B.C. Hunting News http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/fw/wildlife/hunting/news/ Province of B.C. Wildlife Hunting News en-us 5 43 2012 Spring Grizzly Bear and Skeena Mountain Sheep Final Numbers http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/fw/wildlife/hunting/news/ For final number of authorizations to be drawn for the 2012 Spring Grizzly and 2012 Skeena Mountain Sheep draws click here

]]> 20 Jan 2012 42 Thompson-Okanagan Mule Deer Study http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/fw/wildlife/hunting/news/ The Fish, Wildlife & Habitat Management Branch, Thompson-Okanagan Region, is currently working on a collaborative project with the Lillooet Tribal Council & St’at’imc Nation to assess migration ecology and habitat use of mule deer bucks in Management Unit 3-32 and parts of 5-03 and 5-04, Read more..

]]> 12 Sep 2011 41 Black Bear Hunting Season on Haida Gwaii Closed http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/fw/wildlife/hunting/news/ The black bear hunting season on Haida Gwaii (MU’s 6-12 and 6-13) is closed effective midnight on June 27, 2011. The fall black bear season is also closed. The season closes 72 hours after public notification that a total of 4 black bears have been harvested on Haida Gwaii by licensed hunters.

The open season for Black bears on Haida Gwaii is scheduled to re-open on April 1, 2012.

Click here to view the information bulletin.

]]> 24 Jun 2011 40 The 2011 Limited Entry Hunting Draw Has Been Run http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/fw/wildlife/hunting/news/ The 2011 Limited Entry Hunting Draw has been run. Hunters can check the results of the draw at http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/fw/wildlife/hunting/resident/leh.html.

]]> 15 Jun 2011 39 Wolf Hunting Regulation Amendment in the Cariboo Region http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/fw/wildlife/hunting/news/ Notice of changes to wolf hunting and trapping regulations in the Cariboo Region; effective June 15, 2011:

  • There is no closed season and no bag limit for wolf hunting in Management Units 5-1 to 5-6 and 5-12 to 5-15.
  • There is no closed season for wolf trapping on private land in Management Units 5-1 to 5-6 and 5-12 to 5-14; restricted to modified leg-hold traps only.
]]> 15 Jun 2011 38 Haidia Gwaii Black Bear Hunting Regulation Amendment http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/fw/wildlife/hunting/news/ Notice of changes to black bear hunting regulations on Haida Gwaii (MU’s 6-12 and 6-13): Effective April 14, 2011 the annual black bear season in MU’s 6-12 and 6-13 will close 72 hours after the regional manager has published the fact that four black bears have been harvested by licensed hunters in the two management units combined.

The bag limit for black bears in MU’s 6-12 and 6-13 has been decreased from 2 bears per licence year to one bear per licence year. Any bear harvested in these MU’s is required to be compulsory inspected. Hunters are required to submit the skull and the hide with evidence of sex attached, within 10 days of the kill, to a compulsory inspection centre. A list of compulsory inspectors for the province is available at http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/fw/wildlife/hunting/ci.html.

Hunters may also arrange to have a compulsory inspection of their black bear on Haida Gwaii if they set up an appointment for the inspection through the district Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations office at 1229 Oceanview Drive in the village of Queen Charlotte by calling (250) 559-6200.

]]> 15 Apr 2011 37 2011/2012 Limited Entry Hunting Synopsis On-Line http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/fw/wildlife/hunting/news/ The 2011/2012 Limited Entry Hunting Synopsis is now available on-line. The printed version is currently being printed and will be available at your local vendor mid April.

]]> 31 Mar 2011 36 Notice to BC Resident Hunters http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/fw/wildlife/hunting/news/ As many of you are very much aware, the Fish, Wildlife and Habitat Management Branch has been conducting an annual survey of hunters for more than 35 years. The information you provide is used to estimate resident hunter harvest and effort, which informs every aspect of wildlife management including allocations, LEH authorisations, season lengths, etc. Because of your support we have enjoyed a phenomenal 70% response rate over the years. We’ve been hesitant to change how we do this survey because of its success.

