Environment and Climate Change

A valid Manitoba Fishing Licence is required to fish in provincial parks.  Be sure to read the annual Angler’s Guide for regulations.  Licenses can be purchased online at manitobaelicensing.ca.

Aquatic Invasive Species such as zebra mussels can have detrimental effects on our waterways.  Specific regulations regarding watercraft are in place.  If you plan on enjoying the many lakes and rivers in provincial parks, please learn how you can stop the spread of aquatic invasive species here manitoba.ca/stopais.

Recycle your used fishing line!  Manitoba Parks has partnered with Clear Your Gear, a fishing line recycling program.  Improperly discarded fishing line can last in the environment
for up to 600 years and is the leading cause of entanglement issues for people, property & wildlife.  Discard your used fishing line in Clear Your Gear receptacles at boat launches and popular shore fishing areas across the province. Visit clearyourgear.ca for more information on this program.

Ice Fishing Shelters may be used on waters within provincial parks subject to the following restrictions:

• Shelters must not have outside dimensions of more than 10 square meters.  The name and address of the person erecting the structure must be clearly marked on the outside of the shelter in block letters at least 5 cm (2 inches).
• Shelters must not be located for more than a 24-hour period within 50 metres of the shoreline in front of a designated vacation home lot, commercial lot or private land lot, as designated or defined by the extension of the side property lot lines. Ice fishing shelters must not be located on or within 50 metres of designated snowmobile trails. Ice fishing shelters are not permitted in park areas designated as Wilderness Land Use Category.
• Shelters must not be supplied with and cannot be used for overnight sleeping accommodation.
• Open liquor is prohibited in ice fishing shelters and regulations are enforced by Conservation Officers.
• Human waste shall not be disposed of on the ice. Privies are not permitted. Portable containers that are "packed-out" each day are recommended.
• All garbage shall be removed from the shelter on a daily basis and disposed of appropriately.
• Fuel may be stored in ice-fishing shelters in portable containers of metal or plastic conforming to CSA-B376 and not exceeding 30 litres capacity. All spills must be recovered and the recovered material (with snow and ice) must be transported in a spill-proof container for proper disposal at a Licensed Hazardous Waste Disposal Facility.
• Unless informed by a Conservation Officer that shelters must be removed earlier because ice break-up appears imminent, shelters must be removed from ice-covered waters by March 31st in the Southern Fisheries Division and by April 15th in the balance of the province.  Shelters that have been removed from ice-covered waters may not be left on Crown lands, including Provincial Park lands.

Hunting occurs in many provincial parks, and trail users should be aware that hunters may be encountered in the park they are visiting.  Stay on designated trails and always keep dogs on leash. Wearing high visibility clothing is recommended in the fall.

Hunting in parks is subject to specific regulations, as these are multiple-use areas where a variety of outdoor recreation occurs – hunters should exercise caution and be aware that other park visitors may be present. Persons may not hunt, possess a loaded firearm, or discharge a firearm within 300 metres of designated trails, roads and developed areas including campgrounds, picnic areas, cottages, transfer stations, and other recreation areas.

The use of off-road vehicles in provincial parks is restricted to designated routes or for the retrieval of game only.

For your convenience, selected provincial park campgrounds remain open into the fall. Services may be reduced and the fees (if applicable) are based on the level of service provided. For more information, visit our Camping page or contact the Parks Reservation Service.

Whiteshell Provincial Park has areas where no hunting of certain species is allowed. For more information, including a map, contact one of the park district offices in Whiteshell Provincial Park.

Please contact the local park district office for information on the regulations and areas in the park you wish to hunt, and be sure to review the annual Hunting Guide for regulations.  Licenses can be purchased online at manitobaelicensing.ca.

Trapping occurs in many provincial parks, and trail users should be aware that trapping might be occurring in the park they are visiting.  Stay on designated trails and always keep dogs on leash.

Trappers in Manitoba have a long, proud history of being stewards of our province’s wildlife resources.  They contribute to the cultural and economic well-being of all communities. Fur bearing animals have provided clothing and food for Indigenous people for thousands of years, and now are also an important source of seasonal income for communities all over the province. Manitoba trappers play an essential role in the shared management of fur bearing animals.  In Manitoba, trapping is strictly regulated and provincial wildlife biologists and conservation officers ensure that trapping is conducted in a sustainable and humane fashion.

Review the annual Trapper’s Guide and visit the local park district office for details on trapping in provincial parks. 

• NOTICE TO TRAPPERS: Interim restrictions on licenced trapping activity in provincial parks continue to be in place.  Report on public comments on the proposed changes to trapping policy in Manitoba's provincial parks and other Crown lands with recreational developments.

Whiteshell Trappers Museum
Learn more about trapping at the Whiteshell Trapper’s Museum, located on the grounds of the Alfred Hole Goose Sanctuary in Whiteshell Provincial Park (open weekends May through October).

Built and run by local trappers, the museum is modeled after a typical trappers' cabin, but is a little larger to accommodate company. Drop by and visit with an honest to goodness trapper. He or she can answer your questions about the history of trapping and the fur-bearing animals of Manitoba.  You will also learn about modern trapping techniques and the important role trappers’ play in wildlife management. Immerse yourself in the trapping lifestyle as you visit the displays and hear stories from the trapline.