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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.

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.

The Vance Tract has been removed from the available miscellaneous hunting properties as of July 2019.
The 2021 pheasant hunting program at Conestogo Lake Conservation Area is cancelled. Please see below for more information.

Apply online

Applications are available online for permits to hunt at Luther Marsh, Conestogo Lake Conservation Area, Belwood Lake Conservation Area and the Miscellaneous Hunting Areas. Permit sales open on August 1.

Belwood Lake Conservation Area, Fergus
Location: See a Google map showing the park entrance. GRCA hunting permits: Seasonal hunting permits have moved to online sales only. Daily permits can be purchased at the self-registration pay station. Please bring exact cash. Seasonal permits are valid until May 31. Fee: Permit fees can be found on the Belwood Lake Fee page. 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 and permits will not be available for sale at the Conestogo gatehouse. For guest passes, please call the park at 519-638-2873 beforehand to pre-purchase your pass and pick it up the day of the hunt. Deer archery only, and deer archery and controlled hunt permits are valid until December 31. The quad and grand slam permits are valid until February 28. Fee: Permit fees can be found on the Conestogo Lake Fee page. Lottery: All deer permits (archery and controlled) as well as the Quad and Grand slam permits are sold through an online lottery system. The lottery for the upcoming season will open May 1, 2021 and applications will be accepted until June 22, 2021. The draw will be held on June 23, 2021. 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: The the 2021 pheasant hunting program at Conestogo Lake Conservation Area is cancelled. The decision not to renew the contract to purchase pheasants is part of an overall operational review of our programs, based on recent changes to the Conservation Authorities Act and to ensure these programs align with our strategic priorities. This suspension impacts our pheasant hunting program only; our other hunting programs are not affected. 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.
Luther Marsh Wildlife Management Area, Grand Valley
Location: See a Google map showing the park entrance GRCA hunting permit: Seasonal hunting permits have moved to online sales only. Daily permits can be purchased at the self-registration pay station. Please bring exact cash. Deer and fall turkey permits are valid until December 31. Seasonal and migratory bird/upland game/small game permits and are valid until February 28. Fee: Permit fees can be found on the Luther Marsh Fee page. 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.
Miscellaneous Hunting Areas
Locations: The GRCA owns 18 properties, primarily in Dufferin and Wellington counties where hunting is allowed by permit only ($85.00). 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: Hunting permits have moved to online sales only. 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 hunting permits have moved to online sales only. Daily permits can be purchased at the self-registration pay station. Please bring exact cash.

Seasonal permits are valid until May 31.

Fee: Permit fees can be found on the Belwood Lake Fee page.

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 and permits will not be available for sale at the Conestogo gatehouse. For guest passes, please call the park at 519-638-2873 beforehand to pre-purchase your pass and pick it up the day of the hunt.

Deer archery only, and deer archery and controlled hunt permits are valid until December 31. The quad and grand slam permits are valid until February 28.

Fee: Permit fees can be found on the Conestogo Lake Fee page.

Lottery: All deer permits (archery and controlled) as well as the Quad and Grand slam permits are sold through an online lottery system. The lottery for the upcoming season will open May 1, 2021 and applications will be accepted until June 22, 2021. The draw will be held on June 23, 2021. 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: The the 2021 pheasant hunting program at Conestogo Lake Conservation Area is cancelled. The decision not to renew the contract to purchase pheasants is part of an overall operational review of our programs, based on recent changes to the Conservation Authorities Act and to ensure these programs align with our strategic priorities. This suspension impacts our pheasant hunting program only; our other hunting programs are not affected.

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.

Luther Marsh Wildlife Management Area, Grand Valley

Location: See a Google map showing the park entrance

GRCA hunting permit: Seasonal hunting permits have moved to online sales only. Daily permits can be purchased at the self-registration pay station. Please bring exact cash.

Deer and fall turkey permits are valid until December 31. Seasonal and migratory bird/upland game/small game permits and are valid until February 28.

Fee: Permit fees can be found on the Luther Marsh Fee page.

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.

Miscellaneous Hunting Areas

Locations: The GRCA owns 18 properties, primarily in Dufferin and Wellington counties where hunting is allowed by permit only ($85.00). 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: Hunting permits have moved to online sales only. 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.