- Moose and Black Bear Tourism Industry Program
- Information for Moose Hunters
- Information for Black Bear Hunters
- Information for Outfitters
Information for Black Bear Hunters Hunting Through a Tourist Outfitter
More Information
This web page provides important information for hunters planning to use the services of a tourist outfitter to hunt black bear in Ontario.
Most non-residents wishing to hunt black bear in Ontario are required to use the services of a tourist outfitter licenced to provide bear hunting services. For exceptions to this requirement, see Information for Non-Residents Black Bear Hunters (PDF, 73 kb) from the Ontario Hunting Regulations Summary.
Residents of Ontario may wish to use the services of a tourist outfitter to hunt black bear, however they are not required to use these services.
If you are a non-resident, your outfitter will provide you with a Non-resident Black Bear Hunting Licence Validation Certificate. You must have a valid hunting-version Ontario Outdoors Card and a black bear hunting licence tag before you can be issued a validation certificate which forms part of your licence.
Easy Steps to Enjoy Black Bear Hunting in Ontario
Select and contact a tourist outfitter licenced to provide bear hunting services.
- In advance of arriving for the hunt make sure that:
- you have purchased a first-time hunting version Outdoors Card (valid for 3 calendar years) or renewed your Outdoors Card, and,
- you have purchased a bear hunting licence tag.
- If you are a non-resident, upon your arrival for the hunt your outfitter will provide you with your Non-resident Black Bear Hunting Licence Validation Certificate which forms part of your non-resident hunting licence. You may only hunt in the areas listed on the validation certificate, including private land that your outfitter has the landowner's permission to use.
- Carry all the documents in your possession at all times while hunting:
- your valid hunting-version Outdoors Card
- your valid black bear hunting licence tag, and,
- your Black Bear Hunting Licence Validation Certificate if you are a non-resident hunter
- If you are a resident hunter, you must complete and return the mandatory hunter questionnaire you will receive in the mail. If you are a non-resident, you must complete the mandatory hunter report at the bottom of the outfitter's copy of your validation certificate at the end of the hunt.
Important information on acquiring a hunting-version Outdoors Card and hunting licence
Purchasing your first Outdoors Card
You can obtain a first-time hunting-version Outdoors Card in person at a licence issuer location (non-resident only) or at a ServiceOntario location offering MNR services (residents and non-residents). You must provide the following information:
- first and last name
- date of birth
- mailing and residential address
- height and eye colour, and
- acceptable proof of hunting accreditation.
Acceptable proof of hunting accreditation must identify you by name and date of birth, and can be one of the following original documents:
- an Ontario resident or non-resident hunting licence or game seal issued to you after January 1, 1968
- a resident hunting licence or game seal issued to you by a competent authority in any jurisdiction after January 1, 1968 that permits you to use a gun and is not restricted to bows only (including a printed resident hunting licence from a website)
- an Ontario Hunter Education Examination Certificate/Report issued to you after January 1, 1968
- an Ontario Hunting Licence Verification Certificate showing that you were issued an Ontario hunting licence or passed the Hunting Licence Examination
- a certificate issued after January 1, 1968 by a competent authority in any jurisdiction giving you permission to purchase a hunting licence in that jurisdiction and clearly stating that you may hunt with a gun and are not restricted to bow hunting only. This document can be in the form of a letter, e-mail, verification certificate, outdoors card or equivalent.
A copy of any of the documents listed above will be accepted if it is faxed or e-mailed from a law enforcement agency or hunting licence issuing authority. The document must be certified as a "true copy of the original", "dated" and identify you by name (or signature) and by date of birth.
Renewing an expired Outdoors Card and/or purchasing a hunting licence
You can renew an expired hunting-version Outdoors Card and/or purchase a black bear hunting licence tag at a licence issuer, ServiceOntario location offering MNR services or using the self-service Internet option. You must provide the following information:
- your Outdoors Card number
- your date of birth, and,
- your postal code or zip code.
For information on Outdoors Cards, call the Outdoors Card Centre at 1-800-387-7011 (Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Eastern Time Zone) or refer to the Ontario Hunting Regulations Summary.
Having a person purchase licence documents on your behalf
A person other than the hunter, including a tourist outfitter, may obtain a first-time Outdoors Card, renew an expired Outdoors Card and/or purchase a hunting licence tag on your behalf. This person will require your personal information. If you have never held an Ontario hunting-version Outdoors Card, this person will also require acceptable proof of your hunting accreditation. The person must take all the required information to a licence issuer or ServiceOntario location offering MNR services.
Ensuring that you have a valid hunting-version Outdoors Card
If you received a temporary hunting-version Outdoors Card in a previous year and have not received a plastic Outdoors Card (similar to a credit card in size), you need to contact the Outdoors Card Centre (1 800 387-7011) immediately to determine the reason for not receiving your card. For example, your proof of hunting accreditation may not have been provided to the Ontario Outdoors Card Center in order to activate your Outdoors Card number. Until the Center receives that document, the Outdoors Card number is void and cannot be used to purchase licence tags.
For more information on bear hunting in Ontario, refer to the Ontario Hunting Regulations Summary, contact the Natural Resources Information Centre (1-800-667-1940 or mnr.nric.mnr@ontario.ca) or contact your tourist outfitter.
For information on Outdoors Cards, call the Outdoors Card Centre at 1-800-387-7011 (Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Eastern Time Zone), or refer to the Ontario Hunting Regulations Summary.
To renew an expired Outdoors Card online or purchase a bear licence online visit ontario.ca/outdoorscard. For the locations of licence issuers in Ontario, refer to this list.
