Canada Hunting Youth Regulations 2026–2027: Age Requirements, Licences & Hunter Rules by Province

If you want to get a teenager hunting in Canada, here’s the short version: most provinces set the minimum hunting age between 10 and 12, nearly all of them require a licensed adult 18 or older to supervise anyone under 18, and every jurisdiction demands some form of recognized firearms safety or hunter education training before a young hunter can legally carry a licence. Alberta now lets 10- and 11-year-olds buy big game licences (and enter draws starting 2026), British Columbia treats anyone 10 to 17 as a “youth hunter” under supervised licence rules, Ontario runs the Hunter Apprenticeship Safety Program for ages 12–14, and Saskatchewan lets 16- and 17-year-olds hunt unsupervised provided they hold a federal Minor’s Licence. Every province and territory has slightly different age floors, course names, supervision rules, and tag systems — and that’s exactly what this guide breaks down, jurisdiction by jurisdiction.

Sorting through 13 different rulebooks can be a headache. The planning chaos when first trying to set up a mentored hunt for a young relative — the licence portal, the course booking, the awkward “wait, do we share a bag limit?” questions — is a common experience. So the digging has been done for you. Below are verified age requirements, licence programs, hunter education courses, supervision rules, and costs for every Canadian province and territory for the 2026–2027 seasons, organized into tables and quick lists so an answer can be found in under a minute.

Table of Contents

What Changed for Youth Hunters in 2026–2027

A few updates genuinely moved the needle this year, so let’s flag them first:

Alberta lowered the practical floor: as of August 1, 2025, hunters aged 10 and 11 may purchase big game licences, and starting 2026 they can also enter big game draws alongside everyone else Government of Alberta youth hunting page.
British Columbia continues its two-track system: a $7 youth licence (no training required, but game counts toward the supervisor’s bag limit) versus a full resident licence for trained youth who want their own tags.
Saskatchewan confirmed that 16- and 17-year-olds may hunt without direct supervision if they hold a federal Minor’s Licence; 12–15-year-olds still need an adult 18+ within direct supervision.
Ontario’s Hunter Apprenticeship Safety Program (HASP) remains the main door for 12–14-year-olds, requiring the full Ontario Hunter Education course plus mentor supervision.
Manitoba now offers the Apprentice Hunter Education Certificate (AHEC) to kids under 12 who pass the in-class course, opening supervised bird and turkey hunts for the youngest crowd.

These changes matter because the federal and provincial layers interact: the Firearms Act sets who can touch a firearm, while each province sets the age floor for actually buying a licence and pulling a trigger on game. More on that below.

Quick Reference: Minimum Hunting Age by Province and Territory (2026–2027)

Jurisdiction	Minimum Age to Hunt	Youth Licence / Program	Supervision Rule for Minors
Alberta	10 (all licences)	Resident Youth Wildlife Certificate; youth big game licences at 10–11	Under 18 with firearm: Minor’s Licence or accompanied by parent/guardian/18+ adult with written permission
British Columbia	10	Youth hunting licence ($7) or resident licence with training	All youth under 18 must hunt with a supervising hunter (18+, 3 of last 5 years licensed)
Manitoba	10–12	Apprentice Hunter Education Certificate (under 12, supervised); full licence at 12	Direct supervision “within arms reach” by a licensed adult with firearms licence
New Brunswick	12	Outdoors Card + resident licence	Under 18 must be accompanied by a licensed adult
Newfoundland & Labrador	14–18	OIC card; small game from 16, big game from 18; courses at 12+	Minor’s Possession Licence or immediate supervision by fully licensed adult
Northwest Territories	12	General Hunting Licence (GHL)	Minors hunt under a licensed adult; hunter ed recommended
Nova Scotia	12	Wildlife Resources Card (WRC)	Minors accompanied by licensed adult; new firearm hunters need hunter ed
Nunavut	12 (small game) / 16 (otherwise)	Harvesting Licence + species tags for big game	Youth hunt under adult supervision for big game
Ontario	12	Hunter Apprenticeship Safety Program (12–14)	Direct, immediate supervision by licensed mentor 18+; shared firearm and bag limit
Prince Edward Island	12	PEI Wildlife Card; bowhunters need extra course	Under 18 accompanied by licensed adult 18+
Quebec	12	Hunter’s certificate (CFSC + initiation course)	Firearm hunters under 18 under direct adult supervision; bow/crossbow under-16 supervised
Saskatchewan	12	Youth game bird + white-tailed deer licences (12–18)	12–15: direct supervision by 18+; 16–17: unsupervised with federal Minor’s Licence
Yukon	12	Yukon Hunter Education Card	Minors should hunt with a licensed adult; non-resident minors need outfitter/guide

Note: where a rule above comes from a provincial summary rather than a statute page, double-check the current hunting synopsis before you book — details below tell you exactly where to look.

