Quebec Bow and Crossbow Practice Exam

Quebec Bow and Crossbow Practice Exam: all 60 questions

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1. 1. Lesson 5 keeps coming back to one number for bows and crossbows: an effective range of roughly 30 metres. What does the course say sets that limit?

   1. AArrows start to wobble past 30 metres, once the fletching can no longer hold them on a straight line
   2. BQuébec's regulations forbid any archery shot at big game beyond 30 metres
   3. CAll its energy comes from a string pushed by the limbs, far less than a cartridge delivers
   4. DBroadhead blades dull in flight, and past 30 metres they no longer cut cleanly
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   CAll its energy comes from a string pushed by the limbs, far less than a cartridge delivers

   Everything an arrow carries comes from the short stretch of string travel between full draw and rest. That's a small energy budget next to a cartridge, and it's why the course calls this close-range hunting. No regulation sets the distance, by the way. Thirty metres is the course's advice for a lethal shot, and your own practice may tell you your limit is shorter.

2. 2. A friend who has only ever hunted with a rifle asks what actually brings a deer down when it's hit by an arrow. What does the course tell him?

   1. AA shock wave from the impact that shatters bone and bruises the organs around the wound
   2. BBleeding, because razor-sharp blades slice through blood vessels as the arrow passes
   3. CThe weight of the arrow knocking the animal off its feet so it can't get up again
   4. DShock to the nervous system when the fletching strikes the hide on the way in
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   BBleeding, because razor-sharp blades slice through blood vessels as the arrow passes

   Your friend is thinking in rifle terms. A bullet sends a shock wave through bone, vessels and organs when it hits. An arrow doesn't work that way. It kills by cutting, and the animal dies from the bleeding those blades cause. That's why the course keeps insisting your broadheads be razor sharp, and why you give a hit animal time before you follow it.

3. 3. A buck stands so that the only clear line to its vitals runs straight into the heavy shoulder bone. Why does Lesson 5 say an arrow is the wrong tool for that shot?

   1. AThe shoulder is excluded as a legal target during the bow season
   2. BThe arrow would pass through too easily and leave no blood trail to follow
   3. CHitting bone ruins far more meat with an arrow than it would with a bullet
   4. DAn arrow can't be relied on to get through that bone to the vitals
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   DAn arrow can't be relied on to get through that bone to the vitals

   This is one of the plain limits of archery gear. A rifle bullet can break through bone on its way in. An arrow usually can't, so a hit on the shoulder blade tends to stop short of the vitals and leave you with a wounded animal. Wait for the deer to turn so the path to the heart and lungs runs just behind the shoulder rather than through it.

4. 4. You guess a doe at 20 metres when she's really standing at 28. Why does that mistake cost you more with a bow than it would with a rifle?

   1. AAn arrow's path is short and strongly curved, so range errors add up fast
   2. BBroadhead blades open early at longer range and pull the arrow off its line
   3. CA bow sight only works at the exact distance it was set for and fails beyond it
   4. DIt doesn't, since arrow and bullet trajectories are nearly identical inside 30 metres of the muzzle
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   AAn arrow's path is short and strongly curved, so range errors add up fast

   A bullet travels a long, fairly flat path, so a few metres either way barely moves the point of impact. An arrow arcs. Get the distance wrong and it sails over or under the heart and lungs. That's why the course calls a rangefinder essential and wants you practising distance judgment as seriously as you practise the shot itself.

5. 5. Your uncle shoots a recurve, and you're leaning toward a compound set at the same draw weight. Which of these is NOT something Lesson 5 credits the compound with?

   1. AIt sends the arrow out faster than the recurve does
   2. BIts path is perfectly flat, so you can leave the rangefinder home
   3. CIts arrow follows a flatter trajectory than the recurve's
   4. DHolding it at full draw takes noticeably less effort from you
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   BIts path is perfectly flat, so you can leave the rangefinder home

   The cams and pulleys earn the compound three real advantages here: more speed, a flatter path and an easier hold at full draw, which matters when an animal takes its time stepping clear. Flatter isn't flat, though. The arrow still arcs, and you still need to know the distance. No bow lets you leave the rangefinder at home.

6. 6. At the archery shop, the clerk measures your draw length before anything else. What does Lesson 5 say that number goes on to decide?

   1. AThe minimum draw weight the law sets for you personally
   2. BWhether you should shoot a right-handed or a left-handed bow
   3. CThe length of arrow you can shoot safely
   4. DHow far away you're allowed to take a shot at big game
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   CThe length of arrow you can shoot safely

   Draw length is personal. It depends on the length of your arms and runs from the string's optimal draw point to the arrow rest. Your arrows have to suit that draw, which is also why a bow's arrow is longer than a crossbow bolt. An arrow that's wrong for your draw is a safety problem, not only an accuracy one. Handedness is a separate question, and it comes from your dominant eye.

7. 7. Why does a crossbow need roughly three times a bow's draw weight to send out an arrow with the same energy?

   1. AThe stock and rail soak up most of the energy the limbs produce before the bolt leaves
   2. BCrossbow bolts are much heavier than bow arrows and need more push
   3. CThe safety catch drains power from every shot
   4. DIts draw length is short, and a shorter draw needs more weight for the same energy
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   DIts draw length is short, and a shorter draw needs more weight for the same energy

   Energy comes from how hard the string is pulled and how far it travels. A crossbow's draw length is fixed and short, measured from the sear to where the string rests, so it has to make up the difference in weight. That's also why the legal minimum for big game is so much higher for a crossbow than for a bow. Heavy limbs are the price of a short stroke.

