New LEH zones for north Skeena moose

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

Status: Proposed

Region: 6

Management unit (MU): 6-19, 6-21, 6-22, 6-23, 6-24, 7-52

Regulation type: Limited Entry Hunting

Species: Moose

Closing date: 16:30, March 22, 2024

Decision statement: Pending

Current regulation

SPECIES	MANAGEMENT UNIT	CLASS	SEASON DATES	BAG LIMIT
MOOSE	▲▼ 6-17 to 6-29	Bulls	Aug 23 – Oct 31	1
	▼✽6-25 and 6-27	✢Bulls	Aug 23 – Sept 15
	✽6-21 to 6-24	✢Bulls	Sept 1 – Sept 30
	✽6-21 to 6-24, ▼✽6-25 and 6-27	✢Bulls	Oct 16 – Oct 31

Compulsory Inspection required for Moose taken in MUs 6-1 to 6-11, 6-15, 6-17 to 6-30, and that portion of MU 7-52 accessed by the Skeena Region (see Map H31). 

▲ Hunters Note: Parts of several MUs have special regulations, are closed to Moose hunting or are open by LEH authorization only. See Maps F35, F44, F45, F46; 

▼ A portion of MU 6-25 is closed to hunting of moose during the period Sept 25 - Oct 10, within 400 m of the shore of and over that portion of Teslin Lake south of the north end of Shaman Lake (also known as Burial Island), and including Shaman Island. see Map F35. 

✽ These antler restricted seasons apply to those areas within Dease River Moose Area (see Map F44), Iskut River Moose Area (see Map F45), and Atlin Lake Moose Area (see Map F46). 

✢ Open only for bull moose (a) having no more than two points (tines) on one antler (“Spike-fork bull moose”), (b) having antlers with at least three point (tines) on one brow palm (“Tripalm bull moose”) or (c) having at least one antler with a minimum of 10 points (tine), including the brow palm. See definitions section: Moose. The antlers must accompany the species licences. See Maps F41, F44, F45, and F46. 

Proposed regulation

Remove existing antler point restricted areas for moose and establish new LEH zones in portions of

management units 6-19 to 6-24 and 7-52, as shown on page 54 of the 2022-2024 Hunting and Trapping Regulations Synopsis. The Southern Iskut River Moose Area (as shown in map F45 on previous page) is proposed to be replaced with an any bull general open season.

There will be no antler point restrictions in proposed LEH or GOS areas.

SPECIES	SEASON	MANAGEMENT UNIT(S)	CLASS	SEASON DATES	BAG LIMIT
MOOSE	LEH	Portions of 6-19, 6-20, 6-21, 6-22, 6-23, 6-24, 7-52	BULL	Sept 10 – 24	1
	LEH	Portions of 6-19, 6-20, 6-21, 6-22, 6-23, 6-24, 7-52	BULL	Sept 25 – Oct 10
	LEH ARCHERY ONLY	Dease River Zone 1 (portions of WMU 6-23 and 6-24)	BULL	Sept 10 - 24
	LEH ARCHERY ONLY	Dease River Zone 1 (portions of WMU 6-23 and 6-24)	BULL	Sept 25 – Oct 10

Compulsory Inspection required for Moose taken in MUs 6-1 to 6-11, 6-15, 6-17 to 6-30, and that portion of MU 7-52 accessed by the Skeena Region (see Map H31). 

Proposed LEH Zone	Season Dates
(1) Cassiar	Sept 10 – 24
	Sept 25 – Oct 10
(2) Dease Lake	Sept 10 – 24
	Sept 25 – Oct 10
(3) Telegraph Creek to East Gnat Pass	Sept 10 – 24
	Sept 25 – Oct 10
(4) Jade Boulder	Sept 10 – 24
	Sept 25 – Oct 10
(5) Dease River 1 (south)	Sept 10 – 24
	Sept 25 – Oct 10
(6) Dease River 2 (central)	Sept 10 – 24
	Sept 25 – Oct 10
(7) Dease River 3 (north)	Sept 10 – 24
	Sept 25 – Oct 10
(8) Klastline	Sept 10 – 24
	Sept 25 – Oct 10

Rationale

Kaska Dena, Tahltan Central Government, 3 Nations Society, and the Government of British Columbia (BC) jointly developed this proposal due to concerns voiced by First Nations governments related to moose populations, sustenance and food security, and hunter crowding in roaded areas of the north Skeena region. The co-development of this proposal is consistent with changes in the Wildlife Act, DRIPA, and existing agreements between governments. Indigenous, local, and scientific knowledge were considered throughout the development of this proposal.

Concerns regarding increasing difficulty for First Nations people to meet their moose harvesting needs have been voiced by both the Tahltan Central Government and the Kaska Dena for a number of years. Community surveys and local and Indigenous knowledge show that many First Nations people have been unable to harvest moose in recent years and that the difficulty in harvesting a moose has increased over time. Community surveys and information provided by First Nations members also show that hunter crowding is a concern and has affected the ability of First Nations people to exercise their rights and meet their harvesting requirements during the fall licensed hunting season. Additionally, moose population surveys and Indigenous knowledge suggest that moose populations in some areas have declined. Indigenous and local knowledge also suggest that bull:cow ratios are low in areas which face high hunting pressure. Concerns have also been raised regarding the potential for increased hunting pressure from licensed hunters due to moose hunting restrictions implemented in the Peace Region in 2022.

This regulation change proposal is meant to alleviate concerns regarding high hunter density in areas which are commonly used by First Nations people exercising their harvesting rights and to ensure that overcrowding of hunters does not negatively affect hunt experience for all hunting user groups. Additionally, this regulation change would allow wildlife managers to better manage the licensed harvest numbers in areas where population declines and high licensed harvest are concerns. The implementation of LEH seasons in accessible moose hunting areas will allow wildlife managers to limit the number of hunters in a given area at a given time and ensure that hunter effort is spread out both spatially and temporally.

The proposed moose LEH zones overlap three moose population management units (PMUs): the Spatsizi PMU, the Lower Stikine PMU, and the Liard Basin PMU. Aerial population survey data for these PMUs is limited, although stratified random block surveys completed in the affected areas suggest that the Liard moose population is decreasing. The bull:cow ratio within the Liard PMU is also below provincial objectives. No recent survey data exists for the Spatsizi PMU.

The proposed regulation changes are designed to support moose recovery, Kaska and Tahltan meeting FSC (food, social, ceremonial) needs, and hunt quality.

Additional information

Proposed north Skeena moose LEH areas