Summary
To hunt legally in Quebec as a resident, you need to:
- Earn your hunter's certificate by passing the ICAF course (Initiation à la chasse avec arme à feu), run by Sécurité nature — the training arm of the Fédération québécoise des chasseurs et pêcheurs (FédéCP).
- If you'll hunt with a firearm, also get the federal PAL (Possession and Acquisition Licence) from the RCMP, which needs its own safety course — the CCSMAF.
- Buy a hunting permit for your species on Mon dossier chasse et pêche.
- Choose where to hunt: public land, a ZEC (controlled harvest zone), a réserve faunique (wildlife reserve), or a pourvoirie (outfitter).
- After a successful hunt, register your animal within 48 hours.
First-time hunters should seriously consider booking through a pourvoirie — the guide handles the logistics, so you can focus on the hunt itself.
Quebec is a remarkable place to start hunting — moose, white-tailed deer, black bear, wild turkey, ruffed grouse, migratory birds and more, across some of the most plentiful territory in North America. And you wouldn't be starting alone: more than 30,000 people earned their Quebec hunter's certificate in 2025 — a record year. This guide walks you through every step, from zero to your first legal hunt.
What does "hunting legally in Quebec" actually mean?
Two things sit at the foundation: a hunter's certificate and, if you're using a firearm, a federal firearms licence. Everything else — permits, zones, registration — builds on top of those two.
The certificate is a provincial requirement. The licence is federal. They're separate systems managed by separate levels of government, and you deal with both.
Step 1 — Get your hunter's certificate
The hunter's certificate is the document that proves you know how to hunt safely and ethically. You can't buy a resident hunting permit in Quebec without one.
You earn it by passing the ICAF course — Initiation à la chasse avec arme à feu, which translates roughly as "Introduction to firearm hunting." The course covers firearm safety, wildlife identification, hunting regulations, and field ethics. It's run by Sécurité nature, the educational arm of the Fédération québécoise des chasseurs et pêcheurs (FédéCP) — which fields roughly 450 volunteer instructors across every region of the province.
To be eligible for the ICAF, you have to be at least 12 years old, domiciled in Quebec, and a resident for at least 183 days in the past year.
The course typically runs over one or two days, combining classroom time with a practical component. You can find a session near you through Sécurité nature's course finder.
There's also a way to try hunting before you commit to the courses: the permis d'initiation à la chasse (introductory hunting licence). It lets a Quebec resident aged 12 or older who has never held a hunter's certificate hunt — once in their lifetime — without first completing the certification, as long as they're accompanied by an experienced hunter (a resident aged 25 or older who holds the certificate for the weapon being used). You pay the normal permit prices; it isn't a discount, it's a supervised trial run so you can see whether hunting is for you before investing in the courses.
Step 2 — Get your federal firearms licence (if hunting with a gun)
If you want to hunt with a rifle, shotgun, or any other firearm, you need a federal Permis de possession et d'acquisition (PAL). The PAL is issued by the RCMP and is valid across Canada, not just Quebec.
To apply for a PAL, you must first pass the CCSMAF — the Canadian Safety Course on Handling and Using Firearms (in French, the Cours canadien de sécurité dans le maniement et l'utilisation des armes à feu). This is a federal course, delivered in Quebec by Sécurité nature instructors.
Administrative change as of April 1, 2026: this didn't change the steps — both the ICAF and the CCSMAF have always been required to hunt with a firearm. What changed is the paperwork. A hunter's certificate issued on or after April 1, 2026 is no longer accepted on its own as proof of your firearms-safety training when you apply for a PAL; if you're certified after that date, you attach your separate CCSMAF attestation (the RCMP results report) to your PAL application instead. Certificates issued before April 1, 2026 are still accepted as proof. Either way, confirm your situation with the RCMP before applying.
You don't need a PAL to hunt with a bow or crossbow. And if you're borrowing a firearm, you can legally handle it without a PAL as long as you stay under the direct and immediate supervision of an adult aged 18 or older who holds a valid PAL.
Step 3 — Choose a species and understand hunting zones
Quebec is divided into numbered hunting zones, each with its own season dates, bag limits, and sometimes lottery draws (tirages au sort, for species like moose). The rules for Zone 1 in Gaspésie can be quite different from Zone 10 in the north.
The main species beginners hunt include moose (orignal), white-tailed deer (cerf de Virginie), black bear (ours noir), wild turkey (dindon sauvage), and ruffed grouse (gélinotte huppée). Waterfowl — ducks and geese — are managed under federal migratory bird regulations, which add another layer.
A good starting point for a first-timer is an upland bird like ruffed grouse: short seasons, no lottery draws, simpler equipment, and lighter territory requirements. Many experienced hunters recommend it as a low-pressure way to learn the rhythm of being in the field.