8. 8. You're sorting a mixed bag of arrows and bolts on the workbench. Which nock tells you a shaft was made for a crossbow?

   1. AA flat or half-moon nock
   2. BA U-shaped nock that clips onto the string
   3. CA lighted nock
   4. DAny nock at all, since bows and crossbows share the same design
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   AA flat or half-moon nock

   Bow arrows carry a U-shaped nock that clips onto the string. Crossbow bolts take a flat or half-moon nock so the string can drive them squarely down the rail. A lighted nock can go on either one, and it's there so you can follow the flight and find the arrow afterwards. Put the wrong nock on the wrong weapon and the string won't propel the shaft properly.

9. 9. All summer you've practised with field points that weigh exactly what your broadheads weigh. What does Lesson 5 say you still need to do before opening day?

   1. ANothing more, because matching the weight guarantees the same point of impact
   2. BShoot the broadheads you'll hunt with, since they won't land exactly where the points did
   3. CSwitch to heavier broadheads so the arrow drops less at 30 metres
   4. DFile the practice points to a sharp edge so they fly the way your broadheads will
   Show the answer

   BShoot the broadheads you'll hunt with, since they won't land exactly where the points did

   Same weight doesn't mean same flight. Blades can change how an arrow behaves in the air, and it may land a little away from where your field points grouped. The course asks you to shoot your hunting heads and find their true point of impact. Keep a few old broadheads for this and shoot them into a foam cube, so the ones you carry in the fall stay razor sharp.

10. 10. You're heading into the cedars after snowshoe hare with your bow. Which head does Lesson 5 match to hare?

    1. AA fixed-blade broadhead with a 22 mm cutting diameter
    2. BA clover point
    3. CA stunner
    4. DAn expandable broadhead
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    CA stunner

    The course lists three small game points and gives each one a job: the judo point for small game in general, the stunner for hare and the clover for birds. None of them uses blades, and hare carries no minimum cutting diameter. Save your big game broadheads for big game.

11. 11. You're choosing broadheads for a spring wild turkey hunt. Which type does Lesson 5 strongly recommend?

    1. AExpandable blades, because they fly more like the field points you practised with
    2. BJudo points, because the course treats turkey as small game
    3. CAny head you like, since turkey has no equipment rules at all
    4. DFixed blades, as the course advises for big game and waterfowl too
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    DFixed blades, as the course advises for big game and waterfowl too

    Big game heads come in three styles: fixed, fixed interchangeable and expandable interchangeable. For big game, turkey and waterfowl the course comes down firmly on fixed blades. Whatever you pick for a turkey, its cutting diameter has to reach at least 22 mm. Don't lump turkey in with small game here; the rules treat it separately.

12. 12. You cover a distant fence post with your thumb, both eyes open, then close your left eye. The post stays hidden behind your thumb. What have you just found out?

    1. AYour right eye is dominant, which points you toward a right-handed bow
    2. BYour left eye is dominant, which points you toward a left-handed bow
    3. CYou have no dominant eye, so either kind of bow will suit you
    4. DYour draw length is longer than average for someone of your height
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    AYour right eye is dominant, which points you toward a right-handed bow

    The eye that still sees the post lined up behind your thumb is the one doing the aiming, and here that's your right. Lesson 5 puts this test first when you're choosing a bow, because a bow set up for the wrong side fights your own eyes on every shot. Try it the other way too: close the right eye, and if the post stays covered, the left eye leads.

13. 13. What's the point of the small peep sight tied into your bowstring, and the kisser button that often goes with it?

    1. AThey quiet the string when you release, so the animal doesn't react
    2. BThey put your eye and anchor in the same place every shot
    3. CThey stop you from drawing the bow past the limit its maker set for it
    4. DThey mark where to centre the string on a crossbow's flight deck
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    BThey put your eye and anchor in the same place every shot

    Both are about doing it the same way every time. Look through the peep and your eye lines up with the sight identically on each draw; touch the kisser to your lips and your anchor sits where it did for the last hundred practice arrows. The course lists them as accuracy aids. Silencers handle string noise, and centring marks belong to the crossbow.

14. 14. Which kind of sight does Lesson 5 pair with a crossbow?

    1. AA pin sight mounted on the riser, like the one on a compound bow
    2. BA peep sight in the string, lined up with a kisser button
    3. CA riflescope or an electronic viewfinder, built to take the jolt
    4. DNo sight at all, since crossbows are meant to be shot instinctively
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    CA riflescope or an electronic viewfinder, built to take the jolt

    A crossbow snaps forward hard when it fires, and whatever sits on top has to survive that. The course names riflescopes and electronic viewfinders as the usual choices. Pins, fibre optics and peep sights belong to the bow. Whichever you use, the sight can't tell you the distance, so the rangefinder still comes along.

15. 15. Legal light is gone and your crossbow is still cocked with nothing on the rail. How does Lesson 5 want you to let it down?

    1. APoint it somewhere safe and pull the trigger with the rail empty, the way you'd test a trigger
    2. BHold the string by hand and ease it forward as you squeeze the trigger
    3. CLeave it cocked overnight with the safety on and shoot it off in the morning
    4. DShoot a practice bolt into a foam cube, or a bolt designed for the ground
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    DShoot a practice bolt into a foam cube, or a bolt designed for the ground

    Never dry fire a crossbow. With no bolt to take the energy, it goes into the limbs, which can break, and possibly into you. Letting it down by hand isn't recommended either, because the string is far too strong to control. The course's answer is to shoot it off: a practice bolt into a foam cube, or a special ground bolt that won't bury itself in loose soil. Some assisted cocking devices can decock it too.

