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Species licences

Last updated on December 18, 2024

Species licences are required for hunting the following animals in B.C. and are required in addition to basic hunting licences:

  • Bison
  • Black Bear
  • Bobcat
  • Caribou
  • Cougar
  • Deer (mule/black-tailed and white-tailed)
  • Elk
  • Lynx
  • Moose
  • Mountain Goat
  • Mountain Sheep
  • Upland Game Birds (non-residents only)
  • Wolf (non-residents only)
  • Wolverine

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Where to buy species licences

Species licences can be purchased:

Online species licence purchases

If you buy your species licence online, they will be mailed to you and are subject to Canada Post standard delivery times. Species licences will only be mailed within Canada.

  • If between 15 to 30 business days from the purchase date, you have not received your licences in the mail, you may qualify for a free replacement licence by contacting FrontCounter BC.

You cannot buy a species licence online and pick it up in-person. If you are planning to hunt within a few days, you have the option to buy your species licences at a FrontCounter BC office, Service BC office or vendor location where you will receive your licences immediately.

Species licence fees

Prices listed below show the licence fee and the Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation (HCTF) surcharge. Prices do not include 5% GST.

B.C Resident Species Licence fees

B.C Resident Species Licence fees
Resident species Fee HCTF surcharge
Bison $56 $14
Black Bear $16 $4
Bobcat $7 $1
Caribou $16 $4
Cougar $24 $6
Elk $20 $5
Lynx $7 $1
Moose $20 $5
Mountain Goat $32 $8
Mountain Sheep $48 $12
Mule Deer $12 $3
Haida Gwaii Deer $8 $2
White-tailed Deer $12 $3
Wolverine $7 $1

Non-Resident and Non-Resident Alien Species Licence fees 

Non-Resident and Non-Resident Alien Species Licence fees.
Non-resident and non-resident alien species Fee HCTF Surcharge
Bison $490 $210
Black Bear $126 $54
Bobcat $28 $12
Caribou $161 $69
Cougar $161 $69
Elk $175 $75
Lyn $28 $12
Moose $175 $75
Mountain Goat $245 $105
Mountain Sheep $434 $186
Mule Deer $88 $37
Haida Gwaii Deer $18 $7
Upland Game Birds $35 $15
White-tailed Deer $88 $37
Wolf $35 $15
Wolverine $28 $12

Species licence information

  • Your licences will be visible on your Fish and Wildlife ID (FWID) profile in WILD.
  • Each species licence has a barcode that links to your FWID profile.
  • You must carry all your species licences for the current year while hunting, including both cancelled and uncancelled species licences.
  • Your FWID must be visible on your species licence.
  • You must notch your species licence to cancel it as soon as you harvest an animal.
  • Some species licences require a two-day waiting period before they can be used. The 2-day waiting period begins at 12:01 am the day after you buy your licence.
    • For example, if you buy a licence at 10:00 am on November 1, the two-day waiting period ends at 12:01 am on November 4.

If you buy your licences in person, you will be given a receipt that includes each licence you purchased, the licence number and the FWID associated with that species licence. If you buy online, you can print or view your receipt at any time from your FWID profile. You don’t need to carry this receipt while hunting, but it is proof that you have bought licences.

Lost, stolen or destroyed species licences

You must replace your lost, stolen or destroyed species licence, whether cancelled or uncancelled, if you plan to continue hunting during the current licence year.

To obtain a replacement, visit a FrontCounter BC location and provide the licence number of the species licence that was lost, stolen or destroyed.

If you need to replace a cancelled licence, you will need to declare the date, region number and antler configuration (where applicable) registered on the original cancelled licence.

There is a $10 fee to replace a species licence.

Refunds

It is important to review the licences to ensure they are correct prior to completing your purchase. With few exceptions, licences are non-refundable and non-transferable.

For more information on refunds, view the Refund of Fees policy (PDF, 1.13MB). This document contains reference to previous ministers or ministries responsible for wildlife at the time of publication. Periodic transfer of authority for natural resource management may not be reflected in this document.

Refund requests must be received in writing and the licences requested for a refund must be forwarded for review to the Wildlife Branch at FishandWildlife@gov.bc.ca with the subject line “Refund Request”.

Refunds will not be issued if you bought a licence and did not use it, or you bought the wrong licence.

Support for Species Licence

For more information on species licencing see the Frequently Asked Questions and How-to Guides.

For direct questions about species licencing, please contact FrontCounter BC.