The Wildlife Resources Card

How to Apply | Information Required | Replacement Cards | Changing Info | Customer Service | FAQ


If your card expiry date is between December 31, 2010 and December 31, 2012, you are not required to renew your card until at least December 2012.
Click here for Wildlife Resources Card: Renewal Notice

The Wildlife Resources Card (WRC) is a wallet-sized identification card issued to eligible persons who wish to engage in various activities licensed or authorized under the Wildlife Act and Regulations.  The WRC, implemented and introduced on June 1, 2005, replaces the Nova Scotia Firearm Hunting Certificate, Bow Hunting Certificate and the Fur Harvester Certificate.

The face of every Wildlife Resources Card contains:

  1. Client’s name, eye colour, height, gender, and date of birth
  2. Certification codes identifying which licences the client is eligible to hold/purchase
  3. A 9-digit unique Identification Number

A Wildlife Resources Card, with appropriate certification code(s), is required by:
  All Nova Scotia residents in order to:
    a) Purchase any resident licence (regular or senior) issued under the Wildlife Act and Regulations;
    b) Purchase any commercial licence (Furbuyer, Hide Buyer, Taxidermist, Nuisance Wildlife Operator, Pheasant Preserve Operator, Guide) ;
    c) Purchase a Nova Scotia Wildlife Habitat Stamp (base licence) for the purpose of snaring snowshoe hare or for taking other harvestable wildlife without the use of a firearm, crossbow, bow or trap;
    d) Purchase a falconry permit;
    e) Enter any DNR wildlife harvesting related draw- includes the annual Moose Hunting Draw, Antlerless Deer Hunting Draw and the Belleisle Marsh Waterfowl Hunting Blind Draw.
  All Non-Residents in order to:
    a) Purchase any commercial licence
    b) Purchase a falconry permit



How to Apply for a Wildlife Resources Card

Residents and Non-Residents can obtain a WRC by:

  1. Successfully completing one of the Nova Scotia Hunter Education courses or tests
    • a WRC will automatically be issued, via mail, upon completion of the course
  2. Calling 1-900-565-7418
    • a fee of $7.14 (plus HST) will be automatically charged to the phone number used to make the call
    • phone line restricted to land-line phones only (no cell phones)
    • phone line is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week
    • if you experience difficulties, contact your phone service provider to determine if you have a 1-900 block on your phone



Information Required when Applying for a Wildlife Resources Card

  • Master Number from your old NS Firearm Hunting Certificate (if applicable)
  • Trapper/Fur Harvester number (Tcode)- if applicable
  • Full Name
  • Date of Birth
  • Height
  • Eye Colour
  • Mailing Address (including postal code)
  • Civic Address (including postal code)
  • Telephone Number
  • Email address- if applicable
  • Hunters moving into Nova Scotia must additionally provide proof of having successfully completed a NS DNR recognized Hunter/Trapper/Bow/Crossbow Education Course (in NS or another province, state or country).  Forward proof to the Hunter Education Coordinator via: email CLATTEJI@gov.ns.ca; Fax: 902-424-8116; or mail at Dept. of Natural Resources, P.O. Box 698, Halifax, N.S. B3J 2T9



How to Replace Lost/Destroyed Wildlife Resources Cards

Call 1-900-565-7418 to request replacement of a lost, stolen or destroyed WRC.  A fee at current rates, plus HST, will automatically be charged to the phone number used to make the call.  Validation period will start from date of card replacement.