16. 16. Where does Lesson 5 want the fingers of your carrying hand when you shoot a crossbow?

    1. ABelow the flight deck, out of the string's path
    2. BWrapped over the top of the rail to steady the bolt
    3. CResting against a limb, so you can feel it settle before the shot
    4. DPressing the bolt down until the trigger breaks
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    ABelow the flight deck, out of the string's path

    The string sweeps along the top of the rail with enough force to take a thumb off, and the course says so in exactly those terms. Keep that hand low, under the flight deck, every single time. It's easy to forget when a deer finally steps out, so build the habit at the range until your hand goes there on its own.

17. 17. You're still-hunting with an arrow nocked when you come to a wire fence. What does the course tell you to do first?

    1. AKeep the arrow nocked but point the bow at the ground as you climb
    2. BTake the arrow off the string before you cross
    3. CPass the bow over to your partner with the arrow still nocked
    4. DDraw partway so the arrow can't slip off while you climb
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    BTake the arrow off the string before you cross

    Nocking an arrow once you're actively hunting is fine. Crossing a fence, a ditch or any other obstacle is when people slip, and a razor broadhead on the string is the last thing you want under you when that happens. The course keeps it simple: arrow off, cross, then nock again. It's the same thinking you'd apply to a loaded gun.

18. 18. You've just set up with a crossbow in a pop-up ground blind. What extra check does Lesson 5 ask for before you settle in?

    1. AThat the blind's shooting windows face straight into the rising sun
    2. BThat the bolt sits tightly enough to stay put with the safety off
    3. CThat the limbs can swing fully open without hitting anything
    4. DThat the safety is already off, so you're ready the moment something appears
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    CThat the limbs can swing fully open without hitting anything

    A crossbow's limbs snap outward when it fires. If one hits a blind pole, a branch or the stand itself, the impact can hurt you and damage the weapon. Clear the shooting lane in front of you as well. The course asks for both checks, because a bolt that clips a twig in flight is as much trouble as a limb that hits the wall.

19. 19. What does Lesson 5 want from the quiver you carry into the woods?

    1. AAn open top, so you can grab an arrow quickly when an animal appears
    2. BA belt mount that keeps it well away from the bow
    3. CRoom for at least a dozen arrows, in case of misses
    4. DA hard hood lined with foam that covers every broadhead completely
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    DA hard hood lined with foam that covers every broadhead completely

    Two problems, one fix. Bare broadheads cut hunters, and loose arrows click against each other as you walk. A quiver with a hard shell over a foam block that swallows the blades takes care of both. And when you need to change or remove a head, use the tool made for unscrewing it, not your fingers.

20. 20. The course suggests carrying a spare string for a conventional bow or crossbow. Why should it be one you've already used?

    1. AA settled-in string puts your arrows where the old one did
    2. BNew strings aren't allowed for hunting until they've been waxed
    3. CUsed strings are quieter, so you can take the silencers off
    4. DA worn string lowers the draw weight, which makes the bow safer to handle
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    AA settled-in string puts your arrows where the old one did

    A brand new string can still stretch, and your point of impact may wander until it settles. A used one has done its settling, so your shot placement stays where you left it. Keep both strings waxed, along with the cables, and oil or grease a crossbow's flight deck. While you're at it, look over the limbs for any sign of delamination.

21. 21. You cock your crossbow and load a bolt as you settle into your stand. What two things does Lesson 5 remind you of from that moment?

    1. ATake the safety off, and plan to shoot or unload within half an hour
    2. BEngage the safety at once, and don't leave it cocked beyond about four hours
    3. CKeep the bolt off the rail until an animal shows, and cock only once it's in range
    4. DHang it from a branch by the string, and check the string's tension every hour
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    BEngage the safety at once, and don't leave it cocked beyond about four hours

    Loaded means cocked with a bolt on the rail, and the course wants the safety engaged the instant you get there. Leaving the limbs under full tension for long periods isn't good for them either, so the guideline is about four hours in a row. Check your own crossbow's user manual, since makers differ. Treat it the way quebec.ca does, too: handled like a loaded firearm.

22. 22. Lesson 5's safety rules ask you to think about where every arrow finishes its flight, hit or miss. Which kind of shot does the lesson name as one never to take?

    1. AAt game standing in tall grass up to its belly
    2. BAt game feeding with its head down
    3. CAt game standing at the top of an incline
    4. DAt game closer than 10 metres to your stand
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    CAt game standing at the top of an incline

    Picture the arrow that misses, or the one that passes clean through. On a rise there's nothing behind the animal but air, and a razor broadhead can carry a long way toward whatever, or whoever, is on the far side. That's why the course rules the shot out plainly. Wait for the animal to move somewhere the ground behind it will catch the arrow.

23. 23. You're buying a bow for white-tailed deer. What does Québec require of its draw weight?

    1. AA torque of at least 18 kg (40 lb) within a draw of up to 71 cm (28 inches)
    2. BA torque of at least 54 kg (120 lb), the same figure as for a crossbow
    3. CAt least 27 kg (60 lb), with no rule on draw length
    4. DNo minimum at all, as long as the broadhead cuts at least 22 mm across
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    AA torque of at least 18 kg (40 lb) within a draw of up to 71 cm (28 inches)

    For deer, moose and bear, Québec sets the bow's minimum at 18 kg, and that weight has to be reached within 71 cm of draw. Crossbows carry their own, much higher figure. The minimum is a floor, not a target: the course wants a draw weight that suits your own strength, so you can hold and shoot it well.