However, hunter sample is an expensive and labour intensive program, and times are changing.

This year, we’ve asked our government partner BC Stats to handle some of the work of hunter sample. Questionnaires are currently on their way to 67,275 randomly selected resident hunters by mail. BC Stats is taking care of printing and mailing questionnaires, and they will handle responses as well. This has a number of benefits both for Fish, Wildlife and Habitat Management and for you.

  • There will be 2 options for responding. First, you may fill out the paper form and mail it back as you always have. However, if you choose, you may also tell us about your hunting activity using an online form. Instructions for accessing the web form will accompany your questionnaire.
    • If you can, we encourage you to please use the web form. It will look very much like the paper form and allows us to avoid the costs and time of return mail and data entry.
    • By responding online, you will also enable us to develop harvest and effort estimates much earlier than in recent history. This will aid greatly in improving wildlife management in BC.
  • This change is all about cost savings and improved service delivery for hunters in BC. Because BC Stats is involved only in the delivery and handling of the questionnaires, the Fish, Wildlife and Habitat Management Branch is able to maintain all the statistical analysis that goes into hunter sample. This will ensure that we can compare 2010 harvest and effort with previous years.
We’re excited about this change and are asking for your help in making it a success. We thank you for your continued support of this extremely valuable program by providing your information online, and encouraging your friend and hunting partners to do the same, before April 29, 2011. Please contact Chris Addison at (250) 387-9776 or Christopher.Addison@gov.bc.ca if you have any questions about the program or the changes.

]]> 3 Mar 2011 35 2011 Spring Grizzly Bear and Skeena Mountain Sheep Draw Complete http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/fw/wildlife/hunting/news/ The 2011 Spring Grizzly Bear and Skeena Mountain Sheep draw has been run Click here to check your results.

]]> 3 Feb 2011 34 UPDATE: 2011 Spring Grizzly Bear and Skeena Mountain Sheep Draws http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/fw/wildlife/hunting/news/ IMPORTANT NOTICE for those who have used the Hunt Codes supplied on the 2011 Spring Grizzly Bear and Skeena Mountain Sheep final numbers. The Hunt Codes that were supplied on this website between the dates of Jan 21 to Jan 24, 2011 were incorrect. If you have not yet mailed in your applications please Click here and redo your cards using the current codes on the website. If you have already mailed in your application cards please contact 250-356-5142 to have your cards corrected.

]]> 24 Jan 2011 32 2011 Spring Grizzly Bear and Skeena Mountain Sheep Draws http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/fw/wildlife/hunting/news/ The 2011 Spring Grizzly Bear and Skeena Mountain Sheep number of authorizations to be drawn have now been posted. For more information visit http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/fw/wildlife/hunting/resident/leh.html#Numbers

]]> 21 Jan 2011 30 Updates to the 2010/2012 Hunting and Trapping Regulations Synopsis http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/fw/wildlife/hunting/news/ Please note amendments to the white-tailed deer December archery seasons for the Kootenays and the Okanagan.

]]> 15 Oct 2010 29 Hunters Asked to Be Mindful of Firefighter Safety http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/fw/wildlife/hunting/news/ SMITHERS – Hunters are urged to use extreme caution when hunting south of Highway 16 to Ootsa Lake as fire crews are still in the area managing the West Nadina and Binta Lake wildfire complexes.

Specific sites of concern are:

  • South along Highway 16 and east from Walcott to Houston, Burns Lake and Fraser Lake.
  • All areas west of the Holy Cross Forest Service Road to Knewtubb Lake.
  • All areas north of Nathlkuz Lake, Ootsa Lake and west to Tatsa Lake.
  • All areas east of the Kemano River, Atna Peak, Dogs Ear Peak and Eagle Peak.

The West Nadina and Binta Lake wildfires are now 50 and 90 per cent contained but crews and equipment will be on site for most of September to patrol containment lines and extinguish hot spots. Smoke from these fires could hamper visibility.

Some Skeena region hunting seasons begin Sept. 1 2010, and will run until the end of November.

