Summary
- You need a separate licence for each species — moose, deer, bear, wild turkey, and small game are all distinct permits.
- Residents buy them online through Mon dossier chasse et pêche or at authorized retailers.
- Resident prices run from about $25 (small game) to $90 (moose) for the 2026–2027 season, taxes in — non-residents pay much more.
- Some species — antlerless moose and antlerless deer — require winning a tirage au sort (limited-entry draw) first.
- Carry your licence every time you hunt, and sign it — an unsigned licence isn't valid in the field.
Before any of this makes sense, you need a hunter's certificate. If you haven't done that step yet, start with the Quebec hunter's certificate. This article picks up from there.
Why isn't one permit enough for everything?
In Quebec, your hunter's certificate proves you passed your safety training and are legally allowed to hunt. But it does not give you permission to go out and shoot anything. For each species you want to hunt, you need a separate licence — one per animal category, for that hunting season.
This matters in practice. If you want to hunt both moose and white-tailed deer in the same fall, you need two separate licences, purchased separately, each linked to a specific hunting zone. If you also want to try turkey in the spring, that's a third licence. The system is designed to give the government granular control over how many animals of each species are harvested in each zone every year.
What kinds of hunting licences exist in Quebec?
Quebec issues hunting licences by species. The main categories available to residents for the 2026–2027 season:
White-tailed deer (cerf de Virginie)
The most popular big game licence. The regular deer licence lets you harvest one deer; there's also an additional deer licence for a second one (you must hold the regular licence first). Both are tied to a specific hunting zone.
Moose (orignal)
Also zone-specific, with a purchase deadline in most zones if you want to hunt during the firearms season — the deadline varies by zone, so confirm yours on quebec.ca before you buy. You can hunt with a firearm, bow, or crossbow depending on your hunter's certificate code.
Black bear (ours noir)
One licence covers both the spring and fall seasons. It comes with two transportation coupons — the tag you attach to an animal right after you kill it — one per season.
Wild turkey (dindon sauvage)
Two separate licences: one for spring (bearded turkey only) and one for fall (bearded or beardless). Each is sold separately.
Small game
A single licence covers a wide range of species including grouse, hare, and snowshoe rabbit. Residents can also snare hares and cottontail rabbits under it. For migratory birds (ducks, geese), you need both a provincial small game licence and a federal migratory bird permit — the federal one is bought separately through the Government of Canada.
How much do hunting licences cost?
Prices below are for the 2026–2027 season, taxes and the "Fondation de la faune du Québec" contribution included. Non-residents pay several times the resident rate.
| Licence | Resident | Non-resident |
|---|---|---|
| White-tailed deer (regular) | $68.41 | $366.77 |
| White-tailed deer (additional) | $38.61 | $180.32 |
| Moose | $90.36 | $598.77 |
| Black bear | $64.88 | $231.32 |
| Wild turkey (spring) | $42.68 | $206.09 |
| Wild turkey (fall) | $19.22 | $69.95 |
| Small game (with snare) | $24.65 | — |
| Small game (no snare) | — | $114.71 |
Snaring hares and cottontails is a residents-only licence; non-residents can't buy it and take the no-snare small game category instead.
Where and how do you buy a hunting licence?
You have two options.
Online
Mon dossier chasse et pêche is the government's official online platform. You create a personal account linked to your email address, and your hunter's certificate number is connected to it. Once you're set up, buying is straightforward: choose the species, choose your zone, pay, and download your licence. You can redownload a lost licence at no extra charge from the same account.
At an authorized sales outlet
Sporting goods stores, some gas stations, certain ZECs (zones d'exploitation contrôlée, which are managed wildlife territories), outfitters, and wildlife reserves all sell licences in person. The government's website has a sales outlet finder. This is the option if you don't have easy internet access, or if you want to buy a licence as a gift for someone else (you can buy for another person at a counter, but the licence is personal — they must sign it immediately).
One important rule: you must sign your licence to make it valid. For digital licences, make sure your name and date of birth are correct in your "Mon dossier" account. For paper licences, you sign the back and the issuing agent signs the front. An unsigned licence is not valid in the field.
What is the "tirage au sort" (limited-entry draw)?