    Source: Gouvernement du Québec, Hunting arms, ammunition and gear: Bows with a torque of at least 18 kg (40 lb.), within a draw of 0 to 71 cm Checked 2026-09-22.

24. 24. Which crossbow setup meets Québec's equipment rules for moose?

    1. AA 45 kg crossbow with a safety catch, shooting 35 cm bolts
    2. BA 54 kg crossbow with a safety catch and 40 cm bolts, tip included
    3. CA 54 kg crossbow with no safety catch, since the trigger guard does the same job
    4. DAny crossbow at all, provided the broadheads on the bolts cut at least 22 mm across
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    BA 54 kg crossbow with a safety catch and 40 cm bolts, tip included

    Three boxes need ticking for big game: a torque of at least 54 kg, a safety catch, and bolts at least 40 cm long counting the tip. The broadheads still have to meet the 22 mm cutting diameter on top of that. The 45 kg figure you may have seen is the crossbow minimum listed for migratory birds, not for moose.

    Source: Gouvernement du Québec, Hunting arms, ammunition and gear: Crossbows with a torque of at least 54 kg (120 lb.) and equipped with a safety catch. The bolt must be at least 40 cm (16”) long, including the tip. Checked 2026-09-22.

25. 25. Québec allows any bow or crossbow for wild turkey. What rule still applies to the arrow or bolt?

    1. AIt must carry a lighted nock
    2. BIt must use a blunt or judo point, to limit damage to the meat
    3. CIts head must cut at least 22 mm across
    4. DIt must be at least 71 cm long
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    CIts head must cut at least 22 mm across

    The weapon rules for turkey are wide open, but the head isn't. Arrows and bolts need a cutting diameter of at least 22 mm, the same figure that applies to big game. A judo point belongs on a small game outing, and turkey isn't handled as small game in these tables.

    Source: Gouvernement du Québec, Hunting arms, ammunition and gear: Arrows and bolts must have a cutting diameter of at least 22 mm (7/8”) Checked 2026-09-22.

26. 26. You're planning a fall hunt with a crossbow and studying the zone map. Where does Québec prohibit crossbow hunting outright?

    1. AIn every zone while the firearm season is open
    2. BInside any ZEC or wildlife reserve
    3. CEverywhere south of the St. Lawrence River
    4. DIn zones 17, 22, 23 and 24
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    DIn zones 17, 22, 23 and 24

    Four zones are closed to crossbows: 17, 22, 23 and 24. Outside those, quebec.ca says you can keep hunting with a bow or crossbow even while a firearm season is open. Check the zone before you plan the trip, and notice that the rule names the crossbow only.

    Source: Gouvernement du Québec, Hunting arms, ammunition and gear: The use of a crossbow for hunting is prohibited in zones 17, 22, 23 and 24. Checked 2026-09-22.

27. 27. You climb into the truck with your crossbow still cocked, though you've taken the bolt off the rail. Where does that leave you under Québec's rules?

    1. AIn breach of them, because a taut string held in the firing mechanism is enough
    2. BWithin them, because a crossbow only counts as loaded when a bolt sits on the rail
    3. CWithin them, provided the safety catch is engaged
    4. DWithin them during legal hunting hours, though the same crossbow would be a problem after dark
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    AIn breach of them, because a taut string held in the firing mechanism is enough

    People trip on this one because it isn't how loaded works for a gun. For a crossbow in or on a vehicle, what counts is the string: if it's drawn and held in the firing mechanism, it's prohibited, whether a bolt is on the rail or not. Decock before you get in. Walking out at the end of the day, quebec.ca asks the same of you: string not engaged, even with an empty rail.

    Source: Gouvernement du Québec, Hunting: vehicles and boats: Be in possession, at any time, of a crossbow whose string is taut and connected to the firing mechanism (with or without a bolt on the rail) Checked 2026-09-22.

28. 28. Your neighbour passed Québec's firearm hunting course years ago and wants to try a crossbow this fall. What does the province require of him?

    1. ANothing further, since one hunter's certificate covers every weapon
    2. BHe has to complete the separate bow and crossbow course
    3. CHe only has to pass a practical crossbow shooting test
    4. DHe needs the Canadian Firearms Safety Course, since a crossbow counts as a firearm
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    BHe has to complete the separate bow and crossbow course

    Québec trains hunters by weapon. The firearm course and the bow and crossbow course lead to different authorizations, and the firearm course hasn't covered crossbows since 2007. So he'll be taking the bow and crossbow course online, all 12 lessons of it. There's no practical shooting test to book anymore, either.

    Source: Gouvernement du Québec, Courses required to obtain a hunter's certificate: To obtain a hunter’s certificate for crossbows and bows, you must complete this course. Checked 2026-09-22.

29. 29. A friend partway through the bow and crossbow course asks when she'll book her practical shooting test. What does quebec.ca tell her?

    1. AShe books it through the FédéCP once she has passed Lesson 10
    2. BIt's required only if she plans to hunt with a crossbow
    3. CThere isn't one; it was abolished in July 2020
    4. DIt's still required, but only for hunters under 16 years old
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    CThere isn't one; it was abolished in July 2020

    Québec used to require a practical archery test on top of the course. On 7 July 2020 that requirement was abolished, and passing the online course is now what counts. That's no excuse to skip practice. Lesson 5 spends a good share of its pages telling you to shoot regularly and find your limits before you ever draw on an animal.

    Source: Gouvernement du Québec, Courses required to obtain a hunter's certificate: On July 7, 2020, the Practical Bow Test was abolished as a requirement to obtain a hunter’s certificate to hunt with a bow or crossbow (code A). Checked 2026-09-22.

