Hunting for numbers

We’re well into the fall hunting seasons in most regions of the country, and many Canadians have made the trek out to their favourite spots in the hopes of catching some wild game.

Every two years, the Households and the Environment Survey asks Canadians living in the provinces about various outdoor activities close to home, including hunting. Our most recent data are from 2021, when 3% of households reported going hunting close to home, down from 4% in 2019.

Higher numbers in Atlantic Canada and in less populated areas

Over 1 in 10 households (12%) in Newfoundland and Labrador reported hunting close to home in 2021, tops among provinces, followed by nearly 1 in 10 (9%) in New Brunswick and 5% of those in Nova Scotia.

Saskatchewan (4%) and Quebec (3%) households had lower proportions of households with those who hunted close to home, and no other province was above 2%.

In 2021, 1% of households living in census metropolitan areas (CMAs) reported hunting close to home, in contrast to  7% of those living outside CMAs.

Travelling to hunt

Many hunters and anglers like to travel to the best spots. In June 2023, there were over 2,000 hunting and fishing camps across Canada.

Sites in this industry provide a range of services, such as access to outpost camps or housekeeping cabins; meals and guides; transportation to the facility; and the sale of food, beverages, and hunting and fishing supplies.

Purchases

In the second quarter of 2023, Canadians spent $678.6 million in retail purchases of hunting, fishing and camping equipment. This category includes hunting firearms, ammunition, accessories and clothing.

There were $835.3 million in sales in the same category in the third quarter of 2022. Typically, sales are highest in the third quarter, reflecting the seasonality of the items.

Hunting lawfully and safely

Be sure to follow the regulations of the province or territory where you plan to hunt, as well as federal laws and regulations governing firearms and crossbows and migratory game bird hunting.