Discontinue printing of the Hunting and Trapping Regulations Synopsis and Freshwater Fishing Regulations Synopsis

The public is invited to comment on the proposal described below.

Status: Proposed

Region: Province-wide

Management unit (MU): Province-wide

Regulation type: Not applicable

Species: All

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

Current regulation:

This is not a proposed change to regulations.

Every even year the B.C. government prints hard copies of the Hunting and Trapping Regulations Synopsis and ships copies to licence vendors throughout B.C. The next edition of the Hunting and Trapping Regulations Synopsis will be in effect from July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2028.

Every odd year the B.C. government prints hard copies of the Freshwater Fishing Regulations Synopsis and ships copies to licence vendors throughout B.C. The next edition of the Freshwater Fishing Regulations Synopsis will be in effect from April 1, 2027 to March 31, 2029.

Proposed regulation:

This is not a proposed change to regulations.

It is proposed that the B.C. government stop printing of the Hunting and Trapping Regulations Synopsis and the Freshwater Fishing Regulations Synopsis.

Rationale:

The Freshwater Fishing and Hunting/Trapping synopses are produced on alternating biennial cycles, with approximately 150,000 to 200,000 printed copies distributed over two years. The estimated cost of producing printed synopses is around $93,000 per year.

The Wildlife and Ecosystems Branch is considering ending printed synopses and moving to digital versions starting in 2026.

Printed copies are easy to carry and don’t rely on devices or internet access, making them useful in remote areas. Physical copies can also help improve awareness and understanding of hunting regulations and support education and compliance efforts.

In contrast, digital versions allow for updates and corrections that are not possible in printed copies and align with evolving user preferences, supported by improved mobile connectivity and hunting apps. Hunters typically only need a fraction of the 80-page synopsis, and individuals can print or save copies of the relevant sections as needed.

In 2020, the B.C. government discontinued printing the annual Limited Entry Hunt Synopsis due to COVID-related distribution challenges. While there were initial concerns about this shift, the transition showed that moving to digital access may be both possible and acceptable for many users.

Most Canadian provinces and territories still print synopses, with a few exceptions. Quebec does not print any, while, Newfoundland and Labrador offers their hunting and fishing synopsis online and only prints a limited number of condensed versions each year. Nova Scotia prints their angling synopses but does not print their hunting synopsis..

This is not a proposed change to regulations, however the B.C. government is seeking public feedback on this proposed operational change.

Provide feedback