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COVID-19 Alert

The GRCA continues to closely monitor the COVID-19 situation in Ontario. The health, safety and well-being of our staff, volunteers and the community remain our highest priority. Please visit our COVID-19 Update page where you will find the most up-to-date information on impacts to GRCA programs and services.

The GRCA permits hunting on 21 properties. That includes two Grand River parks, the Luther Marsh Wildlife Management Area and 18 miscellaneous properties.

Depending on the property, you can hunt for waterfowl, deer, pheasants, turkeys and small game.

Permits and licences

Hunters must possess a GRCA hunting permit in addition to the appropriate Provincial and/or Federal hunting licence(s) and stamps and/or tags. Check the Ontario Hunting Regulations Summary and the Migratory Birds Hunting Regulations Summaries for seasons and limits.

Hunters on the Miscellaneous Hunting Areas must also belong to the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters. Membership in OFAH includes insurance coverage, which is required to hunt on in these areas.

Property closures

Please note that we reserve the right to close a hunting property with short notice. Please refer to or subscribe to this page for notices of property closure and duration. If you have any questions about this, please contact us at 519-621-2761.

Due to COVID-19, Belwood Lake conservation area and all miscellaneous hunting properties have been closed until further notice. The 2020 spring turkey hunt will not be permitted on these properties.
The Vance Tract has been removed from the available miscellaneous hunting properties as of July 2019.

Apply online

Applications are available online for permits to hunt at Luther Marsh, Conestogo Lake conservation area and the Miscellaneous Hunting Areas. Online applications are not currently available for Belwood Lake conservation area.

Please note: Permit sales for Luther Marsh and Conestogo Lake are closed for the season. Online sales will resume Saturday, August 1, 2020 for the 2020-2021 season.