Changing the Name or Contact Information on your Wildlife Resources Card

  1. Changing your Contact Information
    It’s important to advise the Department of Natural Resources of any change to your contact information.  Without current contact information (address, phone number, email address), you will experience difficulties using the Department’s online applications (registering for courses, applying to annual moose and antlerless deer draws, completing online harvest report forms) and may not receive updates on current licencing issues.  To change your contact information:
    1. Call the toll-free Customer Service Line at; 1-888-896-1207 or;
    2. Contact your local DNR Office
  2. Changing Your Name
    Clients who require a new WRC as a result of a name change (marriage, divorce, etc) are required to complete two steps (in either order):
    1. Call 1-900-565-7418.A fee at current rates, plus HST, will be automatically charged to the phone number used to make the call and;
    2. Present picture identification, as defined below, to your local DNR office
      • Present picture identification, as defined below, to your local DNR office or scan proof to clatteji@gov.ns.ca or fax to 902-424-7735
      • Federal or Provincial picture identification showing new name (driver’s licence, Firearms Possession and Acquisition Licence, passport) or;
      • Federal or Provincial picture identification showing previous name and documentation of legal name change



Customer Service Issues

Call the toll free Customer Service Line (1-888-896-1207) to:

  1. Inquire about the status of your WRC application
  2. To advise of an error in the information displayed on your WRC (spelling mistake, wrong eye colour, etc)
  3. To advise of an omission on your WRC

All additional inquiries related to the Wildlife Resources System should be directed to the System Administrators; Jennifer Madden or Mike O’Brien, DNR- Wildlife Division via email at DNR-WRCADMIN@gov.ns.ca.




Frequently Asked Questions

Q. Why is the Department asking for a client’s phone number and e-mail address?
A. DNR would like to interact with its clients more frequently. Having a current phone number and email on file allows the Department to contact you for input on a wildlife harvesting or licence-based matter or advise of pending changes.  This information is also required for clients to create a PIN in order to access the Department’s online harvest reports and to register online for courses.

Q. Why is an applicant for the Wildlife Resources Card asked for their eye colour, height and weight?
A. Because the Wildlife Resources Card is not photo identification, this information appears on the face of the card and serves as a check to ensure the person holding the card is actually the person to whom it was issued.

Q. Are Non Residents required to have a Wildlife Resources Card?
A. This is a two part answer.  Refer to the “How to Apply” section above for more information:

  1. Yes. Non-residents are required to have a Non-Resident Wildlife Resources Card in order to purchase a Nova Scotia falconry permit or commercial licence (Furbuyer, Hide Buyer, Taxidermist, Nuisance Wildlife Operator, Pheasant Preserve Operator, Guide);
  2. No. Non-residents who wish to purchase Nova Scotia non-resident wildlife harvesting licences are not required to have a Non-Resident Wildlife Resources Card (WRC) but may possess one.  It is anticipated that this will become a requirement within the next two to three years.  The Non-Resident WRC, with appropriate certification code(s), is identical to the resident WRC except that the words “Non-Resident” are clearly written on face of card.  The Non-Resident WRC provides all the information required to allow the purchase of non-resident harvesting licences.

In order for a non-resident to obtain a Non-Resident WRC, they are required to provide proof of having successfully completed a NS DNR recognized Hunter/Trapper/Bow/Crossbow Education Course (in Nova Scotia or another province, state or country) or proof satisfactory to the Department that s/he is entitled to hunt with a firearm, bow, or crossbow in another jurisdiction before being issued a non-resident WRC.  Forward proof to the Hunter Education Coordinator via: email CLATTEJI@gov.ns.ca; Fax: 902-424-8116; or mail at Dept. of Natural Resources, P.O. Box 698, Halifax, N.S. B3J 2T9

Q. Upon successful completion of a NS Hunter Education Course, are candidates provided a temporary card?
A. Yes. Candidates will be provided with a temporary card that can be used to purchase wildlife-related licences and apply for the annual moose hunting and antlerless deer draws until such time that they receive their permanent Wildlife Resources Card.

Q. What if there is an error on my new card when I receive it?
A. Contact the toll-free customer service line via phone at 1-888-896-1207.

Q. Is the the old NS Firearms Hunting Certificate (orange card) still accepted in Nova Scotia?
A. No, since the Fall of 2006, the Wildlife Resources Card is the only card accepted to engage in wildlife harvesting activities in Nova Scotia. Anyone that still has the old NS Firearms Hunting Certificate (orange card) needs to call  1-900-565-7418 to get their Wildlife Resources Card. See above for fees and required information.