William Dale – Local Journalism Initiative
Published online October 7, 2026, at www.pontiacjournal.com
PONTIAC – Local hunters heading into the woods across Zone 10 this fall will see major changes to how moose are tagged and managed, along with new dates for archery and firearm seasons.
At the same time, the province is rolling out new funding programs to get youth involved in local hunting, fishing, and trapping.
Daniel Labonté, Ministry of Environment, Climate Change, Wildlife and Parks spokesperson, outlined what local outdoor enthusiasts need to know before the season begins.
New moose rules
Starting this fall, Quebec is grouping calves and adult female moose together under a single category called “antlerless moose.” In most hunting zones, hunters must win an antlerless moose permit through a provincial random draw. To harvest a cow or calf, you must hold both a regular all-zone moose license (which can be used for a bull) and the special draw permit. Draw winners are allowed to share their antlerless permit with members of their hunting group.
The Ministry has also adjusted hunting dates and permitted gear across the area:
• Muzzleloaders: The separate, dedicated muzzleloader hunting season has been eliminated across Quebec.
• Zone 10 East: Archery and crossbow season has been extended and synchronized with neighboring regions. It runs from September 26 to October 12, 2026.
• Zone 10 West: Archery and crossbow season runs from September 26 to October 4, 2026. The regular firearms season remains unchanged, running from October 10 to October 18, 2026.
• Baiting: According to Daniel Labonté, media relations officer for the Ministry, “the sale of natural moose urine is now prohibited, as it is for all other cervids.” While commercial sale and importation of natural urine are banned, hunters may still use synthetic alternatives or natural urine they harvest themselves.
• ZEC Limits: In local ZECs—including ZEC Pontiac, ZEC Rapides-des-Joachims, ZEC Saint-Patrice, ZEC Maganasipi, and ZEC Bras-Coupé-Désert—the annual limit remains one moose per group of three hunters.
Online tags and registering
With more hunters buying permits online, the province is updating how game tags work. If you use a digital permit, you must make sure your unique transport coupon number is attached to your harvested animal in a clear, waterproof way. You can print out the paper tag attached to your digital license, attach a traditional paper tag from a local store.
Involving youth
To encourage younger generations to learn traditional outdoor skills, Quebec is updating its regional wildlife initiative (Programme Relève et mise en valeur de la faune).
A new branch of the program, called “Immersion chasse,” will fund large-scale, hands-on hunting trips and field training for young people and first-time hunters. The province is also continuing its annual Mentorship Deer Hunting Weekend, which allows certified youth to hunt white-tailed deer alongside experienced adult mentors to learn the ropes.
