Changes to hunting regulations in Nova Scotia are on the way.
The province says in a matter of days, there will be amendments to General Wildlife Regulations, Bear Harvesting Regulations and Deer Hunting Regulations that include:
– reduce the minimum age from 16 to 12 for hunting deer and bear, consistent with hunting small game
– adding 11 more Sundays per year when hunting is permitted
– adding one week to the end of general deer hunting season annually
For youth under 18, direct supervision is required from a licensed hunter, as well as mandatory training including the hunter education course and firearms safety course.
“Nova Scotia is a province with a very rich tradition in hunting, fishing and outdoor living,” said Natural Resources Minister Tory Rushton. “Every year, tens of thousands of Nova Scotians hunt safely and responsibly during hunting season. These changes will increase opportunities for Nova Scotians to hunt and support our wildlife management objectives.”
Increasing the number of Sunday’s that you can hunt, is to provide more opportunities for those who work during the week to participate and to support rural economies with increased travel and equipment purchases.
Extending the season could also help with managing the deer population – a concern in some areas.
Until now, Nova Scotia was the last province with significant restrictions on Sunday hunting.
The changes go into effect October 1.
