Black Bear Hunting in Canada

📋 Provincial bag limit 2 (p. 13). Bear may not be hunted by placing bait or by using a dead animal or part of it as bait (p. 13, note 6). NOTICE: There is no open season for Grizzly Bears in B.C. (Region 1 notice, p. 19). See 'Notice to Black Bear Hunters' (p. 80).

📋 Baiting of black bears is permitted only in listed WMUs with restrictions (p. 58): baiting prohibited within 1.6 km (1 mi.) of occupied dwellings (with permission exceptions) and within 1.6 km of provincial parks that are not designated wildland provincial parks, provincial and forest recreation areas and some industrial sites; bait restricted to the open season and preceding two weeks; during November only meat or meat products may be used for bait. Two black bear licences may be used in WMUs 224, 250, 258, 260, 320-360, 429, 445, 500-544 and 841 (licence footnotes, pp. 22, 26). Bear baiting is not permitted in provincial parks, provincial recreation areas and wildland provincial parks (limited exceptions, p. 36).

📋 No hunting of female bears with young of the year cubs at heel. All non-resident hunters must use a licensed outfitter and possess a guided black bear licence; Canadian residents have the option of purchasing a guided bear licence. There are no colour dress requirements for archery, crossbow, muzzleloader and shotgun hunters. An unused 2026 black bear licence purchased for the spring season is valid for the 2026 fall seasons (p. 19).

📋 Bag limit one black bear per year (all zones). GHAs 13 and 18 fall bear season dates are August 15 to September 20. Fall bear hunters in GHA 18 are restricted to designated routes. GHA 34A is an archery only season, Manitoba residents only. GHA 34B is an archery only season for Manitoba, Canadian and non-Canadian residents. GHAs 2, 30 and 34C are Manitoba resident and Canadian resident only season areas. In GHA 17A, Designated Route restrictions apply to fall black bear hunters from Sept. 21 to Oct. 18. In GHA 21A, Hecla Island is closed to black bear hunting. In a provincial park, black bears may not be hunted within 300 metres of a garbage dump (100 m restriction applies elsewhere). In GHAs 23 and 23A: baits may not be placed until 14 days prior to the spring/fall season; baiting equipment on Crown land must be removed within 5 days after closure of both seasons; baits may not be placed within 100 metres of Riding Mountain National Park. Baits may not be placed within 200 metres of a road or dwelling, or 500 metres of a cottage subdivision or a Crown land picnic site or campground; baits on Crown land may not exceed 100 kilograms of meat and/or fish. It is illegal to possess black bear gall bladders in Manitoba. Grizzly bears are protected and cannot be killed or possessed (sighted in GHAs 1 and 2). Non-Canadian residents must book through a licensed outfitter and be accompanied by a licensed Manitoba guide; CITES export permits required to transport out of Canada (with exemptions for personally transported fresh/frozen/salted hides, hide with paws and claws, skull or meat into the United States). Black bear hunters are exempt from hunter orange during the spring season but required during the fall season.

📋 It is illegal to hunt black bear in the fall in the Bruce Peninsula, which includes WMUs 82A, 83 and 84 (p. 78). All non-residents must hunt through a licensed black bear hunting services operator and hold a Black Bear Hunting Validation Certificate (p. 80). Bait placement restrictions (p. 79).

📋 Within 72 hours of harvesting a bear, present the entire carcass including the hide for registration at the first open bear registration station, or register online (tooth submission within 14 days) (p. 24). Bear or bear parts leaving Canada may require a CITES Export Permit (p. 24).

📋 No person who holds a Bear Hunting Licence shall take, hunt, kill, or attempt to take, hunt, or kill a female bear which is accompanied by one or more cubs (p. 24). Black bear gallbladders must be sealed with a permanently attached locking seal prior to sale or export (p. 25). Bear meat storage: Bear Hunting Report serves as a valid storage permit until April 30 (p. 25).

📋 Regional Black Bear Management Areas (BBMAs) incorporate former BMAs corresponding to Moose Management Areas; open season boundaries are the MMA boundaries described in Schedule A of the Moose Hunting Order. Female bears accompanied by cubs less than 1 year old and cubs less than one year old may not be harvested by shooting. Fall bow hunting season on the island begins August 29, 2026 (no cross bows); no preseason bow hunt for the spring season; no preseason bow hunt in Labrador for either season. Hunters may apply for additional licences in the same or other BBMAs. Trapping: licenced black bear hunters may trap bears using Aldrich foot snares or similar devices in a covered 'cubby set' (checked daily, warning sign); must possess a valid big game black bear licence and a valid trapping licence; 2026 spring season - a 2025-26 General Trapper's Licence suffices, fall season requires a 2026-27 General Trapper's Licence. Beginning spring 2027, black bear licence applications throughout the province will be limited to two licences (four bears) per hunter.