À propos de la chasse — Nouvelle-Écosse
Cerfs, ours noirs, gélinottes huppées et sauvagine dans des zones compactes qu’on apprend en un week-end.
- Guide actuel : 2026 Hunting and Fur Harvesting Summary of Regulations (2026) — version PDF / Web officielle ↗
- Publié par : Nova Scotia Department of Natural Resources (DNR)
- Permis & tags : portail officiel des permis ↗
- Système de zones : zones de chasse
🦌 Gros gibier
Cerfs, orignaux, wapitis, ours et espèces à tirage qui structurent la chasse canadienne.
White-tailed Deer Toutes les provinces →
| Zone | Période | Limite de prise / tag | Remarques |
|---|---|---|---|
| All Deer Management Zones (province-wide) | Archery and Muzzleloader: Sep 14 – Dec 12 | 1 | Sep 14 to Sep 26 restricted to bow only. Deer Hunting: Archery & Muzzleloader licence required.Source : p. 10 |
| All Deer Management Zones (province-wide) | Youth: Oct 16 – 24 | 1 | Individuals aged 12–17 may hunt deer under the immediate supervision of a parent, guardian or other responsible person 18+ certified to hunt with the weapon used.Source : p. 10 |
| All Deer Management Zones (province-wide) | General: Oct 30 – Dec 12 | 1 | General (rifle) deer season; deer rifle hunting season extended by 1 week per Minister's message (Minister's message page).Source : p. 10 |
| 101 | During an open season in that Deer Management Zone | either sex | Antlerless deer stamps available for 2026 ('Stamps' column verbatim; 'either sex' = zones open for harvest of either sex, no Antlerless Deer Hunting Stamp required). An Antlerless Deer Hunting Stamp does not increase the bag limit; it allows harvest of an antlerless or antlered deer under the Deer Hunting licence held.Source : p. 28 |
| 102 | During an open season in that Deer Management Zone | either sex | Antlerless deer stamps available for 2026 ('Stamps' column verbatim; 'either sex' = zones open for harvest of either sex, no Antlerless Deer Hunting Stamp required). An Antlerless Deer Hunting Stamp does not increase the bag limit; it allows harvest of an antlerless or antlered deer under the Deer Hunting licence held.Source : p. 28 |
| 103 | During an open season in that Deer Management Zone | 2,200 | Antlerless deer stamps available for 2026 ('Stamps' column verbatim; 'either sex' = zones open for harvest of either sex, no Antlerless Deer Hunting Stamp required). An Antlerless Deer Hunting Stamp does not increase the bag limit; it allows harvest of an antlerless or antlered deer under the Deer Hunting licence held.Source : p. 28 |
| 104 | During an open season in that Deer Management Zone | 425 | Antlerless deer stamps available for 2026 ('Stamps' column verbatim; 'either sex' = zones open for harvest of either sex, no Antlerless Deer Hunting Stamp required). An Antlerless Deer Hunting Stamp does not increase the bag limit; it allows harvest of an antlerless or antlered deer under the Deer Hunting licence held.Source : p. 28 |
| 105 | During an open season in that Deer Management Zone | either sex | Antlerless deer stamps available for 2026 ('Stamps' column verbatim; 'either sex' = zones open for harvest of either sex, no Antlerless Deer Hunting Stamp required). An Antlerless Deer Hunting Stamp does not increase the bag limit; it allows harvest of an antlerless or antlered deer under the Deer Hunting licence held.Source : p. 28 |
| 106 | During an open season in that Deer Management Zone | 900 | Antlerless deer stamps available for 2026 ('Stamps' column verbatim; 'either sex' = zones open for harvest of either sex, no Antlerless Deer Hunting Stamp required). An Antlerless Deer Hunting Stamp does not increase the bag limit; it allows harvest of an antlerless or antlered deer under the Deer Hunting licence held.Source : p. 28 |
| 107 | During an open season in that Deer Management Zone | either sex | Antlerless deer stamps available for 2026 ('Stamps' column verbatim; 'either sex' = zones open for harvest of either sex, no Antlerless Deer Hunting Stamp required). An Antlerless Deer Hunting Stamp does not increase the bag limit; it allows harvest of an antlerless or antlered deer under the Deer Hunting licence held.Source : p. 28 |
