Implement Mandatory Hunter Reporting requirements for elk
Last updated on January 12, 2026The 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
Species: Elk (rocky mountain and Roosevelt)
Closing date: February 13, 2026 at 4:30 pm PT
Current regulation:
Hunters must submit parts of elk harvested in regions 1 and 2, and MUs 4-8, 4-9, 4-14 to 4-19, 4-27 to 4-33, 4-37, 4-38, 5-2, 6-2, 6-4 to 6-6, 6-8 and 6-9 for compulsory inspection.
Hunters must do compulsory reporting for elk harvested in MUs 6-12 and 6-13 (Haida Gwaii).
Additional elk hunter and harvest information is collected through voluntary surveys.
Proposed regulation:
Remove requirements for compulsory inspection and compulsory reporting of elk.
Implement Mandatory Hunter Reporting (MHR) for elk province-wide.
Rationale:
In 2024 mandatory hunter reporting (MHR) for moose and caribou was enacted through the Hunting Regulations of the Wildlife Act. The data collected from that initiative is considered reliable. It is now proposed to extend this requirement to elk.
MHR requires any licensed hunter that purchases a species licence to report on their hunting activities, regardless of whether they harvested an animal or not. Information collected includes days hunted, where they hunted, and, if applicable, information on the harvest. MHR for moose and caribou must be done prior to January 15 of the following year, hunters that fail to report commit an offence and are ineligible to purchase a licence, LEH application or permit until the report is submitted.
MHR is considered more reliable than compulsory inspection or compulsory reporting and represent significantly less burden and resource requirements on both hunters and government, while providing quality data to aid in and inform stewardship decisions.