Reimplement early October LEH bull moose hunting seasons

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

Status: Proposed

Region: 5

Management unit (MU): 5-13, 5-14

Regulation type: Limited Entry Hunting

Species: Moose

Closing date: 16:30, March 22, 2024

Decision statement: Pending

Current regulation

Much of the Caribou Region has Oct 1-Oct 14 LEH seasons for bull moose. There are currently no Oct 1-Oct 14 moose LEH seasons in Zone A of 5-13, Zone C of 5-13 and M.U. 5-14; they were closed in 2018.

Proposed regulation

Re-instate the Oct 1-Oct 14 bull moose LEH seasons in Zone A of 5-13, Zone C of 5-13 and M.U. 5-14

Rationale

In 2018, the October 1 – October 14 LEH moose hunting seasons in 5-13A, 5-13C and 5-14 were closed in response to the 2017 Chilcotin Plateau Wildfire and Hanceville Wildfire.  The closures of the early October seasons were intended to be an immediate response to the wildfires to ensure that licenced harvest did not exceed sustainable levels.  At the time, there was uncertainty regarding the wildfires’ direct impact to moose populations and concern that moose would be more susceptible to harvest due to increased sightability.

Since 2017, the number of LEH permits in wildfire affected Zones have been adjusted downward using post-fire hunter success rates which accounts for any increase in vulnerability of moose.  In 2023, a Stratified Random Block survey was completed in Zone 5-13A which estimated 1,002 moose, 18% higher than when previously surveyed in 2017, just prior to the wildfires.  The bull:cow ratio estimate of 62 bulls per 100 cows is well above the provincial minimum target of 30 bulls per 100 cows.

Given the closure of the early October seasons were intended to be a short-term response to the 2017 wildfires and recent survey information is positive, the Ministry is proposing to reimplement the early October LEH seasons for bull moose in 5-13A, 5-13C and 5-14.

The Annual Allowable Harvest (AAH) for moose in the North Chilcotin is not proposed to be increased because of this regulation change.  LEH authorizations will be shifted out of the existing late October and November seasons and it is anticipated there will be reductions to the total LEH authorizations to account for the higher success rates expected in the Oct 1-Oct 14 season, relative to the later seasons.  This regulation change will allow LEH hunters to be spread out over a longer period, reducing hunter crowding and improving hunt quality.

Additional information

Proposed areas to open