| 108 | During an open season in that Deer Management Zone | 850 | Antlerless deer stamps available for 2026 ('Stamps' column verbatim; 'either sex' = zones open for harvest of either sex, no Antlerless Deer Hunting Stamp required). An Antlerless Deer Hunting Stamp does not increase the bag limit; it allows harvest of an antlerless or antlered deer under the Deer Hunting licence held.Source : p. 28 |
| 109 | During an open season in that Deer Management Zone | either sex | Antlerless deer stamps available for 2026 ('Stamps' column verbatim; 'either sex' = zones open for harvest of either sex, no Antlerless Deer Hunting Stamp required). An Antlerless Deer Hunting Stamp does not increase the bag limit; it allows harvest of an antlerless or antlered deer under the Deer Hunting licence held.Source : p. 28 |
| 110 | During an open season in that Deer Management Zone | 850 | Antlerless deer stamps available for 2026 ('Stamps' column verbatim; 'either sex' = zones open for harvest of either sex, no Antlerless Deer Hunting Stamp required). An Antlerless Deer Hunting Stamp does not increase the bag limit; it allows harvest of an antlerless or antlered deer under the Deer Hunting licence held.Source : p. 28 |
| 111 | During an open season in that Deer Management Zone | 500 | Antlerless deer stamps available for 2026 ('Stamps' column verbatim; 'either sex' = zones open for harvest of either sex, no Antlerless Deer Hunting Stamp required). An Antlerless Deer Hunting Stamp does not increase the bag limit; it allows harvest of an antlerless or antlered deer under the Deer Hunting licence held.Source : p. 28 |
| 112 | During an open season in that Deer Management Zone | 300 | Antlerless deer stamps available for 2026 ('Stamps' column verbatim; 'either sex' = zones open for harvest of either sex, no Antlerless Deer Hunting Stamp required). An Antlerless Deer Hunting Stamp does not increase the bag limit; it allows harvest of an antlerless or antlered deer under the Deer Hunting licence held.Source : p. 28 |
| 101 | Open deer season in the zone specified on the stamp (only after a first deer is harvested and reported) | 300 | Bonus deer stamps available for 2026 ('Stamps' column verbatim). Restricted to antlerless-only harvest (new for 2026); increase the bag limit from one to two; $5.57 plus HST; replacement bonus stamps not available.Source : p. 29 |
| 102 | Open deer season in the zone specified on the stamp (only after a first deer is harvested and reported) | 300 | Bonus deer stamps available for 2026 ('Stamps' column verbatim). Restricted to antlerless-only harvest (new for 2026); increase the bag limit from one to two; $5.57 plus HST; replacement bonus stamps not available.Source : p. 29 |
| 103 | Open deer season in the zone specified on the stamp (only after a first deer is harvested and reported) | N/A | Bonus deer stamps available for 2026 ('Stamps' column verbatim). Restricted to antlerless-only harvest (new for 2026); increase the bag limit from one to two; $5.57 plus HST; replacement bonus stamps not available.Source : p. 29 |
| 104 | Open deer season in the zone specified on the stamp (only after a first deer is harvested and reported) | N/A | Bonus deer stamps available for 2026 ('Stamps' column verbatim). Restricted to antlerless-only harvest (new for 2026); increase the bag limit from one to two; $5.57 plus HST; replacement bonus stamps not available.Source : p. 29 |
| 105 | Open deer season in the zone specified on the stamp (only after a first deer is harvested and reported) | N/A | Bonus deer stamps available for 2026 ('Stamps' column verbatim). Restricted to antlerless-only harvest (new for 2026); increase the bag limit from one to two; $5.57 plus HST; replacement bonus stamps not available.Source : p. 29 |
| 106 | Open deer season in the zone specified on the stamp (only after a first deer is harvested and reported) | 300 | Bonus deer stamps available for 2026 ('Stamps' column verbatim). Restricted to antlerless-only harvest (new for 2026); increase the bag limit from one to two; $5.57 plus HST; replacement bonus stamps not available.Source : p. 29 |
