Hunting Regulations

Hunting regulations must be adhered to in British Columbia. If you are coming to BC specifically to hunt or plan to during your stay here, Travel British Columbia strongly recommends that you refer to the webpage links below before setting out.

Agencies

Hunting in the province is strictly regulated by the Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations’ Fish and Wildlife Branch.

For the latest hunting news and information, including detailed rules and regulations, visit the government webpage Hunting in BC. It also has hunting FAQs and access to hunting activity data.

Licences

All hunters, whether residents or non-residents of the province, must obtain a licence to hunt. This can be done so via the BC Hunting Online Service or at select vendors throughout BC.

Two types of hunting seasons are available to licensed hunters in British Columbia: general open seasons and limited entry hunting, which enables wildlife managers to more closely control certain species populations. Limited entry is selected by random draws.

Anyone planning to hunt in British Columbia must review the Hunting and Trapping Regulations Synopsis. A youth hunting licence is available for those aged 10 to 17 years.

Information for Non-Residents

All non-residents and non-resident aliens (generally meaning those who live outside of the country) are required to obtain and/or provide (see links for details):

• Fish and Wildlife ID – the ‘passport’ to hunting services in British Columbia
• Non-resident Hunter Credentials – required to hunt small game unaccompanied
• Non-resident Licence

Guides are not required to hunt small game such as fox, raccoon, coyote, skunk and hare and game birds/migratory game birds unless the licence is of a restricted nature.

You must have a hired guide outfitter (see below), assistant guide outfitter or be named on a “Permit to Accompany” to hunt big game (deer, mountain sheep, mountain goat, moose, caribou, elk, cougar, wolf, grizzly and black bears, lynx, bobcat, and wolverine). The said permit allows a qualified resident hunter to accompany up to two persons who are either non-residents or non-resident aliens.

Guides

Numerous wildlife outfitters in the province employ licensed guides to provide guiding services; they set their own fees. It is advisable to contact several guide outfitters to obtain details regarding the types of game and hunting available, the recommended time of year to hunt, rates, reservations and any other services provided.

Licensed hunting guides in BC are limited to two hunters in the field at one time.