To report a wildfire or unattended campfire please call *5555 on your cellphone, or toll-free to 1 800 663-5555. For more information on open fire prohibitions, area restrictions or for updates on current wildfire activity, visit www.bcwildfire.ca.

]]> 1 Sep 2010 28 Grizzly Bear Hunting - Frequently Asked Questions http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/fw/wildlife/hunting/news/ This Frequently Asked Questions documentprovides answers to some of the most common questions the Fish and Wildlife Branch receives from the public and stakeholders regarding the sustainability of British Columbia’s Grizzly Bear hunt. It also explains the Ministry’s science-based harvest management practices that are designed to ensure that BC continues to be home to some of the healthiest Grizzly Bear populations in the world.

]]> 23 Aug 2010 27 Notice to Moose Hunters Hunting in the Dease Lake/Stikine River Areas in the Fall of 2010 http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/fw/wildlife/hunting/news/ Click here]]> 27 Aug 2010 26 Corrections and Updates to the 2010/2012 Hunting and Trapping Regulations Synopsis http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/fw/wildlife/hunting/news/ Corrections and Updates to the 2010/2012 Hunting and Trapping Regulations Synopsis]]> 13 Jul 2010 25 Summary of Major Hunting and Trapping Regulation Changes for 2010-2011 and 2011-2012 http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/fw/wildlife/hunting/news/ Summary of Major Hunting and Trapping Regulation Changes for 2010-2011 and 2011-2012

Click here

]]> 28 Jun 2010 24 White-tailed Deer Coordinated Hunting Regulations http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/fw/wildlife/hunting/news/ New: White-tailed Deer Coordinated Hunting Regulations: Answers to Commonly Asked Questions.

Click here

]]> 28 Jun 2010 23 2010/2012 Hunting and Trapping Regulations Synopsis http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/fw/wildlife/hunting/news/ The 2010/2012 Hunting and Trapping Regulations Synopsis is now available online. http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/fw/wildlife/hunting/regulations/
The hard copies are currently being distributed to vendors and will be available at your local vendor very soon.

]]> 28 Jun 2010 22 2010/2011 Limited Entry Hunting Draw http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/fw/wildlife/hunting/news/ The 2010/2011 Limited Entry Hunting draw took place at 12:10 am Saturday June 12, 2010. The results are now available online.
You can check your draw results by clicking this link http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/fw/wildlife/hunting/resident/leh.html#Status

]]> 14 Jun 2010 21 2010/2011 Limited Entry Hunting Regulations Synopsis http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/fw/wildlife/hunting/news/ The 2010/2011 Limited Entry Hunting Regulations Synopsis is now available online.
The hard copy synopsis is currently being printed and should be available to the public the week of April 19, 2010.
Please Note: The deadline for applications has moved up to May 21, 2010

]]> 26 Mar 2010 20 White-tailed Deer: Proposal For A Provincially Coordinated Hunting Regulation http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/fw/wildlife/managment-issues/index.html White-tailed Deer: Proposal For A Provincially Coordinated Hunting Regulation The Fish and Wildlife Branch has been seeking stakeholder input on a proposal for a provincially coordinated white-tailed deer regulation framework starting in 2010. The proposal has been modified. Management Option #2 has been modified and a Contiguous and Non-Contiguous White-tailed Deer Population map has been added.

]]> 18 Feb 2010 19 NOTICE ON ROOSEVELT ELK AND MOUNTAIN SHEEP SPECIAL LIMITED ENTRY HUNTS http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/fw/wildlife/hunting/news/ The Special LEH hunts for B.C. residents for mountain sheep and Roosevelt elk hunts has been cancelled for 2011.However, the two successful applicants from the 2009 draw will be able to hunt in the fall of 2010 for mountain sheep and Roosevelt elk. The special draw applications will not be sold through Service BC sites or from vendors. If a person has already purchased these applications they should apply for a refund through the Fish and Wildlife Branch, see address below. The auctioning of a mountain sheep tag and a Roosevelt elk tag at the Wild Sheep Foundation 2010 convention has also been cancelled. The Fish and Wildlife Branch will work with various stakeholder associations over the course of the next year to determine if these hunts can be reinstated. Fish and Wildlife Branch PO Box 9391 Stn Prov Govt Victoria B.C. V8W 9M8

]]> 22 Jan 2010 18 Spring 2010 Grizzly Bear and Skeena Sheep Limited Entry Hunting Authorizations http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/fw/wildlife/hunting/news/ The number of Spring 2010 Grizzly Bear Limited Entry Hunting authorizations and Skeena Sheep 2010 Limited Entry Hunting authorizations are now available.

