New Brunswick
Hunting and fishing guides and outfitters in New Brunswick
New Brunswick is a forested, river-rich province on the Atlantic coast, famous among fly anglers for its Atlantic salmon rivers. Its woods also offer some of the most accessible black bear and deer hunting in Eastern Canada.
What hunting and fishing look like in New Brunswick
Most of the province is mixed forest, cut by rivers and dotted with lakes, with farmland along the river valleys and the coast. Few places are very far from a road, which makes trips simpler to plan than in the far north.
The Miramichi and Restigouche river systems are known worldwide for Atlantic salmon fly fishing, often from a riverside lodge or camp with a guide who knows each pool. Brook trout live in rivers and lakes across the province, and smallmouth bass offer summer fishing in many lakes and rivers.
For hunters, black bear over bait and white-tailed deer are the main guided hunts. Grouse and woodcock fill the fall coverts, and ducks and geese use the marshes and coast. Moose hunting is limited and mostly reserved for residents through a draw.
How outfitters and guides work in New Brunswick
New Brunswick licenses its guides and outfitters. Many outfitters run a lodge or a set of camps and offer bear, deer or bird hunts in the fall and salmon or trout fishing in the summer.
Non-residents generally must be accompanied by a licensed guide to hunt big game, and non-residents fishing for Atlantic salmon generally must fish with a licensed guide. The exact rules differ for Canadians and foreign residents and can change, so check the current rules and ask the outfitter.
Access: mostly by road
Almost all guided trips in New Brunswick start by road, often with a short drive on forest roads to camp. Salmon fishing is done by wading or from a canoe on the river, and some lodges own or lease stretches of water.
Because distances are short, it is easy to combine a trip with a visit to Québec, Nova Scotia or Maine.
What to check before booking
New Brunswick sells its own hunting and fishing licences. Atlantic salmon has its own rules, including catch-and-release and fly-fishing-only conditions on many waters.
- Read the province's current hunting and fishing regulations for the area you will visit
- Confirm the guide or outfitter is licensed in New Brunswick
- For salmon, ask which pools you can fish and whether the water is private or public
- For a bear hunt, ask how many hunters share the bait sites
Finding a New Brunswick guide with GuideHunter
In GuideHunter, zoom the map on New Brunswick and filter by hunting or fishing, then choose a species such as Atlantic salmon, black bear or white-tailed deer. Each pin shows a guide's offers: what is included, the region and a price per person from, or on request. The guide's phone, email and website appear after a short optional video ad.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a guide to fish for Atlantic salmon in New Brunswick?
Non-residents fishing for Atlantic salmon in New Brunswick generally must fish with a licensed guide. Rules differ for residents, other Canadians and foreign visitors, so check the province's current fishing regulations and ask the guide or lodge.
Can non-residents hunt black bear in New Brunswick?
Yes. Black bear is one of the most popular guided hunts in the province, and non-residents generally must hunt big game with a licensed guide. Check the current hunting regulations and confirm the details with the outfitter.
Can I hunt moose in New Brunswick as a visitor?
Moose hunting in New Brunswick is limited and mostly allotted to residents through a draw. Visitors usually come for black bear, white-tailed deer or birds instead. Check the current regulations for any change.