Canada is a country known for its vast forests and waters that are home for numerous species of fish and animals. With millions of hectares of the country covered with lakes, rivers, and forests, Canada is a paradise for anyone interested in fishing or hunting. 

Hunting and fishing tourism is important to the Canadian economy and it has huge potential. However, it is important that these activities are carried out sustainably to prevent overfishing and overhunting and to protect the natural environments of all species. 

Continue reading to find out what tourism based on hunting and fishing looks like in Canada and what measures have been put in place to ensure it is sustainable.

Fishing and Hunting Tourism Statistics for Canadians

  • Canada has around 1,200 fish species, 200 mammal species, and 680 bird species.
  • Around 3% of Canadian households participated in hunting activities close to home in 2021. 
  • 9% of households in Canada report going fishing close to home in 2021. 
  • There are over 2,000 fishing and hunting camps in Canada. 
  • 52% of Canadian fishing and hunting camps are small business employing up to four persons. 
  • During the second quarter of 2023, Canadians spent  $678.6 million on fishing, hunting, and camping related expenses. 
  • The cost of fishing and hunting equipment increased by less than 1% in a year and slower than the rate of inflation. 

Waterways and Forests in Canada

Canada is an ideal country for fishing and hunting tourism. It has over two million lakes which cover approximately 14% of its area. There are over 8,500 named rivers with thousands of smaller, unnamed rivers. In addition, Canada has 243,042 kilometres of coastline. The fresh and salt waters in Canada are home to around 1,200 native species of fish. 

Around 367 million hectares of Canada are covered in forests. This is approximately 15 times the size of the Great Lakes put together. These forests are important not only for Canadians but for the world as they play a crucial role in the fight against climate change. There are around 200 mammal species and 680 bird species found in Canada. 

Only 3% of Canadians Hunt Close to Home

To collect information on activities such as hunting, the Households and the Environment Survey, conducted every two years, asks Canadians about outdoor activities they do close to home. In the 2021 survey, 3% of Canadian households reported participating in hunting activities close to home. This was a smaller portion than the 4% recorded in the previous survey in 2019. 

The number of people hunting close to home differed across the Canadian provinces with higher portions in less populated areas and Atlantic Canada. Newfoundland and Labrador had the highest portion with 12% of households reporting they hunt close to home. It was followed by New Brunswick with 9% and Nova Scotia with 5% of households. 

In Saskatchewan the portion of households hunting close to home was 4% and in Quebec 3%. All the other provinces had fewer than 2% of households participating in hunting close to home. Only 1% of households that lived in census metropolitan areas hunted close to home, while 7% of households living outside metropolitan areas did. 

Almost One-in-Ten Canadians Fish Close to Home

In the same Households and the Environment Survey from 2021, Canadians also responded to questions about fishing close to home. The survey found that just under 9% of Canadian households had participated in fishing activities close to home in 2021. This is comparable to the number of people who went bird watching or camping close to home with 11% and 10%, respectively and three times the number of households that went hunting close to home. 

Travelling to Fish or Hunt

Canadians who enjoy fishing or hunting are happy to travel to the best fishing and hunting spots which include over 2,000 fishing and hunting camps across the country. These sites offer a range of services, including access to housekeeping cabins and outpost camps; guides and meals; and transportation to the facilities. They often also sell food and beverages as well as fishing and hunting supplies. 

In the second half of 2022, Statistics Canada counted 853 hunting and fishing camps with employees. 253 of these camps were in Quebec and 229 in Ontario, with these two provinces accounting for over half of the staffed camps. British Columbia in third place had 125 camps mostly in the coastal areas. 

52% of these fishing and hunting camps are small businesses employing up to four people. However, there are some large camps in Canada, too. For example, in the second half of 2022, the three biggest camps in Canada employed between 100 and 200 people. 

Spending on Fishing And Hunting Equipment

According to Statistics Canada, Canadians spent $678.6 million in the second quarter of 2023 on hunting, fishing, and camping equipment. The category includes clothing, accessories, ammunition, and firearms. 

Because hunting especially is seasonal, sales are generally higher in the third quarter of the year. For example, in 2022, the sales in this category reached $835.3 million in the third quarter. 

While the prices of sporting equipment have increased in Canada, the price increases have been below the rate of inflation. In July 2023, Statistics Canada reported that the prices of sporting equipment, including fishing and hunting equipment, had increased 0.7% on average in a year compared to the 3.4% rate of inflation. 

International Fishing And Hunting Tourism

It is estimated that around one million people who come to Canada as tourists participate in hunting activities and three million people go fishing. However, the latest more detailed assessment of international hunting and fishing tourism in Canada is from 2012 when the Canadian Tourism Commission (CTC) published an assessment of the potential of international fishing and hunting tourism in Canada.