The Federal Layer Every Provincial Rule Sits On Top Of

Before a young hunter can legally use a rifle or shotgun, the Firearms Act and the RCMP set the baseline. Provincial rules add age floors and supervision on top, but they can never override these federal requirements:

Federal Licence / Rule	Who It Applies To	What It Allows
Minor’s Licence	Ages 12–17 (must pass the Canadian Firearms Safety Course)	Borrowing non-restricted rifles/shotguns for hunting, target practice, and learning; buying ammunition
Direct supervision clause	Any minor	Using any class of firearm without any licence while under the direct and immediate supervision of a licensed adult (near enough to intervene instantly)
PAL (Possession and Acquisition Licence)	Age 18+ (standard adult path)	Owning, acquiring, and possessing non-restricted firearms
Sustenance hunter exception	Minors under 12 (incl. Indigenous youth) who hunt to feed their families	Minor’s Licence without the course requirement — no minimum age, approval via the Chief Firearms Officer

Three practical takeaways for parents and mentors:

A minor does not need any licence to fire a gun while being supervised at arm’s reach by someone who is licensed to possess that firearm — this is the legal backbone of almost every supervised youth hunt in Canada.
The Minor’s Licence is provincial territory in practice: Saskatchewan, for example, explicitly lets 16-year-olds hunt solo once they hold one.
At 18, the Minor’s Licence expires, and a full PAL plus the province’s hunter education certificate become the ticket to hunt independently.

For the full official details on age cutoffs and exemptions, the RCMP’s firearms licensing rules for minors is the definitive read.

Hunter Education Courses by Province: Names and Age Floors

Every province recognizes some credential. Course names differ, so here’s the cheat sheet:

Jurisdiction	Required Course(s)	Minimum Course Age
Alberta	Alberta Conservation & Hunter Education (AHEIA, online or in-class)	12+ (under-12 with in-class / parental routes in some cases)
British Columbia	CORE — Conservation and Outdoor Recreation Education	Required for resident licence; youth licence sidesteps it
Manitoba	Manitoba Hunter Education Course (8-hour; online 12+, in-class for under 12)	12 online / under 12 in class (AHEC)
New Brunswick	Part A: Canadian Firearms Safety Course + Part B: Atlantic Hunter Education	13+
Newfoundland & Labrador	CFSC + Hunter Education Course (both mandatory)	12+ with parental consent
Northwest Territories	Hunter education (voluntary but encouraged; ENR courses)	12+
Nova Scotia	Nova Scotia / Atlantic Provinces Hunter Education (incl. CFSC content; 80% pass mark)	~14 for full course (check local dates)
Nunavut	Optional online safety training	n/a
Ontario	Ontario Hunter Education Program (online + field day) plus CFSC for gun users	12+
Prince Edward Island	PEI Hunter Education (online + in-person field day); extra Bow Hunter Safety for archery	12+
Quebec	CFSC + provincial initiation course (firearms: Initiation à la chasse avec arme à feu; separate archery course for bow)	12+
Saskatchewan	Recognized firearm safety / hunter education certificate (e.g., Saskatchewan S.A.F.E. course)	12+
Yukon	Yukon Hunter Education (two components: theory + practical)	12+

Good news for families: most provinces also accept hunter education completed in another province or state when you move — always carry the physical credential card, because conservation officers can and do ask for proof.

