BRITISH COLUMBIA LIMITED ENTRY HUNTING REGULATIONS SYNOPSIS 2016-2017 CLOSING DATE APPLICATIONS MUST BE SUBMITTED BY 11:59 p.m. MAY 27, 2016 MINISTRY OF FORESTS, LANDS AND NATURAL RESOURCE OPERATIONS HONOURABLE STEVE THOMSON, MINISTER REGULATION CHANGES ARE HIGHLIGHTED IN COLOUR IMPORTANT NOTICE CHANGES TO HUNTING LICENCES AND APPLICATIONS FOR LIMITED ENTRY HUNTING The Province has introduced a new online service for hunters in April 2016. The BC Hunting online service is designed to improve the overall efficiency of hunter services. You can use the online service to obtain your Fish and Wildlife ID (FWID) and hunting credentials, apply for Limited Entry Hunting (LEH) and track the status of your LEH application(s). You can access the BC Hunting online service at www.gov.bc.ca/hunting. DON'T WANT TO USE THE ONLINE SERVICE? We're happy to accommodate you. Just drop into any Service BC or FrontCounter BC location, participating vendors or call the FrontCounter BC Contact Centre at 1-877-855-3222. YOUR FISH AND WILDLIFE ID (FWID) HOW DO I APPLY FOR LIMITED ENTRY HUNTING? You will need a FWID to apply for LEH or to buy a hunting You can apply for LEH in several different ways: licence. The FWID replaces the old BC Hunter Number card. 1. Use the new BC Hunting online service: Your FWID is a permanent number linked to your personal www.gov.bc.ca/hunting. online profile, and will be your passport to hunting services. 2. Visit any Service BC or FrontCounter BC location. You will There is no cost to get your FWID. need to bring the hunt code(s) corresponding to the hunt(s) ALREADY HAVE A HUNTER NUMBER? you wish to apply for. An LEH application notes form has You will be assigned a FWID with hunting credentials. Your new been provided on page 4 for your convenience. FWID will be your old Hunter Number with three extra digits. 3. If you already have a Hunter Number or FWID, you can also apply at a participating vendor. You will need to bring the You can obtain your FWID by logging onto the new BC hunt code(s) corresponding to the hunt(s) you wish to apply Hunting online service using your Hunter Number. You can also for. visit any Service BC, FrontCounter BC, or participating vendor, 4. If you have unused LEH application cards, you can use them or by calling the FrontCounter BC Contact Centre at for the Fall 2016 LEH draw by completing them and mailing 1-877-855-3222. them into the address on the application card. Note: You DON'T HAVE A HUNTER NUMBER OR FWID? can only submit paper LEH application cards for the Fall 2016 LEH draw. If you have unused cards and don't want to You'll need to register for your FWID and hunting credentials. use them for the Fall 2016 draw, you can send them in for a You can register for your FWID online or in person at any refund. See Submitting A Paper LEH Application section on Service BC or FrontCounter BC location. page 2 for details. NOTE: If you apply online, it can take up to three business For more information or to register for your new FWID visit days to process your credentials application. www.gov.bc.ca/hunting or call the FrontCounter BC Contact Centre at 1-877-855-3222. LIMITED ENTRY HUNTING Sheep, and Mule (Black-tailed) Deer. All of these species, with Limited Entry Hunting (LEH) is a system by which hunting the exception of Bison and Grizzly Bear, may also be available authorizations are awarded to resident hunters based on a through a General Open Season (GOS). lottery or random draw. The purpose of LEH is to achieve Although GOS may precede or coincide with LEH seasons for wildlife management objectives and maintain hunting opportunity. the same species in the same area, the class of animal available LEH seasons are introduced where it has become necessary to during the GOS will often be different from the class of animal limit the number of hunters or limit the number, class or sex of available during the LEH seasons. 16animals that may be harvested. The following species of /17game are available under LEH within certain areas of the province: Bison, Caribou, Elk, Grizzly Bear, Moose, Mountain Goat, Mountain Continued on next page 2 LIMITED ENTRY HUNTING SYNOPSIS 2016/2017 HOW TO USE THIS SYNOPSIS wildlife for sustenance (food, social, and SECOND CHOICES This synopsis outlines the application ceremonial purposes) within their traditional An LEH application presents an option for process for Limited Entry Hunting. Hunting areas, and that treaty First Nations have you to make a second hunt choice for the opportunities advertised in this synopsis treaty rights in relation to harvesting wildlife. SAME SPECIES. Entering a second choice are arranged by species, then