Realign limited entry hunting (LEH) Zones 5-3A, 5-4B and 5-6A with previous extents (MU boundaries)
Last updated on January 12, 2026The public is invited to comment on the proposed hunting regulation described below.
Status: Proposed
Region: Region 5, Cariboo
Management unit (MU): 5-3A, 5-4B, 5-6A
Regulation type: Limited Entry Hunting
Species: Moose (primarily)
Closing date: February 13, 2026 at 4:30 pm PT
Current regulation:
In the LEH Synopsis (PDF, 11MB):
LEH Zones 5-3A, 5-4B and 5-6A:
Map 5F) Cariboo – bull moose (map of Zone A of 5-6)
Map 5J) Cariboo – bull moose (map of Zones 5-4B and 5-3A)
Proposed regulation:
Remove closed section and realign zones with management unit boundaries
- 5-3A becomes 5-3 (aligned with management unit boundary)
- 5-4B expanded to include previously closed area
- 5-6A becomes 5-6 (aligned with management unit boundary)
Consult map (PDF, 382KB).
Rationale:
The 2017 Chilcotin Plateau and Elephant Hill wildfires significantly affected important moose habitat in the Cariboo Region. These fires likely heightened moose vulnerability, reduced the cover moose use to hide from predators and people, which raised concerns that moose would be easier to see and more vulnerable to hunting.
In response licensed hunting opportunities were temporarily closed in parts of three wildfire-affected LEH zones in the Chilcotin during the 2018 hunting season. These closures were put in place as a precaution to protect vulnerable populations while conditions were assessed. The closures applied to portions of LEH Zones 5-3, 5-4, and 5-6, and the zone boundaries were adjusted to reflect these changes.
The moose hunting closures in parts of LEH Zones 5-3, 5-4 and 5-5 were intended to be temporary. They were put in place as a precaution given uncertainty about the wildfire impacts, to support recovery and First Nations’ concerns, and were meant to be reviewed.
As a result of continued monitoring, aerial surveys of moose have not shown a decline in populations in the burned areas and ongoing inventories have been completed in several LEH zones impacted by the 2017 wildfires.
In LEH Zone 5-13A, which was significantly impacted by the 2017 wildfires, moose density estimate has increased by 18% compared to pre-fire population estimates. Bull-to-cow ratios in the Chilcotin also exceed the provincial harvest objective of 30 bulls to 100 cows.
In addition, the B.C. Ministry of Forestry, in partnership with First Nations, has restored many fire guards and access roads. Based on this information, the closed areas in LEH Zones 5-3, 5-4 and 5-6 are no longer required to meet moose harvest objective, nor should additional opportunities affect our goal to continue to recovery populations in these management units. Realigning LEH Zones 5-3A, 5-4B and 5-6A back to their previous management unit boundaries is being proposed to increase flexibility to distribute hunters. LEH authorizations will continue to be assessed to account for hunter success which is monitored annually.