Add management units 5-8 and 5-11 to existing white-tailed deer general open seasons

The public is invited to comment on the proposed hunting regulation described below.

Status: Proposed

Region: Region 5, Cariboo

Management unit (MU): 5-08, 5-11

Regulation type: Hunting

Species: White-tailed deer

Closing date: February 13, 2026 at 4:30 pm PT

Current regulation:

From the Hunting and Trapping Regulations Synopsis (PDF, 14MB):

*Restricted to hunters under the age of 18.

Proposed regulation:

Add management units 5-08 and 5-11 to existing white-tailed deer general open seasons.

*Restricted to hunters under the age of 18.

Rationale:

A key goal for the Wildlife Branch and wildlife managers in B.C. is to manage wildlife in a way that benefits wildlife, people, and the environment. Growing white-tailed deer populations can provide more hunting opportunities, but they can also negatively impact other species, specifically mule deer. Expanding white-tailed deer hunting seasons in Region 5 is a way to help manage increasing white-tailed deer populations, while also addressing the potential impacts on species such as mule deer.

The effects of increasing white-tailed deer on mule deer populations in the Cariboo is not fully known. The level of impact will likely depend on how much white-tailed deer numbers increase and how far they expand into the area. However, studies have shown that white-tailed deer can negatively affect mule deer through competition and hybridization. Increased white-tailed deer populations can bring more predators to an area and, therefore, may result in higher predation rates on mule deer and other ungulates.

Providing hunting opportunities, where appropriate, is an objective of the B.C. Wildlife Branch. White-tailed deer are a popular game species across North America, and their populations are more resilient to higher harvest rates because they can reproduce quickly. Attitudes towards white-tailed deer in the Cariboo vary between individuals, stakeholder groups and First Nations. Some people see their expansion as a net-positive, and others have concerns. For these reasons, providing sustainable hunting opportunity has generally been supported.

Hunting both male and female white-tailed deer is a common management technique to control populations and has been effective in many jurisdictions. Although hunting is used as a tool to control populations, it is unlikely that harvest in MUs 5-08 and 5-11 will be large enough to significantly decrease the white-tailed deer population due to the remoteness and low hunter numbers in the area.

There is very little risk in implementing this regulation change, as harvest rates are expected to be low and white-tailed deer are resilient to harvest. A small reduction in white-tailed deer population growth has the potential to give mule deer more time to adjust to the presence of white-tailed deer. Increased hunting opportunities for white-tailed deer in MUs 5-08 and 5-11 may also result in a decrease in hunting pressure on mule deer in the area, as hunters will have the opportunity to meet their harvesting needs with a meat source other than mule deer.

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