Southern Skeena Elk 6 point bulls General Open Season

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

Status: Proposed

Region: 6

Management unit (MU): 6-1, 6-2, 6-4 to 6-6, 6-8, 6-9

Regulation type: General Open Season

Species: Elk

Closing date: 16:30, March 22, 2024

Decision statement: Pending

Current regulation

There are currently no general open seasons for Elk in MUs 6-1, 6-2, 6-4 to 6-6, 6-8, 6-9.

Proposed regulation

Creation of a new general open season (GOS) for bull elk with six or more antler points on at least one antler in management units 6-01, 6-02, 6-04, 6-05, 6-06, 6-08, and 6-09. The season dates would be October 1-9, inclusive. Existing limited entry hunting (LEH) seasons in the Skeena region for private land only would remain in place.

Elk

6-1, 6-2, 6-4 to 6-6, 6-8, 6-9

★ 6 Point Bulls

Oct 1 – Oct 9

Compulsory Inspection required for elk taken in Region 6, excluding Management Units 6-12 and 6-13.

★ See Definitions section: Elk. The antlers must accompany the species licence.

Rationale

This proposal has been developed to address concerns raised by landowners, stakeholders, and First Nations regarding the presence and both positive and negative impacts of elk in the southern Skeena Region. This proposal addresses feedback we have heard regarding First Nations use of elk for sustenance needs, landowner concerns regarding property damage, licensed hunter desire for elk hunting opportunity, and the biological impacts of elk on other species.

Elk have become an increasingly common sight in the southern Skeena Region over the past decade. Sightings of elk herds have become common near agricultural zones in the Bulkley Valley and Lakes District, and sightings have been reported even in remote areas across the southern Skeena Region. While the number of elk present in the area is largely unknown, there is a general consensus that the population has grown significantly over time. Survey data from stakeholder-led surveys of agricultural areas in 2016 and 2018, as well as aerial surveys conducted by the Ministry in 2004, 2011, and 2020 also suggest an increasing population.

The increasing presence of elk has created conflict with farmers and ranchers in the area, who face issues such as crop depredation, destruction of property, and conflict with livestock caused by elk. Additionally, there is some concern from First Nations and stakeholders about the impacts of elk on other ungulate species such as moose and mule deer. Elk hunting can be used as a tool to address some of these concerns, while also providing opportunities for First Nations, licensed hunters, and guide outfitters to benefit from the presence of elk in the area.

Ensuring that First Nations concerns are addressed was a priority during the development of this proposal. Feedback that has been received by the Ministry of Forests indicates that many Nations harvest elk to meet their sustenance and cultural requirements. Some Nations are concerned that increasing licensed elk hunting opportunity will result in an increase in hunter density in some areas. Other Nations have indicated that they do not want elk populations to continue to grow and they are concerned about potential interspecies impacts of increasing elk populations (e.g., moose).

Currently, licensed elk hunting opportunities in the Skeena Region are restricted to a small number of limited entry hunting (LEH) authorizations which are valid only on private land during the winter months. An increasing elk population presents an opportunity to provide increased licensed hunting opportunities and offset some of the lost hunting opportunity associated with the closure of the moose general open season (GOS) in the southern Skeena Region in 2022. A fall hunting season will allow for licensed elk hunters to be present on the landscape, specifically in and around private land, where elk populations are generally densest. The presence of hunters at this time of year will provide increased “hazing” of elk herds and result in displacement of elk from farmland, especially in areas where elk have been reported to cause damage to crops and property.

Six-point only hunting seasons for bull elk pose little threat to the population, as bulls are generally fully mature (approximately 4 years old) before attaining six antler points. This antler point restriction ensures that overharvest of bulls does not occur, as only a portion of bulls within the population are legal to harvest. As such, bull:cow ratios remain healthy. The Omineca Region currently manages elk using a 6-point GOS and has seen elk populations continue to increase over the past decade.

Additional information