Amend the Bullmoose/Chamberlain Mountain and the Southeast Peace Elevation Motor Vehicle Prohibition Areas

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

Status: Proposed

Region: 7B

Management unit (MU): 7-21, 7-22, 7-53, 7-58

Regulation type: Motor Vehicle Prohibition

Species: All

Closing date: 16:30, March 22, 2024

Decision statement: Pending

Current regulation

MU 7-21, 7-22

• Motor Vehicle Closed Areas: Above the 1524 meter elevation in the Bullmoose Chamberlain Mtn area, except BC Canada/Ocelot Petroleum West Bullmoose Road

MUs 7-19, 7-21 (southeast portion), 7-31, 7-35, 7-36, 7-43, 7-53, 7-57

• Motor Vehicle Closed Areas: Above the 1400 meter elevation. However, the use of snowmobiles (less than 450kg in weight) is allowed from Nov. 1 to April 30. Onion Lake Trail (MU 7-21) and Talisman et al Murray Road (c-22-E/93-I-15) are open year round.

Proposed regulation

Change the 1,524m elevation in the bull moose/chamberlain to 1,400m, remove MU 7-53 from, and add MU 7-58 to, the southeast motor vehicle closure:

MUs 7-19, 7-21 (southeast), 7-22, 7-31, 7-35, 7-36, 7-43, 7-57, 7-58

• Motor Vehicle Closed Areas: Above the 1400 meter elevation. However, the use of snowmobiles (less than 450kg in weight) is allowed from Nov. 1 to April 30. BP Canada/Ocelot Petroleum West Bullmoose Road (7-21), Onion Lake Trail (MU 7-21) and Talisman et al Murray Road (c-22-E/93-I-15) are open year round. 

Rationale

The Quintette caribou herd has shown a long-term declining population trend, although with the initiation of wolf management in 2014-15, this herd appears to have stabilized to 88 animals in 2019. The Province considers wolf management to be a short-term action to support caribou recovery while other longer-term tools, such as restoration, are put into effect. Reducing the elevational limit of the Bullmoose motor vehicle closure area to 1,400 m would allow for more effective restoration of linear features in the area, thereby reducing access for predators into high elevation habitat. Further, reducing the elevation to 1,400 m would improve alignment of the motor vehicle closure area with delineated high elevation winter and summer habitat, and reduce disturbance of the Quintette caribou. Alignment with Partnership Agreement Zone A2, an industrial and commercial moratorium area, would also improve with this amendment, and provide greater certainty to proponents. Increasing the size of the Bullmoose motor vehicle closure area is not expected to impact recreational users; the closest snowmobile areas are on Mounts Speiker and Reesor, which are currently proposed for full seasonal closures by the South Peace Snowmobile Advisory Committee.

The description in the Regulation is Southeast Peace Elevation Closure. MU 7-53 is north of the Liard River; maintaining the existing elevation closure in MU 7-53 could support the Liard caribou herd management efforts. Adding MU 7-58 would support Pink Mountain caribou herd recovery efforts which currently involves ecosystem restoration and predator control.

Additional information