Some of the most sought-after hunting opportunities in Quebec are not available simply by buying a licence. They require winning a tirage au sort — a random lottery draw — first.
The draws that matter most to big game hunters:
Antlerless moose (orignal sans bois)
Hunting a cow moose or calf is much more tightly controlled than bull moose hunting. In many zones and ZECs, antlerless moose licences are distributed by draw only, to Quebec residents only. The registration period runs from May 30 to June 16 each year, with results at the end of June.
Antlerless white-tailed deer
In zones where only antlered deer (antlers 7 cm or longer) can normally be taken, a draw licence is the only way to legally harvest a doe or spike buck. Same May 30–June 16 registration window.
Wildlife reserve hunts
A third draw covers hunts inside Sépaq wildlife reserves (réserves fauniques), for both moose and deer. Registration runs December through January 15, with results in late January.
How do you enter?
You register for the antlerless moose and deer draws on Mon dossier chasse et pêche, and for the wildlife-reserve draw at Sépaq, during the window. The draws are open to Quebec residents only. If you win, you don't need to do anything special to receive your licence — just buy your regular moose or deer licence as normal, and the system automatically attaches the draw privilege at no extra cost.
Not winning a draw does not prevent you from hunting that species — it only means you're restricted to what your regular licence allows (antlered animals in most cases). It's disappointing but common; treat the draw as a bonus, not a prerequisite.
What do you need to carry in the field?
Your hunting licence is personal and you must have it with you every time you hunt. A wildlife protection officer can ask to see it at any time. They will also ask for government-issued photo ID to confirm you are the licence holder.
If you're caught without your licence, you may receive a seven-day notice — you have seven days to prove you hold a valid licence at a wildlife protection office or through an online form. If you fail to do that, criminal charges may follow.
For big game and wild turkey, there is one more thing to know: your licence comes with a transportation coupon. The moment you kill the animal, you must attach this coupon to it. It stays on the animal until it is cut up or placed in storage. After that, you must register the harvest within 48 hours — that step is covered in registering your game in Quebec.
A note on zone numbers
When you buy a big game licence, you must specify a hunting zone number at the time of purchase. Once purchased, the zone entered on a moose licence generally cannot be changed — there is a "zone correction" process but it applies only in narrow circumstances and has strict conditions. For white-tailed deer, zone changes are also not possible after purchase.
Take a few minutes before you buy to confirm exactly which zone you'll be hunting in. If you're going to a ZEC or outfitter, check which zone it falls in. Getting this wrong is a frustrating and expensive mistake.
FAQ
Do I need a separate licence for each zone I hunt in?
For big game, yes — each licence is tied to a specific zone. You can buy multiple licences (for example, one regular deer licence and one additional deer licence) for different zones in the same season, with some exceptions for certain zones that allow both licences in the same area.
Can I buy a hunting licence if I'm visiting from another province?
Yes. Non-resident licences are available for most species, though at much higher prices and with some restrictions (non-residents cannot buy the small game licence with snare). You must be 12 or older. Non-residents cannot enter the antlerless moose or antlerless deer random draws.
When do hunting licences expire?
Big game and wild turkey licences expire at the end of the hunting season for that species, or when your transportation coupon has been used — whichever comes first. Small game licences expire on the date printed on the licence.
What if I lose my licence?
If you bought online through "Mon dossier chasse et pêche," you can redownload it for free. If you bought at a retailer, you'll need to purchase a replacement licence ($7.15 for residents and non-residents).
I won the antlerless moose draw. Do I buy a separate licence for it?
No. When you purchase your regular moose licence, the antlerless draw privilege is automatically attached at no additional charge. There is no separate "antlerless moose licence" to buy.
Does a small game licence cover migratory birds like ducks?
Partially. You need a provincial small game licence AND a federal migratory bird hunting permit. The federal permit is purchased separately through the Government of Canada website or at Canada Post.
Looking for a pourvoirie (outfitter) that matches the species and zones you have in mind? → Browse hunting outfitters across Quebec by region, species, and territory type on Pourvoo.
Related: How to start hunting in Quebec | The Quebec hunter's certificate | Registering your game in Quebec
