Summary
- The headline rule: to hunt moose south of the 52nd parallel as a non-resident, you must either use at least two services from an outfitter — one of them lodging — or hunt in a ZEC or wildlife reserve.
- One exemption lets you skip that: if a Quebec resident who holds a moose licence comes with you. That resident can bring only one non-resident per year.
- North of the 52nd parallel (and east of the Rivière Saint-Augustin in zone 19 south), you still need an outfitter — but lodging isn't required.
- You don't need a Quebec hunter's certificate as a non-resident, but you do need a non-resident moose licence.
- Moose is a group hunt — in most zones it takes two licence-holders' tags to take one animal.
- Bringing your own rifle means a Non-Resident Firearm Declaration at the border.
- Book early. Guided moose seasons at good outfitters sell out months ahead.
Quebec is one of the best moose destinations in North America — a population in the tens of thousands across territory that runs from two hours north of Montreal to the edge of the tundra. For a non-resident, the hard part isn't finding moose. It's working out whether you're allowed to hunt them the way you're picturing, because Quebec puts a rule in front of non-residents that most other places don't. This guide lays out exactly what that rule says, the one way around it, and what you actually need to book a hunt.
What's the rule for non-residents hunting moose in Quebec?
For a non-resident, Quebec ties moose hunting to an outfitter — and what exactly is required depends on which side of the 52nd parallel you hunt. The 52nd parallel is just a line of latitude running east–west across the province, far north of the road network and most of the population. In practical terms, essentially everywhere a visiting hunter can drive to is south of it, so the southern rule is the one that applies to almost everyone.
South of the 52nd parallel — which covers nearly all the moose country a visiting hunter would realistically reach — you must do one of two things: use at least two services offered by an outfitter, one of which is lodging, or hunt inside a ZEC (a controlled harvest zone) or a wildlife reserve. There's no third "just buy a tag and go" option for a non-resident down here.
North of the 52nd parallel, and east of the Rivière Saint-Augustin in the southern part of zone 19, the rule loosens slightly: you still have to use an outfitter, but the services no longer have to include lodging. This is remote, fly-in country — not a casual first trip.
These are the current rules on Quebec's non-resident hunters page; regulations can change, so confirm there before you book.
Can I hunt moose in Quebec without an outfitter?
Sometimes — and this is the part the official wording buries. South of the 52nd parallel you're exempt from the outfitter requirement if you're accompanied by a Quebec resident who holds a valid or expired moose hunting licence for the current year. The catch: that resident can accompany only one non-resident per year. So if you have a Quebec friend or family member who hunts moose and is willing to bring you along, you can hunt the same public land they do, no outfitter needed.
If you don't have that resident connection, your two realistic doors are the outfitter or a ZEC/wildlife reserve — and for a first-time visitor with no local knowledge, the outfitter is usually the one that actually results in a moose on the ground.
Do non-residents need a Quebec hunter's certificate?
No. The Quebec hunter's certificate — the one residents earn through the provincial safety course — isn't required for non-residents, per Quebec's hunter's certificate rules. Your home jurisdiction's hunting licence or hunter-education card is what establishes you as a licensed hunter. You'll typically be asked to show it when you buy your Quebec licence, so bring it.
What licence and tags do you need?
You need a non-resident moose licence, which you can buy through Mon dossier chasse et pêche, the government's wildlife-licensing portal, or through your outfitter, who will usually handle it as part of the package. Non-resident pricing is well above the resident rate and changes year to year — check the current figure rather than budgeting from an old number.
The thing that surprises a lot of visiting hunters: in most zones, moose is a group hunt. It takes two licence-holders' tags to take one animal, so you can't hunt moose solo on a single licence — you need at least one hunting partner who also holds a moose licence, and the party registers before heading out. Some specific zones and reserves set their own limits on animals per group. There's no province-wide lottery to buy a regular moose licence south of the 52nd, though certain reserve and antlerless hunts are draw-based.
Can I bring my own rifle across the border?
Yes. A non-resident can bring a non-restricted hunting rifle into Canada by filing a Non-Resident Firearm Declaration — you fill it out ahead of time but sign it in front of the border officer, who witnesses it. Once signed it acts as a temporary licence, and it lets you buy ammunition in Canada. Full details, including the form and the barrel-length rules, are on the RCMP's non-residents page.
