Bighorn sheep and mountain goat export exemption for the purposes of compulsory inspection
Last updated on January 12, 2026The public is invited to comment on the proposed hunting regulation described below.
Status: Proposed
Region: Region 7B, Peace
Management unit (MU): 7-19
Regulation type: Hunting
Species: Bighorn sheep, mountain goat
Closing date: February 13, 2026 at 4:30 pm PT
Current regulation:
It is an offence to export wildlife from B.C. unless all provisions of the Wildlife Act, including compulsory inspection (CI), have been complied with. Currently bighorn sheep and mountain goat hunters are unable to legally export bighorn sheep or mountain goats from MU 7-19, a remote area, through Alberta and back to B.C. due to the requirement for a CI.
Proposed regulation:
B.C. hunters possessing a mountain goat or mountain sheep harvested in MU 7-19, who must drive through Alberta and back into B.C. in order to submit the animal for CI, are exempt from obtaining an export permit for this purpose on highway 43 between the Alberta and British Columbia border and Grande Prairie, Alberta, highway 40 between Grande Prairie and Hinton, Alberta and highway 16 between Hinton and the border between Alberta and British Columbia. Consult map (PDF, 1MB).
Rationale:
There are populations of Bighorn Sheep (Ovis canadensis) and mountain goats within MU 7-19 in the Torrens Mountain/Narraway River area approximately 100 km Southeast of Tumbler Ridge. Access into this habitat range for hunting is mainly through oil and gas access roads that enter BC through the West side of the range from Alberta. Access into this area does exist through British Columbia, however, it is mainly confined to horseback.
Due to the increased amount of access through Alberta, many B.C. resident hunters have preferred to access the area through these access roads. However, if a hunter is successful in their hunt, there is currently no means for them to conduct a CI or apply for an export permit prior to leaving British Columbia and re-entering Alberta, nor is there any current means for an exemption to be applied for.