Summary
- Moose — a draw (tirage au sort) replaces the old alternating-year ("permissive/restrictive") system in most zones, and calves are now grouped with females under a single "moose without antlers" category. Selling natural moose urine is now banned.
- White-tailed deer — hunters in nine more zones can now take two deer in the same zone, as long as only one is an adult male. Zone 18 opens for deer.
- Small game — season-opening dates are now standardized (around Sept 19), grey partridge opens in zone 8, and the dedicated falconry small-game licence is abolished.
- Wild turkey — the training certificate is no longer required.
- In force April 1, 2026 to March 31, 2028. Always confirm your zone's rules at quebec.ca before heading out.
Every two years, Quebec's hunting regulation is refreshed. The current regulation came into force on April 1, 2026 and runs through March 31, 2028 — it covers both the 2026–2027 and 2027–2028 seasons. It's one of the more consequential updates in recent memory, especially for moose hunters. Here's what you need to know before the fall opener.
Moose: the draw system is now the rule in most zones
What changed and why it matters
This is the headline change of 2026. Previously, many zones ran on an "alternating year" system — females and calves could be harvested in permissive years, not in restrictive years. Starting fall 2026, that alternating system is abolished in most zones and replaced by a draw (tirage au sort) for a new type of licence: the moose without antlers (MWA) licence.
"Moose without antlers" is the new official term covering both adult females and calves — the Ministry has formally grouped calves with females under this single designation throughout the province.
How the draw system works
In zones 1 to 12, 14 to 16, 22, 26 and 27, as well as in wildlife reserves and certain ZECs, you now need to win a draw to obtain an MWA licence if you want to harvest a female or calf moose. The MWA licence is valid for a specific territory — a zone, subzone, ZEC or wildlife reserve, depending on where you applied. You must also hold the regular moose hunting licence on top of it.
Good news: the regular "Any-zone Moose" licence — which lets you hunt adult males — can still be purchased each year without a draw.
An MWA licence can be shared among members of a hunting party, with a written authorization from the licence holder.
Zones that work differently
Not every zone is in the draw system:
- Zones 13, 18 and 28 keep the alternating-year system. 2026 is a restrictive year for these zones, meaning moose without antlers hunting is closed — except in zone 13 during the bow and crossbow season in 2026, where it remains open.
- Zones 19 South and 29 are open every year for all segments, with no MWA licence required.
The moose urine ban
The sale of natural moose urine is now prohibited across Quebec — in line with the rules already covering other cervids (the deer family). Moose are the one exception on the use side: you can still use natural moose urine as an attractant, whereas natural urine from deer can't be used at all. Synthetic alternatives remain legal across the board.
Changes to bag limits in certain ZECs
In a list of 24 named ZECs — including Anse-Saint-Jean, Bras-Coupé-Désert, Kiskissink, Pontiac and others — the annual bag limit is now 1 moose per 3 hunters. Confirm whether your ZEC is on this list at quebec.ca.
White-tailed deer: zone 18 opens, and a second deer is now possible in nine more zones
Zone 18 now open for deer
Deer hunting opens in zone 18 for the first time under this regulation cycle.
Harvesting two deer in the same zone
Starting in 2026, hunters in zones 4, 5 East, 5 West, 6 North, 6 South, 7 South, 8 East, 8 North and 8 South may harvest two white-tailed deer in the same zone — with one strict condition: only one of the two may be an adult male. The second deer must be antlerless (female, fawn, or a buck with antlers under 7 cm).
If you hunt in zones 6 North or 6 South, the antler restriction (AR) standard applies to any male you take: the antlers must meet the AR measurement standard. Check the specific rules for your zone before heading out.
Deer hunters now have to use synthetic urine as an attractant province-wide — using natural deer urine is prohibited as a disease-spread precaution (moose urine is the lone cervid exception).