| 107 | Open deer season in the zone specified on the stamp (only after a first deer is harvested and reported) | 300 | Bonus deer stamps available for 2026 ('Stamps' column verbatim). Restricted to antlerless-only harvest (new for 2026); increase the bag limit from one to two; $5.57 plus HST; replacement bonus stamps not available.Source : p. 29 |
| 108 | Open deer season in the zone specified on the stamp (only after a first deer is harvested and reported) | 300 | Bonus deer stamps available for 2026 ('Stamps' column verbatim). Restricted to antlerless-only harvest (new for 2026); increase the bag limit from one to two; $5.57 plus HST; replacement bonus stamps not available.Source : p. 29 |
| 109 | Open deer season in the zone specified on the stamp (only after a first deer is harvested and reported) | 300 | Bonus deer stamps available for 2026 ('Stamps' column verbatim). Restricted to antlerless-only harvest (new for 2026); increase the bag limit from one to two; $5.57 plus HST; replacement bonus stamps not available.Source : p. 29 |
| 110 | Open deer season in the zone specified on the stamp (only after a first deer is harvested and reported) | 300 | Bonus deer stamps available for 2026 ('Stamps' column verbatim). Restricted to antlerless-only harvest (new for 2026); increase the bag limit from one to two; $5.57 plus HST; replacement bonus stamps not available.Source : p. 29 |
| 111 | Open deer season in the zone specified on the stamp (only after a first deer is harvested and reported) | 300 | Bonus deer stamps available for 2026 ('Stamps' column verbatim). Restricted to antlerless-only harvest (new for 2026); increase the bag limit from one to two; $5.57 plus HST; replacement bonus stamps not available.Source : p. 29 |
| 112 | Open deer season in the zone specified on the stamp (only after a first deer is harvested and reported) | 300 | Bonus deer stamps available for 2026 ('Stamps' column verbatim). Restricted to antlerless-only harvest (new for 2026); increase the bag limit from one to two; $5.57 plus HST; replacement bonus stamps not available.Source : p. 29 |
Black Bear Toutes les provinces →
| Zone | Période | Limite de prise / tag | Remarques |
|---|---|---|---|
| Province-wide | Hunting: Sep 14 – Dec 5 | 1 | Bear Hunting licence required.Source : p. 10 |
| Province-wide | Snaring: Oct 1 – Dec 5 | 2 | Bear Snaring licence: must be a Nova Scotia resident, 16 years of age or older, certified as a fur harvester (FQ or FT); only a cable foot snare may be used; non-residents are not allowed to snare bear; no snares within 30 m of the boundaries of any common or public highway.Source : p. 10 (details p. 24) |
| Moose Management Zones 2, 3 and 4 | Sep 14 – Oct 11, 2026 | n/a | It is prohibited to possess or use rifles, shotguns or muzzleloaders for the purpose of bear hunting within the lands designated as Moose Management Zones 2, 3 and 4 from Monday, Sep 14 to Sunday, Oct 11, 2026.Source : p. 10 |
Moose Toutes les provinces →
| Zone | Période | Limite de prise / tag | Remarques |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cape Breton (Moose Management Zones 1-5) | No season in 2026 | n/a | In 2024, the Cape Breton moose hunt was suspended for three years and therefore there will not be a Cape Breton Moose hunt in 2026 (p. 10); based on survey results the province will not be holding a draw for moose licences in 2026 (p. 40).Source : pp. 10, 40 |
| Mainland Nova Scotia | No open season listed | n/a | Nova Scotia's native moose species has been listed as endangered since 2003; the estimated population of Mainland moose (Alces alces americana) is approximately 1,000 animals; report sightings online (p. 22). The guide's Moose bag limits and open seasons table lists no open season (p. 10).Source : pp. 10, 22 |
🦃 Gibier à plumes
Gélinottes, perdrix, lagopèdes et dindons — les classiques marches d’automne.