For details Click here [PDF 11KB]

]]> 20 Jan 2010 17 IMPORTANT NOTICE TO SHEEP HUNTERS http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/fw/wildlife/hunting/news/ 2010 Early Mountain Sheep Draw For Region 6 The deadline for Limited Entry Hunt (LEH) applications for all 2010 limited entry sheep hunts in the Skeena region (Region 6) has been moved to February 5, 2010, in order to provide hunters with more time to schedule and plan hunts in these remote areas. This move aligns with the early Spatsizi sheep draw implemented in 2007. For details on the Skeena Early Mountain Sheep Draw: http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/fw/wildlife/hunting/resident/docs/skeenadraw.pdf ]]> 23 Dec 2009 16 Snowmobile Exemption http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/fw/wildlife/hunting/news/ Snowmobile Exemption: Snowmobiles have now been exempted from the Motor Vehicle Prohibition above 1450 metres elevation in M.U.s 7-38, 7-39 and 7-40. ]]> 11 Dec 2009 15 Wolverine Licence http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/fw/wildlife/hunting/news/ Wolverine licence is required. The 2009/2010 Hunting and Trapping Regulation Synopsis incorrectly states that wolverine species licences are not required for B.C. residents. A wolverine species licence is required for both B.C. residents and non-residents to hunt wolverine. The on-line 2009/2010 Hunting and Trapping Synopsis has been updated.
]]> 11 Dec 2009 14 Grizzly Bear M.U. 6-14 Zone A: Closed http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/fw/wildlife/hunting/news/ Further to the notice in the LEH synopsis, the LEH opportunity for Grizzly Bear in M.U. 6-14 Zone A is now closed. The LEH Synopsis on-line has been updated.
]]> 11 Dec 2009 13 Mountain Goat: Proposed Regulation to Reduce Harvest of Females http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/fw/wildlife/hunting/news/ Mountain Goat: Proposed Regulation to Reduce Harvest of Females The Fish and Wildlife Branch wishes to notify stakeholders of a proposal to reduce the harvest of female mountain goats, starting in 2010/11. http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/fw/wildlife/managment-issues/index.html#mtngoatfemales
]]> 24 Nov 2009 12 White-tailed Deer: Proposal For A Provincially Coordinated Hunting Regulation http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/fw/wildlife/hunting/news/ White-tailed Deer: Proposal For A Provincially Coordinated Hunting Regulation The Fish and Wildlife Branch is seeking stakeholder input on a proposal for a provincially coordinated white-tailed deer regulation framework starting in 2010. www.env.gov.bc.ca/fw/wildlife/managment-issues/index.html#wtdprov
]]> 16 Nov 2009 11 Caribou-Chilcotin (Region 5) Mule Deer http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/fw/wildlife/hunting/news/ A Caribou-Chilcotin (Region 5) Mule Deer hunting Frequently Asked Questions is now available at www.env.gov.bc.ca/fw/wildlife/managment-issues/index.html
]]> 9 Nov 2009 10 Wildfire Crown Land Access Restrictions have been lifted http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/fw/wildlife/hunting/news/ Wildfire Crown Land Access Restrictions have now been lifted
Effective October 2, 2009, all of the area restrictions for wildfires have been lifted. ]]> 2 Oct 2009 9 Wildfire Crown Land Access Restrictions http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/fw/wildlife/hunting/news/ Wildfire Crown Land Access Restrictions
Effective immediately and until further notice, public access to the areas affected by the Lava Canyon (M.U. 5-04 and 5-05), Kelly Creek (M.U. 3-31), Yalakom (Ore Creek and Big Dog) (M.U.3-32) wildfires is restricted. These Restricted Area Orders are in place to protect the safety of fire management crews, emergency responders and the public. These restrictions apply to all Crown land within the areas defined in the Lava Canyon map, the Kelly Creek map and the Yalakom Area Map. These Orders restrict access for all purposes, including recreation and hunting.

