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Ontario · Season dates by Wildlife Management Unit

American black bear season in Ontario

Ursus americanus

Status today

As of October 29, 2026, a American black bear season is running in 98 of the 150 Ontario Wildlife Management Units North Ground evaluates, under the rules it has certified from the official regulations. By unit: in season in 98, closed in 5, not covered here in 47. "Not covered here" is a gap in North Ground's coverage, not a closed season.

  • In season98
  • Closed5
  • Not covered here47
Status for in Ontario · rules last verified · a running season is not a licence
Check your exact location in HuntAmerican black bear profile

Certified season dates

American black bear seasons by Wildlife Management Unit

Units are grouped where every certified season — legal animal, methods, dates and material conditions — is identical. Different opportunities are never merged because their dates overlap.

55 Wildlife Management Units

In season

WMU 1A, WMU 1C, WMU 1D, WMU 2, WMU 3, WMU 4, WMU 5, WMU 6, WMU 7B, WMU 8, WMU 9A, WMU 9B, WMU 10, WMU 11A, WMU 11B, WMU 12A, WMU 12B, WMU 13, WMU 14, WMU 15A, WMU 15B, WMU 16A, WMU 16B, WMU 16C, WMU 17, WMU 18A, WMU 18B, WMU 19, WMU 21A, WMU 21B, WMU 22, WMU 23, WMU 24, WMU 25, WMU 26, WMU 27, WMU 28, WMU 29, WMU 30, WMU 31, WMU 32, WMU 33, WMU 34, WMU 35, WMU 36, WMU 37, WMU 38, WMU 39, WMU 40, WMU 41, WMU 42, WMU 43A, WMU 43B, WMU 44, WMU 45

Legal animalMethodsDates
Not establishedRifle, Shotgun, Muzzleloader, Bow, Crossbow
  • –
  • –
Running today
Check WMU 1A in Hunt

27 Wildlife Management Units

In season

WMU 46, WMU 47, WMU 49, WMU 50, WMU 53A, WMU 53B, WMU 64A, WMU 64B, WMU 66A, WMU 66B, WMU 67, WMU 69A-1, WMU 69A-2, WMU 69A-3, WMU 69B, WMU 71, WMU 72A, WMU 72B, WMU 73, WMU 74A, WMU 74B, WMU 75, WMU 76A, WMU 76B, WMU 76C, WMU 76D, WMU 76E

Legal animalMethodsDates
Not establishedRifle, Shotgun, Muzzleloader, Bow, Crossbow
  • –
  • –
Running today
Check WMU 46 in Hunt

15 Wildlife Management Units

In season

WMU 48, WMU 54, WMU 55A, WMU 55B, WMU 56, WMU 57, WMU 58, WMU 59, WMU 60, WMU 61, WMU 62, WMU 63A, WMU 63B, WMU 68A, WMU 68B

Legal animalMethodsDates
Not establishedRifle, Shotgun, Muzzleloader, Bow, Crossbow
  • –
  • –
Running today
Check WMU 48 in Hunt

WMU 7A

In season

WMU 7A

Legal animalMethodsDates
Not establishedMuzzleloader, Bow, Crossbow
  • –
  • –
Running today

Conditions apply

  • Only muzzle-loading guns, bows and crossbows are permitted for the season(s) that apply here. — Government of Ontario
Check WMU 7A in Hunt

The other units

Other Wildlife Management Units

What the certified rules state for each unit on October 29, 2026: the season running that day, if any, and the next certified season after it.

5 Wildlife Management Units

Closed
Season running October 29, 2026
None running
Next certified season
None certified through Dec 31, 2026

WMU 82A, WMU 83A, WMU 83B, WMU 83C and WMU 84

47 Wildlife Management Units

Not covered here
Season running October 29, 2026
None running
Next certified season
Not certified

WMU 1B, WMU 11C, WMU 20, WMU 65, WMU 70, WMU 77A, WMU 77B, WMU 77C, WMU 78A, WMU 78B, WMU 78C, WMU 78D, WMU 78E, WMU 79C, WMU 79D, WMU 80, WMU 81A, WMU 81B, WMU 82B, WMU 82C, WMU 85A, WMU 85B, WMU 85C, WMU 86A, WMU 86B, WMU 87A, WMU 87B, WMU 87C, WMU 87D, WMU 87E, WMU 88, WMU 89A, WMU 89B, WMU 90A, WMU 90B, WMU 91A, WMU 91B, WMU 92A, WMU 92B, WMU 92C, WMU 92D, WMU 93A, WMU 93B, WMU 93C, WMU 94A, WMU 94B and WMU 95

Questions

American black bear season in Ontario: answers

Is American black bear season open in Ontario right now?

As of October 29, 2026, a American black bear season is running in 98 of the 150 Ontario Wildlife Management Units North Ground evaluates, under the rules it has certified from the official regulations. By unit: in season in 98, closed in 5, not covered here in 47. "Not covered here" is a gap in North Ground's coverage, not a closed season. A running season is not a licence: licensing, legal hunting hours and local restrictions still apply.

When does American black bear season close in Ontario?

The American black bear seasons running on October 29, 2026 close between Oct 31, 2026 and Nov 30, 2026, depending on the Wildlife Management Unit. Each unit's dates are listed on this page.

How are American black bear seasons set in Ontario?

Government of Ontario sets them by Wildlife Management Unit. North Ground evaluates 150 of them (the authority publishes 151). This page lists what the certified rules state for each of them.

Where do these American black bear season dates come from?

From Black bear — Ontario Hunting Regulations Summary, last verified by North Ground on Sep 21, 2026. The authority's own regulations are the law; confirm with them before you hunt.

Before you rely on this

What this page does not decide

  • Each status is the whole-unit answer for October 29, 2026. A season running in a unit is not a licence, and it does not tell you about restricted areas, municipal by-laws, land access or legal hours at a particular spot — Hunt checks an exact location.
  • A unit marked "Not covered here" has no certified rule for this species. That is a gap in North Ground's coverage, not a closed season.
  • This page describes sport hunting seasons. It does not describe harvesting under treaty or Aboriginal rights, which is a separate legal context North Ground does not evaluate.

Provenance

Official sources

Government of Ontario sets these seasons. North Ground reads the regulations, structures each rule and cites it here; the authority's own text is the law.