Ruffed Grouse Toutes les provinces →
| Zone | Période | Limite de prise / tag | Remarques |
|---|---|---|---|
| Province-wide | Oct 1 – Dec 31 | 5 per day. (After the first day, possession limit is 10 at any time.) | Small Game Stamp required.Source : p. 11 |
Ring-necked Pheasant (male only)
| Zone | Période | Limite de prise / tag | Remarques |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annapolis, Kings, Hants | Nov 1 – Dec 15 | 2 per day. After the first day, the possession limit is 4 birds at any time. | Small Game Stamp required. Male only.Source : p. 11 |
| All other counties | Oct 1 – Dec 15 | 2 per day. After the first day, the possession limit is 4 birds at any time. | Small Game Stamp required. Male only.Source : p. 11 |
🦆 Sauvagine et oiseaux migrateurs
Saisons de canards, d’oies et d’oiseaux migrateurs sous encadrement fédéral.
Migratory Game Birds (woodcock, snipe, ducks, geese)
| Zone | Période | Limite de prise / tag | Remarques |
|---|---|---|---|
| Province-wide | See federal Migratory Birds Regulations | See federal regulations | To hunt migratory birds in Nova Scotia you must obtain: NS Small Game Hunting Licence; NS Wildlife Habitat Stamp; Federal Migratory Game Bird Hunting Permit; Federal Habitat Conservation Stamp. Federal permit available at permis-permits.ec.gc.ca or local post offices.Source : p. 44 |
🐇 Petit gibier
Lièvres, coyotes, renards et les espèces qui allongent la saison.
Snowshoe Hare Toutes les provinces →
| Zone | Période | Limite de prise / tag | Remarques |
|---|---|---|---|
| Province-wide | Hunting: Nov 1 2026 – Feb 27 2027 | None | Source : p. 11 |
| Province-wide | Snaring: Nov 1 2026 – Feb 28 2027 | None | A person of any age may snare snowshoe hare; only legal to snare with wire commonly known as rabbit wire, not lighter than 20 gauge (p. 43).Source : p. 11 |
🦫 Animaux à fourrure
Saisons de piégeage et de chasse pour la martre, le castor et plus encore.
Beaver Toutes les provinces →
| Zone | Période | Limite de prise / tag | Remarques |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 1 (Cape Breton, Inverness, Richmond, Victoria) | Nov 1 2026 – Mar 31 2027 | 30 | Fur Harvester table zone names verbatim; requires Wildlife Habitat and Fur Harvester Stamps.Source : p. 9 |
| Zone 2 (Antigonish, Colchester, Cumberland, Guysborough, Halifax, Hants, Pictou) | Nov 1 2026 – Mar 31 2027 | 20 | Source : p. 9 |
| Zone 3 (Annapolis, Kings, Lunenburg) | Nov 1 2026 – Mar 31 2027 | 20 | Source : p. 9 |
| Zone 4 (Digby, Queens, Shelburne, Yarmouth) | Nov 1 2026 – Mar 31 2027 | 20 | Source : p. 9 |
Bobcat Toutes les provinces →
| Zone | Période | Limite de prise / tag | Remarques |
|---|---|---|---|
| Province-wide | Nov 1 2026 – Feb 28 2027 | Limit of 5 | Fur Harvester licence required.Source : p. 9 |
Otter Toutes les provinces →
| Zone | Période | Limite de prise / tag | Remarques |
|---|---|---|---|
| Province-wide | Nov 1 2026 – Feb 28 2027 | No limit | Carcasses must be turned in and pelts stamped at a DNR office.Source : p. 9 |
Mink Toutes les provinces →
| Zone | Période | Limite de prise / tag | Remarques |
|---|---|---|---|
| Province-wide | Nov 1 2026 – Mar 31 2027 | No limit | Guide lists these species in one grouped row: 'MINK, MUSKRAT, RED SQUIRREL, SKUNK, and WEASEL'.Source : p. 9 |
Muskrat Toutes les provinces →
| Zone | Période | Limite de prise / tag | Remarques |
|---|---|---|---|
| Province-wide | Nov 1 2026 – Mar 31 2027 | No limit | Guide lists these species in one grouped row: 'MINK, MUSKRAT, RED SQUIRREL, SKUNK, and WEASEL'.Source : p. 9 |
Weasel Toutes les provinces →
| Zone | Période | Limite de prise / tag | Remarques |
|---|---|---|---|
