2026-2027 Hunting Year

Nova Scotia Hunting Seasons

Nova Scotia provides accessible Maritime hunting for white-tailed deer, black bear, small game, and migratory birds across numbered hunting zones, with limited moose opportunity through a competitive draw.

37 Wildlife Management Units17 Open38 Upcoming

Direct Answer

Nova Scotia hunting season dates differ by Wildlife Management Unit (37 WMUs). Enter your postal code below to see the dates for your WMU, or use the species cards for province-wide open/upcoming status.

Last reviewed: Mar 11, 2026 • Source timestamp: Mar 11, 2026 • Sources: provincial wildlife authority publications and HuntScout season snapshots.

Season dates vary by WMU in Nova Scotia.

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Prefer browsing? Find your WMU for Nova Scotia.

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Season dates differ by WMU — check yours

The tables below are province-wide ranges. HuntScout shows the exact dates and rules for the WMU you hunt in Nova Scotia, on an offline map with boundaries.

Nova Scotia hunting seasons vary by zone. Deer and bear seasons drive most resident activity, while moose is allocated by draw in limited Cape Breton zones. Small game and migratory bird seasons follow provincial and federal calendars. Check the species pages below for current dates and status, and confirm with Nova Scotia hunting regulations before your hunt.

Quick Links — Nova Scotia Season Dates

Jump to a species for exact open/closed status and WMU dates: White-tailed Deer, Black Bear, Ruffed Grouse, Snowshoe Hare, Waterfowl, Moose.

White-tailed Deer Season Black Bear Season Ruffed Grouse Season Snowshoe Hare Season Waterfowl Season Moose Season

Big Game

Large game animals including deer, moose, elk, and bear

12 species

Deer (Antlered Or Antlerless)

Upcoming

5 WMUs

Deer

Oct 16 2026 - Oct 24 2026

12 WMUs

Deer

Oct 19 2026 - Oct 24 2026

1 WMU

Deer (Antlered)

Upcoming

7 WMUs

Deer (Antlerless (Draw))

Upcoming

7 WMUs

Deer

Oct 19 2026 - Oct 24 2026

1 WMU

Moose

CLOSED

6 WMUs

Moose

CLOSED

2 WMUs

Moose

CLOSED

1 WMU

Moose

CLOSED

1 WMU

Moose

CLOSED

1 WMU

Moose

CLOSED

1 WMU

Predators

Predator species including coyote, wolf, and fox

7 species

Coyote

Open

18 WMUs

Coyote

Year round

18 WMUs

Bear

Upcoming

18 WMUs

Bobcat

Nov 1 2026 - Feb 28 2027

18 WMUs

Fox

Oct 15 2026 - Mar 31 2027

18 WMUs

Cougar

CLOSED

18 WMUs

Lynx

CLOSED

18 WMUs

Small Game

Small game including grouse, rabbit, and pheasant

32 species

Bullfrog

Jul 15 2026 - Sept 30 2026

18 WMUs

Chipmunk

Year round

18 WMUs

Crow

Year round

18 WMUs

English Sparrow

Year round

18 WMUs

Mice & Rats

Year round

18 WMUs

Pheasant

Aug 1 2026 - Mar 31 2027

18 WMUs

Porcupine

Year round

18 WMUs

Raccoon

Open

18 WMUs

Red Squirrel

Year round

18 WMUs

Shrews

Year round

18 WMUs

Skunk

Year round

18 WMUs

Starling

Year round

18 WMUs

Voles & Moles

Year round

18 WMUs

Woodchuck (Groundhog)

Year round

18 WMUs

Beaver

Nov 1 2026 - Mar 31 2027

18 WMUs

Buffleheads

Oct 1 2026 - Jan 15 2027

7 WMUs

Buffleheads

Oct 8 2026 - Jan 22 2027

11 WMUs

Crow

Sept 1 2026 - Mar 31 2027

18 WMUs

Goldeneyes

Oct 1 2026 - Jan 15 2027

7 WMUs

Goldeneyes

Oct 8 2026 - Jan 22 2027

11 WMUs

Mink

Nov 1 2026 - Mar 31 2027

18 WMUs

Muskrat

Nov 1 2026 - Mar 31 2027

18 WMUs

Otter

Nov 1 2026 - Feb 28 2027

18 WMUs

Red Squirrel

Upcoming

18 WMUs

Ring-Necked Pheasant (Male)

Upcoming

18 WMUs

Ruffed Grouse

Oct 1 2026 - Dec 31 2026

18 WMUs

Skunk

Nov 1 2026 - Mar 31 2027

18 WMUs

Weasel

Nov 1 2026 - Mar 31 2027

18 WMUs

Woodcock

Oct 1 2026 - Nov 30 2026

18 WMUs

Fisher

CLOSED

18 WMUs

Hungarian Partridge

CLOSED

18 WMUs

Marten

CLOSED

18 WMUs

Waterfowl

Ducks, geese, and other migratory birds

15 species

Rock Dove

Year round

18 WMUs

Common And Red-Breasted Mergansers

Oct 1 2026 - Jan 15 2027

7 WMUs

Common And Red-Breasted Mergansers

Oct 8 2026 - Jan 22 2027

11 WMUs

Ducks

Oct 1 2026 - Jan 15 2027

7 WMUs

Ducks

Oct 8 2026 - Jan 22 2027

11 WMUs

Eiders

Nov 2 2026 - Dec 31 2026

7 WMUs

Eiders

Nov 2 2026 - Dec 31 2026

11 WMUs

Geese (Zone 1)

Upcoming

7 WMUs

Geese (Zone 2)

Upcoming

11 WMUs

Long-Tailed Ducks

Oct 1 2026 - Jan 15 2027

7 WMUs

Long-Tailed Ducks

Oct 8 2026 - Jan 22 2027

11 WMUs

Rabbit (Snowshoe Hare)

Nov 1 2026 - Feb 27 2027

18 WMUs

Scoters

Oct 1 2026 - Jan 15 2027

7 WMUs

Scoters

Oct 8 2026 - Jan 22 2027

11 WMUs

Snipe

Oct 1 2026 - Nov 30 2026

18 WMUs

HuntScout Mobile App

Season dates differ by WMU — check yours

The tables above are province-wide ranges. HuntScout shows the exact dates and rules for the WMU you hunt in Nova Scotia, on an offline map with boundaries.

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Popular Nova Scotia Hunting Seasons

White-tailed Deer Season Nova Scotia Black Bear Season Nova Scotia Ruffed Grouse Season Nova Scotia Snowshoe Hare Season Nova Scotia Waterfowl Season Nova Scotia Moose Season Nova Scotia

Other Provinces

Ontario Hunting Seasons British Columbia Hunting Seasons Alberta Hunting Seasons Saskatchewan Hunting Seasons Quebec Hunting Seasons New Brunswick Hunting Seasons Manitoba Hunting Seasons Newfoundland and Labrador Hunting Seasons

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