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Special rules for certain territories

Trapping is done in different types of territories. Some special rules apply for them. Trappers must determine exactly where they want to trap.

To know the detailed limits of a territory targeted for trapping, contact the wildlife protection office in the region concerned.

Free areas of lands in the domain of the State and private lands

The holder of a professional trapping licence for resident may trap on lands in the domain of the State, except for beaver reserves with exclusive rights for Indigenous People and Inuits.

The licence holder may also trap on private land. You then must request the landowner’s authorization before accessing private land.

In a periurban environment, you must account for the presence of other people when you trap. Consult La chasse à l’aube du XXIe siècle (PDF 573 Kb) (in French) for the applicable rules.

Some owners in the Bas-Saint-Laurent, Centre-du-Québec, Chaudière-Appalaches, Estrie and Montérégie regions have made an agreement with the Government to facilitate wildlife management and access to private land for trappers. If you trap without authorization on these properties, you could be prosecuted directly by the Government.

This measure is also valid for lands covered by an agreement made between an owner and an association or an organization with the vocation of favouring access by trappers to private land and which is recognized for this purpose by the Government, for the purposes of access to wildlife.

Outfitters holding exclusive trapping rights

Some outfitters hold exclusive trapping rights in their territory. To trap there, you must obtain the outfitter’s authorization and carry the document attesting to this. You must show the document to a wildlife protection officer or assistant on request.

To know that outfitters hold these exclusive trapping rights, contact the wildlife protection office This hyperlink will open in a new window. of the region concerned.

Lands under lease granting exclusive trapping rights

The holder of a professional trapping licence may obtain land under lease granting exclusive trapping rights. The Government offers this land by random draw every year.

To obtain such land, consult the information and the conditions to be respected.

Wildlife preserves

In a wildlife preserve, certain conditions for use of resources are established to conserve the habitat of wildlife or a wildlife species.

Special restrictions may apply to trapping, depending on the wildlife preserve.

Deux-Montagnes Wildlife Preserve (UGAF 24) and Îlet-aux-Alouettes Wildlife Preserve (UGAF 41): trapping is prohibited

Grande-Île Wildlife Preserve (UGAF 25): trapping is prohibited from April 1 to July 31

Pointe-du-Lac Wildlife Preserve (UGAF 37): hunting, entering, travelling about or engaging in any activity is prohibited from September 25 to December 26

Battures-de-Saint-Fulgence Wildlife Preserve (UGAF 52): trappers may travel anywhere in the wildlife preserve during trapping periods to enter their trapping areas or to recover trapped animals

Île Laval Wildlife Preserve (UGAF 55): trapping is permitted by observing the conditions of access to the territory

Pointe-de-l’Est Wildlife Preserve (UGAF 69): trapping is permitted by observing the conditions of access and travel on this territory

Rivière-des-Mille-Îles Wildlife Preserve (UGAF 24 and 86): a trapper may have access and travel anywhere on this preserve.

Wildlife reserves

A person who engages in trapping on a wildlife reserve may travel on the reserve during the hunting periods for moose and white-tailed deer subject to access by quota.

Nature reserves

A nature reserve is a private property protected by a conservation agreement made between an owner and the Minister of the Environment, the Fight Against Climate Change, Wildlife and Parks. The purpose of its recognition is to guarantee the maintenance of the natural characteristics justifying the interest in ensuring the conservation of this property. It is governed by the provisions of the Natural Heritage Conservation Act.

On a nature reserve, wildlife harvesting activities may be subject to measures more restrictive than those provided in the provincial regulations. Before travelling on this private property, it is necessary to obtain the owner's authorization and be informed about the special measures in effect.

For more information, visit the website of the Ministère de l’Environnement, de la Lutte contre les changements climatiques, de la Faune et des Parcs This hyperlink will open in a new window. (in French only) or call the toll-free line at 1 800 561‑1616.

Migratory Bird Sanctuaries and National Wildlife Areas

Migratory Bird Sanctuaries and National Wildlife Areas are managed by the Government of Canada. Trapping may be permitted there on certain conditions.

For more information, visit the Environment and Climate Change Canada website This hyperlink will open in a new window. or call the toll-free line at 1 800 668‑6767.

Hunting and fishing reserves

Hunting and fishing reserves benefit from special regulations, which differ from one reserve to another. Some of them require an authorization to travel or engage in an activity on the reserve. Others prohibit the possession of weapons or hunting gear within their limits.

James Bay, Northern Québec and Northeastern Québec beaver reserves and territories

With the exception of the Saguenay beaver reserve, the James Bay, Northern Québec and Northeastern Québec beaver reserves and territories are reserved exclusively for Indigenous people under the Regulation respecting beaver reserves and the Act respecting hunting and fishing rights in the James Bay and New Québec territories.

These territories are located north of the 49th parallel and touch certain parts of the Abitibi-Témiscamingue, Outaouais, Haute-Mauricie, Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean and Côte-Nord regions. This measure concerns Fur-Bearing Animal Management Units (UGAF) 6, 7, 29, 31, 32, 50, 56 and 87 to 96.

Places where trapping is prohibited

Trapping is prohibited in a provincial or federal national park, a forest station or an ecological reserve and in UGAF 67.

Trapping is also prohibited in the following territories:

  • Laurentides (Centre touristique et éducatif des Laurentides in Saint-Faustin) (UGAF 23)
  • Bois-de-Belle-Rivière (municipality of Mirabel) (UGAF 24)
  • Massif de la Petite-Rivière-Saint-François (UGAF 40)
  • Les Palissades (UGAF 41)
  • Centre d’études et de recherches Manicouagan (UGAF 57)
  • Charles-B.-Banville (UGAF 76)
  • Drummondville (located in Saint-Majorique and Drummondville) (UGAF 82) and, from the third Saturday of September to December 26, on a portion of the Beauharnois Canal and the lands bordering it (UGAF 84)
  • Chute-à-Michel (Cégep de Saint-Félicien) (UGAF 47)
  • the properties of the National Capital Commission This hyperlink will open in a new window. (UGAF 9), which include the Gatineau Park hunting reserve
  • Sector A of Forêt Montmorency.

Information on the regulations

Last update: October 30, 2023

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