New BC Hunting Regulations

BC Hunting Regulations: What's Current and What's Changing

BC reviews its hunting and trapping regulations on a two-year cycle. The current regulations (2024-2026 Hunting and Trapping Regulations Synopsis) are in effect from July 1, 2024 through June 30, 2026. The next cycle (2026-2028) has already gone through public consultation and finalized regulations will be published before July 1, 2026.

Here is what every BC hunter needs to know right now.

Current Synopsis: 2024-2026

The 2024-2026 Hunting and Trapping Regulations Synopsis is the governing document. You can download the full PDF (12.8MB) from the Province of BC website. The province is divided into nine administrative regions with 225 management units. Each unit has its own season dates, bag limits, and access restrictions.

Always check the corrections and updates page on the BC government website before heading out. Regulation changes are published there throughout the season and the printed synopsis may not reflect the latest amendments.

Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD): The Biggest Development in Recent Years

CWD has been confirmed in BC in the Kootenay Region. This is the single most significant regulatory change affecting BC hunters right now. Here is what you need to know:

Mandatory CWD testing is required for all deer, elk, and moose harvested in management units 4-1 to 4-8 and 4-20 to 4-25 within one week of harvest.

Samples must be dropped off at a designated location within the CWD Management Zone. You cannot transport brain tissue or spinal column (except the tail) from deer, elk, or moose outside the CWD Management Zone boundary. Leave those parts at the kill site or dispose of them at a landfill before leaving the area.

There is a 24-hour exemption for specific routes out of MU 4-7, 4-8, and 4-25 to access a designated CWD freezer. Check gov.bc.ca/CWDdropoff for freezer locations.

The province is encouraging hunters to continue hunting in affected areas. Hunting is the most effective tool for suppressing CWD transmission by removing infected animals from the population.

For the latest CWD test results and updates, visit gov.bc.ca/chronicwastingdisease.

Compulsory Inspection Changes (September 2025)

Effective September 29, 2025, several species hunted or trapped no longer require compulsory inspection. This was a notable change mid-cycle. However, moose in Management Units 6-1 to 6-11, 6-15, 6-17 to 6-30 and the portion of 7-52 accessed through Region 6 are still subject to compulsory inspection. Submit to an inspector within 30 days of the kill.

If you hunt any species that previously required compulsory inspection, verify the current requirements before your hunt. The online version of the synopsis reflects these changes even though the printed version does not.

Nuchatlaht First Nation Aboriginal Title Declaration

Since the 2024-2026 regulations went to print, the BC Supreme Court declared that the Nuchatlaht First Nation holds Aboriginal title to a portion of Nootka Island. The declared title area overlaps a small portion of Management Unit 1-12. If you plan to hunt, trap, or fish in that area, you must seek permission from Nuchatlaht Chief and Council before entering their Aboriginal title lands.

What's Coming: 2026-2028 Regulations

The Province opened public engagement on approximately 60 proposed regulatory changes for the 2026-2028 cycle between January 12 and February 13, 2026. The consultation period is now closed. Proposals covered season structure, LEH and GOS opportunities, harvest methods, access management, and a move toward digital-only regulation delivery.

The BC Wildlife Federation (BCWF) published their position on the proposals, identifying which changes they supported and opposed. The finalized 2026-2028 Hunting and Trapping Regulations Synopsis is expected to be published ahead of its July 1, 2026 effective date.

If you applied for LEH or are planning multi-year hunting strategies, pay attention to the final synopsis when it drops. Changes to season dates, authorization numbers, and access in specific MUs can affect your plans.

Limited Entry Hunting (LEH) 2025-2026

The LEH synopsis for 2025-2026 is published separately. Key points: the fall LEH application deadline was November 20, 2025. All hunters under 18 must be accompanied by a licensed adult hunter. Group hunt applications are not accepted for elk in Regions 1 and 2. Bison authorizations have been under review and are subject to change.

For mountain sheep, the closing dates are December 20, 2026 for bighorn and March 31, 2027 for thinhorn. The 2026 Special Mountain Sheep draw application deadline was November 20, 2025.

Mandatory Hunter Report

All individuals with a moose species licence must submit a Mandatory Hunter Report by January 15. This applies regardless of whether you harvested a moose. Failure to submit can affect future licence eligibility.

Licensing and Credentials

To hunt in BC you need a valid FWID (Fish and Wildlife ID), a basic hunting licence ($42 including HCTF surcharge), and the appropriate species licences. All non-resident hunters pursuing big game must be accompanied by a licensed guide outfitter, assistant guide, or a resident with a valid Permit to Accompany.

If you do not have your FWID, you need to complete the CORE Hunter Education Course first. Silvercore offers the CORE course in-person and online across BC.

Where to Find the Official Information

Full 2024-2026 synopsis (PDF): gov.bc.ca, Hunting and Trapping Regulations Synopsis

Corrections and updates: gov.bc.ca, Hunting and Trapping Synopsis corrections and updates

CWD information: gov.bc.ca/chronicwastingdisease

LEH 2025-2026 synopsis (PDF): Available on the same BC government hunting page

WILD system (licensing, LEH applications): gov.bc.ca/hunting

This article is written as an informational guide to help you understand the current regulatory landscape. It is not legal advice. Always consult the official synopsis and contact your regional Fish and Wildlife office if you have questions about specific regulations in your area.

Previous Regulation Changes below for your reference:

The new Hunting and Trapping Regulations Synopsis is out for the period of July 1 2020 – June 30 2022 and with that come new regulations. Lately, we have been hearing “what are the new changes to hunting in British Columbia”, or “while hunting, is it legal to …”.  To help ensure that you are staying on the right side of the law, we’ve put together the new regulations that you will need to abide by.