Highways bordering these restricted areas remain open.

The Lava Canyon, Kelly Creek and Yalakom area wildfires are the public access restricted areas of most significance to hunters at this time, however there is the potential for new restrictions to be made depending on conditions. For more information and updates on wildlife status and crown access closures in the province please visit www.bcwildfire.ca.

]]> 17 Sep 2009 8 Corrections and Updates to the 2009/2010 Hunting and Trapping Regulations Synopsis http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/fw/wildlife/hunting/news/ Corrections and Updates to the 2009/2010 Hunting and Trapping Regulations Synopsis]]> 17 Jul 2009 7 Maps of Grizzly Bear No Hunting Areas Available Online http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/fw/wildlife/hunting/news/ Maps of the Nass-Skeena, Ahnuhati, and Khutze-Kitlope-Kimsquit Upper Dean-Tweedsmuir Grizzly Bear No Hunting Areas. These maps represent a portion of the total area of the Central and North Coast currently closed to Grizzly Bear hunting. 8 Jul 2009 6 09/10 Hunting and Trapping Synopsis Available Online http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/fw/wildlife/hunting/news/ The 09/10 Hunting and Trapping Synopsis is available online at: /fw/wildlife/hunting/regulations/. 8 Jul 2009 5 2009 LEH Synopsis Available Online http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/fw/wildlife/hunting/news/ The 2009 LEH Synopsis is available online at: /fw/wildlife/hunting/resident/leh.html. 14 May 2009 4 Kermode Black Bear Hunting Prohibition Update http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/fw/wildlife/hunting/news/ Effective March 31, 2009, the prohibition on the hunting of the Kermode black bear is extended to include the white phase of black bears province-wide. The prohibition also applies to the harvest of white phase black bears under the authority of a trapping licence. 31 Mar 2009 3 Snowmobiling Closures http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/fw/wildlife/snowmobile-closures/ The Ministry of Environment announces that effective February 15, 2009, approximately 1 million hectares of land is closed to the use of snowmobiles to support Mountain Caribou recovery. For maps of the new closures and riding areas that remain open, please visit: /fw/wildlife/snowmobile-closures/. These areas are in addition to existing closures. For existing closures and riding areas, please refer to the current Hunting and Trapping Regulations Synopsis. For more information on the closures and Mountain Caribou Recovery efforts, please follow this link: /sarco/ 13 Feb 2009 2 Spring 2009 Grizzly Bear Hunt Update http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/fw/wildlife/hunting/resident/docs/2009SpringGrizzlyLEHAuthorizations.pdf The number of authorizations for the spring 2009 Grizzly Bear hunt in Management Units 4-01 (hunt code 3102) and 4-02 (hunt code 3103) has been decreased from 9 to 7 and 14 to 7 respectively. The number of authorizations in Management Units 4-22 (hunt code 3111) and 4-23 (hunt codes 3112 to 3114) has been increased from 4 to 5 and 4 to 12 respectively. If you are directly affected by these changes and wish to change your application you may call (250) 356-5142 on or before February 11th, 2009. Click for more detail [PDF 67KB] 6 Feb 2009 1 Spring 2009 Grizzly Bear Hunt http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/fw/wildlife/hunting/resident/docs/2009SpringGrizzlyLEHAuthorizations.pdf The number of authorizations for the Spring 2009 Grizzly Bear hunt are now available online. Click for more detail [PDF 66KB] 21 Jan 2009 1a Ear-Tagged Bighorn Sheep in the East Kootenay http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/fw/wildlife/hunting/docs/sheep_transplant.pdf The Ministry of Environment, Fish and Wildlife Branch request that hunters do not harvest ear-tagged bighorn sheep in the East Kootenay. Click for more detail [PDF 89KB] 1 Sep 2008