2026-2027 Hunting Year

Ontario
Hunting Seasons

Ontario offers diverse hunting opportunities across 95 Wildlife Management Units (WMUs), ranging from the boreal forests of the north to the agricultural regions of the south. The province is home to abundant white-tailed deer, moose, black bear, wild turkey, and various small game species.

95Wildlife Management Units
16Open
34Upcoming

Direct Answer

Ontario hunting seasons are WMU-specific. Use the species cards below to see what is open now, what is upcoming, and the exact date ranges for each season.

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

Ontario hunting seasons vary by Wildlife Management Unit (WMU) and species. Deer season typically opens in September for archery and October for firearms, with dates differing across the 95 WMUs. Moose seasons use a draw system in many zones. Wild turkey has spring and fall seasons in southern Ontario. Black bear seasons run spring and fall. Use the links below to see exact dates, open/closed status, and which WMUs allow hunting for each species. Always verify with the Ontario government hunting regulations before heading out.

Quick Links — Ontario Season Dates

White-tailed Deer SeasonMoose SeasonWild Turkey SeasonBlack Bear SeasonRuffed Grouse SeasonSnowshoe Hare Season

Big Game

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

3 species

Deer

Upcoming

Dates vary by WMU

142 WMUs

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Elk

Upcoming

Sep 15 2026 - Sep 28 2026

6 WMUs

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Moose (Draw)

Upcoming

Dates vary by WMU

71 WMUs

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Predators

Predator species including coyote, wolf, and fox

8 species

Arctic Fox

Open

Oct 25 2025 - Mar 31 2026 Season Open

17 WMUs

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Coyote

Open

Dates vary by WMU

148 WMUs

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Wolf

Open

Dates vary by WMU

148 WMUs

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Wolf and Coyote

Open

Dates vary by WMU

149 WMUs

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Black Bear

Upcoming

Dates vary by WMU

103 WMUs

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Bobcat And Lynx

Upcoming

Oct 25 2026 - Feb 28 2027

151 WMUs

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Coloured Fox

Upcoming

Dates vary by WMU

151 WMUs

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Red Fox

Upcoming

Dates vary by WMU

150 WMUs

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Small Game

Small game including grouse, rabbit, and pheasant

39 species

Beaver

Open

Dates vary by WMU

151 WMUs

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Cottontail Rabbit

Open

Dates vary by WMU

98 WMUs

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European Hare

Open

Dates vary by WMU

98 WMUs

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Muskrat

Open

Dates vary by WMU

151 WMUs

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Otter

Open

Dates vary by WMU

151 WMUs

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Pheasant

Open

Dates vary by WMU

150 WMUs

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Porcupine

Open

Dates vary by WMU

151 WMUs

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Ptarmigan

Open

Sept 15 2025 - Mar 31 2026 Season Open

17 WMUs

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Ruffed And Spruce Grouse

Open

Dates vary by WMU

85 WMUs

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Sharp-Tailed Grouse

Open

Dates vary by WMU

85 WMUs

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Snow Geese

Open

Mar 1 2026 - May 31 2026 Not Yet Open

5 WMUs

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Varying (Snowshoe) Hare

Open

Dates vary by WMU

150 WMUs

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Bullfrog

Upcoming

Jul 15 2026 - Oct 15 2026

126 WMUs

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Canada And Cackling Geese

Upcoming

Dates vary by WMU

150 WMUs

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Canada And Cackling Geese (Excluding Sundays)

Upcoming

Dates vary by WMU

77 WMUs

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Coots

Upcoming

Dates vary by WMU

150 WMUs

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Cormorant

Upcoming

Sep 15 2026 - Dec 31 2026

150 WMUs

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Ducks (Excludes Harlequin Ducks)

Upcoming

Dates vary by WMU

150 WMUs

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Fisher And Martin

Upcoming

Dates vary by WMU

151 WMUs

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Fox Squirrel

Upcoming

Dates vary by WMU

133 WMUs

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Gallinules

Upcoming

Dates vary by WMU

150 WMUs

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Gray (Black) Squirrel

Upcoming

Dates vary by WMU

133 WMUs

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Gray (Hungarian) Partridge

Upcoming

Dates vary by WMU

98 WMUs

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Mink

Upcoming

Dates vary by WMU

151 WMUs

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Mourning Doves

Upcoming

Sep 1 2026 - Nov 30 2026

95 WMUs

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Opossum

Upcoming

Oct 5 2026 - Jan 31 2027

150 WMUs

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Opossum and Raccoon

Upcoming

Oct 5 2026 - Jan 31 2027

151 WMUs

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Other Geese (Excludes Canada, Cackling, Snow, And Ross' Geese)

Upcoming

Sep 1 2026 - Dec 16 2026

73 WMUs

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Other Geese

Upcoming

Sep 27 2026 - Jan 11 2027

77 WMUs

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Raccoon

Upcoming

Oct 5 2026 - Jan 31 2027

150 WMUs

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Rails (Excludes Yellow And King)

Upcoming

Dates vary by WMU

150 WMUs

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Red Squirrel And Weasel

Upcoming

Oct 25 2026 - Feb 28 2027

151 WMUs

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Ruffed Grouse

Upcoming

Sep 25 2026 - Dec 31 2026

66 WMUs

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Skunk

Upcoming

Dates vary by WMU

151 WMUs

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Snipe

Upcoming

Dates vary by WMU

150 WMUs

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Snow and Ross's Geese

Upcoming

Dates vary by WMU

150 WMUs

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Weasel

Upcoming

Oct 25 2026 - Feb 28 2027

150 WMUs

View details

Wild Turkey

Upcoming

Dates vary by WMU

91 WMUs

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Woodcock

Upcoming

Dates vary by WMU

150 WMUs

View details

Popular Ontario Hunting Seasons

White-tailed Deer Season OntarioMoose Season OntarioWild Turkey Season OntarioBlack Bear Season OntarioRuffed Grouse Season OntarioSnowshoe Hare Season OntarioWaterfowl Season Ontario

Other Provinces

British Columbia Hunting SeasonsAlberta Hunting SeasonsSaskatchewan Hunting SeasonsQuebec Hunting SeasonsNew Brunswick Hunting Seasons

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