Nova Scotia lengthens hunting season, reduces minimum age to hunt deer, bear

Amendments to legislation introduced Sept. 26, will lengthen the season for deer hunting, ensure gun safety and training remains a priority and make it easier for families to hunt together. (Source: Province of Nova Scotia)

Nova Scotia is changing regulations to allow more hunting opportunities under the Wildlife Act, said a provincial news release Friday.

Amendments to general wildlife, bear harvesting and deer harvesting regulations include:

• reducing the minimum age to 12 from 16 for hunting deer and bear, which is consistent with small game age restrictions
• permitting hunting on 11 more Sundays a year
• adding one week to the end of general deer hunting season

“Nova Scotia is a province with a very rich tradition in hunting, fishing and outdoor living,” said Natural Resources Minister Tory Rushton.

“These changes will increase opportunities for Nova Scotians to hunt and support our wildlife management objectives.”

Hunters under 18 must still be supervised by a licensed adult hunter and training requirements remain mandatory, the province says.

Adding additional Sundays for hunting increases opportunities for Nova Scotians, particularly if they work through the week, said the release.

“This is very good news,” said Donnie Lushington, president of the Nova Scotia Federation of Anglers and Hunters. “So many people these days work irregular hours or shift work so these changes will provide flexibility and increase the opportunities for hunters to harvest game.”

Sunday hunting was restricted to the first two Sundays of the general deer hunting season before the changes. Nova Scotia was the last province in Canada to significantly restrict Sunday hunting.

The extended hunting season helps manage deer populations where it is a concern in the province, said the release.

Lushington said lowering the minimum age helps encourage hunting and outdoorsmanship among young people.

The Cape Breton moose hunt remains closed this season. It is illegal to hunt mainland moose in Nova Scotia because they are endangered.

The new regulations go into effect Wednesday, and more information about hunting can be found online.

For more Nova Scotia news, visit our dedicated provincial page