Can You Hunt Bear and Moose in the Same Ontario Season?

Short answer: yes, potentially — Ontario's fall bear season (mid-August/September through October/November) can overlap with moose season timing depending on your WMU, and since your bear licence covers both spring and fall, many hunters do pursue both species in the same year, provided they've secured a moose tag through the points-based draw.

This comes up from hunters trying to plan an efficient season without unnecessary trips, and the good news is that with the right licensing and some calendar planning, combining these two hunts in the same fall is genuinely realistic for many WMUs.

Why the Timing Can Work Together

Fall bear season typically opens in mid-August or September and runs into October or November depending on the WMU, which frequently overlaps with moose season windows in the same general region. Because both seasons often run through similar fall months, a single trip or a couple of trips to the same area can realistically cover both species.

The Licensing Prerequisite You Can't Skip

Remember that a bear licence and tag can simply be purchased anytime through the Ontario licensing system, with no draw involved — but a moose tag requires successfully applying through the points-based allocation process months earlier. You can't decide last-minute to also hunt moose; that requires having already gone through the application and claim process.

Checking Your Specific WMU for Overlap

Because both bear and moose seasons vary by WMU, the real answer for your specific hunt depends on checking the exact dates for both species in the unit you're planning to hunt. Some WMUs will have clean overlap; others may have more separation between the two seasons, which affects how practical combining them actually is.

Practical Considerations for a Combined Hunt

If you're hunting both in the same trip, think through your gear needs carefully — you may want both a bear-appropriate caliber setup and moose-appropriate ammunition and shot placement knowledge, plus enough time in the field to properly pursue two different species rather than rushing either hunt.

Rounding Out the Rest of Your Season

Many hunters combining bear and moose in the fall also add Ontario waterfowl season into the same general period, since duck and goose seasons in several districts overlap with this same fall window, making for a genuinely full autumn hunting calendar.

Managing Time Off Work for a Combined Hunt

If you're planning to pursue both bear and moose in overlapping fall windows, book time off well in advance and build in some buffer days — weather, animal movement, and simple bad luck can all extend a hunt longer than planned, and having flexibility built into your schedule reduces pressure to rush an ethical shot.

It's also worth having contingency plans if one season doesn't go as expected — an unsuccessful bear hunt in spring still leaves the fall season open, and a challenging moose hunt still leaves waterfowl and future bear seasons as productive uses of the rest of your year.

Coordinating With Hunting Partners

If you're hunting bear and moose with partners, coordinate licensing and tag status well ahead of time, since party hunting arrangements have their own specific rules about who can be the tag holder and how the harvest is legally attributed among the group.

Ultimately, combining bear and moose successfully in one season comes down to realistic scheduling and proper licensing preparation well in advance — the overlap in timing is a genuine opportunity for Ontario hunters, but only for those who've done the groundwork months earlier.

Quick FAQ

Do I need separate tags for bear and moose even in the same trip?

Yes — each species requires its own specific licence and tag, regardless of whether you're pursuing them on the same trip or in the same general timeframe.

Does hunting both species require different firearms?

Not necessarily — a versatile caliber like .30-06 can reasonably serve both, though some hunters prefer species-specific setups optimized for each animal's typical hunting distance.

Is it harder to draw a moose tag in a WMU with good bear hunting too?

Not directly related — moose tag difficulty depends on moose-specific demand and points required, independent of that WMU's bear hunting quality.