What resident hunters need
- A Nova Scotia Wildlife Resources Client Card.
- A valid Nova Scotia hunting licence.
- A Wildlife Habitat Stamp, which you get when you buy your licence.
- Any federal permits or licences for carrying a firearm or hunting federally regulated wildlife, such as migratory birds.
Under the hunter education regulations, you may not hunt with a firearm, bow or crossbow unless you are certified for it. The Department can also require someone to take hunter education again before issuing a licence.
Training for first-time hunters
First-time firearm hunters must complete firearm safety and hunter education training. First-time bow hunters must complete bowhunter education.
Firearm training has two parts
- Canadian Firearms Safety (non-restricted) Course, run by the Department of Justice through Safety Services Nova Scotia. It teaches safe handling and has a practical test and a written test. The pass mark is 80%.
- Atlantic Provinces Hunter Education Course, taken after the first course. It is online only, provided by the Department of Natural Resources, and ends with an online exam. The pass mark is 80%. You register through Hunt NS.
- After your training, apply for a Wildlife Resources Client Card, which you need to buy a hunting licence.
| Course | Run by | Format | Pass mark |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canadian Firearms Safety Course | Department of Justice (Safety Services Nova Scotia) | Practical and written tests | 80% |
| Atlantic Provinces Hunter Education Course | Department of Natural Resources | Online course and online exam | 80% |
If you took an equivalent course in another province, state or country, the Department may accept proof of it. Under the regulations, a person under 12 may not take a hunter education course unless the Minister allows it.
Young hunters and firearms
Anyone under 18 who wants to hunt with a firearm also needs a federal Minor's Firearms Licence. Young hunters should learn the same safe handling habits as adults: treat every firearm as loaded, control the muzzle, keep a finger off the trigger until ready, and check for yourself that a firearm is unloaded.
Unload before crossing any fence or obstacle.
- Unload the firearm and open the action.
- Slide the unloaded firearm under the fence so it lies on the far side, muzzle pointing away.
- Climb over the fence at a spot well away from the muzzle.
- From the far side, pick the firearm up by the stock with the muzzle still pointing away.
Hunter orange
Anyone who is hunting, accompanying a hunter or trying to take wildlife must wear a cap or hat and a shirt, vest or coat that is plainly visible from all directions. The colour must be solid hunter orange or camouflage orange. Camouflage orange must contain at least 2,581 square cm (400 square inches) of hunter orange.
An orange hat and vest make a hunter easy to see in the woods.
- Blaze-orange hat.
- Blaze-orange vest.
- A hunter in camouflage only, who blends into the trees.
Some exemptions in the regulations
- Waterfowl hunting.
- Night raccoon hunting.
- Crow hunting on cultivated land.
- Bow hunting in areas designated for bow hunting only.
- People at archery or firearm ranges for activities held there.
Safety in the field
If you hunt deer from a tree stand, wear a full-body harness and stay connected to the tree from the moment you leave the ground until you are back down. Keep three points of contact while climbing, and use a haul line to raise and lower your unloaded firearm or bow.
A safe tree stand setup.
- Full-body harness with straps over the shoulders, chest, waist and legs.
- Short tether from the back of the harness to a tree strap above head height, with little slack.
- Lifeline from high on the tree to the ground, with a sliding knot to clip into while climbing.
- Haul line to raise and lower the unloaded firearm, muzzle pointing down.
Before every shot, be sure of your target and what is beyond it. Never shoot at an animal standing on a hilltop against the sky, or at water or flat rock, where bullets can ricochet. When hunting with others, agree on a zone of fire for each person and stay in it.
Nova Scotia weather changes fast near the coast. Dress in layers, avoid cotton, and leave a trip plan with someone before you go.
How to study
Both exams need 80%, so practise until you score well above that. The hunter education exam covers more than firearms: expect questions on ethics, landowner relations, wildlife identification, conservation, survival and first aid. Learn the signs of hypothermia, how to stop serious bleeding, and what to do if you get lost: stop, think, observe and plan. Read each question to the end before you choose, because two answers can look alike.