Exporting Wildlife from the NWT
It is an offence to remove any wildlife or wildlife parts, other than a manufactured product, from the NWT unless you have a Wildlife Export Permit. This includes legally harvested game, a gift of meat from a hunter, legally purchased meat, untanned furs and raw hides, ducks or geese, antlers, skulls, teeth, bones or any other parts of an animal. The wildlife parts must be presented for inspection when the export permit is being obtained. The Wildlife Export Permit is required before any items can leave the NWT . Permits will not be issued after the items have been exported.
There is no fee for an export permit. However, nonresident and non-resident alien hunters are required to pay a trophy fee when exporting big game they have harvested.
Certification is required before exporting harvested or found Dall’s sheep horns and harvested or found wood bison horns from the NWT. Other species that may require certification are birds of prey, grizzly bear, polar bear and muskox.
The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Fauna and Flora (CITES) was established to control the import and export of species considered to be rare or endangered. A CITES permit is required for all parts of the following big game species leaving Canada: grizzly bears; black bears; polar bears; wood bison; and, wolf. You must have a CITES permit for these harvested animals before you leave Canada. Many countries have restrictions on the importation of certain species of wildlife. To avoid confiscation of items, check the regulations with a wildlife or customs agency of the country where you plan to import the items.
There are exemptions allowing an individual to export or import some tourist souvenirs items acquired during the trip, if the item is part of the individual’s clothing, accessories or personal accompanied baggage. The item must not be used for commercial purposes and cannot be sold or disposed of within 90 days after the date of import or export.
CITES permits are available from any regional ENR office. It can take up to six weeks to obtain a CITES permit, so apply for it well in advance.
As CITES permits regulate the export of wildlife from Canada rather than the NWT, you may also need a Wildlife Export Permit.
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