| Province-wide | Nov 1 2026 – Mar 31 2027 | No limit | Guide lists these species in one grouped row: 'MINK, MUSKRAT, RED SQUIRREL, SKUNK, and WEASEL'.Source : p. 9 |
Fox (red fox) Toutes les provinces →
| Zone | Période | Limite de prise / tag | Remarques |
|---|---|---|---|
| Province-wide | Oct 15 2026 – Mar 31 2027 | No limit | Guide row 'FOX and COYOTE'. With a valid Fur Harvester licence, pelts of fox may be possessed October 15 to April 15.Source : p. 9 (possession p. 55) |
Raccoon Toutes les provinces →
| Zone | Période | Limite de prise / tag | Remarques |
|---|---|---|---|
| Province-wide | Trapping: Nov 1 2026 – Mar 31 2027 | No limit | Source : p. 9 |
| Province-wide | Hunting: Oct 15 2026 – Mar 31 2027 | No limit | Source : p. 9 |
Lynx Toutes les provinces →
| Zone | Période | Limite de prise / tag | Remarques |
|---|---|---|---|
| Province-wide | Closed season | n/a | Guide row (verbatim): 'LYNX, MARTEN and FISHER* ... Closed season. * Animals accidently caught must be released or reported, and immediately turned into a DNR office.'Source : p. 9 |
Marten
| Zone | Période | Limite de prise / tag | Remarques |
|---|---|---|---|
| Province-wide | Closed season | n/a | Guide row (verbatim): 'LYNX, MARTEN and FISHER* ... Closed season. * Animals accidently caught must be released or reported, and immediately turned into a DNR office.'Source : p. 9 |
Fisher Toutes les provinces →
| Zone | Période | Limite de prise / tag | Remarques |
|---|---|---|---|
| Province-wide | Closed season | n/a | Guide row (verbatim): 'LYNX, MARTEN and FISHER* ... Closed season. * Animals accidently caught must be released or reported, and immediately turned into a DNR office.'Source : p. 9 |
🐦 Autres espèces
Saisons sous permis spéciaux et espèces nuisibles.
Coyote Toutes les provinces →
| Zone | Période | Limite de prise / tag | Remarques |
|---|---|---|---|
| Province-wide | Jan 1 2026 – Dec 31 2026 | None | Classed by the guide as 'Other Harvestable Wildlife'; Wildlife Habitat Stamp required. After the general deer season to March 31 the following year it is permitted to hunt coyote with a rifle or shotgun with rifled slugs or ball if the person holds a valid base licence and is hunting coyote (p. 18, note b).Source : p. 11 (methods p. 18) |
| Province-wide (Fur Harvester licence) | Oct 15 2026 – Mar 31 2027 | No limit | Listed with fox in the Fur Harvester bag limits and open seasons table (guide row 'FOX and COYOTE').Source : p. 9 |
Crow Toutes les provinces →
| Zone | Période | Limite de prise / tag | Remarques |
|---|---|---|---|
| Province-wide | Sep 1 2026 – Mar 31 2027 | None | Other Harvestable Wildlife; Wildlife Habitat Stamp required.Source : p. 11 |
Red Squirrel Toutes les provinces →
| Zone | Période | Limite de prise / tag | Remarques |
|---|---|---|---|
| Province-wide | Nov 1 2026 – Feb 27 2027 | None | Other Harvestable Wildlife (hunting); Wildlife Habitat Stamp required.Source : p. 11 |
| Province-wide (Fur Harvester licence) | Nov 1 2026 – Mar 31 2027 | No limit | Listed in the guide's grouped Fur Harvester table row 'MINK, MUSKRAT, RED SQUIRREL, SKUNK, and WEASEL'.Source : p. 9 |
Bullfrog
| Zone | Période | Limite de prise / tag | Remarques |
|---|---|---|---|
| Province-wide | Jul 15 2026 – Sep 30 2026 | None | Other Harvestable Wildlife; Wildlife Habitat Stamp required.Source : p. 11 |
Skunk Toutes les provinces →
| Zone | Période | Limite de prise / tag | Remarques |
|---|---|---|---|
| Province-wide (Fur Harvester licence) | Nov 1 2026 – Mar 31 2027 | No limit | Grouped Fur Harvester table row 'MINK, MUSKRAT, RED SQUIRREL, SKUNK, and WEASEL'.Source : p. 9 |
🏞️ Parcs & zones spéciales
Restrictions de chasse publiées par le guide pour les parcs provinciaux, aires protégées et zones spéciales — citées avec leurs sources.
