Fishing and hunting licences in Ontario: where to buy and what you need

How to buy a fishing or hunting licence in Ontario: the official portal, the identification or training you need and the exemptions, from the official pages.

Where to buy and what you need

You need an Outdoors Card (wallet-sized ID valid three calendar years) and a licence, bought online at huntandfishontario.com or from a vendor. A fishing licence is a conservation licence (reduced catch limits) or a sport licence, valid 1 or 3 calendar years; a one-day trip needs only a 1-day sport licence. Ontario and Canadian residents under 18 or 65 and older do not need a fishing licence but must carry ID. Resident means your primary residence is in Ontario and you lived there at least 6 of the 12 months before applying.

Official page ↗

Fees, seasons and catch limits change every year and are not listed: use the regulations summary or guide for the year. Federal rules also apply to migratory birds and to fishing in national parks (separate permits). Hunters generally need to show hunter education or firearms safety certification. Rules, fees and programs change and were read on 2026-11-14: confirm with the official source. General information, not legal advice. Quebec follows its own rules: see atlasquebec.ca.

Guides for this province