B.C. resident hunting

Hunting offers residents the opportunity to explore B.C.'s world-renowned back-country and enjoy the natural wonders of our province. Hunters should be familiar with B.C. Hunting and Trapping Regulations Synopsis.

All resident hunters must have a Fish and Wildlife ID and hunting credentials. 

Definition of B.C. resident

Under the Wildlife Act, a B.C. resident is a person who is:

1. A Canadian citizen or permanent resident of Canada, whose only or primary residence is in British Columbia and who has been physically present in British Columbia for the greater portion of each of 6 calendar months out of the 12 calendar months immediately before doing a thing under the Wildlife Act

OR

2. A person who is not a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident of Canada, whose only or primary residence is in British Columbia and who has been physically present in British Columbia for the greater portion of each of the 12 calendar months immediately before doing a thing under the Wildlife Act

Licences

There are three types of hunting licences available to B.C. residents:

• Hunting Licence
• Initiation Hunting Licence
• Youth Hunting Licence

A hunting licence, in combination with the appropriate species licence (if required), provides a hunter with a personal bag limit.

For more information on resident hunting, licence fees and how to submit an application for a licence, permit or authorization refer to WILD credentials, Hunting licences, Species licences and Quick reference guides.

Firearm regulations

As a resident of B.C., you need a federal firearms licence (PAL or POL) in order to legally possess firearms here. The old Firearms Acquisition Certificate (FAC) is expired and must be converted to PAL. For more information please visit Canadian Firearms Program.

If you do not own a firearm and your hunting partner lends you one, provided that he or she directly and immediately supervises you, you may hunt with that firearm. The person supervising must have a federal firearms licence (PAL or POL).

Youth (ages 10 to 17 inclusive) who hunt in B.C. must be accompanied by an adult (18 years or older) who holds a valid hunting licence. Under the Wildlife Act, “accompanied” means to remain:

• In the company of the other person
• Able to see the other person without the aid of any device other than ordinary corrective lenses
• Able to communicate by unamplified voice with the other person

Harvest questionnaire

The harvest questionnaire is a survey that is mailed to resident hunters each year to determine hunters’ harvest and effort for general open season (GOS) and/or limited entry hunting (LEH). The information collected through the questionnaire is used to support a variety of wildlife management decisions in British Columbia.

For additional information, refer to the B.C. Resident Harvest Questionnaire FAQ.