by region, Those uses of wildlife must be sustainable, is optional. If you would like to learn more followed by class of animal, and finally by the and harvesting methods must not jeopardize about how second choices operate, please Management Unit (M.U.) where the hunt safety or the use and enjoyment of property. consult: www.gov.bc.ca/hunting. takes place. Management Units may also be Any hunting of wildlife species for sale or divided into zones for certain species. The barter, in whole or in part, is not legal, except SUBMITTING A PAPER LEH "MAP SECTION" of this synopsis displays as authorized by regulation or where there is APPLICATION CARD these boundaries. Where LEH occurs over a demonstrated aboriginal or treaty right to Application cards are being phased out in an entire M.U., a map of that M.U. is not do so. 2016 and are no longer for sale, but if you provided in this synopsis; for maps of M.U. Under the Wildlife Act, "Indian" means a have previously purchased an unused LEH boundaries, go to www.gov.bc.ca/hunting person who is defined as a status Indian application card, you can submit it for the Fall The term ‘species’ as used in this synopsis under the Indian Act (Canada). Indians 2016 LEH draw. Please refer to a previous refers to the type of game animal, such as residing in British Columbia are not required LEH synopsis for instructions on submitting Moose, Elk, Caribou, etc., and encompasses to obtain a hunting licence or a species an LEH application card. all classes, such as bulls, cows, calves, etc., of licence under the Wildlife Act. If you have an unused LEH application card that species. For example, bull moose and an Individuals who exercise an aboriginal right and do not plan to use it for the Fall 2016 antlerless moose are considered the same to hunt for sustenance purposes within LEH draw, you can request a refund by species. a traditionally used area or who exercise mailing your unused application card(s) to Each hunt is given its own unique 4-digit treaty rights are required to comply with the Fish and Wildlife Branch. Refunds will be HUNT CODE, which is highlighted on the hunting regulations related to public health issued by cheque. To receive your refund: left of each column on each page. DO NOT and public safety. In situations where 1. Print the word “Refund” across the use last year’s LEH synopsis, as the hunt conservation of a particular species is front of the LEH application card. NOTE: codes may change each year. of concern and compliance with hunting Photocopied cards will not be accepted. regulations is required by individuals You can only submit original cards. WHO CAN APPLY? exercising aboriginal or treaty rights - which Any resident of British Columbia who holds may include the requirement for Limited 2. Print your first and last name, Hunter a Fish and Wildlife ID with active Resident Entry Hunting authorizations - there will be Number or FWID (if available) and Hunting Credentials may apply. A resident prior consultation with the affected First your complete mailing address in the may not apply for an LEH authorization if the Nations in accordance with Ministry policy return address area on the back of the resident’s hunting licence or resident hunting and procedures. Enquiries about a traditional application card. NOTE: Be sure to print credentials have been suspended, cancelled, hunting area, practice or requirements clearly. Refund requests with incomplete or the resident has unpaid fines under the that may apply should be forwarded to the or illegible names and/or addresses will Wildlife Act or the Firearm Act. Applications appropriate First Nation officials or Regional not be processed. made by a person who is ineligible will not Fish and Wildlife Office. 3. If you are submitting more than one LEH be entered in the draw and NO refund First Nations individuals who wish to application card for a refund, you can will be issued. Also please note that if you include all of them in one envelope. Please have moved out of the province, you must hunt outside their traditionally used or treaty areas must do so in accordance ensure that one of the application cards is re-establish your residency in B.C. in order to correctly filled out as described in Steps 1 be eligible. with the Hunting Regulations (except for the licencing exemption described above and 2 above. Only one refund cheque per A resident is: for Indians residing in BC). This includes envelope will be issued. Do not submit more than one name in an envelope. 1. A person who is a Canadian citizen or making application for an LEH authorization a permanent resident of Canada, whose via the LEH draw.