Province-by-Province Breakdown (All 13 Jurisdictions)

1. Alberta — The 10-Year-Old Frontier

Alberta just made headlines as the most youth-friendly big game jurisdiction in the country:

Minimum age: 10, under the authority of any hunting licence.
Licences: Resident Youth Wildlife Certificate (ages 10–17) bundles a Game Bird Licence; youth can also buy Youth White-tailed Deer and Youth Mule Deer licences, plus an Antlerless Mule Deer special licence via draw (available to 10–11-year-olds starting 2026).
Permission: everyone under 16 needs written parent/guardian permission to purchase any recreational hunting licence.
Firearms: under-18s must hold a federal Minor’s Licence or be accompanied by a parent, guardian, or an 18+ adult with written permission.
Youth Migratory Game Bird Permit: free for under-18s, but the accompanying adult mentor must hold a valid permit from a previous year, and one mentor can cover up to two youth permit holders.
Course: new hunters complete the Alberta Conservation & Hunter Education program (AHEIA).

2. British Columbia — The Two-Track System

BC defines a youth hunter as anyone 10 to under 18, and anyone under 10 is flat-out prohibited from hunting (the person who lets them hunt commits an offence too):

Youth hunting licence ($7 + tax): no training needed, but the parent/legal guardian must buy and hold it, and the youth has no bag limit of their own — any harvest counts against the supervising hunter’s limit, who must hold the valid species licence.
Resident hunting licence (10+, with hunting safety training): the youth gets their own bag limit and can buy their own species licences, then hunt under supervision with full independence.
Supervising hunter rules: 18+, holds a hunting licence, must have been licensed in 3 of the previous 5 licence years, and may supervise no more than two youth hunters at once.
Course: CORE is mandatory for the resident-licence track and for all adult hunters.

3. Manitoba — The Apprentice Certificate Lane

Manitoba’s standout feature is the Apprentice Hunter Education Certificate (AHEC):

Kids under 12 can pass the in-class course (not online) and receive an AHEC, which unlocks supervised hunting — historically game birds and wild turkey under a shared bag provision with a licensed adult.
Full hunting licences start at 12, with the online course available from 12.
Supervision: direct supervision “within arms reach” of an adult with a firearms licence means no federal licence or extra courses are needed; hunting away from supervision requires a federal licence (PAL or Minor’s Licence).
Watch out: the federal CFSC/PAL does not satisfy Manitoba’s Hunter Education requirement — you need the actual MHEC card (replacement cards: $15 members / $30 non-members).

4. New Brunswick

Minimum age: 12 for licences; hunter education classes are open from 13+.
Course: two-part structure — CFSC plus the Atlantic Provinces Hunter Education course.
Credential: Outdoors Card Number (OCN); hunters born on or after January 1, 1981 must complete hunter education to qualify for a licence.
Supervision: minors under 18 must be accompanied by a licensed adult — verify the exact wording in the provincial digest before your trip.

5. Newfoundland and Labrador

The most conservative age ladder in Atlantic Canada:

Courses: CFSC + Hunter Education both mandatory, and both can be taken from age 12 with parental consent.
Hunting: training at 14+; small game licences from 16; big game from 18.
Licence: Outdoor Identification Card (OIC) issued by the Wildlife Division — carry it while hunting; it’s also accepted as proof of hunter ed in other provinces.
Minors: a Minor’s Possession Licence, or immediate and direct supervision by a fully licensed adult.
Course costs (2026): combined CFSC + HE classroom for minors is $68 (HST extra); online HE is $59 and still requires the in-class CFSC. Full adult combined course: $150.

6. Northwest Territories

Minimum age: 12 (General Hunting Licence).
Training: hunter education is voluntary but actively encouraged by the ENR — courses are offered in person and online, and completing one makes licence applications and big game tag draws smoother.
Practical note: with vast remote areas, NWT mentors should prioritize wilderness and survival training alongside mandatory firearm basics.

7. Nova Scotia

Minimum age: 12.
Course: every new firearm hunter must pass the Nova Scotia / Atlantic Provinces hunter education course (80% pass mark) before licensing — full courses generally run from around age 14; check local schedules for younger options.
Credential: Wildlife Resources Card (WRC).
Bowhunters should confirm archery-specific requirements with the province.

8. Nunavut

Minimum age: 12 for small game harvesting; 16 otherwise (big game licences with species authorization tags).
Credential: Harvesting Licence; big game requires additional species authorization tags.
Training: optional online safety training — highly recommended given the polar bear/walrus country many residents and outfitter guests hunt in.
Non-residents: hunting in Nunavut is heavily restricted and generally requires an outfitter; plan far ahead.