Belwood Lake Conservation Area, Fergus
Location: See a Google map showing the park entrance. GRCA hunting permits: Seasonal or daily hunting permits are available. An appointment with park staff must be made to purchase a seasonal permit. Contact park staff, prior to hunting, for permits by email or by phone at 519-843-2979. Daily permits can be purchased at the park gatehouse from May 1 to September, and self-registration at the pay station is available at other times when the gate is not staffed. Licences: Hunters must possess the GRCA hunting permit in addition to the appropriate Provincial and/or Federal hunting licence(s) and stamps and/or tags. Season/Limits: Check the Ontario Hunting Regulations Summary and the Migratory Birds Hunting Regulations Summaries for seasons and limits. Waterfowl: Migratory birds such as woodcock, snipe, coot, rails and gallinules are included. Small game: Wild turkey only. Deer: Permitted on posted hunting areas only. Regulations for archery, controlled hunt and muzzleloaders apply. More information: See the Belwood Lake page for park information. Hunting days: There is no gun-hunting permitted on Sundays at Belwood Lake.
Conestogo Lake Conservation Area, Drayton
Location: See a Google map showing the park entrance GRCA hunting permit: All hunting permits have moved to online sales only. Permits will not be available for sale at the Conestogo gatehouse except for guest passes, which can be purchased in the fall. Lottery: All deer permits (archery and controlled) as well as the Quad and Grand slam permits will be sold through an online lottery system. The lottery is now closed for the 2020-2021 season. If you applied, please check your email (including your junk mail). Licences: Hunters must possess the GRCA hunting permit in addition to the appropriate Provincial and/or Federal hunting licence(s) and stamps and/or tags. Season/Limits: Check the Ontario Hunting Regulations Summary and the Migratory Birds Hunting Regulations Summaries for seasons and limits. Waterfowl: Please check all bag limits allowed for each species before hunting. Pheasant: A pheasant release program operates each fall. Small game: A fall wild turkey season has been added to the Conestogo Lake hunting program. There is no spring wild turkey season. Deer: A limited number of permits are available for deer in posted hunting areas only during open seasons. Regulations for archery, controlled hunt and muzzleloaders apply. More information: Download the Conestogo Lake Hunting Program booklet, or see the Conestogo Lake page for park information. Please note: Online permit sales for Pheasant/Small game/Migratory Birds are closed for the season. Online sales will resume Saturday, August 1, 2020 for the 2020-2021 season.
Luther Marsh Wildlife Management Area, Grand Valley
Location: See a Google map showing the park entrance GRCA hunting permit: Apply online or download the Luther Marsh permit application (PDF) to return by mail or in person with payment. Instructions on how to submit the application are on the form. Please note that credit card payments over the phone will not be taken at this time. Licences: Hunters must possess the GRCA hunting permit in addition to the appropriate Provincial and/or Federal hunting licence(s) and stamps and/or tags. Season/Limits: Check the Ontario Hunting Regulations Summary and the Migratory Birds Hunting Regulations Summaries for seasons and limits. Hunting days: No gun-hunting on Tuesday or Thursday, except during controlled deer hunts or when opening day falls on a Tuesday or Thursday. Sunday gun hunting is not permitted at Luther Marsh. Winter: Interior roads are not plowed in winter. Hunters must walk in. Boat access: All boaters (canoe, kayak, rowboat or motorboat) must complete a boat access form which is available at the park entrance kiosk. Waterfowl: Ducks, rails (other than yellow rails and king rails), Common Moorhens, coots, snipe and geese. Small game: Ruffed grouse, woodcock and rabbit/hare. There is no spring wild turkey season at Luther Marsh. More information: See the Luther Marsh page for area information. Download the Luther Marsh booklet, which has more information about hunting. Please note: Permit sales for Luther Marsh are closed for the season. Online sales will resume Saturday, August 1, 2020 for the 2020-2021 season.
Miscellaneous Hunting Areas
Locations: The GRCA owns 18 properties, primarily in Dufferin and Wellington counties where hunting is allowed by permit only ($65.00). For more information, download the brochure and map. The properties range from 40 to 80 hectares. Please note: The Vance Tract has been removed from the available miscellaneous hunting properties as of July 2019. GRCA hunting permit: Apply online or download the Miscellaneous Properties hunting permit application (PDF) to return by mail or in person with payment. Permits are valid from September 1 to May 31. The 18 Miscellaneous Hunting Areas will be closed from March 1 until April 24. They re-open April 25 until May 31, for the spring hunt. Licences: Hunters must possess the GRCA hunting permit in addition to the appropriate Provincial and/or Federal hunting licence(s) and stamps and/or tags. Season/Limits/Prey: Check the Ontario Hunting Regulations Summary and the Migratory Birds Hunting Regulations Summaries for seasons, limits and prey. OFAH membership: All hunters on these properties must be a member of the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters. This ensures hunters have insurance coverage on our properties. Visit the OFAH website or call 705-748-6324 for information.

Belwood Lake Conservation Area, Fergus

Location: See a Google map showing the park entrance.

GRCA hunting permits: Seasonal or daily hunting permits are available. An appointment with park staff must be made to purchase a seasonal permit. Contact park staff, prior to hunting, for permits by email or by phone at 519-843-2979. Daily permits can be purchased at the park gatehouse from May 1 to September, and self-registration at the pay station is available at other times when the gate is not staffed.

Licences: Hunters must possess the GRCA hunting permit in addition to the appropriate Provincial and/or Federal hunting licence(s) and stamps and/or tags.

Season/Limits: Check the Ontario Hunting Regulations Summary and the Migratory Birds Hunting Regulations Summaries for seasons and limits.

Waterfowl: Migratory birds such as woodcock, snipe, coot, rails and gallinules are included.

Small game: Wild turkey only.

Deer: Permitted on posted hunting areas only. Regulations for archery, controlled hunt and muzzleloaders apply.

More information: See the Belwood Lake page for park information.

Hunting days: There is no gun-hunting permitted on Sundays at Belwood Lake.

