Attention

This content is based on the 2026–2028 Hunting and Trapping Regulations Synopsis. Check current regulations before hunting.

Big Game Hunting on Vancouver Island

Big Game is a large animal pursued and hunted, especially for sport. However, big game hunting on Vancouver Island, despite being an adventure, is not just entertainment. Most hunters know the hunting of game animals among the most memorable experiences of their lives. They use their big game products for food, clothing, decoration, implements, and even weapons.
Hunting can be done for several purposes, including conservation. For instance, hunters help wildlife managers control the population of different species. Therefore, big game harvesting is an efficient tool to conserve wildlife and habitat if managed and studied properly.
For this purpose, the federal and provincial governments in Canada have regulated hunting and trapping. These regulations use different factors such as hunting methods, bag limits, protected area designation, seasonal restrictions, licensing and registration, and other techniques to control and manage hunting. The laws and policies for this purpose are divided into different regions in BC, and big game hunting on Vancouver Island is no exception.
It is also part of Vancouver Island's Indigenous peoples' tradition to hunt big game animals. Some of these animals are significant in number. Among them are cougars. Of 4000 cougars that live in BC, 600-800 exist on Vancouver Island. Also, over 7,000 black bears are on the island. Having such potential has made Vancouver Island an ideal destination for hunting big game animals.

Big Game Animals on Vancouver Island

According to BC Law, hunting big game on Vancouver Island can be done for particular species. Among them are black-tailed deer, fallow deer, black bear, wolf, and cougar.

Bear Hunting

Hunting bear on Vancouver Island is for black bears. With over 7,000 black bears, Vancouver Island is one of the densest places in the world for hunting this big game animal. Your bear hunting tour on Vancouver Island can be done in different provinces with variable prices, distribution, and methods.

Cougar Hunting

British Columbia is a cat hunting destination. Among these wild cats and the largest species of them are cougars (Mountain Lion). It is one of North America's most efficient predators, which gives you an opportunity to start your cougar hunting trip on Vancouver Island.

Elk Hunting

Roosevelt elk are native to Vancouver Island and are the only elk subspecies found on the island. Of the estimated 3,200 Roosevelt elk in B.C., about 3,000 live here. Hunting these impressive big-game animals is challenging due to their rugged habitat and is managed through Limited Entry Hunting (LEH), requiring hunters to hold the applicable LEH authorization along with the required hunting and species licences.

Black-tailed Deer Hunting

Vancouver Island is home to Columbia black-tailed deer and Sitka black-tailed deer. Hunting black-tailed deer is challenging, but the meat is worth a try. Besides being challenging, black-tailed deer hunting is highly prized because it is the kind of deer that mostly seeks cover.

Fallow Deer Hunting

Fallow deer have no closed season and no bag limit in MUs 1-1 to 1-7. A species licence is not required, although all other applicable hunting licence and area requirements still apply.

Wolf Hunting

Wolf hunting on Vancouver Island has a history going back half a century ago. These wolves are big game predators indigenous to the northern regions, but they are instead spread all over Vancouver Island. Track this predator, which is a trophy hunting for hunters.

Vancouver Island Big Game Hunters

Big game hunting requires physical and mental strength. Hunters also may have challenges with weather conditions. Some big game animals prefer being in remote areas, away from road access and the accompanying negative human activity. That is why being prepared for all difficulties, challenges and even barriers is necessary.

Your hunt may be sensitive, as most big game animals are. The keen sense of smell, vision, and hearing are characteristics that some are described with. Prepare for them before by using equipment like scent sprays and blinds. Once you are at your hunting site, be quiet and wait for your hunt.

There are bonuses in your big game hunting trip that you can make to opportunities. While you plan to harvest a specific animal, your hunting trip may combine with other big game or small game animals. If you have the required licence, that would be a chance.
As the open season for all big game animals matters, do your hunt at its legal time. You have possibilities for hunting numbers of them every season, but for black bears, it is double. Hunters can chase black bears in spring and fall.
If you are after trophies, don't skip big game hunting. Your trophy could be fur, head, horns or antlers, and even preserving the entire animal via taxidermy.
Big-game hunting requires safety tips. Always remember them and follow the recommendations of your guide.
For some big game hunting trips, non-hunters are accepted and welcome by paying the price.

According to the Hunting and Trapping Regulations Synopsis, hunters need a B.C. Fish and Wildlife ID (FWID) to access hunting services and purchase licences in B.C. Hunters who previously had a B.C. Hunter Number were assigned an FWID, while new hunters must register for one through WILD or an authorized service location.

After creating an FWID profile, hunters must establish their identity and residency status. Proof of hunter safety training is required to purchase most hunting licences, except where an exemption applies, such as Youth, Initiation, and restricted non-resident/non-resident alien licences.

Accepted proof of hunter safety training includes:

A Conservation and Outdoor Recreation Education (CORE) certificate or other official proof of successful CORE completion.
A hunter safety document issued by another Canadian province or territory.
A document issued by an international government jurisdiction showing successful completion of an approved hunter safety training course.

