B.C. Reg. 8/99

O.C. 35/99
Deposited January 15, 1999

Wildlife Act

Hunting Licensing Regulation

[includes amendments up to B.C. Reg. 159/2008, June 26, 2008]

Contents
  Definitions
Part 1 — Licences and Hunter Numbers
  2–4  Repealed
  Two licences required
  Species licence not valid until 2 days after the date of issue
  Licence must be cancelled
  Responsibility for underage hunter
  Obtaining a resident hunter number and card
  10  Surrender of hunter number card
  11  Only one hunter number allowed
  12  Underage requirement
  13  Resident hunter number card required
  14  Application may be by mail
  15  Number of licences limited to one
  16  Number of licences limited variously
  17  Number of licences limited to 10
  18  Lost hunter number card
  18.1  Lost licence
  19  Fee schedule
  20  Licence issuing prohibition
  21  Junior licence
  22  Junior licence exemption
  23  Guide exemption
  23.1  Waterfowler Heritage Days exemption
Part 2 — Fraser Valley Special Hunting Area
  24  Definitions
  25  Two licences required
  26  Exemption
  27  Insurance required
  28  No licence issued without insurance
Part 3 — Gulf Islands Special Hunting Area
  29  Definitions
  30  Two licences required
  31  Insurance or guide required and exemption
  32  No licence issued without insurance
Schedule

Definitions

1 In this regulation:

""Act"" means the Wildlife Act;

""junior"" means a person 10 years of age or older but under the age of 14 years;

""licence year"" means the period commencing April 1 in a calendar year and ending March 31 of the following calendar year.

(2)  Repealed. [B.C. Reg. 166/2001, s. 2.]

[am. B.C. Regs. 435/2000, s. 1; 23/2001, s. 2; 84/2001, s. 1; 166/2001, s. 2.]

Part 1 — Licences and Hunter Numbers

Repealed

2–4 Repealed. [B.C. Reg. 340/2005, s. 5.]

Two licences required

5 (1)  A person commits an offence if the person hunts bobcat, bison, black bear, black-tailed deer, caribou, cougar, elk, fallow deer, grizzly bear, lynx, moose, mountain goat, mountain sheep, mule deer, white-tailed deer or wolverine unless he or she holds a hunting licence and an uncancelled species licence for the species hunted.

(2)  A person who is a non-resident or non-resident alien commits an offence if the person hunts upland game birds or wolf unless he or she holds a hunting licence and an uncancelled species licence for the species hunted.

Species licence not valid until 2 days after the date of issue

6 A species licence for bobcat, caribou, cougar, grizzly bear, lynx, mountain goat, mountain sheep or wolverine is not valid until 2 days after the date of issue.

[en. B.C. Reg. 138/2002, s. (a).]

Licence must be cancelled

7 (1)  If a person hunts and kills big game, he or she commits an offence unless, immediately after he or she kills the big game and before handling the big game killed, he or she cancels the appropriate species licence in accordance with the instructions on that licence.

(2)  Repealed. [B.C. Reg. 84/2001, s. 2.]

[am. B.C. Reg. 84/2001, s. 2.]

Responsibility for underage hunter

8 (1)  A person commits an offence if he or she issues a hunting licence or junior hunting licence to or for a person under 18 years of age, unless the parent or guardian of the person under 18 years of age personally presents to the licence issuer a completed and signed "Acknowledgment of Responsibility" form for his or her child or ward.

(2)  An "Acknowledgment of Responsibility" form must contain

(a) the name, birth date and address of the child or ward applying for a licence, or on whose behalf the application is made,

(b) a statement that the parent or guardian will be fully responsible for the actions of his or her child or ward while the child or ward is hunting or carrying a firearm,

(c) a statement that the child or ward will be accompanied and under the close personal supervision of a person of at least 18 years of age while the child or ward is hunting or carrying a firearm,

(d) the name and signature of the parent or guardian, and

(e) the date of the signing of the form.

[am. B.C. Reg. 159/2008, s. 1.]

Obtaining a resident hunter number and card

9 (1)  A resident may obtain a resident hunter number and resident hunter number card by applying to a government agent or person employed in an office of the ministry who is authorized to issue resident hunter numbers, and producing to that person

(a) a CORE certificate as defined in B.C. Reg. 53/98, the Hunter Safety Training Regulation, or

(b) a document issued by a province of Canada, other than British Columbia, or a state of the United States of America evidencing successful completion of a hunter safety training course, and

(c) a document evidencing that the applicant is a resident.