30. 30. It's the early deer season in which only bows and crossbows are permitted. What do Québec's rules say about the fluorescent orange bib?

    1. AYou need it only while you're walking to and from your stand, not once you're sitting
    2. BYou need it as usual, covering at least 2,580 square centimetres
    3. CCrossbow hunters need it, but bow hunters don't
    4. DFor moose, deer or bear in that season, it isn't compulsory
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    DFor moose, deer or bear in that season, it isn't compulsory

    The bib rule comes with a list of exceptions, and this is one of them: in a season where only bows or crossbows are permitted, you don't have to wear it for moose, deer or bear. Nobody around you is carrying a rifle. Once a season opens to firearms, that exception is gone even if you're still carrying a bow, unless you're in one of the sectors reserved for bows and crossbows.

    Source: Gouvernement du Québec, Compulsory fluorescent orange bib: when hunting moose, white-tailed deer or black bear during the season in which only bows or crossbows are permitted Checked 2026-09-22.

31. 31. How high does Lesson 7 advise hanging a tree stand when you'll be shooting an arrow, and why not higher?

    1. AWithin about 4 metres, because higher up the angle gets too steep
    2. BAt least 6 metres, so deer walking below can't catch your scent
    3. CExactly 2 metres, which is the legal maximum for a portable stand
    4. DAs high as you can safely climb, because a steeper downward angle makes for a more lethal hit
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    AWithin about 4 metres, because higher up the angle gets too steep

    Height helps you see and stay hidden, up to a point. Past about 4 metres you're shooting down so sharply that the part of the vital zone you can reach gets smaller, and the arrow has to get past more of the skeleton to find the heart and lungs. The risk of a serious fall grows with every metre as well. Keep the stand low enough for a clean angle.

32. 32. You're up in your stand and a deer walks in close below you. How does the course want you to lean into the shot?

    1. ALower your bow arm alone, keeping your shoulders level
    2. BBend at the waist so your body tilts with your bow arm
    3. CStay upright and aim a little low to allow for the angle
    4. DKneel on the platform to bring yourself closer to level with the deer
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    BBend at the waist so your body tilts with your bow arm

    Drop only your arm and you break your form: the anchor shifts, the string lines up differently and the arrow goes somewhere you never practised. Tilting from the waist keeps everything above it locked in the shape you trained, just pointed downward. Practise from a real stand before the season, at the angles you expect to see.

33. 33. Where baiting is legal, how far from your stand does Lesson 7 suggest placing the bait for a bow shot?

    1. ADirectly beneath the stand
    2. BAround 40 metres, to keep your scent away from it
    3. CAbout 18 metres
    4. DExactly 30 metres, right at the edge of effective range
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    CAbout 18 metres

    Eighteen metres brings the animal comfortably inside your range without putting it right under your feet, where the angle gets awkward. Thirty metres is your outer limit for a lethal shot, not the place to plan one. Baiting periods vary by zone and species, so read the current regulations before you put anything out.

34. 34. A buck is walking steadily across your lane, broadside, 20 metres out. What does Lesson 7 say about taking the shot?

    1. ATake it now, since broadside is the angle you've been waiting for
    2. BAim slightly ahead of him to allow for his walking pace
    3. CWait until he turns to face you, when the chest looks widest
    4. DWait for him to stop, standing perpendicular to your line of fire
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    DWait for him to stop, standing perpendicular to your line of fire

    Broadside is right, but moving isn't. An arrow is slow enough that a walking deer can carry its vitals out of the path between release and impact. The course is clear that you shoot only when the animal is stationary and perpendicular to your line. Patience in that moment is what keeps a clean kill from turning into a long search.

35. 35. Once you're set up in your blind, the course suggests placing a marker 30 metres out. What's it for?

    1. AA quick reference for judging whether an animal is within range
    2. BA signal to other hunters that the area is already taken
    3. CThe point where the legal shooting distance ends
    4. DSomething for the animal to walk toward
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    AA quick reference for judging whether an animal is within range

    Judging distance is the hardest part of bowhunting, and it's hardest when an animal appears suddenly. A stump or flag at a known 30 metres lets you glance once and know whether the shot is on. Range a few other landmarks with your rangefinder before anything shows up, and you won't be guessing when it counts.

36. 36. Why do so many bowhunters fit silencers to the bowstring?

    1. ATo protect the string from wearing against the arm guard
    2. BTo soften the sound of the shot so the animal doesn't react
    3. CTo add a little weight to the string so it pushes the arrow out faster
    4. DTo mark the anchor point for the kisser button
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    BTo soften the sound of the shot so the animal doesn't react

    Sound gets there before the arrow does, and an animal that hears the string can move in that sliver of time. Silencers damp the noise of the release. It's one more reason the course leans so hard on close range: the shorter the shot, the less time the animal has to flinch.

37. 37. A black bear gives you a clear look at its head and neck at 15 metres, but brush screens its body. What does quebec.ca say about that shot with an arrow?

    1. ATake it, since the head gives the quickest kill with any weapon, arrow included
    2. BTake it only with a crossbow, never with a bow
    3. CPass, since the head and neck aren't suitable targets
    4. DTake it if the broadhead cuts at least 22 mm
    Show the answer

    CPass, since the head and neck aren't suitable targets

    An arrow kills by bleeding, so you want it where the big vessels and organs are: around the heart, lungs and liver. The head and neck are small, bony and easy to wound without killing. quebec.ca rules them out plainly. Let the bear move, and wait for the body to clear the brush.

    Source: Gouvernement du Québec, Hunting arms, ammunition and gear: The head and neck are not suitable targets. Checked 2026-09-22.