Below are the province wide regulations which are now in effect:

• Year-round prohibitions on hunting:
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• Prohibition on the use or possession of infrared optics while on a hunting expedition
• Prohibition on operating electric bicycles in areas where motor vehicles are prohibited or restricted
• Requirement for Compulsory Reporting for harvested feral pigs

The following are the definitions which now fall under these new regulations:

Electric Bicycle – a wheeled device (a) on which a person may ride, (b) with pedals or hand cranks that allow it to be propelled with human power, and (c) with an electric motor.

Infrared Optics – means an optical device with the capacity to detect infrared radiation.

Wireless Camera – means a camera that obtains an image by means of a remote or infrared sensor and that is capable of sending an image remotely to an electronic device.

Before Your Hunt

• BC FISH AND WILDLIFE ID (FWID)
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• HUNTERS REQUIRED TO PROVE B.C.  RESIDENCY
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• WATERFOWLER HERITAGE DAYS
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For more information on the status of this project and for updated federal migratory bird hunting regulations, check www.canada.ca. As well, check www.gov. bc.ca/hunting for updates to the 2021-22 migratory bird season dates before your hunt.

• LICENCE REQUIREMENTS
  - Resident Hunting Licence & Youth Hunting Licence A youth hunting licence does not provide a personal bag limit.
  
• BUYING LICENCES If you buy your species licence online, it will be mailed to you and it is subject to Canada Post delivery times. If you have not received your licences in the mail, you may qualify for a replacement free of charge if between 15 to 30 business days from the purchase date you report the loss to FrontCounter BC or Service BC.
  
• NON-RESIDENT HUNTERS If your hunter safety training document is in a language other than English or French, it is your responsibility to submit the original document along with a notarized translated version of the document.
  
• BIG GAME HUNTS If the guide outfitter or assistant guide submits the Guide Outfitter Report using the BC Hunting online service, a copy of the report is posted to the non-residents FWID profile, satisfying the requirement to obtain a completed Guide Outfitter Report.
  
• SMALL GAME Non-residents can hunt small game unaccompanied if hunting under a non-resident or non-resident alien unrestricted licence. Otherwise, they must be accompanied by a guide outfitter, an assistant guide outfitter or a holder of a permit to accompany non-residents or non-resident aliens at all times during the hunting activity for small game and hold a non-resident or non-resident alien restricted licence.
  
• REPLACEMENT SPECIES LICENCES You must replace your lost, stolen or destroyed species licence, both cancelled and uncancelled, if you plan to continue hunting during the current licence year. To obtain a replacement, contact FrontCounter BC or Service BC. You will need to declare the harvest details from the original cancelled licence.

Site Access and Restrictions

• RECREATION SITES AND TRAILS
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Visit the BC Government website here for more information and a list of provincial Recreation Orders.

No Hunting and No Shooting Area

• 400 METRE NO HUNTING OR SHOOTING AREAS
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It's Unlawful

24. To hunt big game with any weapon other than a rifle, shotgun, muzzle- loader or bow (includes longbow or crossbow).
27. To use a wireless camera for the purposes of hunting from Aug. 1 to Dec. 10.
31.To hunt using information on the location of wildlife that is obtained by means of an aircraft.
32. To share or assist in sharing, information on the location of wildlife that
is obtained by means of an aircraft, and shared for the purpose of hunting wildlife.
33. To operate, possess or use information that a drone obtains during, or less than 6 hours before the start of a hunting or trapping expedition.
36. To hunt wildlife by the use of, or with the aid of, a light, illuminating device or infrared optics.

Legal Hunting Methods and Provincial Bag Limits

• NOTES
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• FIREARMS
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Compulsory Inspection and Reporting

• COMPULSORY INSPECTION
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In addition to the provide wide regulations now effect there are also region regulations which must be followed. These include the following regions and regulations:

Regional Regulations:

• REGION 1: VANCOUVER ISLAND
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• REGION 2: LOWER MAINLAND
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• REGION 3: THOMPSON
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• REGION 4: KOOTENAY

1. Closure of the cougar pursuit only season.
2. Amendments to 21 Motor Vehicle Prohibited Areas in the East Kootenay.
3. Shorten west Kootenay bull elk season.
4. Closure of the antlerless white-tailed deer season in the West Kootenay, and shortening of the season in parts of the East Kootenay.
5. Liberalized seasons and bag limits for turkey.
6. Removal of requirement for wolf compulsory inspection.
7. Replace GOS with LEH for goat in portions of MUs 4-36 and 4-37.

• REGION 5: CARIBOO
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• REGION 6: SKEENA

1. Closure of caribou general open season in MU 6-27.
2. Clarification of moose hunting boundaries in MUs 6-22 to 6-24.
3. Revised No Shooting boundaries for the Smithers Community Forest and Hudson Bay Mountain.
4. Reduced ptarmigan bag and possession limits in the south Skeena.
5. Replacement of the Oct 1-8 moose bow only season with an Oct 1-19 bow only LEH season.
6. Region-wide requirement for Compulsory Inspection of harvested moose.
7. Seasonal motor vehicle prohibition on Netalzul Mountain.
8. Shortened black bear seasons within 1 km of Bolin Bay, Butedale, Green Lagoon, and Khutze Estuary.
9. Seasonal hunting closure in the K’waal and Kitkiata watersheds.
10. Revised moose hunting seasons in portions of M.U.s 6-28 and 6-29.

• REGION 7A: OMINECA
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• REGION 7B: PEACE
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• REGION 8: OKANAGAN
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It’s important to remember that there may be updates made to the hunting synopsis and that your best point of reference is online as they’ll have updates posted there. Important BC Hunting Notices can be found on the BC government website here.