There's also one Quebec-specific wrinkle worth knowing: Quebec runs its own long-gun registry, but a non-restricted firearm brought in by a non-resident is exempt as long as it's in the province for 45 days or less — comfortably longer than any hunt. Most visiting hunters never have to think about it.
What does a guided moose hunt cost?
It varies more than any other number on this page, but here's what a non-resident is actually paying for:
| What you pay for | Typical non-resident cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Non-resident moose licence | $598.77 (2026–2027) | A fixed government rate, taxes in; well above the ~$90 resident price. |
| Guided package — territory + lodging | low-to-mid four figures / hunter | The common case south of the 52nd; access, lodging, and guiding bundled. |
| Remote fly-in / exclusive-rights territory | upper four figures / hunter | Higher end — float-plane access, private leased territory. |
| Replacement licence | $7.15 | If you lose a licence bought at a retailer. |
The licence is a fixed figure you can count on; the package is where the spread lives — remote fly-in operations and exclusive-rights territories sit at the high end, territory-plus-lodging arrangements at the low end. Your non-resident licence is on top of the package price, and because moose is a two-hunter affair, outfitters usually price and book it for parties, not individuals.
When is moose season, and when should I book?
Moose seasons run in the fall and vary by zone and weapon, with archery and muzzleloader windows generally open before the general firearm season. The exact dates shift yearly, so plan against the current calendar rather than last year's.
Booking is the part people underestimate. A good outfitter's moose week can fill six months to a year ahead, especially for the rut. If you're targeting a specific fall, start looking the winter before.
Why most non-residents end up booking an outfitter
Unless you have a Quebec resident ready to bring you along, the outfitter path isn't just the easiest option — it's the one the regulations point you toward, and it's the one that turns "I have a licence" into "I got a moose." The guide knows where the animals are moving, handles the registration and the brutal work of getting a 400-kilogram animal out of the bush, and absorbs the logistics that sink most first-time DIY trips.
It's fair to ask whether somewhere like Newfoundland is simpler or cheaper, and for some hunters it is. But Quebec makes a strong case: it's far closer for most of the eastern US and central Canada, it has more than 500 outfitters to choose from across wildly different price points and styles, and the density of moose country means you're rarely far from a good operation. The trick is choosing the right one — which is the part a directory built for comparing real prices, packages, and territories is meant to solve.
FAQ
Do you need a guide to hunt moose in Quebec as an American?
Almost always an outfitter — but not necessarily a guide in the field. The rule is that a non-resident south of the 52nd parallel must use at least two services from an outfitter, one being lodging, or hunt a ZEC or wildlife reserve. "Two services including lodging" can be satisfied by, say, lodging plus territory access without a personal guide walking you in, so an unguided-but-outfitted hunt is possible. The only way to skip the outfitter entirely is being accompanied by a Quebec resident who holds a moose licence — and that resident can bring just one non-resident per year. Without that resident connection, an American hunter books an outfitter (guided or not) or hunts a ZEC/reserve.
Can two non-residents hunt moose together in Quebec?
Yes, and you may need to. In most zones moose is a group hunt requiring two licence-holders' tags per animal, so two non-residents who both hold moose licences can form a valid party. What two non-residents can't do south of the 52nd is skip the outfitter or the ZEC/reserve requirement — the resident-accompaniment exemption needs an actual Quebec resident, not two visitors.
Do I need a Quebec hunter's certificate as a non-resident?
No. The provincial hunter's certificate isn't required for non-residents. You use your home licence or hunter-education card instead, and you'll generally show it when you buy your Quebec moose licence.
How much is a non-resident moose licence in Quebec?
It's several hundred dollars and well above the resident price, but the exact figure changes year to year, so check the current rate on Mon dossier chasse et pêche or ask your outfitter, who usually includes it in the package. Budget the licence separately from the hunt itself.
Can I bring my rifle from the US to hunt moose in Quebec?
Yes. You bring a non-restricted hunting rifle in on a Non-Resident Firearm Declaration, which you sign in front of the border officer. See the RCMP's non-residents page for the form, the fee, and the barrel rules before you travel.
Is moose hunting in Quebec worth it compared to other provinces?
It depends on what you're optimizing for. Quebec is closer and has more moose country and more outfitters than most alternatives, which is why it's a default for eastern North America. Provinces like Newfoundland can be cheaper or simpler for some hunters. The honest answer is to compare specific outfitters and packages rather than provinces in the abstract — the gap between two Quebec operations is often bigger than the gap between provinces.
