Hunting Regulations for the Northwest Territories

The Government of the Northwest Territories publishes a summary each year of the NWT Hunting Regulations. The booklet contains information on species that can be hunted, tag fees, trophy fees if applicable, bag limits, seasons and hunting areas. The Summary of Hunting Regulations is available online at: www.enr.gov.nt.ca

Licences

Big game hunters require a hunting licence and wildlife tags for the species being hunted. Non-resident hunters must also hire a licensed outfitter. Licences, tags and trophy fees are purchased through the offices of the Northwest Territories Department of Environment and Natural Resources (ENR) in each community.

Duck & goose hunting

Duck and goose hunters require a Migratory Game Bird Hunting Permit and a Habitat Conservation Stamp.

Bow hunting

Bow hunting is permitted subject to the same regulations as hunting with a firearm. Draw must be at least 20 kg at 700 mm draw. Arrows must have a broadened point width of at least 25 mm at the widest point or a barbless three-bladed bodkin head and must not contain any explosives.

Age requirements

A licence to hunt big game will not be issued to anyone under the age of 16 years. A licence to hunt small game may be issued to a person between 14 and 16 years of age.

Do you need an outfitter?

Non-residents (a Canadian citizen or landed immigrant who lives outside the NWT or has not resided in the NWT for full two years) and non-resident aliens (an individual who is neither an NWT resident or a non resident) require an outfitter to hunt big game (but not small game). Outfitters provide licensed guides for the hunters they serve.

Your licence

You must have a hunting licence to hunt small game. To hunt big game you need a hunting licence and wildlife tag(s). Wildlife tags are issued for each species. The tags are part of your licence and must be attached to the animal immediately after the kill. Your hunting licence and wildlife tags must be carried with you when hunting. The licence is valid for a species only during a specified open season for that species.

Exporting wildlife

It is an offence to remove any wildlife or wildlife parts, other than a manufactured product, from the NWT unless you have a Wildlife Export Permit. This includes legally harvested game, a gift of meat from a hunter, legally purchased meat, untanned furs and raw hides, ducks, geese, antlers, skulls, teeth, bones or any other parts of an animal. The Wildlife Export Permit is required before any items can leave the NWT. Permits will not be issued after the items have been exported.