One of the key findings of the CTC assessment was that the number of overseas visitors who participate in fishing and/or hunting activities was too small to report on. The report also found that the number of US tourists who participated in hunting and fishing activities while in Canada had fallen between 2001 and 2011. 

The CTC assessment further stated that recreational fishing and hunting could result in much bigger business, particularly from the US. For example, a report from 2007 found that Americans spent $58.6 billion in fishing and hunting related expenses, generating over 500,000 jobs and $7.6 billion in taxes. According to the report, Canada could get a much bigger share of this spending. 

Fishing and Hunting in Canadian Provinces

The amount of statistics available on recreational fishing and hunting varies from one province to the next. Below are key statistics published by the CTC.

Quebec

In Quebec, there are around 400,00 hunting licences issued in a year. This generates economic benefits for the province of over $300 million. 

Ontario

In Ontario, the fishing and hunting industry employs around 20,000 people with most jobs being outside the cities. Fishing and hunting license sales account for approximately 70% of the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources’ total operating budget. 

Alberta

In Alberta, there were approximately 99,000 licensed adult hunters in 2009 with 90% of licenses issued to residents. 3% of the licenses were issued to Canadians from other provinces and territories, and 7% were for hunting and fishing tourists from outside of Canada. In 2008, non-resident Canadians spent $7 million on recreational hunting and fishing in Alberta. 

British Columbia

Over 5,000 non-residents come to British Columbia annually to hunt, accounting for approximately 7% of basic hunting licenses sold in the province. The non-resident hunters harvest around 9% of all the large game caught in British Columbia. 86% of the non-resident hunters in British Columbia come from the United States.

Manitoba

Manitoba has over 250,000 people who hold hunting and fishing licenses. Approximately, 81% of the licenses are issued to residents and 7% are issued to non-resident Canadians. The majority of non-resident licenses are issued to hunting and fishing tourists from Saskatchewan, Alberta, and Ontario. 12% of the license holders are from the United States, in particular from Wisconsin and Minnesota. 10% of the license holders do both fishing and hunting, 66% fish only and 24% hunt only. 

Saskatchewan

In Saskatchewan, hunting and fishing form a significant part of the province’s tourism economy. Around 15% of Canadian visitors and 10% of American visitors to the province engage in fishing activities, while 2% of Canadian visitors and 6% of American visitors engage in hunting activities. 

Gender And Age Profiles

According to a survey from 2015, 79% of all resident anglers (people who fish in their home province or territory) in Canada are male. Among Canadian non-resident anglers, the portion of males is 81%, while anglers who are visitors to Canada are 76% male. There are no recent gender details for hunters in Canada. However, it is likely that men represent at least a similar portion of hunters if not more. 

The average age of active anglers in Canada was 49 among male anglers and 45 among female anglers in 2015. This was slightly younger than in 2010 when the average age for male anglers was 51 years and for female anglers 47 years. 

Fishing tourists from outside Canada had slightly older average ages at 52 for males and 53 for females. There are no age demographics available for hunters. However, statistics from Ontario show that a third of hunters are over 55 years of age. 

Sustainable Fishing and Hunting in Canada

To ensure that species are protected from overfishing and overhunting, Canada has laws and regulations to protect wildlife populations. For instance these laws state that hunters can harvest surplus wildlife and any wildlife should only be killed for a legitimate reason. 

Before anyone goes hunting or fishing in Canada, they should check the provincial/territorial laws regarding these activities to ensure compliance with the law. For example, you might only be allowed to hunt game if you are accompanied with an official guide outfitter. 

Conclusion 

Hunting and fishing are often considered part of the Canadian lifestyle, especially in the more remote parts of the country. However, these activities can also be big business and attract tourists who enjoy hunting and fishing. 

While Canada attracts hunting and fishing tourists, the Canadian Tourism Commission assessment reveals that there is scope for attracting more of this type of tourism. However, it needs to be done sustainably to ensure no species is overhunted or overfished. Anyone wanting to fish or hunt as a tourist should check the laws and regulations that apply in the province/territory they wish to fish or hunt in. 

Frequently Asked Questions

According to a survey from 2021, around 3% of Canadian households hunt close to home. In addition, around one million people who are in Canada as tourists engage in hunting activities.

In a survey from 2021, around 9% of Canadian households reported going fishing close to home. Another survey from 2015 found that over 3.2 million adults took part in recreational fishing activities.

It is estimated that around 3 million tourists to Canada participate in fishing activities while around one million take part in hunting activities.

The cost depends on what you want to hunt, where, and how long the hunting trip is. For example, hunting for a black bear with a guide for one person costs just under $7,000 for five hunting days in British Columbia, while hunting for a trophy moose with a guide for one person costs almost $15,000 for seven hunting days.