(2)  A resident hunter number card must contain a unique resident hunter number permanently assigned to the individual to whom it is issued.

(3)  A resident hunter number and resident hunter number card must not be issued to a person under the age of 10 years.

(4)  If the holder of a hunter number card changes his or her legal name, he or she must

(a) notify the director of the change within 30 days of the change, and

(b) submit a document to the director evidencing the legal name change.

(5)  If the holder of a hunter number card changes his or her residential address, he or she must notify the director of the change within 30 days of the change.

(6)  A person who fails to comply with subsection (4) or (5) commits an offence.

[am. B.C. Reg. 128/2000, s. 1.]

Surrender of hunter number card

10 (1)  If a person who holds a resident hunter number card ceases to be a resident, the person's resident hunter number and resident hunter number card are suspended for as long as he or she is not a resident.

(2)  If a person who holds a resident hunter number card ceases to be a resident, the person commits an offence if they fail to surrender their resident hunter number card to the director within 30 days.

(3)  If a person who holds a resident hunter number card has his or her hunting licence suspended or cancelled under the Act, the person's resident hunter number and resident hunter number card are suspended until he or she becomes eligible to obtain or hold a hunting licence and to hunt.

[am. B.C. Reg. 128/2000, s. 2.]

Only one hunter number allowed

11 A person who applies for, obtains or uses more than one resident hunter number commits an offence.

Underage requirement

12 A person 10 years of age or older and under the age of 18 years is ineligible to obtain a resident hunting licence unless he or she

(a) applies in person in the presence of his or her parent or guardian, and

(b) presents for inspection by the licence issuer his or her resident hunter number card.

[am. B.C. Reg. 159/2008, s. 1.]

Resident hunter number card required

13 (1)  A person 18 years of age or older is ineligible to obtain a resident hunting licence unless he or she presents for inspection by the licence issuer his or her resident hunter number card.

(2)  A person commits an offence if the person issues a resident hunting licence to a person who has not complied with section 12 or subsection (1).

[am. B.C. Reg. 159/2008, s. 1.]

Application may be by mail

14 (1)  Despite sections 8 and 12, a parent or guardian who is

(a) not a resident, or

(b) is a resident living in a remote area of British Columbia or living apart from his or her child or ward

may apply by mail for a hunting licence for his or her resident child or ward to a government agent or a person employed in an office of the ministry who is authorized to issue hunting licences, and must submit with his or her application

(c) a completed and signed "Acknowledgment of Responsibility" form, and

(d) the child or ward's resident hunter number card.

(2)  Despite section 13, a resident living in a remote area of British Columbia may apply by mail for a hunting licence to a government agent or a person employed in an office of the ministry who is authorized to issue hunting licences, and must submit with his or her application his or her resident hunter number card.

Number of licences limited to one

15 For the purpose of section 14 of the Act, during a licence year, a person must not obtain or possess more than one of each of the following licences:

(a) a hunting licence set out in item 2 of the Schedule, excluding item 2 (f);

(b) a bison species licence;

(c) a caribou species licence;

(d) an elk species licence;

(e) a grizzly bear species licence;

(f) a lynx species licence;

(g) a moose species licence;

(h) a mountain goat species licence;

(i) a mountain sheep species licence;

(j) an upland game bird species licence;

(k) a wolverine species licence.

[en. B.C. Reg. 84/2001, s. 3; am. B.C. Regs. 65/2007, s. 2 (a); 167/2007, s. (a).]

Number of licences limited variously

16 (1)  For the purpose of section 14 of the Act, the maximum number of licences of each kind that a person may obtain or possess, during each licence year, is as follows:

(a) 2 black bear species licences;

(b) 5 bobcat species licences;

(c) 3 cougar species licences;

(d) 3 mule deer species licences;

(e) 15 Queen Charlotte Islands deer species licences ;

(f) 10 wolf species licences;

(g) 3 white-tailed deer species licences.

(h) Repealed. [B.C. Reg. 167/2007, s. (b).]

(2)  Repealed. [B.C. Reg. 138/2002, s. (b).]

en. B.C. Reg. 84/2001, s. 4; am. B.C. Regs. 138/2002, s. (b); 267/2003, s. (a); 65/2007, s. 2 (b); 167/2007, s. (b).]

