Obtaining a hunting licence on Vancouver Island follows the requirements established under British Columbia hunting and trapping regulations. Before purchasing a licence, hunters must have a valid B.C. Fish and Wildlife ID (FWID) and meet any applicable hunter education and residency requirements.
There are several ways to purchase a hunting licence in B.C.:
For regulated hunting opportunities such as Limited Entry Hunting (LEH), hunters must submit applications through the official B.C. hunting application system during the designated application period. Some species and opportunities have specific eligibility requirements and restrictions.
Before purchasing a licence or applying for a hunting opportunity, hunters should confirm the current licence category, residency requirements, fees, deadlines, species-specific requirements, and any additional permits or authorizations needed for the species they intend to hunt.
British Columbia offers several hunting licence categories based on the hunter’s age, residency status, and hunting experience. The main licence categories include:
All hunters must meet the applicable requirements for their licence category, including residency, identification, and hunter safety training requirements where applicable.
B.C. hunting licences are issued through the provincial hunting licence system and are associated with the hunter’s B.C. Fish and Wildlife ID (FWID) profile.
Hunters can purchase licences through the official online system, authorized licence vendors, or approved service locations. Depending on the species and licence type, additional documents, permits, or authorizations may be required.
A species licence may be required for certain big-game animals, such as deer, elk, black bear, and cougar. Species licences include the required validation information and must be carried according to B.C. regulations while hunting.
The Initiation Hunting Licence allows a B.C. resident aged 18 or older who has never previously held a hunting licence in B.C. (except a Youth Hunting Licence) to try hunting under the initiation program requirements without having completed hunter safety training before obtaining the licence.
Youth aged 10 to 17 years may obtain a Youth Hunting Licence in British Columbia.
A youth hunter must meet the applicable licence requirements and follow all youth supervision rules while hunting. Youth hunters must be accompanied and under the close personal supervision of an adult who meets the prescribed qualifications to act as a supervising hunter.
A parent or legal guardian must apply for the Youth Hunting Licence on behalf of the youth and sign a Written Undertaking confirming that they will not allow the youth to hunt or carry firearms unless the youth is accompanied and under the close personal supervision of a qualified supervising hunter.
An Unrestricted Non-resident Licence applies to eligible Canadian citizens or permanent residents who do not qualify as B.C. residents and meet B.C. hunting licence requirements.
This licence allows eligible hunters to pursue small game unaccompanied, provided they hold the required licences and permits for the species being hunted.
For big game hunting, non-resident and non-resident alien hunters must be accompanied by:
Learn more about small game hunting and big game hunting requirements.
An Unrestricted Non-resident Alien Licence applies to hunters who are neither B.C. residents nor Canadian citizens/permanent residents and who meet the applicable B.C. hunting requirements.
Eligible holders may hunt small game unaccompanied when they hold the required licences and permits.
For big game hunting, accompaniment by a guide outfitter, assistant guide outfitter, or eligible Permit to Accompany holder is required.
A Restricted Non-resident Licence applies to certain non-B.C. residents who do not qualify for unrestricted hunting privileges.
Hunters holding a restricted licence must meet the applicable accompaniment requirements while hunting. Depending on the type of hunt and the applicable regulations, accompaniment may be provided by:
Accompaniment requirements depend on the licence category, species being hunted, and applicable B.C. hunting regulations.
A Restricted Non-resident Alien Licence applies to eligible hunters who are neither B.C. residents nor Canadian citizens/permanent residents and who do not qualify for unrestricted privileges.
Hunters holding this licence category must be accompanied while hunting by:
This accompaniment requirement applies when hunting small game or big game under the restricted licence category.
✓ Hunters who do not have an FWID can register for a B.C. Fish and Wildlife ID (FWID). Hunters who already have an FWID can access their profile through the B.C. online licensing system.
✓ Meet the requirements to qualify as a B.C. resident under provincial hunting regulations.
✓ Complete the required hunter safety training where applicable before purchasing a hunting licence.
✓ Follow all licence, species, and authorization requirements that apply to the species being hunted.
The Initiation Hunting Licence is designed for adults who have never previously held a B.C. hunting licence, except for a Youth Hunting Licence.
To qualify:
✓ The applicant must be a B.C. resident.
✓ The applicant must be 18 years of age or older.
✓ The applicant must have a valid FWID.
✓ The applicant must not have previously held a B.C. hunting licence, except a Youth Hunting Licence.
✓ The initiation hunter must hunt under the close personal supervision of an adult who holds a valid hunting licence and meets the qualifications to act as a supervising hunter.
Some big-game species require a species licence in addition to the basic hunting licence.
Species licences are associated with the hunter’s FWID profile and contain validation information required under B.C. regulations.
✓ Species licences must be carried while hunting the applicable species, including both cancelled and uncancelled species licences purchased during the current licence year.
✓ A species licence must be valid for the species, licence year, and hunting activity being undertaken.
✓ After harvesting an animal requiring a species licence, hunters must immediately complete the required validation process, including notching or cancelling the licence where applicable.
✓ Hunters should review their species licences and hunting history through their FWID profile.
✓ Some species licences have a two-day waiting period before they become valid. This applies to species licences for designated species identified in the regulations.
✓ Hunters should purchase species licences early enough to ensure they are valid before beginning a hunt.
Hunters pursuing migratory game birds must hold a valid Canadian Migratory Game Bird Hunting Permit and the required Canadian Wildlife Habitat Conservation Stamp.
This federal permit is required in addition to the applicable B.C. hunting licence and applies to migratory game birds such as:
Hunters should confirm current federal migratory game bird regulations before hunting, as seasons, bag limits, possession limits, and other requirements may change separately from provincial hunting regulations.
Hunters must replace a lost, stolen, or destroyed species licence if they plan to continue hunting during the current licence year.
Replacement requirements:
When hunters purchase a B.C. hunting licence, a portion of the cost supports wildlife conservation through the Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation (HCTF).
Licence fees include both a licence fee portion and an HCTF conservation surcharge. For example, a B.C. resident hunting licence costs $32.00, which includes:
The HCTF surcharge collected from hunting, angling, trapping, and guide outfitting licences supports conservation projects across British Columbia, including wildlife stewardship, habitat protection, conservation initiatives, and education programs.
Through these contributions, hunters play an important role in supporting wildlife conservation and habitat management throughout the province.
Proof of hunter safety training is required for purchasing most hunting licences in British Columbia, unless a specific exemption applies.
The Conservation and Outdoor Recreation Education (CORE) program is the primary hunter education program recognized in B.C.
After successfully completing hunter safety training, the hunter’s credential is recorded on their FWID profile.
Accepted proof of hunter safety training may include:
Some licence categories, including certain Youth, Initiation, and restricted non-resident/non-resident alien licences, have specific exemptions.