38. 38. Your arrow passes clean through a deer and sticks in the ground behind where it stood. What does Lesson 8 have you do with it?

    1. APull it straight away and wipe it off before the blood dries
    2. BLeave it there for good so the site is never disturbed
    3. CMark it and leave it, touching it as little as you can
    4. DCarry it back to the stand so you can check the fletching and the broadhead for damage
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    CMark it and leave it, touching it as little as you can

    That arrow is evidence. A blood-tracking dog handler will want to read the scene as it was, and every time you handle the shaft you muddy it. Mark the spot, study the blood on it closely without moving it around, and let it be for now. You'll collect it before you leave, since an arrow left in the woods can hurt someone later.

39. 39. The blood on your recovered arrow is greenish, and there are bits of stomach matter on the shaft. How does Lesson 8 read that?

    1. AA heart shot, so start tracking after 30 minutes
    2. BA liver hit, so follow the trail right away before it cools
    3. CA graze that the animal will recover from, so there's nothing to track
    4. DA gut hit, so you wait at least four hours
    Show the answer

    DA gut hit, so you wait at least four hours

    Green-tinged blood in fine droplets, with gut contents mixed in, means the arrow went in behind the vital zone. The animal is likely to die, but slowly, and it won't leave much of a trail. Wait at least four hours. Go in early and a gut-hit deer that hears you will get up and keep going, and you may never find it.

40. 40. You miss clean and your arrow disappears into the brush. Why does the course say you should go and find it?

    1. AA loose broadhead in the woods can injure another person or an animal
    2. BEvery arrow shot has to be declared to a wildlife officer after the hunt
    3. CAn arrow left in the woods will spook game out of the area for weeks
    4. DYou'll need it to prove to a wildlife officer that you missed
    Show the answer

    AA loose broadhead in the woods can injure another person or an animal

    Those blades are just as sharp lying in the leaves as they were on the string. A hiker, a dog or a wild animal can step on or brush against one. So find it. If it's buried in a tree, work it out with an arrow extractor rather than your hands, so the broadhead doesn't cut you on the way out.

41. 41. You shot a deer at last light and your waiting period ends after dark. How does quebec.ca say you can search for it at night?

    1. AWith your bow in hand and a spotlight, so you can finish the animal if needed
    2. BWithout a weapon or a projector, using a flashlight or headlamp
    3. COnly behind a leashed tracking dog, never on foot by yourself
    4. DNot at all, since every search has to stop when legal hunting time ends
    Show the answer

    BWithout a weapon or a projector, using a flashlight or headlamp

    A search can run past legal hunting time, but the rules change once it's dark. Leave the bow behind and don't bring a projector; a flashlight or headlamp is the light quebec.ca describes. If the animal gets up and moves off ahead of you, back out, note the last sign and wait, even if that means coming back at sunrise.

    Source: Gouvernement du Québec, Searching for game: Therefore, it cannot be done with a projector or with a weapon. Checked 2026-09-22.

42. 42. What does Lesson 5 say a lighted nock does for you?

    1. AIt makes an arrow legal to shoot after sunset
    2. BIt warns other hunters nearby that you're shooting
    3. CIt adds weight to the back of the arrow for a flatter path
    4. DIt helps you follow the flight and find the arrow
    Show the answer

    DIt helps you follow the flight and find the arrow

    Seeing where your arrow went is half of knowing what happened. A glowing nock shows you the flight and the point of impact, and makes the arrow much easier to find after the shot, whether it's in the dirt behind the deer or in the brush after a miss. It changes nothing about legal hunting hours.

43. 43. At the spot where the deer stood you find hardly any blood, though the shot looked perfect. What does Lesson 8 say about that?

    1. AIt means you missed, so you can give up the search
    2. BIt means the arrow hit bone and stopped, so follow at once
    3. CIt's a sign the animal was only grazed and will recover within a few days
    4. DIt's common with a vital hit; bleeding builds further on
    Show the answer

    DIt's common with a vital hit; bleeding builds further on

    Don't read too much into a clean patch of ground. With a hit in the vital zone there's often little blood where the animal was standing, and the loss picks up as it runs. A hit outside the vital zone can do the opposite: more blood at first, then less as it clots. Wait your hour, then follow slowly and mark what you find.

44. 44. A coworker says nobody new is taking up hunting in Québec anymore. About how many new hunters does Lesson 1 say come into the sport in an average year?

    1. AAbout 3,000 a year
    2. BAbout 75,000 a year
    3. CAbout 18,000 a year
    4. DAbout 180,000 a year
    Show the answer

    CAbout 18,000 a year

    Lesson 1 puts the average at 18,000 new hunters every year. It also says women make up almost 30% of new hunters, and that more than 1.5 million hunter's certificates have been issued since 1972. Those numbers describe a pastime that keeps drawing new people.

    Source: Fédération québécoise des chasseurs et pêcheurs, Introduction to Hunting with Bows or Crossbows (ICAA), Lesson 1, Social impact: Each year, an average of 18,000 new hunters develop a special connection with nature. Checked 2026-09-30.

45. 45. Lesson 1 names two birds that disappeared for good during Québec's commercial hunting era. Which two?

    1. AThe Labrador duck and the passenger pigeon
    2. BThe wild turkey and the snow goose
    3. CThe willow ptarmigan and the mourning dove
    4. DThe ruffed grouse and the American woodcock
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    AThe Labrador duck and the passenger pigeon

    Commercial hunters sold game all year and faced no catch limits. Woodland caribou, beaver and snow goose dropped sharply, and the Labrador duck and passenger pigeon went extinct. The snow goose came back, and wild turkeys only reached Québec in 1976. Losses like these are why catch limits exist today.