| Endroit | Règle | Remarques | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Provincial parks (Nova Scotia) | No hunting/trapping | Hunting and trapping is allowed on most provincial Crown lands; signs will be posted in most areas where these activities are prohibited, including: provincial parks (novascotia.ca/natr/parks). | p. 81 |
| Nature reserves | No hunting/trapping (posted prohibited areas) | Listed among the posted Crown-land areas where these activities are prohibited. | p. 81 |
| Protected areas managed by the Department of Environment and Climate Change | No hunting/trapping (posted prohibited areas) | Listed among the posted Crown-land areas where these activities are prohibited (novascotia.ca/nse/protectedareas). | p. 81 |
| Game sanctuaries | No hunting/trapping (posted prohibited areas) | May be a mix of public and private land: novascotia.ca/natr/wildlife/habitats/sanctuaries/. | p. 81 |
| Land under lease or licence for logging operations | No hunting/trapping (posted prohibited areas) | Listed among the posted Crown-land areas where these activities are prohibited. | p. 81 |
| National parks | Firearms restricted (federal jurisdiction) | Possession and transport of firearms in National Parks fall under federal regulations. Contact Parks Canada: General Inquiries 1-888-773-8888. | p. 81 |
| National wildlife areas | No hunting/trapping equipment; no lead shot | Possessing equipment that could be used for hunting or trapping is prohibited in national wildlife areas. Within National Wildlife Areas, the possession of lead shot is a federal offence. | pp. 81-82 |
| Tobeatic Wilderness Area | Bait for hunting prohibited | The Tobeatic Wilderness Area Management Plan prohibits the use of bait for hunting animals in the Tobeatic Wilderness Area. This includes deer and bear. This does not apply to bait for traps or snares legally set for furbearers. | p. 65 |
| Chignecto Game Sanctuary | Bow-only hunting | Season: the period which coincides with an open season for deer hunting. Species: wildlife for which a licence is held and for which the season is open. Weapons: bows only. Hunter orange: optional. | p. 82 |
| Liscomb Game Sanctuary | Restricted hunting (muzzleloader, bow, crossbow) | Season: from the third Monday in October until the following Saturday, inclusive. Species: wildlife for which a licence is held and for which the season is open. Weapons: muzzleloader, bow, crossbow. Hunter orange: optional. | p. 82 |
| Tobeatic Wildlife Management Area (TWMA) | Primitive hunt only | Season: from the third Monday in October until the following Saturday, inclusive. Species: wildlife for which a licence is held and for which the season is open. Weapons: muzzleloader, bow, crossbow. Hunter orange: optional. Special rules: primitive hunt, no electric motors, no internal combustion engines. | p. 82 |
| Belleisle Marsh constructed wetlands (Annapolis County) | Non-toxic shot required; registered blind sites for first three days | Mandatory use of non-toxic shot on Belleisle Marsh constructed wetlands (p. 82). A special draw is held for waterfowl hunting on constructed wetlands of Belleisle Marsh; hunting during the first three days of the migratory bird hunting season is permitted at registered blind sites only; applications open August 1; deadline August 31, 2026; draw date September 1, 2026 (p. 23). | pp. 23, 82 |
| Areas designated as 'no hunting' by the Minister | No hunting | Section 78(3) Hunting in an area designated as 'no hunting' by the Minister of Natural Resources is an offence (listed under automatic licence suspension/forfeiture offences). | p. 59 |