Conestogo Lake Conservation Area, Drayton

Location: See a Google map showing the park entrance

GRCA hunting permit: All hunting permits have moved to online sales only. Permits will not be available for sale at the Conestogo gatehouse except for guest passes, which can be purchased in the fall.

Lottery: All deer permits (archery and controlled) as well as the Quad and Grand slam permits will be sold through an online lottery system. The lottery is now closed for the 2020-2021 season. If you applied, please check your email (including your junk mail).

Licences: Hunters must possess the GRCA hunting permit in addition to the appropriate Provincial and/or Federal hunting licence(s) and stamps and/or tags.

Season/Limits: Check the Ontario Hunting Regulations Summary and the Migratory Birds Hunting Regulations Summaries for seasons and limits.

Waterfowl: Please check all bag limits allowed for each species before hunting.

Pheasant: A pheasant release program operates each fall.

Small game: A fall wild turkey season has been added to the Conestogo Lake hunting program. There is no spring wild turkey season.

Deer: A limited number of permits are available for deer in posted hunting areas only during open seasons. Regulations for archery, controlled hunt and muzzleloaders apply.

More information: Download the Conestogo Lake Hunting Program booklet, or see the Conestogo Lake page for park information.

Please note: Online permit sales for Pheasant/Small game/Migratory Birds are closed for the season. Online sales will resume Saturday, August 1, 2020 for the 2020-2021 season.

Luther Marsh Wildlife Management Area, Grand Valley

Location: See a Google map showing the park entrance

GRCA hunting permit: Apply online or download the Luther Marsh permit application (PDF) to return by mail or in person with payment. Instructions on how to submit the application are on the form. Please note that credit card payments over the phone will not be taken at this time.

Licences: Hunters must possess the GRCA hunting permit in addition to the appropriate Provincial and/or Federal hunting licence(s) and stamps and/or tags.

Season/Limits: Check the Ontario Hunting Regulations Summary and the Migratory Birds Hunting Regulations Summaries for seasons and limits.

Hunting days: No gun-hunting on Tuesday or Thursday, except during controlled deer hunts or when opening day falls on a Tuesday or Thursday. Sunday gun hunting is not permitted at Luther Marsh.

Winter: Interior roads are not plowed in winter. Hunters must walk in.

Boat access: All boaters (canoe, kayak, rowboat or motorboat) must complete a boat access form which is available at the park entrance kiosk.

Waterfowl: Ducks, rails (other than yellow rails and king rails), Common Moorhens, coots, snipe and geese.

Small game: Ruffed grouse, woodcock and rabbit/hare. There is no spring wild turkey season at Luther Marsh.

More information: See the Luther Marsh page for area information. Download the Luther Marsh booklet, which has more information about hunting.

Please note: Permit sales for Luther Marsh are closed for the season. Online sales will resume Saturday, August 1, 2020 for the 2020-2021 season.

Miscellaneous Hunting Areas

Locations: The GRCA owns 18 properties, primarily in Dufferin and Wellington counties where hunting is allowed by permit only ($65.00). For more information, download the brochure and map. The properties range from 40 to 80 hectares.

Please note: The Vance Tract has been removed from the available miscellaneous hunting properties as of July 2019.

GRCA hunting permit: Apply online or download the Miscellaneous Properties hunting permit application (PDF) to return by mail or in person with payment. Permits are valid from September 1 to May 31. The 18 Miscellaneous Hunting Areas will be closed from March 1 until April 24. They re-open April 25 until May 31, for the spring hunt.

Licences: Hunters must possess the GRCA hunting permit in addition to the appropriate Provincial and/or Federal hunting licence(s) and stamps and/or tags.

Season/Limits/Prey: Check the Ontario Hunting Regulations Summary and the Migratory Birds Hunting Regulations Summaries for seasons, limits and prey.

OFAH membership: All hunters on these properties must be a member of the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters. This ensures hunters have insurance coverage on our properties. Visit the OFAH website or call 705-748-6324 for information.