Big Game Hunting Seasons on Vancouver Island

Spring Hunts

Summer Hunts

Fall Hunts

Winter Hunts

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Species are listed when a legal hunting opportunity occurs during any part of the season. Exact dates, Management Units, hunting methods, LEH requirements, and other restrictions apply.

Vancouver Island Big Game Outfitters

British Columbia Government published regulations for hunting. According to its Hunting and Trapping Regulations Synopsis, non-resident and non-resident alien hunters are required to be accompanied by a guide outfitter, assistant guide outfitter or a holder of a permit to accompany at all times when hunting big game, regardless of the type of licence (restricted or unrestricted) they have.
Big game outfitters know how to track your target animal through "telltale signs" like foot tracks, claws and bite marks, and scent markers. Finding a spot to suit you makes your hunting trip unforgettable, and outfitters also make it easier for you. They know the feeding and living areas of the big game. Outfitters can also lead you to the habitats of other big or small game animals to maximize your chances for other species.
Having a checklist for your big game hunting is necessary, but you may not have all the gear. Outfitters provide you with equipment and teach you how to use them. They try to ensure that every hunter involved in that trip would have the best chance of a successful hunt.

Big Game Hunting Methods on Vancouver Island

It is time to find your big game by applying all the knowledge and skills you have for hunting. How do you spot and stalk? Do you use decoys? Do you prefer the help of big game indicating dogs? Now you are in nature and staying still and quiet, hearing your own heartbeat. Any movement makes you cautious of your big game nearby. You have been prepared for this moment, and your shot will end your hunting trip. How would you do that? Maybe traditional hunting methods like bow hunting or rifle hunting.

Rifles and Shotguns

Firearms are a common choice for big-game hunting because they allow hunters to make accurate, effective shots at appropriate distances. Black bear, cougar, wolf, and deer may be hunted with centrefire rifles. Where shotguns are permitted, they must be 20 gauge or larger and use No. 1 Buck or larger shot. Shotguns are not permitted for hunting elk, but elk may be harvested with a legal centrefire rifle, muzzleloader, or bow.

Spot and Stalk

You need to be an experienced hunter to spot and stalk your big game. Each animal has its own behaviour in touch with nature. Identifying its tracks and signs helps hunters know if it is nearby. Most hunters prefer tracking their big game instead of waiting for it to draw to them. For this purpose, you may need equipment. A beginner with a big game guide who is a skilled tracker can almost guarantee contact with the game.

Bow Hunting

Bowhunting is a quiet method for hunting your game. It allows you to bag several animals and doesn't make other animals run away. Its power isn't the same as a rifle, but hunters almost use it to harvest big species because small ones are hard to shoot. Besides big game open seasons, bowhunting is permitted during special bow-only seasons.

Hunting with Decoys

Decoys are excellent tools to draw a particular animal to a hunter. Using decoys reduces the skill level that a hunter needs. Hunters set decoys at specific spots of fowl-enticing calls or scents within sight of camouflaged hunters. In this way, they increase the success rate.

Hunting with Dogs

Dogs can assist hunters with certain big-game species. Unleashed dogs may be used to pursue black bears and cougars during an applicable open season. When dogs are used to hunt deer or elk, they must be on a leash and under the hunter’s direct control.

Calling

A call is a method of hunting. Knowing its meaning, usage, and practice would be necessary. You can use recorded or electronic calls to call wildlife like wolves and cougars. Some hunters make calls with their hands and mouths, and some use store-bought or homemade devices for hunting calls.

Trapping

Wolf trapping is regulated separately from wolf hunting. A person must be properly licensed or otherwise authorized to trap and must comply with applicable trapline, trapping-season, reporting and trap requirements. Certain restraining traps used for wolves must be species-specific traps certified under the Agreement on International Humane Trapping Standards (AIHTS).

Hunting from a Blind

Some ways of hunting from a blind like blinds treestand or ground blind can be available on request for big game such as black bear, black-tailed deer, fallow deer, wolf, and elk. Guides keep very close contact with you while you are on the stand.

Big Game Hunting Cost on Vancouver Island

The price of hunting big game on Vancouver Island may vary. Several factors influence package prices for big game hunting: duration, hunting methods, licence, tags, services, guide, and tax. But generally, the cost may start at $2,500.
If you are interested in big game customized tours on Vancouver Island at a reasonable price, we at Vanisle Hunters make it easy for you. So, please fill in the following form and wait for our response.

Big Game Customized Tours on Vancouver Island

If you are interested in big game hunting on Vancouver Island, please fill in the form below. We at Vanisle Hunters offer custom tours and exclusive hunting trips at their best.
Choose which big game you are interested in, where and when you plan to start your hunting trip, how long you need to be in nature, mention the number of your companions, and add any other options you want to match your desire and exceed your expectation.
We will schedule a call or message to discuss your interests and how we can make them a reality. After that, we will send you a proposed package and fine-tune it until it's what you want with a competitive price.

