Beginner Hunting: How do I get my hunting license?
Luckily for our wildlife, every Canadian province requires you to have a hunting license before you can go out and pursue wild game. This is another hangup for newbies. Another licensing course? Another test? Another fee? Yup, and for good reason.
It is very, very important that every hunter have a basic knowledge about and respect for the animals that they are hunting. It is also crucial to understand basic safe practices. If you are new to hunting, there is almost no chance you’ll fail to learn something new and important. Even better, you’re going to realize just how little you know. This important realization gives you the chance to start filling in gaps in your knowledge on your own time. If you don’t love learning, hunting is not the activity for you.
Below is some general info to get you started learning about the program here in our home province of Ontario. Note that the below discussion is aimed at hunters over the age of 16. For younger hunters, please check out this link to the Ontario Hunter Apprenticeship program.
As with firearms ownership, it is every hunter’s responsibility to know and understand the applicable laws and regulations when they go out hunting. Fuller information is available form the Ontario Government here.
As an overview:
- No hunting without a license – in Ontario your basic hunting license comes in the form of the Outdoors Card (hunting version)
- No license without passing the Ontario Hunter Education Course
- The course is usually 1 or 2 days or may be done over the course of a week during the evening – use google to find a provider in your area and sign up
- You must pass a written test at the end of the course
- You must then apply for a card in person at a participating Service Ontario location
- You then need tags to hunt various animals and may also need validation tags and seals, depending on the animal
- Migratory birds have special rules and an additional license. Same with turkeys.
What will I learn on the course?
The Ontario Hunter Education Course is a general introduction course that covers a range of topics including:
- Ecosystems and wildlife management
- Hunting laws and regulations
- Hunter responsibilities
- Identification, biology, management of and hunting techniques for big game, small game and waterfowl.
- Hunting and survival equipment
- The hunter’s role in society
- Firearms safety
Sounds kinda basic? Well I can almost guarantee that you don’t know some of the things you will learn and that you really need to know. Take for example a basic issue: hunter’s or “blaze” orange. When do you have to wear blaze orange? On how much of your body? What if you are concealed in a blind? Do you need to wear it when archery hunting? Only during gun seasons? Can you wear blaze orange with an integral camouflage pattern? Are there times you should wear it even if not legally required?
The hunting course helps you answer these important questions.
What happens once I have my Outdoors Card?
An Outdoors Card doesn’t mean you’re suddenly free to go and hunt whatever animal you want. Instead, you must apply for a “tag” in order to hunt specific animals. This is a topic that is covered in the course, so I won’t go into this too deeply. Basically, there is one tag for all species considered to be “small game” under the hunting regulations (for example, grouse), and then individual tags for large game animals like moose and deer. There are also separate tags for wild turkeys, which are treated somewhat like large game under the regulations. Turkeys have historically been an unusual case in the regulations and are discussed in the section below. You can apply for many tags online or over the phone. If unavailable by phone or online, tags can also be purchased in person from various Service Ontario and other service providers (such as Canadian Tire).
Note that for some species or specific hunts, you may also need a validation tag or a game seal. These requirements are set out in the hunting regulations. For example, you will need a game seal and a validation tag to hunt adult moose. Many such tags are available through a lottery draw, which can be entered online.
A note on Turkeys
The return of the wild turkey to North America is a triumph of conservation and a testament to hunter environmental action. Turkeys were nearly extinct in North America due to now-illegal market hunting. However, due to the good work of dedicated organizations like the Canadian Wild Turkey Federation, the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters and the National Wild Turkey Federation, turkeys have made a stunning comeback. Formerly, it was necessary to take a separate course (after watching a special DVD) in order to get a specific license to hunt wild turkeys. However, the regulations are now being changed and, as of January 1, 2017 there will no longer be a separate course. It will, instead, be integrated into the standard safety course.
A note on migratory birds
Again, this is something covered in your course. However, so you have it, you should know that certain species of birds are subject to specific regulations. This means you are going to need a migratory bird license to hunt birds like canada geese or woodcock. This license is available online and at post offices, and is issued by the federal government. There are also specific rules associated with hunting these birds, most notably the requirement to use non-toxic shot (i.e. not lead).
