General Information

Hunting on Public Land

Manitoba hunters are fortunate to have hunting opportunities available on millions of hectares of wildlife management areas (WMAs), provincial forests, some provincial parks, and other undesignated Crown lands.

Maps, including land ownership maps, are available that provide valuable information to hunters. For more information or to purchase maps, please contact (link opens in new browser window) Canada Map Sales toll-free at 1-877-627-7226.

Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs)

Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs) are Crown lands designated by the Province of Manitoba for the protection of wildlife habitat and for wildlife-related forms of outdoor recreation, such as hunting. There are now over 80 WMAs in Manitoba, encompassing more than 1.8 million hectares (4.5 million acres) of land. See summaries of restrictions for hunting while on private lands, big game hunting or game bird hunting.

Leased Crown Land

Most leased Crown land is open for hunting. However, there may be limited areas of leased Crown lands, which are intensively used, such as corrals, feeding areas and building sites, where hunting is prohibited. These areas will be identified by approved signs provided by Manitoba Agriculture, Food and Rural Initiatives. Permission is not required to hunt on leased provincial Crown land, which is not posted in this manner. It is recommended that hunters notify leaseholders before entry. Please do not damage trails, drive across fields, or leave gates open.

Provincial Parks

Hunting in provincial parks is subject to specific regulations as these are multiple-use areas where a variety of outdoor recreation occurs. The use of off-road vehicles are restricted. Persons may not hunt, possess a loaded firearm, or discharge a firearm within 300 metres of recreation areas, cottages, dumps, roads and prescribed trails. Please contact the Manitoba Conservation district office for information on the regulations in the park you wish to hunt.

For your convenience, selected provincial park campgrounds remain open into the fall. Services may be reduced and the fees (if applicable) are based on the level of service provided. For more
information, contact the local Manitoba Conservation district office.

The Whiteshell Provincial Park has areas where no hunting of certain species is allowed. For more information, including a map, contact one of the Manitoba Conservation District offices in Whiteshell Provincial Park. The map is also available at www.gov.mb.ca/conservation/wildlife/hunting/pdfs/map_whiteshell.pdf.

Provincial Forests, Timber Cutting Areas and Forest Access Roads

Provincial Forests are multiple-use areas that allow for hunting, as well as a variety of other uses, particularly commercial forest harvest. Hunters are advised to use discretion when hunting in the vicinity of a resource road, timber operation, forest-harvested area or quarry mineral mine. Signs may be posted to prohibit hunting on or within 300 metres of such areas for safety or conservation purposes.

International Peace Garden, Community Pastures, P.F.R.A., Dykes and other Federal Lands

Before entering these lands, hunters must obtain permission from the management authority. Not all federal lands are open to hunting. For more information, please contact the appropriate management authority.

Land for Wildlife and People -
Manitoba’s Wildlife Management Areas

Manitoba is celebrating the 50th Anniversary of its Wildlife Management Areas (WMA) in 2011. The first was named Watson P. Davidson, and was designated in 1961 in south-eastern Manitoba.

WMAs are Crown lands designated under Manitoba’s Wildlife Act for the better management, conservation and enhancement of the wildlife of the province. From the smallest WMAs (Wellington and Wakopa, each just 64 hectares [158 acres] in size) to the largest (Churchill, at 848,813 hectares [just over 2 million acres]), all have a role to play in conserving biodiversity and providing habitat for wildlife.

Today, more than 80 WMAs have been established. The system has grown to encompass almost 2 million hectares (5 million acres) of valuable wildlife habitat throughout Manitoba. Many WMAs are protected from commercial forestry, mining, and hydroelectric development, contributing to the province’s Protected Areas Initiative.

Manitoba’s WMAs provide opportunities for hunting, trapping and wildlife viewing. Delta Marsh, Whitewater Lake, Tom Lamb and Saskeram WMAs are world renowned for waterfowl hunting. The Sleeve Lake, Broad Valley, and Mantagao Lake WMAs in the Interlake are well known for deer, elk, moose and bear hunting. Other WMAs like Churchill, Oak Hammock Marsh and Whitewater Lake, are international birding destinations.

Manitoba’s best-known watchable wildlife sites are also in WMAs – the polar bears at Churchill, snakes of Narcisse and the geese and other birds of Oak Hammock Marsh attract thousands of visitors each year.