Expand current sharp-tailed grouse hunting season to include MU 5-01

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

Status: Proposed

Region: 5

Management unit (MU): 5-1

Regulation type: General Open Season

Species: Sharp tailed grouse

Closing date: 16:30, March 22, 2024

Decision statement: Pending

Current regulation

SHARP-TAILED GROUSE 5-2 to 5-6, 5-12 to 5-14            Sept 10 - Nov 30         5 (10)

See closed areas in MUs 5-3 and 5-14, Maps E7 and E24

Proposed regulation

SHARP-TAILED GROUSE 5-1 to 5-6, 5-12 to 5-14            Sept 10 - Nov 30         5 (10)

See closed areas in MUs 5-3 and 5-14, Maps E7 and E24

Rationale

Licenced sharp-tailed grouse hunting in British Columbia is managed under open seasons with daily bag limits ranging from three (Peace Region) to five (Thompson and Cariboo Regions). Currently, in the Cariboo Region there is an open sharp-tailed grouse hunting season from September 10 through November 30 in MUs 5-2 to 5-06 and 5-12 to 5-15.  Areas with exploitation concerns are closed to hunting, including the grassland areas of MUs 5-03 and 5-14.

Sharp-tailed grouse respond positively to increased forage following wildfires and forest development.  Anecdotal reports suggest that sharp-tailed grouse numbers have increased in recent years in MUs 5-02 and 5-01, as well as the areas affected by the 2017 Chilcotin Wildfires.

In consideration of reports of sharp-tailed grouse increases, it is proposed to expand the existing sharp-tailed grouse hunting season to include MU 5-01.  This would align with hunting seasons which are currently in place in neighboring MUs 5-02, 3-32 and 3-31.

Additional information