*PLEASE NOTE WE ARE NOT THE OUTDOOR CARD CENTRE, ONLY PROVIDING INFO FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES!**
PLEASE CONTACT THE OUTDOOR CARD CENTRE WITH ANY QUESTIONS: 18002881155
Get an Outdoors Card and licence Summary
Overview
You are required to carry this card with you at all times while hunting or fishing.
If you buy a 1-year or 3-year fishing and/or small game licence at the same time you renew or buy an Outdoors Card, these licences will be printed on the back of the card. All your valid fishing and hunting licences will also be listed on your licence summary.
To hunt and fish in Ontario, you need a valid Outdoors Card and a valid hunting or fishing licence.
An Outdoors Card is a plastic, wallet-sized identification card issued by the ministry that allows you to hunt or fish.
A valid Outdoors Card is required for:
- Ontario residents
- Canadian residents
- non-residents
- apprentice hunters (only Ontario residents 12 to 14 years old are eligible to participate in the Hunter Apprenticeship Safety Program)
Hunters must also have the appropriate hunter accreditation added to their Fish and Wildlife Licensing Service account to:
Buying or renewing an Outdoors Card
An Outdoors Card is valid for three calendar years. The Outdoors Card renewal period starts the first Tuesday of December every year.
You can buy or renew your Outdoors Card:
- online using the Fish and Wildlife Licensing Service
- by phone: 1-800-288-1155
- at a licence issuer
- at a participating ServiceOntario location
Requirements
To buy, renew or replace an Outdoors Card, you need to provide your:
- legal first, middle and last name
- date of birth
- mailing and/or residential address
- height and eye colour
- parental consent (for resident hunters 12 to 15 years old)
Cost
The cost to buy, renew or replace your lost, stolen or damaged Outdoors Card is $8.57 +HST.
You can pay by VISA, VISA debit, MasterCard or Debit Mastercard. We do not accept American Express.
Delivery and shipping
Your card will be sent to you by mail.
It may take up to 20 days to receive your Outdoors Card.
While you are waiting for your Outdoors Card to arrive, you can carry your licence summary, given to you when you purchased your card, as temporary proof of purchase. This means you can go fishing or hunting immediately before your card arrives. You can carry your licence summary in paper or digital format, such as on a smartphone.
Licence summary
A licence summary is provided to you each time you purchase a hunting and/or fishing licence.
You must carry your licence summary when you hunt or fish unless your licence is listed on the back of your Outdoors Card (such as a small game or fishing licences).
You can carry your most up-to-date licence summary in a paper or digital format (such as on a smartphone).
Fishing licenses
Visit our fishing page to learn about:
- how to get a fishing licence
- fishing rules and limits
- fishing seasons
Fees for fishing licenses
- one year
- three year
If you buy a 1-year or 3-year small game licence at the same time you renew or buy an Outdoors Card, it will be printed on the back of the card. If your small game licence is not listed on the back of your Outdoors Card, you must carry your licence summary with you when you are small game hunting.
In some cases, a tag for the small game species you wish to hunt is required (such as wild turkey or wolf/coyote in certain areas).
For more information, visit:
- hunting licences for Ontario residents
- hunting licences for non-residents
- Ontario Hunting Regulations Summary
Collecting personal information (Outdoors Card)
Personal information is collected under the authority of the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act, 1997, S.O. 1997 and will be used for the purposes of identification, enforcement, research, communications and administration.
While some of the personal information may be stored outside Canada and is subject to the laws of the jurisdiction where it is stored, private companies under contract to provide the licencing services are contractually obligated to comply with Ontario’s Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act with regard to personal information in their custody.
For information about our collection practices, contact:
Manager, Licensing and Client Services Section
Fish and Wildlife Services Branch
Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry
300 Water Street
Peterborough, Ontario
K9J 3C7
1-800-387-7011
Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry
Protecting Ontario’s biodiversity while promoting economic opportunities in the resource sector and supporting outdoor recreation opportunities.
Before you start
If you are 18 years and older
You will need a valid licence before you can start fishing. This licence includes two parts:
- an Outdoors Card (a plastic ID card, valid for three calendar years)
- a fishing licence (valid for either one or three calendar years)
A fishing licence can be for either:
- conservation (reduced catch limits)
- sport (normal catch limits)
Learn more about getting an Outdoors Card.
If you are under 18 years old
If you are accompanied by a person with a valid Outdoors Card and fishing licence, you do not need a valid Outdoors Card or fishing licence. You must carry government-issued identification with you — that includes your name and date of birth — at all times while fishing.
Any fish you keep are part of the catch and possession limit of the person holding the licence. To gain your own limits, you will need your own Outdoors Card and licence.
Fishing for one day only, if you are 18 years or older:
If you plan to fish for a single day only, you do not need an Outdoors Card—but you will need a one-day sport fishing licence.
Fishing for eight days, if you are 18 years or older:
You can buy an eight-day fishing licence online. This can be saved in a digital format (for example, on your smartphone), printed from home, or printed through a participating ServiceOntario or licence issuer location.
Where to purchase
You must buy an Outdoors Card before you can buy a fishing licence. However, you can buy a one-day sport fishing licence without an Outdoors Card.
When you buy or renew your Outdoors Card, you will get a plastic card mailed to you. The Outdoors Card will have your fishing licence printed on the back.
Until you receive your plastic card in the mail, you can use the Licence Summary given to you at the time of purchase to immediately go fishing.
What you’ll need
- first and last name
- date of birth
- mailing and residential address (including postal code)
- height and eye colour
To buy online, you will need to:
- pay with Visa or Mastercard
- save your Licence Summary in a digital format (for example, on your smartphone) or print it at home
To buy in person:
- visit a participating ServiceOntario location
- visit a licence issuer
