The hunter's certificate
In general, Québec residents need a hunter's certificate to get a hunting licence. To get one you must be at least 12, complete the training for the weapon you will use, and pass the exams. Some people are exempt, such as non-residents and holders of an introductory licence.
| Code | What it covers | Course |
|---|---|---|
| F | Firearms and airguns | Introduction to Hunting with a Firearm (IHF) |
| A | Bows and crossbows | Introduction to Hunting with Bows and Crossbows (IHBC) |
| P | Trapping | Trapping training |
The online courses and how they are scored
The Fédération québécoise des chasseurs et pêcheurs (FédéCP) delivers both hunting courses. They are online only and can be taken at any time of year.
| Feature | IHF (firearm) and IHBC (bow and crossbow) |
|---|---|
| Delivery | Online only |
| Length | 12 lessons, about 5 hours in total |
| Questions | Five at the end of each lesson |
| Pass mark | 80% on each lesson |
| Minimum age | 12 when you take the course |
The Practical Bow Test was abolished on July 7, 2020, so the bow and crossbow certificate no longer has a shooting test.
The federal firearms course
Since April 1, 2026, the Canadian Firearms Safety Course (CFSC) is no longer a provincial requirement for the firearm hunter's certificate. It is still required under federal law if you want to use or possess a firearm on your own or apply for a Possession and Acquisition Licence (PAL).
Whatever your licence, the same safe handling habits apply: assume every firearm is loaded, control the muzzle direction at all times, keep your finger off the trigger until you are ready to shoot, and check for yourself that a firearm is unloaded.
Safe carries keep the muzzle pointed away from people.
- Two-hand (ready) carry: muzzle up and ahead, best control.
- Elbow carry: break-action gun open over the forearm, muzzle down at the ground ahead.
- Shoulder carry: muzzle up and behind; do not use it when someone is behind you.
- Sling carry: gun on the back, muzzle up.
- Trail carry: gun in one hand at your side, muzzle ahead and down; do not use it when someone is in front of you.
Young hunters
| Weapon | Minimum age | Must be accompanied by an adult |
|---|---|---|
| Firearm | 12 | Under 18 (by an adult hunter) |
| Bow or crossbow | 12 | Under 16 |
Adults who accompany young firearm hunters must also follow the rules for accompanying young hunters and federal firearms law.
The fluorescent orange bib
When hunting, you must wear a fluorescent orange bib, and so must your guide and anyone else with you. It must be at least 2,580 square cm (400 square inches), cover your back, shoulders and chest, and be visible at all times from every angle, even with a backpack on.
Bright orange on the upper body makes hunters easy to see.
- Blaze-orange hat.
- Blaze-orange vest.
- A hunter in camouflage only, who blends into the trees.
Main exemptions
- Hunting American crow, wild turkey, rock dove or migratory birds.
- Hunting moose, white-tailed deer or black bear during a bow-or-crossbow-only season.
- Hunting coyotes, wolves or foxes from December 1 to March 31.
- Snaring hares and eastern cottontails, and hunting frogs.
- Bow or crossbow hunting in sectors reserved for bows or crossbows, when every hunter there uses one.
Safety and ethics in the field
The course quizzes test safe habits as well as rules. When hunting with others, agree on each person's zone of fire before you start, and never swing your muzzle into a partner's zone. Unload before you cross a fence, climb a bank or get into a boat or vehicle. Before every shot, be sure of your target and of what is in front of it and beyond it.
Three hunters walking in a line, each with their own zone of fire.
- Hunter 1 shoots only into the zone ahead and to the left.
- Hunter 2 shoots only into the zone straight ahead.
- Hunter 3 shoots only into the zone ahead and to the right.
Ethical hunters ask permission before entering private land, take only shots they are confident will hit the vital area, and make every effort to find a wounded animal. Learn to identify game well, because many licences allow only one species, sex or antler type. If you are not sure, do not shoot.
Before each trip, leave a plan with someone saying where you will be and when you will return. Carry a map, compass, fire starter and whistle. If you get lost, stop, think, observe and plan. Know the early signs of hypothermia: shivering that will not stop, clumsy hands and confusion.