13SPECIES TABLES
18ZONE-SEASON RULES
9ZONE GROUPINGS
3PARK RULES
About hunting in Prince Edward Island
A small, simple zone system with good whitetail and grouse hunting and plenty of Canada geese.
- Current guide: 2025 Hunting Summary (2025-26) — official PDF / web version ↗
- Published by: Government of Prince Edward Island - Forests, Fish and Wildlife Division (Department of Environment, Energy and Climate Action)
- Licences & tags: official licensing portal ↗
- Zone system: hunting zones
🗂️ How to read the tables. Each row is one published season rule: the hunting zones it covers, open dates, bag or tag limit, and notes. “Source” cites the exact guide page — verify anything against the official guide linked above.
On this page:
🦌 Big Game
Deer, moose, elk, bears and the draw-species that anchor Canadian hunts.
White-tailed Deer All provinces →
📋 Verified by full-text search of the official 2025 Hunting Summary PDF: the word 'deer' does not occur. PEI's hunting licence service page likewise lists no deer among game species.
| Zone | Season | Bag / tag limit | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Province-wide | No open season | n/a | White-tailed deer does not appear anywhere in the 2025 Hunting Summary. The complete 'Resident Game and Furbearer Hunting - Open Seasons and Limits' table (p. 18) prescribes no deer season, so no deer hunting is authorized under this summary.Source: p. 18 |
🦃 Upland Game Birds
Grouse, partridge, ptarmigan and turkey — the classic autumn walks.
Pheasant All provinces →
📋 No open season in the wild; pheasant shooting only occurs on licensed game preserves per the licence service page (princeedwardisland.ca/en/service/buy-a-hunting-licence-online).
| Zone | Season | Bag / tag limit | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Province-wide | No open season | Daily bag n/a; Possession n/a | Listed in the open seasons table with 'No open season'. The PEI hunting licence service page separately lists 'Ring-necked pheasant (Game preserves only)' among common upland game species.Source: p. 18 |
Ruffed Grouse All provinces →
📋 Lead shot permitted for ruffed grouse (p. 8, item 21a).
| Zone | Season | Bag / tag limit | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Province-wide | Sept. 26 - Dec. 31 | Daily bag 3; Possession 6 | Source: p. 18 |
Hungarian (Grey) Partridge
| Zone | Season | Bag / tag limit | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Province-wide | Oct. 15 - Nov. 15 | Daily bag 3; Possession 6 | Footnote in guide: '* No open season for Hungarian (Grey) Partridge in Lots 1 to 10, inclusive, and Lots 43 to 47 inclusive (see next page)' (map on p. 19).Source: p. 18 |
| Lots 1 to 10, inclusive, and Lots 43 to 47, inclusive | No open season | n/a | Per table footnote on p. 18; closed area map printed on p. 19.Source: p. 18 |
Woodcock (migratory game bird)
| Zone | Season | Bag / tag limit | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Province-wide | Sep. 29 – Dec. 13 | Daily bag 8; Possession 16 | Lead shot permitted for woodcock (p. 8, item 21a).Source: p. 21 |
Snipe (migratory game bird)
| Zone | Season | Bag / tag limit | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Province-wide | Oct 1 – Dec 31 | Daily bag 10; Possession 20 | Non-toxic shot required for snipe (p. 7, item 16). Date transcribed verbatim ('Oct 1 – Dec 31', no period after Oct, as printed).Source: p. 21 |
🦆 Waterfowl & Migratory Birds
Ducks, geese and migratory bird seasons under federal frameworks.
Ducks (migratory game birds)
📋 Reminders from 2024-2025 (p. 5): duck hunting season is now Oct. 1 – Jan. 15; the black duck daily bag limit is six (6) for the entire season. Federal Migratory Game Bird Hunting Permit with Canadian Wildlife Habitat Conservation stamp required (p. 20). Non-toxic shot required (p. 7, item 16).
| Zone | Season | Bag / tag limit | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Province-wide (Ducks1 - all ducks other than Common and Red-breasted Mergansers, Long-tailed Ducks, Eiders and Scoters) | Oct. 1 – Jan. 15 | Daily bag 6*; Possession 18* | 1 All ducks other than Common and Red-breasted Mergansers, Long-tailed Ducks, Eiders and Scoters. 2 Common and Red-breasted Mergansers, Long-tailed Ducks, Eiders and Scoters. * Except that not more than one may be Barrow's Goldeneye. ** Except that not more than four Scoters and four Eiders may be taken daily. *** Except that not more than eight Scoters and eight Eiders may be possessed.Source: p. 21 |
| Province-wide (Ducks2 - Common and Red-breasted Mergansers, Long-tailed Ducks, Eiders and Scoters) | Oct. 1 – Jan. 15 | Daily bag 6**; Possession 12*** | 1 All ducks other than Common and Red-breasted Mergansers, Long-tailed Ducks, Eiders and Scoters. 2 Common and Red-breasted Mergansers, Long-tailed Ducks, Eiders and Scoters. * Except that not more than one may be Barrow's Goldeneye. ** Except that not more than four Scoters and four Eiders may be taken daily. *** Except that not more than eight Scoters and eight Eiders may be possessed.Source: p. 21 |
Geese (migratory game birds)
📋 Federal Migratory Game Bird Hunting Permit required (p. 20); non-toxic shot required (p. 7, item 16).
