News release

Applications for Cape Breton Moose Hunt

Natural Resources and Renewables

Hunters can apply to enter the annual lottery for Cape Breton moose hunt licences starting Monday, May 8, at noon. The deadline to enter is Wednesday, May 31, at noon.

This year, hunters are permitted to take only bull moose. A recent survey shows the moose population is relatively healthy but has room to grow. Preserving female moose and calves will allow the population to increase gradually. The Department will continue to work closely with the Mi’kmaq and other partners to monitor the population.

The hunt takes place in the fall in five moose-management zones in Victoria and Inverness counties. A total of 345 licences will be available. Hunters can apply once to enter the draw for motorized hunts in zones 1 through 4 and once to enter the draw for the non-motorized hunt in Zone 5.

Applications can be made online with a debit or credit card or by phone with credit card only. The fee is $9.25, including HST.

The draw will take place in June and winners will be notified by mail. After June 20, hunters can also go online or call 1-833-302-0750 to find out if they were successful.

People with a licence are required by law to report on their hunt.

Quick Facts:

  • about 10,000 people apply for moose licences each year
  • to be eligible, hunters must be Nova Scotia residents, hold a valid Wildlife Resources Card and be at least 18 years old by September 18, 2023
  • people who got a licence from the lottery in the last five years cannot apply this year
  • hunts take place from late September to early December; dates vary by moose-management zone
  • bull (male) moose are antlered; females are not

Additional Resources:

Moose draw website: https://wrs.novascotia.ca/MooseDraw/

Cape Breton moose harvest data: https://novascotia.ca/natr/hunt/moose-stats.asp

Cape Breton moose population survey summary: https://novascotia.ca/natr/wildlife/sustainable/pdf/moose-survey-summary.pdf

Toll-free number to report moose hunt violations: 1-800-565-2224

Natural Resources and Renewables on Twitter: https://twitter.com/NS_DNRR

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