting and fishing account that stores licences, draws, and harvest reports
- Purchase species-specific licences and tags through mywildalberta.ca or an Alberta licence issuer
- For draw species (elk, sheep, mountain goat), apply for Limited Entry Hunting (LEH) draws through your WiN account within application windows
British Columbia — CORE Program + iHunter BC
British Columbia requires completion of the Conservation and Outdoor Recreation Education (CORE) program before a first hunting licence can be issued. BC’s hunting licence system is managed online through BC’s fish and wildlife portal.
- Complete the CORE program — a mandatory hunter education course available online and in-person through the BC Wildlife Federation
- Apply for your BC hunting licence through the Fish and Wildlife Federation licensing portal or Service BC locations
- For Limited Entry Hunting (LEH) species — elk, mountain goat, bighorn sheep, grizzly bear — apply through the BC LEH draw system within specified application windows
- Download the iHunter BC app — the official provincial app for WMU boundaries, season dates, and offline regulation access in the field
What Does a Canadian Hunting Licence Actually Cover?
A hunting licence is not a single document that covers all species — it is a system of species-specific authorisations that you add to your base licence. Understanding what you need before your first hunt prevents the frustration of arriving at the field legally incomplete.
- Small game licence — covers most small game species (rabbits, squirrels, grouse) and is included in the base hunting licence in most provinces
- Big game tag — required for each deer, moose, elk, or bear you plan to harvest; most provinces require a separate tag per animal
- Draw (or LEH) application — for species with limited quotas (moose in Ontario, elk in Alberta, sheep in BC), you must apply in a draw — often months before the season opens
- Federal migratory bird hunting permit — required separately for waterfowl (ducks and geese); issued by Environment and Climate Change Canada, not the province
After Your Licence — Gear You Need Before Opening Day
Once your licences are in order, the next step is ensuring your equipment is legal and ready. For deer and moose hunters planning to use a firearm, a quality bolt action rifle in an appropriate calibre is the standard choice across Canadian provinces. Pair it with a quality rifle scope matched to your typical hunting distance, and zero your rifle before season opens. For range practice sessions, a set of shooting bags makes zeroing accurate and repeatable.
Ontario hunters preparing for the Ontario deer hunting season or moose hunting in Ontario should confirm their Outdoors Card is current, their draw tags (for moose) have been applied for within the correct window, and their equipment has been tested and zeroed before the season opens.
Complete Timeline — First-Time Canadian Hunter (June Start)
| When | Task | Details |
| June — Now | Book CFSC course | Find a certified instructor through rcmp-grc.gc.ca or local gun club |
| June/July | Complete CFSC | One-day course + practical evaluation. Cost: $120-$250 CAD + $70.38 federal fee |
| June/July | Submit PAL application | Mail completed RCMP form 5592 + photos + fee. Mandatory 28-day wait begins |
| July | Complete provincial hunter education | Ontario: OHEP. Alberta: AHE. BC: CORE. Register your accreditation with provincial licensing system |
| July/August | Purchase Outdoors Card / provincial ID | Ontario: $8.57 + HST at ServiceOntario or online. Alberta: WiN at mywildalberta.ca |
| August | Purchase hunting licence + tags | Species-specific licences. Apply for draw species (moose, elk) immediately if windows are open |
| August | PAL card typically arrives | 3-6 months from application date. Confirms legal possession of your rifle |
| August/September | Zero your rifle before season | Book range session. Confirm zero at 100m minimum with hunting ammunition |
| September/October | Opening day | Archery seasons open September; firearms seasons October-November in most provinces |
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Do I need a PAL to get a hunting licence in Canada?
A: A PAL (Possession and Acquisition Licence) is required to possess and use a firearm — including the rifles and shotguns used for hunting. You can obtain a provincial hunting licence without a PAL (and bow hunt legally with only the provincial licence), but you cannot legally hunt with a firearm without a valid PAL. If your goal is to hunt with a rifle or shotgun, you need both a provincial hunting licence and a federal PAL.
Q: How long does it take to get a PAL in Canada?
A: The RCMP estimates 45 days to process a complete PAL application, including the mandatory 28-day waiting period. In practice, as reported by Silvercore Outdoors — Canada’s largest CFSC provider — most applicants in 2026 see 3 to 6 months from starting their CFSC course to receiving their PAL card in the mail. Start the process as early as possible if you want to hunt in the upcoming fall season.
Q: Can I hunt in any province with one hunting licence?
A: No. Canadian hunting licences are province-specific. An Ontario hunting licence does not authorise you to hunt in Alberta or BC. If you want to hunt in multiple provinces in the same season, you need a hunting licence from each province you plan to hunt in. Your federal PAL, however, is valid across all provinces and territories — you only need one.
Q: What is the Ontario Outdoors Card and do I need it to hunt?
A: The Ontario Outdoors Card is a wallet-sized plastic ID card issued by the Ontario government that is required to purchase hunting and fishing licences in Ontario. It costs $8.57 CAD plus HST and is valid for 3 calendar years. All Ontario hunters — resident and non-resident — must have a valid Outdoors Card to legally hunt in the province. It can be purchased online through the Fish and Wildlife Licensing Service, by phone, or at a ServiceOntario location.
Q: Can someone from another Canadian province hunt in Ontario?
A: Yes, Canadian citizens from other provinces can hunt in Ontario as non-residents. Non-resident Canadian hunters must obtain an Ontario Outdoors Card, submit valid hunter accreditation from their home province, and purchase the appropriate Ontario hunting licences and tags. Non-residents must be at least 18 years old to obtain a PAL; the Ontario minimum age for hunting is 16 (15 with written parental consent). Some species have additional non-resident restrictions — consult the Ontario Hunting Regulations Summary for the current season.
Q: Is bow hunting available without a PAL in Canada?
A: Yes. Bow hunting in Canada requires only a provincial hunting licence and provincial hunter education certification — no federal PAL is required because no firearm is involved. This makes bow hunting an accessible entry point for new hunters who want to start hunting while their PAL application is being processed. Ontario offers separate bow-only seasons for deer and other species that are accessible to archers with a standard provincial hunting licence.
Start Your Hunting Journey at Victory Ridge Sports
Once your PAL and provincial licence are confirmed, Victory Ridge Sports in Barrie, Ontario is your complete source for first-hunt gear — from bolt action rifles in calibres suited to Ontario deer and moose, to quality rifle scopes and shooting bags for pre-season zeroing sessions. Canada-wide shipping means your equipment arrives regardless of your province.
