• Rabbits are one type of small game that hunters can pursue in Canada.urban rabbit image by jesse welter from Fotolia.com
  
  As in the United States where hunting regulations vary from state to state, Canadian hunting regulations vary from province to province. In general though, small game hunting is legal in Canada provided that hunters obey the appropriate hunting seasons. For some small game species, daily bag limits also apply. Anyone wishing to sell or buy fur that comes from small game animals should also be aware that provincial laws will affect those transactions. In addition to these regulations, hunters also need to make sure that they acquire the appropriate hunting licenses and tags (when applicable).
  
  

Bag Limits

• Bag limits exist to prevent people from over-hunting one particular species in any given area. In Canada, it's typical for the provinces to divide their territory into separate wildlife management units. This policy makes sense given that most Canadian provinces cover large areas of land with different climates and animal populations. For example, the province of British Columbia is divided into eight separate management zones. In region 1 which covers Vancouver Island, a bag limit of 10 is placed on raccoons; in region 2 which surrounds the city of Vancouver on the mainland and covers much of southern coastal British Columbia, no bag limit is in place on raccoons.
  
  

Seasons

• As with bag limits, hunting seasons will also vary from province to province. For some species in particular areas, no hunting season may exist; an example of this year-round open season is skunk and possum hunting on Vancouver Island in British Columbia. For most small game species though, hunting seasons are imposed by the different provinces. For example, in Ontario rabbit and hare hunting is always closed during the summer (between June 15 and September 1) in all the wildlife management regions. In approximately half of the 95 wildlife management areas in Ontario, the rabbit and hare hunting season is even more restricted, lasting only for the month of January in the most restrictive wildlife management area.
  
  

Royalties and Sale Restrictions

• Depending on the province, hunters may have to pay royalties if they plan to sell the pelts of animals they have killed. In British Columbia, hunters must pay the royalty 30 days after the hunt ends. Hunters in British Columbia who don't plan to sell, or who sell their pelts to a licensed fur seller are exempt from this rule. In Quebec, hunters may sell pelts without having to pay royalties, but these sales are only legal three days after a season opens until 15 days after that season closes.