Spring bear hunt: engagement
The Government of Nova Scotia proposed holding a spring bear hunt as a pilot project this year. Based on feedback from Nova Scotians, a spring bear hunt will not be established at this time.
About the engagement
Nova Scotia is the only province in Canada with a black bear population that doesn’t have a spring bear hunt. Right now, bear hunting is only allowed in the fall in Nova Scotia.
Natural Resources and Renewables proposed a change to regulations to allow a spring bear hunt this year. The spring bear hunt was proposed to last 5 weeks (not Sundays) from May to June 2024. It was proposed be open to Nova Scotia residents only.
The spring bear hunt was proposed as a pilot project to help shape spring bear hunting in the future. Regulations were being developed for the proposed hunt to help keep the bear population healthy and make sure that the government has the information needed to evaluate the pilot project and make decisions about bear hunting in the future.
Learn more about bears in Nova Scotia: Background on Bears in Nova Scotia (PDF)
Decision
Based on feedback from Nova Scotians, a spring bear hunt will not be established at this time.