Step 4 — Buy your hunting permit
Once you have your certificate (and your PAL if needed), you buy a permit for the specific species you intend to hunt. Permits are purchased online through Mon dossier chasse et pêche, the government's wildlife dossier portal. Some draws for controlled species (moose, caribou) require applying before the season opens, sometimes months in advance — so check deadlines early.
Permit prices vary by species and by whether you're a resident or non-resident.
Step 5 — Decide where to hunt
This is where many beginners get stuck. Quebec has several types of territory, each with different rules, costs, and experiences. The main options:
Pourvoiries (outfitters)
Private businesses that provide access to a territory, often with lodging, guiding, and gear rental included. Some hold exclusive hunting rights to their territory; others offer guided trips on public or semi-public land. If you've never hunted before, a pourvoirie is the easiest first experience — the guide handles navigation, safety checks, and logistics while you hunt. There are more than 500 outfitters across Quebec.
ZECs (zones d'exploitation contrôlée)
Controlled harvest zones on Crown land, managed by non-profit organizations. You register at the entrance, pay a daily circulation fee, and hunt or fish within the zone's rules. There are 63 ZECs across Quebec, covering roughly 48,000 km². They're more self-directed than a pourvoirie and generally more affordable — a good option once you have a bit of experience.
Réserves fauniques (wildlife reserves)
Large territories managed by Sépaq (Société des établissements de plein air du Québec). They combine hunting and fishing access with camping and other outdoor activities. Some species require reservations or lottery draws within the reserve system. Sépaq manages 13 wildlife reserves across the province.
Public Crown land
Quebec has large areas of public forest where hunting is permitted, but access, navigation, and local regulation knowledge are entirely your responsibility. Not recommended for a first-time experience.
Step 6 — Register your harvest within 48 hours
After a successful hunt, the four big game species — moose, deer, bear, and wild turkey — must be registered within 48 hours of leaving your hunting area. You do this for free online through Quebec's game-registration portal, or in person at an authorized registration station. Missing this step is a regulatory offence.
Step 7 — Check what changed this season
Hunting regulations in Quebec are updated every year — season dates shift, zone boundaries change, new restrictions are added. Before every season you can download the current regulation summary (Résumé des règlements de chasse) from quebec.ca and read through the zones you plan to hunt; it's free and takes under an hour. Or skip the fine print and read our plain-language breakdown of what changed this season.
How long does all of this take?
Realistically, plan for several weeks to a few months from zero to your first hunt, mostly because of scheduling. The ICAF course runs on weekends and may have waitlists in popular regions. The PAL application processing time at the RCMP varies. Once your certificate and licence are in hand, buying a permit and booking a trip can happen in a day.
Why a pourvoirie makes sense for your first trip
Once you've done the paperwork, the question becomes: where do I actually go? For a first-time hunter, a pourvoirie is worth the extra cost. You arrive, meet your guide, and spend your energy on hunting — not on figuring out where to park, which trail leads to the territory, or what to do with an animal once you've harvested it. Guides handle that. You come home with an experience, not a memory of being lost in the woods.
Quebec has more than 500 pourvoiries — from intimate family-run camps with four cabins to large operations with dozens of staff. There's a real range of price, style, and species focus.
FAQ
Do I need a hunter's certificate to bow-hunt in Quebec?
Yes. The hunter's certificate requirement applies to all resident hunters regardless of weapon type — firearm, bow, or crossbow. The ICAF course covers general hunting safety and regulation, not just firearm-specific topics. What you don't need for bow hunting is a federal PAL, since that licence is specific to firearms.
Can I hunt the same year I take the ICAF course?
Yes, as long as you pass the course, receive your certificate, and buy your permit before the season closes. There's no waiting period between certification and your first hunt.
I'm under 18. Can I hunt in Quebec?
Yes. You can take the ICAF course at 12, and minors can hunt — but specific supervision rules apply, most often when a young hunter hunts under an adult's shared licence, which carries its own age and game conditions. Many outfitters also offer guided youth hunts that build these requirements into the experience.
What's the difference between a ZEC and a pourvoirie?
A ZEC is public Crown land managed by a non-profit; you show up, register, pay a fee, and hunt on your own. A pourvoirie is a private business — you book in advance, often pay an all-in package rate, and typically have a guide or at least on-site staff. ZECs are cheaper and more independent; pourvoiries are more structured and better for beginners.
Do I need separate permits for each species?
Yes. Each species has its own permit — you can't use a deer permit to take a moose. For species managed through lottery draws (moose being the most common example), you must apply for the draw by the published deadline, which can be weeks or months before the season opens.
Is the hunter's certificate valid for life?
Yes. The Quebec hunter's certificate is a permanent document — it doesn't expire, and the only way to lose it is a court ruling (for example, for a poaching conviction). As always, regulations can change, so confirm the current rules on quebec.ca before you rely on it.