9. Ontario — The HASP Door

Ontario’s youth pipeline runs through the Hunter Apprenticeship Safety Program:

Eligible: Ontario residents 12–14, after passing the Ontario Hunter Education Program (including the exam) and, for gun users, the CFSC.
Apprentice rules: hunt under direct and immediate supervision of a licensed mentor 18+ (who holds an Outdoors Card and a valid licence for the game being pursued), share a firearm, and share the mentor’s bag limit unless the apprentice buys their own licences and tags.
Licence options: small game, Wild Turkey tag, antlered deer — no draw-based tags under HASP.
Admin flow: file your course exam report at ServiceOntario → buy an Outdoors Card → purchase licences/tags.

10. Prince Edward Island

Minimum age: 12.
Course: PEI Hunter Education — online theory plus an in-person field day; bow hunters need the additional Bow Hunter Safety Course.
Credential: PEI Wildlife Card.
Supervision: anyone under 18 must be accompanied by a licensed adult — keep the adult’s licence and your course card on you.

11. Quebec

Minimum age: 12 for licences, but hunter education certification is a hard prerequisite before buying one.
Certificates: firearms hunters need the CFSC plus the provincial initiation course (Initiation à la chasse avec arme à feu); bowhunters complete a separate archery initiation course.
Supervision: firearm hunters under 18 must be under the direct supervision of an adult holding a valid certificate; for archery and crossbow, the supervised age threshold is under 16.
Licence: Quebec Hunter Licence + Hunting Certificate — the certificate doubles as proof of training province-wide.

12. Saskatchewan

Minimum age: 12 (youth game bird and white-tailed deer licences are available to ages 12–18).
Supervision: 12–15-year-olds must hunt under direct supervision of an adult 18+; 16–17-year-olds may hunt unsupervised provided they hold a federal Minor’s Licence (subject to federal firearms legislation).
Education: anyone born after January 1, 1971 must hold a certificate from a recognized firearm safety/hunter education course (e.g., the S.A.F.E. course) to apply for or hold a game or fur licence — first-time buyers must confirm certification, and officers may request proof.
Credential: Hunting, Angling & Trapping (HAL) licence.

13. Yukon

Minimum age: 12.
Course: Yukon Hunter Education (two components — theory plus practical range/field day); residents born on or after April 1, 1987 must complete it before licensing.
Credential: Yukon Hunter Education Card.
Non-residents: big game hunting requires a registered Yukon outfitter or a resident holding a Special Guide Licence — critical for families planning a fly-in trip.

Youth Licence and Course Costs at a Glance (2026–2027)

Item	Jurisdiction	Cost
Youth hunting licence	British Columbia	$7 + tax
Youth Migratory Game Bird Permit	All (federal)	Free for under-18s
Minors CFSC + Hunter Ed combined classroom	Newfoundland & Labrador	$68 (HST extra)
Adult CFSC + HE combined	Newfoundland & Labrador	$150 (HST extra)
Online Hunter Education	Newfoundland & Labrador	$59 (still needs in-class CFSC)
Manitoba Hunter Education replacement card	Manitoba	$15 (MWF members) / $30 (non-members)
Resident Youth Wildlife Certificate	Alberta	Provincial rate (see Alberta guide)

Course fees across other provinces vary by provider and delivery mode; expect the $60–$95 range for most hunter ed courses, with online options typically cheaper.

Mentored and Apprentice Programs Compared

If your kid is younger than your province’s standard licence age, these programs are the answer:

Program	Jurisdiction	Ages	Key Conditions
Youth licensing (big game at 10–11)	Alberta	10–17	Parental consent under 16; supervision or Minor’s Licence under 18
Youth hunting licence	British Columbia	10–17	$7; no own bag limit; parent holds licence; supervisor’s tags apply
Apprentice Hunter Education Certificate	Manitoba	Under 12	In-class course only; supervised bird/turkey hunts
Hunter Apprenticeship Safety Program	Ontario	12–14	Full OHEP course; mentor 18+; shared firearm and bag limit
Direct supervision clause (federal)	All jurisdictions	Any minor	Licensed adult within immediate reach; no minor licence needed

Supervision Rules: The Non-Negotiable Checklist

Across every province, the pattern is consistent. Your supervising adult must:

Be 18 or older (19 in some Atlantic contexts — check locally).
Hold a valid hunting licence for the current season and for the species being hunted.
Be near enough to intervene — most provinces want “direct and immediate” supervision, Manitoba literally says “within arms reach.”
Not be prohibited from possessing firearms, and hold a valid firearms licence for any firearm the youth uses.
Supervise at most two youth hunters at once (BC’s explicit cap; other provinces similar).