    Source: Fédération québécoise des chasseurs et pêcheurs, Introduction to Hunting with Bows or Crossbows (ICAA), Lesson 1, Commercial hunting: The Labrador duck and the passenger pigeon become extinct. Checked 2026-09-30.

46. 46. You'd like a shot at a big game hunt that is handed out by draw. According to Lesson 2, which organization manages all of Québec's big game draws?

    1. AThe FédéCP, through its network of member associations
    2. BThe Sépaq, a Québec government agency
    3. CThe ZEC associations, each one for its own territory
    4. DWildlife Habitat Canada, using federal stamp money
    Show the answer

    BThe Sépaq, a Québec government agency

    The Sépaq is a Québec government agency. It runs some public lands and outdoor sites, including the wildlife reserves. Lesson 2 says it also manages all the big game draws. The FédéCP gives the hunting courses, and non-profit associations run the ZECs.

    Source: Fédération québécoise des chasseurs et pêcheurs, Introduction to Hunting with Bows or Crossbows (ICAA), Lesson 2, Wildlife stakeholders / Management organizations: Sépaq is also the organization responsible for managing all the draws Checked 2026-09-30.

47. 47. Lesson 2 describes the kinds of territory open to Québec hunters. On which kind does most hunting take place?

    1. APrivate land in the St. Lawrence Lowlands
    2. BWildlife reserves run by the Sépaq
    3. COutfitters that hold exclusive rights
    4. DFree public land, open to all hunters
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    DFree public land, open to all hunters

    About 90% of the land south of the agreement territories is free public land, open to every hunter, and most hunting happens there. Private land is only about 8% of Québec, though most hunting grounds in the south are private. ZECs, wildlife reserves and outfitters each have their own rules, so know which kind of land you are on.

    Source: Fédération québécoise des chasseurs et pêcheurs, Introduction to Hunting with Bows or Crossbows (ICAA), Lesson 2, Hunting territories / Where to hunt in Québec: The majority of hunting takes place in free public land. Checked 2026-09-30.

48. 48. You've tagged a buck on a farmer's woodlot and your route home runs through the village. What does Lesson 4 suggest about showing it off?

    1. ADrive slowly through town with it in the truck bed so people see you succeeded
    2. BLeave the head at the landowner's door as a thank-you for the access
    3. CKeep it out of sight, so you don't upset people who find it hard to see
    4. DPost photos online with the landowner's name so he gets the credit
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    CKeep it out of sight, so you don't upset people who find it hard to see

    Not everyone is comfortable seeing a dead animal, and a hunter who parades game costs all hunters some goodwill. Lesson 4 asks you to act like a guest at all times and to refrain from exhibiting your game. Thank the landowner in person instead, and leave the property as you found it.

49. 49. You're settled in your stand when you hear ATVs on a trail a few hundred metres away. How does Lesson 4 suggest you look at it?

    1. AStay calm, since game may ignore the noise or even move toward you
    2. BGo ask the riders to leave, since hunters have priority during the season
    3. CPack up for the day, because every animal nearby has already left
    4. DMove your stand closer to the trail so the riders have to turn back
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    AStay calm, since game may ignore the noise or even move toward you

    It's easy to think any nearby activity ruins your hunt, but the lesson says you would be wrong. Game may not react at all, and animals pushed by the noise may even come your way. Hunting doesn't take priority over other activities, so a confrontation is never the answer.

50. 50. Lesson 6 describes how a moose uses its senses. Which point helps explain why a stand above the ground can work for moose?

    1. AMoose can't see colours at all, so camouflage makes no difference
    2. BMoose pay very little attention to objects above them
    3. CMoose have a weak sense of smell, so the wind matters less
    4. DMoose can't hear sounds that come from above the ground
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    BMoose pay very little attention to objects above them

    A moose hears and smells very well, and it picks up movement even at a distance. Like the deer, it can probably tell colours apart. What it tends to ignore is what sits above it, which is part of why a raised stand can work. You still have to play the wind and keep still.

    Source: Fédération québécoise des chasseurs et pêcheurs, Introduction to Hunting with Bows or Crossbows (ICAA), Lesson 6, Moose: they will pay very little attention to the objects situated above them. Checked 2026-09-30.

51. 51. A doe is feeding 20 metres from your ground blind and you need to draw your bow. What does Lesson 6 say about a white-tailed deer's field of view?

    1. AIt covers about 90 degrees, so movement off to her side goes unseen
    2. BIt covers about 180 degrees, but only in bright daylight
    3. CShe sees only straight ahead and relies on smell for the rest
    4. DIt covers about 310 degrees, without her even turning her head
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    DIt covers about 310 degrees, without her even turning her head

    A white-tailed deer can pick out distant objects and the slightest movement across about 310 degrees, day or night, without turning its head. That leaves only a small blind spot behind her. Drawing a bow is a big movement, so make it slowly and at a moment when she is less likely to notice.

    Source: Fédération québécoise des chasseurs et pêcheurs, Introduction to Hunting with Bows or Crossbows (ICAA), Lesson 6, White-tailed deer: movement in its field of view of 310 degrees, without even moving its head. Checked 2026-09-30.

52. 52. You're cleaning a ruffed grouse at camp. Along with the internal organs and the skin or feathers, what does Lesson 9 say to remove before the meat goes in the fridge?

    1. AThe rump
    2. BThe neck
    3. CThe feet
    4. DThe breastbone
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    AThe rump

    For game birds, the lesson has you take out all the internal organs, remove the skin or feathers and cut away the rump. Then the meat goes into the refrigerator. If you won't eat it soon, freeze small game within 24 hours of the hunt.

