Amalgamate limited entry hunting (LEH) zones for youth-only private-land elk hunts in Vanderhoof

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

Status: Proposed

Region: Region 7A, Omineca

Management unit (MU): 7-12, 7-13, 7-14 and 7-15

Regulation type: Limited Entry Hunting

Species: Elk

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

Current regulation:

Limited Entry Hunting Regulations (PDF, 11MB):

Omineca age-restricted hunts:

The following hunt is open only to hunters who are under the age of 18 and who possess a valid Fish and Wildlife ID (FWID) and have an active hunting credential or license exemption credential. To qualify as under 18, an applicant’s 18th birthday must fall on or after August 1, 2025. Hunters who are under the age of 18 at the time of their hunt must be accompanied and closely supervised while hunting by a person who is 18 years of age or older and who meet the qualifications of a Supervising Hunter for Youth see details at www.gov.bc.ca/hunting.

* Restricted to private land only. Permission of the landowner must be obtained prior to the hunt. It is the hunter’s responsibility to locate landowners willing to allow hunter access.

Proposed regulation:

Amalgamate Vanderhoof (7-12, 7-13, 7-14, 7-25) youth-only LEH opportunities to simplify regulations and allow resident hunters easier access to properties experiencing elk depredation and damages. Remains private land only for antlerless elk hunting opportunities during the fall (Youth-only).

** Restricted to private land only within MU 7-12, 7-13, 7-14, and 7-25

Rationale:

Over the past two years elk populations in MUs 7-12, 7-13, 7-14 and 7-25 have increased by 25%. Also during this time period, private landowners have contacted us regarding increasing conflict with elk, including damage to fences, crops and agricultural land. One tool to address elk/human conflict on this private property, is to use LEH authorizations for antlerless elk in the fall and winter, in an attempt to haze elk away from the property, while also providing hunting opportunities to resident hunters. As we progress towards the next regulation change cycle, stakeholders have requested increases to these LEH authorizations during early engagements. These authorizations were increased in 2024 and 2025, for both youth and non-youth antlerless LEH.

The objective of this proposal is to address hunter access to private land for elk haze hunt. Management of the haze hunt has previously involved issuing Wildlife MU-specific authorizations, but pairing hunters with landowners is always a challenge. Amalgamating the zones in areas of similar elk populations and conflict areas (Robson Valley, Prince George, Vanderhoof) provides flexibility for landowners to have more hunters harvest elk on their property if desired and allows hunters more options for private property for which their authorization is valid. Additional proposals are being submitted to harmonize LEH antlerless opportunities in the southern Omineca.

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