Clarification of Cougar Kitten Definition

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

Status: Proposed

Region: Province-wide

Management unit (MU): Province-wide

Regulation type: Hunting Regulation

Species: Cougar

Closing date: 16:30, March 22, 2024

Decision statement: Pending

Current regulation

Cougar Kitten: a spotted cougar, or a cougar less than one year of age, as determined by the regional manager or designate. 

Proposed regulation

Cougar Kitten: any cougar showing spots on the hind legs.

Rationale

The intention of this regulation change is to provide clarity to the definition of cougar kitten by removing the reference to “less than one year of age, as determined by the regional manager or designate.” in the current definition to improve enforcement abilities. 

The current definition is challenging to enforce, the age component is challenging to determine without close inspection/tooth analysis, which is only possible after the cougar has been killed; a hunter can't know whether the cougar they are pursuing is considered legal or not, pursuant to the “less than one year of age, as determined by the regional manager of designate” part of the definition, until after the kill occurs. 

Cougars lose their spots as they mature, and the spots on the hind legs are the last to go. A cougar with spots on their hind legs is still considered a juvenile and potentially still part of a family unit. Having hunters focus their attention on the hind legs to search for spots ensures that there is no open season on any juvenile cougar.

Additional information

N/A