10-Step Pre-Season Checklist for Youth Hunts

Confirm the minimum age in your province (use the table above).
Book the right hunter education course — names differ by province.
For gun hunters, add the CFSC and, for 12–17-year-olds, apply for the federal Minor’s Licence (or plan supervised hunts only).
Get written parental/guardian consent where required (Alberta under 16, Ontario HASP, etc.).
Buy the correct licence for the youth’s name (not the adult’s).
Verify species licences and tags — under youth licences they often sit with the supervisor.
Review bag-limit sharing rules — youth licence ≠ own bag limit in BC, ON, MB apprentice setups.
Pack proof of everything: course card, licenses, Outdoors Card/WiN/FWID, and consent forms.
Confirm where the youth’s game counts — the supervisor’s tag or the youth’s own tag.
Plan the hunt around the youth: short sits, close shots, snacks, and a gear list sized for a kid’s body.

Frequently Asked Questions (H3)

What is the minimum age to hunt in Canada?

There is no single national age. Alberta and BC allow hunting from age 10, most provinces (Ontario, Quebec, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, the Maritimes, territories) start at 12 for licences, and Newfoundland and Labrador restricts small game to 16 and big game to 18. The federal Firearms Act itself imposes no minimum age to fire a gun under direct adult supervision.

Can my 10-year-old hunt big game in Canada?

Yes — in Alberta, hunters aged 10 and 11 can now purchase big game licences (draws included from 2026), and BC’s youth licence system covers ages 10–17. In other provinces, younger kids typically hunt small game or waterfowl under apprentice certificates or supervised youth licences.

Do youth hunters need a Possession and Acquisition Licence (PAL)?

No. A PAL is for adults 18+. Youth 12–17 can hold a federal Minor’s Licence (after the CFSC), and any minor can use firearms without any licence while under the direct, immediate supervision of a licensed adult.

What is the Hunter Apprenticeship Safety Program?

It’s Ontario’s mentored program for residents 12–14: after passing the Ontario Hunter Education Program, apprentices hunt under a licensed mentor 18+, share the mentor’s firearm, and share the bag limit unless they buy their own licences and tags.

Are youth hunting licences free?

Sometimes. The federal Youth Migratory Game Bird Permit is free for under-18 hunters nationwide. BC’s youth hunting licence is just $7. Big game licences and tags otherwise carry standard provincial fees.

Can a 16-year-old hunt alone in Canada?

In Saskatchewan, yes — 16 and 17-year-olds may hunt unsupervised if they hold a federal Minor’s Licence. Elsewhere, provincial rules generally require adult supervision until 18, though some provinces allow older teens to hunt solo with their own licences and proof of training.

Do I need a hunter education course if I only hunt with an adult?

It depends on the province. In BC, the $7 youth licence needs no training; in Manitoba, supervised “within arms reach” hunting needs no extra courses; but Ontario’s HASP, Quebec’s certificate, and most provinces’ resident licence tracks make the course mandatory regardless of supervision.

One last tip from experience: print the supervision and bag-limit page of your province’s hunting synopsis and keep it in the truck. When a conservation officer asks a 13-year-old about bag limits, the difference between a great memory and a fine is usually just paperwork — and a mentor who read the rules twice. Now get out there, take a young hunter along, and make the 2026–2027 season the one they never forget.

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Alex Martin

Hunting Information & Research Writer at CanadaHunting.org

Alex Martin is a writer and researcher for CanadaHunting.org, covering Canadian hunting seasons, regulations, licenses, permits, hunting zones, species information, and practical hunting resources. His work focuses on researching provincial, territorial, and federal hunting information and presenting it in clear, useful language for hunters across Canada.