Number of licences limited to 10

17 If a person, during a licence year, obtains or possesses more than 15 of any combination of

(a) mule deer species licences,

(b) Queen Charlotte Islands deer species licences, and

(c) white-tailed deer species licences

he or she commits an offence.

[en. B.C. Reg. 84/2001, s. 5; am. B.C. Reg. 267/2003, s. (b).]

Lost hunter number card

18 A duplicate copy of a hunter number card may be issued by an employee of the ministry authorized to issue hunter number cards or a government agent if the holder of the hunter number card

(a) signs a declaration evidencing that the hunter number card has been lost or destroyed, and

(b) pays the fee set out in the Schedule.

[en. B.C. Reg. 35/2004, s. 1.]

Lost licence

18.1 A duplicate copy of a licence may be issued if the holder of the licence

(a) completes a statement of loss in the form specified by the director, and

(b) pays the fee set out in the Schedule.

[en. B.C. Reg. 35/2004, s. 2.]

Fee schedule

19 The fees and habitat conservation trust fund surcharges payable for a hunting licence are those in the Schedule.

[am. B.C. Reg. 340/2005, s. 6.]

Licence issuing prohibition

20 A person who issues himself or herself a licencelisted in the Schedule commits an offence.

Junior licence

21 A junior licence may be issued on behalf of a junior whether or not the junior has completed a course of training prescribed under section 18 of the Act, but if he or she hunts under the licence, wildlife killed by him or her must be included in the bag limit of the person who accompanies the junior under section 11 (5) of the Act.

Junior licence exemption

22 If a junior, on whose behalf a junior hunting licence has been issued, is accompanied by and under close personal supervision of a licensed guide who is guiding him or her, the junior is exempt from section 17 (9) of the Act to the extent that the junior may kill and possess small game as if he or she held an adult hunting licence.

Guide exemption

23 If a licensed guide, while acting as a guide, accompanies a person under the age of 18 years, the guide is exempt from the requirement to hold a hunting licence in section 11 (5) of the Act for the purposes of guiding the person.

[am. B.C. Reg. 159/2008, s. 1.]

Waterfowler Heritage Days exemption

23.1 (1)  A person who is at least 10 years of age and less than 18 years of age and who is ordinarily resident in Canada is exempt from section 11 (1.1) of the Act while hunting for ducks and geese during designated Waterfowler Heritage Days, as described in the Hunting Regulation, B.C. Reg. 190/84.

(2)  The person over 18 years of age who accompanies a person referred to in subsection (1) must include any ducks or geese killed by the younger person in his or her bag limit.

(3)  The person referred to in subsection (1) is not exempt from section 11 (1.1) of the Act unless his or her parent or guardian has completed and signed an "Acknowledgment of Responsibility" as described in section 8 (2) for his or her child or ward.

(4)  The person referred to in subsection (1) is not exempt from section 11 (1.1) of the Act if he or she is ineligible to obtain or renew a licence or is prohibited from hunting under section 24 (2), (5) and (12) of the Act.

[en. B.C. Reg. 172/2001, s. (a); am. B.C. Regs. 340/2005, s. 7; 159/2008, s. 1.]

Part 2 — Fraser Valley Special Hunting Area

Definitions

24 In this Part:

""special area"" means the Fraser Valley special hunting area comprised of MU 2-4 and those areas within MU 2-8 that are within the corporate limits of The Corporation of The District of Maple Ridge, The Corporation of The District of Pitt Meadows, The District of Mission, and The Corporation of the City of Coquitlam.

Two licences required

25 A person commits an offence if he or she hunts wildlife in the special area unless he or she holds

(a) a hunting licence, and

(b) a Fraser Valley special area hunting licence.

Exemption

26 Section 25 (b) does not apply

(a) if the person hunts wildlife on property owned by a commercial game club which holds a permit for that purpose under the Act, or

(b) to a person under the age of 18 years.

[am. B.C. Reg. 159/2008, s. 1.]

Insurance required

27 A person other than to whom section 26 applies commits an offence if he or she hunts wildlife in the special area unless the person is the holder of public liability and property damage insurance in the amount of $1 000 000 or more, sold by a licensed insurer in the Province, that covers the hunter while hunting in the Province.