| Zone | Season | Bag / tag limit | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| September Goose Season | Sep. 1 – Sep. 15 | Daily bag 10; Possession 20 | Special early September Canada goose season.Source: p. 21 |
| Geese (Oct.1 to Nov. 14) | Oct. 1 – Dec. 31 (open season); bag limits split as shown | Daily bag 5; Possession 20 | Open season listed as 'Geese Oct. 1 – Dec. 31'; bag limit table splits the season (guide's own format).Source: p. 21 |
| Geese (Nov. 15 to Dec. 31) | Oct. 1 – Dec. 31 (open season); bag limits split as shown | Daily bag 3; Possession 20 | Open season listed as 'Geese Oct. 1 – Dec. 31'; bag limit table splits the season (guide's own format).Source: p. 21 |
🐇 Small Game
Hares, coyotes, foxes and the species that keep the season long.
Snowshoe Hare All provinces →
📋 Game Export Permit required to ship snowshoe hare out of the province; Possession Permit required if pelts are held longer than 5 days after the close of the open season (p. 7, item 15).
| Zone | Season | Bag / tag limit | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Snowshoe Hare Hunting | Oct. 1 – Mar. 31 | Daily bag 5; Possession: '-' = no limit | Source: p. 18 |
| Snowshoe Hare Snaring** | Nov.1 – Feb. 28 | '-' = no limit | ** A Snowshoe Hare Snaring Licence is required ($5, p. 17). Snares must be single strand brass wire of 20 to 24 gauge, loop not greater than 10 cm (4 inch) (p. 8, item 23).Source: p. 18 |
Red Squirrel All provinces →
| Zone | Season | Bag / tag limit | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Province-wide | No closed season | '-' = no limit | Unlawful to hunt red squirrel with a shotgun loaded with a single bullet or a rifle larger than .22 calibre (p. 8, item 25).Source: p. 18 |
🦫 Furbearers
Trapping and hunting seasons for martens, beavers and more.
Red Fox All provinces →
📋 Furbearer hunting regulations (p. 23): the one-uncased-shotgun restriction does not apply to rifles; unlawful to sell fox pelts except to a licensed fur dealer or fur auction house representative (p. 7, item 12). Export permit rules as for hare (p. 7, item 15).
| Zone | Season | Bag / tag limit | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Province-wide | Nov. 1 – Jan. 31 | '-' = no limit | Unlawful to hunt fox with cartridges larger than .22 rim fire or .17 centre fire (p. 9, item 26); unlawful to use a shotgun loaded with a single bullet or a rifle larger than .22 calibre (p. 8, item 25).Source: p. 18 |
Raccoon All provinces →
📋 Night hunting (dogs, lights) permitted only under that special permit; otherwise unlawful to discharge a firearm in game habitat between one-half hour after sunset and one-half hour before sunrise (p. 7, item 11).
| Zone | Season | Bag / tag limit | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Province-wide | Oct. 1 – Mar. 31 | '-' = no limit | Hunting raccoon at night requires a special permit available from Fish and Wildlife at 902 368-4683 (p. 23).Source: p. 18 |
🐦 Other Species
Special-permission and nuisance species seasons.
Coyote All provinces →
📋 ATVs/snowmobiles may not be used to actively pursue or chase game, particularly relevant during coyote hunts with hounds (p. 37). Export permit rules as for hare (p. 7, item 15).
| Zone | Season | Bag / tag limit | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Province-wide | Oct. 1 – Mar. 31 | '-' = no limit | Muzzle loading firearms are permitted for coyote hunting only (p. 23). Unlawful to use a shotgun loaded with a single bullet or a rifle larger than .22 calibre (p. 8, item 25).Source: p. 18 |
🏞️ Parks & special-area rules
Hunting restrictions the guide publishes for provincial parks, protected areas and special zones — quoted with their citations.
| Area | Rule | Notes | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Provincial Parks (all PEI provincial parks) | No hunting | NOT stated in the 2025 Hunting Summary itself. Source: Provincial Parks Regulations (EC1134/66) under the Recreation Development Act R.S.P.E.I. 1988 Cap. R-8, s. 11: 'No person shall hunt, shoot, snare, kill, poison or harm in any way a bird, fowl, mammal, amphibian, reptile, fish or any other creature without written permission from the Minister.' Listed as an offence under the Summary Proceedings Act ticket schedule ($200 penalty). | Provincial Parks Regulations (EC1134/66), s. 11 (outside the Hunting Summary) |
| Public lands: Natural Areas, Ponds and Wetlands, Provincial Forests, Wildlife Management Areas (~45,000 ha) | Hunting permitted | 'Four signs ... identify public lands that are open to the public for recreational activities such as hunting, fishing, hiking...' Off-road vehicles only permitted on certain properties; open fires not permitted; prohibited uses listed on the signs (pp. 35-36). Licence service page: 'Public lands are open to hunting unless otherwise posted.' | pp. 35-36 |
| Indian River WMA, Rollo Bay WMA, New Glasgow WMA, Pisquid River WMA | Waterfowl shooting distance restriction | Unlawful to hunt waterfowl from within 100 yards of the centreline of a highway right-of-way that is a boundary of these four named Wildlife Management Areas (p. 8, item 20). | p. 8 (item 20) |