53. 53. A snowshoe hare you shot had been acting strangely. What does Lesson 9 advise before you skin it?

    1. AHang it in the sun for an hour to dry out the fur
    2. BFreeze it whole first and skin it another day
    3. CWet the fur with water and put on a mask and gloves
    4. DSkin it quickly with bare hands before the body cools
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    CWet the fur with water and put on a mask and gloves

    A hare that behaves oddly may carry tularemia, a disease that can give people a high fever. Wetting the fur keeps loose hairs from floating in the air, and the mask and gloves keep them away from your nose, mouth and skin. If you then find white spots on the organs, bag the carcass for the household garbage and disinfect everything.

54. 54. It's an hour before dark, you've twisted a knee, and you're no longer sure of the way back to the truck. What does Lesson 10 have you do?

    1. AWalk out fast in whatever direction feels right, before the light goes
    2. BTreat the injury and get ready to spend the night where you are
    3. CFollow the nearest stream downhill, wherever it happens to lead
    4. DKeep walking all night so you stay warm until you reach a road
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    BTreat the injury and get ready to spend the night where you are

    Your first decisions matter most, so stay calm and choose. In daylight, if you could locate yourself, you would take a compass bearing on an easy landmark and head for it. Late in the day or injured, the lesson says treat your wounds and prepare to stay the night. Someone knows where you are and when you're due back, so help will come.

55. 55. Your partner climbs down from his tree stand badly and his ankle looks dislocated. What does Lesson 10 tell you to do?

    1. APull the foot firmly to pop the joint back into place
    2. BTake his boot off right away so you can check the swelling
    3. CHave him walk on it slowly so the joint doesn't stiffen
    4. DSplint it as it is, boot left on, without cutting off circulation
    Show the answer

    DSplint it as it is, boot left on, without cutting off circulation

    Never try to put a displaced bone back yourself, because you can do more damage. For a foot injury, the lesson says to leave the shoe on. Immobilize the limb with a splint that isn't tight enough to block blood flow. Keep him warm, check on him often and get him to medical care.

56. 56. The outboard quits halfway across a lake on the way to your bowhunting camp. Which item from Lesson 11's list of required boat equipment gets you moving again?

    1. AOars or paddles
    2. BThe anchor
    3. CThe hand bailer
    4. DThe sound signalling device
    Show the answer

    AOars or paddles

    Oars or paddles are on the required list for exactly this reason: engines break down. An anchor holds you in place, a bailer empties water and a sound device gets attention. None of them moves the boat, so check the whole list before you push off.

    Source: Fédération québécoise des chasseurs et pêcheurs, Introduction to Hunting with Bows or Crossbows (ICAA), Lesson 11, Boat safety while hunting: Oars or paddles to help you out if your engine breaks down Checked 2026-09-30.

57. 57. You plan to reach a bowhunting spot by boat on a big tidal river. What does Lesson 11 ask you to check before you leave?

    1. AOnly the fuel level, since the rest can be sorted out on the water
    2. BNautical or bathymetric charts, the weather and the tide times
    3. COnly the moon phase, so you know when the game will be moving
    4. DThat an arrow is nocked, so you're ready the moment you land
    Show the answer

    BNautical or bathymetric charts, the weather and the tide times

    Good planning starts on land. Charts show depths and hazards, the forecast tells you whether to go at all, and tides can change a river fast. The lesson also says to look the boat over, know its limits and yours, never overload it, and tell someone when you expect to be back.

58. 58. Lesson 12 encourages you to join the Fédération québécoise des chasseurs et pêcheurs. Which benefit does it mention?

    1. AA discount on the price of every hunting licence
    2. BGuaranteed access to private land across the province
    3. CAccident insurance, along with other members-only benefits
    4. DAn exemption from checking the regulations each year
    Show the answer

    CAccident insurance, along with other members-only benefits

    The lesson mentions accident insurance, other perks for members and the chance to learn from people who share your passion. Your membership also helps pay for hundreds of projects that protect and restore wildlife habitat. The lesson does not tie it to licence prices, land access or the rules you must follow.

59. 59. Lesson 12 points to something hunters do every year that helps protect wildlife populations for all Quebecers. What is it?

    1. APaying an extra fee on each animal they register
    2. BLeaving part of each harvest in the woods for predators
    3. CHunting only in the zone where they live
    4. DGiving their time as volunteers
    Show the answer

    DGiving their time as volunteers

    The last lesson says the volunteer work hunters do each year helps protect wildlife for everyone in Québec. Leaving meat in the woods would be the opposite. For big game other than bear, the law forbids leaving edible meat behind. Giving time to habitat projects and local groups is one way to give back.

60. 60. A hunting store sells bottles of natural doe urine as a deer lure. What do Québec's rules say about using it here?

    1. AIt's allowed during the bow and crossbow season only
    2. BIt's prohibited, from any source and at any time
    3. CIt's allowed if it was collected outside Québec
    4. DIt's allowed only on Anticosti Island, where deer are plentiful
    Show the answer

    BIt's prohibited, from any source and at any time

    Québec bans natural deer urine and other natural scent lures from deer and their relatives, such as tarsal glands, from any source. The course says why: to avoid spreading chronic wasting disease. Moose urine is the one exception in the rules. Synthetic products are a different thing, so read the label.

    Source: Gouvernement du Québec, Hunting arms, ammunition and gear: Using natural deer urine from any source, at any time, even on Anticosti Island Checked 2026-09-30.