Name

E-mail Address

Phone Number

Date of Birth

Hunting Start Date

Hunting End Date

BC Resident

Game to Hunt

Bear

Cougar

Deer

Elk

Wolf

Duck & Goose

Grouse

Pheasant

Snowshoe Hare

Raccoon

Band-tailed pigeon

Guiding Preference

Do You Have a Fish & Wildlife ID

Your Preferred Hunting Area

Number of Hunters

Number of Non-hunters

Your Preferred Hunting Methods

Any Other Information

Disclaimer

Big Game Hunting Gear on Vancouver Island

Before heading out to hunt your big game on Vancouver Island, it is necessary to prepare a checklist of what you need.
First of all, having a backpack is required for your equipment. Your clothes may include hiking boots, waterproof pants and jacket, socks, hunting pants, short-sleeve shirt, long-sleeve shirt, gloves, hat, and layer clothing.
As you may spend hours or days in nature, don't forget about camping items and food or snacks. Rifle or archery equipment and heavy grain ammunition are your harvesting necessities. Binoculars, duffle bags, and tracking tools can also be on your hunting list.

Big Game vs. Small Game Hunting on Vancouver Island

Some hunters prefer to go after small game, and others may favour big game. Choosing between them mostly depends on your purpose, price, licence, skill, and the potential of the area you want to hunt.

In B.C., big game is defined by species rather than by an animal’s size or weight. It includes animals such as deer, elk, black bear, cougar, wolf, and other species designated by regulation.
Big-game hunting generally requires firearms or archery equipment that meet the legal requirements for the species being hunted.
Many big-game species require a species licence in addition to the appropriate hunting licence, although some exceptions apply.
Big-game hunting is often popular with hunters seeking challenging hunts, meat, or a memorable trophy.

Small game is also defined by species rather than weight. It includes animals such as raccoon, coyote, skunk, snowshoe hare, and game birds.
Legal hunting methods vary by species and may include shotguns, rifles, air rifles, or archery equipment where permitted.
Small-game licence requirements differ from those for big game. Some small-game species do not require a separate species licence, although the appropriate hunting licence and any applicable upland game bird or migratory bird permits may still be required.

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Big Game Regulations on Vancouver Island

Hunting regulations are subject to change from time to time. It is the responsibility of a hunter to be informed of the current regulations.
If a non-resident youth wants to hunt big game, he/she must be accompanied by a guide outfitter, assistant guide outfitter or a holder of a permit to accompany.
During its open season, do your big game hunt except for fallow deer, which has "no close season." Hunting big game like fallow deer has no bag limits for now.
Sometimes, the hunting period is for a specific method like bow only.
Using dogs is permitted in the hunting of all game animals. It is mandatory to keep them on a leash when hunting deer and elk.
Hunters under 18 must be accompanied and under the close personal supervision of an adult who meets the prescribed qualifications to act as a supervising hunter. This requirement also applies when hunting fallow deer. Although a species licence is not required for fallow deer, hunters must still meet all applicable hunting licence, supervision, and special-area requirements.
Big game licence fees on Vancouver Island vary for BC and non-BC residents. B.C. residents do not require a species licence to hunt wolf. Non-B.C. residents require a wolf species licence in addition to the applicable hunting licence.
Trapping seasons for a big game animal on Vancouver Island include wolves.
You can use recorded or electronic calls to hunt a wolf or cougar.
It is unlawful to hunt, take, wound or kill big game while swimming, except if it has been previously wounded.
It is unlawful to intentionally feed dangerous wildlife except when lawfully hunting or trapping where baiting is authorized. Baiting may be authorized for cougar and wolf; baiting black bears is prohibited.

North Island

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Pacific Rim

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Gulf Islands

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Central Vancouver Island Protected Areas

Central Island

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South Island

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Greater Victoria

Licence for Big Game Hunting on Vancouver Island

A hunting licence is a must on Vancouver Island. There are three different types of hunting licences. Whether you are a BC resident or non-resident, you have to follow big game hunting rules as a licence holder. A BC resident hunter must have a Fish & Wildlife ID, age, and several other conditions. Licences are offered at various prices for each type of licence and species. For more information about big game licences on Vancouver Island, visit the Hunting Licence on Vancouver Island.

Big Game Hunting on Vancouver Island Common Questions

What is considered big game hunting?

What animals are classed as big game on Vancouver Island?

What is the easiest big game to hunt?

What is the difference between hunting small game and big game?

Is big game hunting beneficial or harmful?

Is big game hunting illegal on Vancouver Island?

Is big game hunting dangerous?

What is the point of big game trophy hunting?

How much do big game hunts cost?

What is the most expensive big game to hunt?

What can you hunt without a license?

What Do You Think about Big Game Hunting on Vancouver Island

Karen Weller

January 15, 2022, 08:27

How to become a big game hunter?

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Admin in reply Karen Weller

January 15, 2022, 08:32

According to BC Law, all BC resident hunters must have a Fish and Wildlife ID and hunting credentials. All non-resident hunters interested in hunting big game in the Province of BC are required to be accompanied by a licensed guide outfitter, an assistant guide outfitter hired by a guide outfitter or a resident who holds a Permit to Accompany.

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