No licence issued without insurance

28 A person commits an offence if he or she issuesa Fraser Valley special area hunting licence unless the person is satisfied that the applicant is the holder of insurance required by section 27.

Part 3 — Gulf Islands Special Hunting Area

Definitions

29 In this Part:

""special area"" means the Gulf Islands special hunting area comprised of Denman and Hornby Islands and all islands within MU 1-1 except Vancouver Island.

[am. B.C. Reg. 167/2005.]

Two licences required

30 A person commits an offence if he or she hunts wildlife in the special area unless he or she holds

(a) a hunting licence, and

(b) a Gulf Islands special area hunting licence.

Insurance or guide required and exemption

31 (1)  A person commits an offence if he or she hunts wildlife in the special area unless the person

(a) is the holder of public liability and property damage insurance in the amount of $100 000 or more, sold by a licensed insurer in the Province, that covers the hunter while hunting in the Province, or

(b) is guided by a licensed guide.

(2)  Section 30 (b) and subsection (1) do not apply to a person under the age of 18 years.

[am. B.C. Reg. 159/2008, s. 1.]

No licence issued without insurance

32 A person commits an offence if he or she issues aGulf Islands special area hunting licence unless the person is satisfied that the applicant

(a) is the holder of insurance required by section 31, or

(b) will be guided by a licensed guide when hunting in the special area.

 

Schedule

[en. B.C. Reg. 28/2003, s. (a); am. B.C. Regs. 86/2003; 28/2003, ss. (b) to (d);

35/2004, ss. 3 to 6; 140/2004; 39/2005; 340/2005, s. 8.]

  Licence Fee Surcharge
    $ $
(1)  Repealed. [B.C. Reg. 340/2005, s. 8 (a).]    
(2)  For a hunting licence issued to     
  (a) a resident to hunt wildlife 25.00 7.00
  (b) a resident, who is 65 years of age or older, to hunt wildlife 6.00 1.00
  (c) a non-resident to hunt wildlife 53.00 22.00
  (d) a non-resident alien to hunt wildlife 126.00 54.00
  (e) a person to hunt in the Gulf Islands special hunting area 2.00
  (f) an applicant for a junior licence 6.00 1.00
  (g) a person to hunt in the Fraser Valley special area 8.00 2.00
(3) For a species licence issued to a resident to hunt    
  (a) black bear 16.00 4.00
  (b) caribou 16.00 4.00
  (c) cougar 24.00 6.00
  (d) mule deer, including black-tailed deer and fallow deer 12.00 3.00
  (e) elk 20.00 5.00
  (f) grizzly bear 64.00 16.00
  (g) moose 20.00 5.00
  (h) mountain goat 32.00 8.00
  (i) mountain sheep 48.00 12.00
  (j) white-tailed deer 12.00 3.00
  (k) Queen Charlotte Islands deer 8.00 2.00
  (l) bobcat 7.00 1.00
  (m) bison 56.00 14.00
  (n) lynx 7.00 1.00
  (o) wolverine 7.00 1.00
(4)  For a species licence issued to a non-resident or non-resident alien to hunt    
  (a) black bear 126.00 54.00
  (b) caribou  161.00 69.00
  (c) cougar 161.00 69.00
  (d) mule deer, including black-tailed deer and fallow deer 88.00 37.00
  (e) elk 175.00 75.00
  (f) grizzly bear  1 000.00 30.00
  (g) moose 175.00 75.00
  (h) mountain goat 245.00 105.00
  (i) mountain sheep 434.00 186.00
  (j) wolf 35.00 15.00
  (k) white-tailed deer 88.00 37.00
  (l) Queen Charlotte Islands deer  18.00 7.00
  (m) upland game birds 35.00 15.00
  (n) bobcat 28.00 12.00
  (o) bison 490.00 210.00
  (p) lynx 28.00 12.00
  (q) wolverine 28.00 12.00
(5)  For a declaration for a lost, stolen or destroyed hunter number card 10.00
(6)  For a duplicate copy of
  (a) a resident senior citizen hunting licence 1.00
  (b) a Gulf Islands Special Area hunting licence 1.00
  (c) a Junior hunting licence 1.00
  (d) any other licence 10.00

Note: this regulation replaces B.C. Reg. 336/82.

[Provisions of the Wildlife Act, R.S.B.C. 1996, c. 488, relevant to the enactment of this regulation: section 108]