Small game: standardized opening dates, zone 8 opens for grey partridge, falconry licence abolished
Standardized opening dates
Opening dates for ruffed grouse (gélinotte huppée), spruce grouse (tétras du Canada) and snowshoe hare (lièvre d'Amérique) are now standardized across regions. In most zones (1 through 18, 20–21, 26–28), the season opens September 19, 2026. In the northern zones 19 South and 29, the opener is September 12, 2026. This change was made to reduce harvesting pressure during the period when these species are most vulnerable.
Grey partridge now open in zone 8
Grey partridge (perdrix grise) hunting was previously restricted to a smaller set of zones. Under the new regulation, hunting for grey partridge is open in all zones listed in the small-game regulation, which now explicitly includes zone 8. The season runs September 19 to November 15, 2026.
Confirm whether your specific zone is included at quebec.ca/en small game seasons.
Falconry: dedicated licence abolished
The dedicated small-game hunting licence for hunting with a bird of prey (fauconnerie) no longer exists. If you hunt with a bird of prey, you now need only the standard small-game hunting licence. All other falconry rules remain unchanged.
Wild turkey: training certificate no longer required
The certificate of successful completion of the wild turkey hunting training program is no longer mandatory. You can now hunt wild turkey with only the standard hunting licence and applicable tags. If you're new to turkey hunting, the training content is still a useful voluntary resource — the habit of proper identification matters.
Transportation tags: a practical change for all hunters
With the move to online licence sales, transportation tag rules have been updated. For any species requiring a transportation tag, you must now write or attach the unique tag number on the animal so it stays both permanent and legible — you can print the tag from your digital licence and protect it from weather, or write the number directly on the animal. Paper licences from a vendor still come with physical tags.
Quick-reference: 2026–2027 changes by species
| Species | Change |
|---|---|
| Moose | Draw replaces alternating-year system in most zones; calves grouped with females as MWA; natural moose urine banned |
| Moose (zones 13, 18, 28) | Alternating system kept; 2026 = restrictive year (closed), except zone 13 bow/crossbow season |
| Moose (zones 19 South, 29) | Open every year, no MWA licence required |
| White-tailed deer | Zone 18 opens; two deer now allowed in zones 4, 5E, 5W, 6N, 6S, 7S, 8E, 8N, 8S (one adult male max) |
| Small game | Opening dates standardized around Sept 19; grey partridge open across zones incl. zone 8; falconry licence abolished |
| Wild turkey | Training certificate no longer required |
| All species | Transportation tag number must be attached to the animal in a permanent, legible way |
FAQ
Do I still need to enter the draw to hunt bull moose?
No. The regular "Any-zone Moose" licence — which authorizes harvest of an adult male with antlers — can still be purchased each year without a draw. The new draw only applies to the moose without antlers (MWA) licence.
I hunt in zone 13. Can I harvest a female moose in fall 2026?
Zone 13 keeps the alternating-year system. 2026 is a restrictive year, so female and calf moose hunting is closed during the firearms season. However, moose without antlers hunting remains open in zone 13 during the bow and crossbow season in 2026. Confirm exact dates at quebec.ca.
Can I still use store-bought moose urine as a scent attractant?
No — selling natural moose urine is now prohibited, so you can't buy it. You can still use natural moose urine you've collected yourself; moose is the one cervid whose natural urine you may still use. Otherwise, only synthetic products are sold legally.
I hunt in zone 6 and want to take two deer. Is that allowed?
Yes — zones 6 North and 6 South are among the nine zones where a second deer may be harvested in the same zone. Only one can be an adult male, and the antler restriction (AR) standard applies to any male you take. Check the exact AR measurement requirement at quebec.ca.
I hunt grouse with a bird of prey. Do I need a special licence?
No. The dedicated falconry small-game licence is abolished. A standard small-game hunting licence is now sufficient. The other rules governing falconry practice remain in place.
Where do I find my zone's specific rules and draw results?
Start at quebec.ca — Hunting seasons and bag limits, then navigate to your species. For draw results, log into your My Hunting and Fishing Account at the same site.
Planning a moose or deer hunt this fall? Outfitters across Quebec know their zones inside out — they track draw quotas, scout populations all summer, and plan their seasons around the regulation changes. → Browse Quebec hunting outfitters on Pourvoo.
