Limited Entry Hunting

Limited Entry Hunting Regulations Synopsis

Limited Entry Hunting Synopsis 2008-2009 [PDF 5.31MB]
[PDF 5.31MB]

Limited Entry Hunting (LEH) are hunting opportunities created via a "lottery", and the details are found in the LEH Synopsis. Participation in the LEH draw is available to any resident of B.C. who legally possesses a B.C. Resident Hunter Number.

The purpose of Limited Entry Hunting is to achieve wildlife management objectives without resorting to such measures as shortening seasons or completely closing areas. It is only introduced where it has become necessary to limit the number of hunters, limit the number of animals that may be taken, or limit the harvest to a certain "class" of animal.

View 2008/2009 Limited Entry Hunting Kootenay Elk maps

To find out more, please download:
How the Limited Entry Hunting System Works
[PDF 95KB]

If you have any questions about Limited Entry Hunting,
contact the LEH office at: 250 356-5142
LimitedEntry.Hunting@gov.bc.ca

The Limited Entry Hunting Regulations Synopsis is now being distributed to local vendors where hunting licences and LEH application cards are sold. Applications for the 2008/2009 LEH draw MUST be received in Victoria by 4:30 pm June 13, 2008.

Success in the Draw

Success in the Limited Entry draw is simply a matter of random luck. The odds that are published beside each hunt give an indication of the likelihood of a successful application, but they do not guarantee anything. For example, odds of 3 to 1 suggest that one out of three applicants will be drawn, but for any one person, this is not a sure thing. With such odds, an individual could be lucky and be drawn twice in three tries or be unlucky and apply for eight straight years without success.

Contrary to the beliefs of many, repeat success in the Limited Entry draw is actually quite low. Successful applicants have their chances reduced in subsequent draws in order to improve the chances of those who have been unsuccessful. In most cases of repeated success, an applicant has been applying for very lightly subscribed hunts.

If you have lost a Limited Entry Hunting authorization, a duplicate can be issued to you at most Service BC Offices free of charge.

2009 Special Limited Entry Hunts for Residents

Roosevelt Elk and Mountain Sheep special limited entry hunts are available to Resident Hunters in 2009. For details, click here [PDF 151KB].

Eligibility

Any resident who is eligible to hunt in B.C. (holds a Resident Hunter Number in good standing) may apply. A resident who applies for the Special LEH draw may also apply for any regular LEH draw.

Special LEH applications are available from regular LEH application outlets as well as online at the following link: Application and Visa/Mastercard authorization forms [PDF 113KB] for Roosevelt Elk and Special Sheep Limited Entry Hunts [PDF 363KB]. The application fee for each Special LEH is $15.75 (including GST). Cheques are not accepted for online applications, you must use Visa or Mastercard and fax your application to 250 387-4339.

$10 from each application fee will be directed to a special account in the Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation (HCTF) for projects specific to Sheep and Elk management.

These special hunts are supported by the BC Wildlife Federation, the Guide Outfitters Association of BC, the Wild Sheep Society of B.C. and the B.C. chapter or the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation.

While the Special LEH allows the animal to be taken in excess of the regular bag limit, a second Species Licence may not be purchased until after the first Species Licence has been cancelled. If an animal is harvested during the special hunt, it will not be considered in the calculation of reduced odds for future LEH applications.

There is only one special resident LEH authorization for Roosevelt Elk and one for Mountain Sheep.

Download an Application and Visa/Mastercard authorization form [PDF 113KB] for Roosevelt Elk and Special Sheep Limited Entry Hunts [PDF 43KB]. If you are purchasing multiple applications please consolidate onto one form. Indicate # of applications purchased X $15.75 and the total $ amount to be applied to your Visa or Mastercard.

These authorizations are not transferable to another hunter. There are NO group hunt applications for this draw. The fee is NOT REFUNDABLE.

Successful Applicant

The successful applicant for the Special LEH must hold a valid Resident Hunting Licence, the Elk or Mountain Sheep Species Licence, and the Special LEH authorization while hunting. Please note that, while the Special LEH authorization allows the hunter to harvest 2 elk or 2 sheep in the licence year, the hunter CANNOT hold more than one uncancelled elk or sheep Species Licence at any one time.

Notification

The winners of the Special LEH authorizations will be notified by mail in addition to being posted on this website.

Unsuccessful applicants will NOT be notified.

Draw Status

The number of authorizations for the Spring 2008 Grizzly Bear hunt
are now available online!

Click for more detail [PDF 13KB]
Note: There was an error in the hunt codes of for zones A, B and C of MU 6-20. This error was only in the online posting that appeared on the site January 18th. This error has been corrected as of January 19th. The LEH synopsis has the correct codes. Please double check your codes if you applied for a hunt in these zones. Thank you.

The 2008 Special Limited Entry Elk and Sheep Hunts have been drawn!

The winner of the 2008 Special Sheep draw is Robert W. Shatzko.

The winner of the 2008 Special Elk draw is Jean R.G. Noel.

The draws were conducted on July 18, 2007, at the Fish and Wildlife Branch headquarters in Victoria. They were drawn by Joan Hesketh, Deputy Minister.

The 2008 Limited Entry Draw Has Been Run!

You can check your draw results by clicking this link.  Search for your draw results by entering your Hunter Number into the box provided and click "submit".

  • If you are successful, your hunt(s) will be listed by Hunt Code(s)*.
  • If you are unsuccessful, "NIL" will appear in the Hunt Code area.
    *(Please refer to LEH Synopsis for Hunt Code Descriptions.)

If you have any questions, you may contact the LEH Office at:
250 356-5142 or LimitedEntry.Hunting@gov.bc.ca

  • We regret that First Nation hunters may not be able to check their Limited Entry draw results on this website.  For protection of privacy reasons access to draw results is by British Columbia resident hunter number only.  The use of the hunter number rather than the hunter's name is intended to prevent access to draw results by anyone other than the person who applied for the draw.  First Nation hunters who do not have a resident hunter number may check their draw results by contacting the Ministry of Environment at: 250 356-5142.