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 Licence for Hunting 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.

Getting a Licence for Hunting on Vancouver Island

Getting a licence for hunting on Vancouver Island is based on British Columbia hunting and trapping regulations. There are two ways BC Hunting Online and FrontCounter BC office for getting a hunting licence in BC. The second one has offices in Nanaimo, Campbell River, Port Alberni, and Port McNeill.
Also, you can get a hunting licence from Hunting and Fishing Licence Retail Vendors in different regions of Vancouver Island.
Applications for a legal group hunt can be submitted online at www.gov.bc.ca/hunting or any participating vendor location.

Types of Licence for Hunting on Vancouver Island

There are three types of licences for hunting: Hunting Licence, Initiation Hunting Licence, and Youth Hunting Licence.

Hunting Licence

BC offers electronic-based hunting licences. It is possible to buy it online or at some vendor locations. Your licence's information is associated with your online Fish and Wildlife profile. Just species licences are paper-based, and non-species licences won't have a paper form. Your species licence has a scannable barcode, enabling the conservation officer to check the validation of your licence.

Initiation Hunting Licence

This mentoring licence is for a person of 18 years of age or older who has never previously held a hunting licence in BC. It enables them to have the possibility of hunting for one year.

Youth Hunting Licence

Youth aged 10 to 17 years can have a youth hunting licence. Buying this licence is possible via BC Hunting Online or through participating vendor locations. A youth hunting licence costs $7.00.
The responsibility of buying and holding the youth hunting licence on behalf of the youth is with the parent or legal guardian. The parent or the guardian must buy and sign a "Written Undertaking" and confirm that he or she is fully responsible for the actions of the child or ward for hunting or carrying a firearm in BC. This form has to be submitted with the application for hunting licences. A hunting licence cannot be issued to youth without this form.

BC Non-resident Licences

Unrestricted Non-resident Licence

It is for those who are not BC residents but Canadian citizens or landed immigrants. It is also for a person whose primary residence is somewhere else in Canada, who has resided in Canada for the last 12 months and has successfully completed the safety training for hunters.
The licence makes it possible for you to hunt small game unaccompanied. It is a must to be accompanied by a guide outfitter, assistant guide, or a permit holder to accompany you when hunting big game.

Unrestricted Non-resident Alien Licence

It is for those who are neither a BC resident nor a non-resident and have successfully finished hunter safety training. The licence makes it possible for you to hunt small game unaccompanied. You have to be accompanied by a guide outfitter, assistant guide, or a permit holder to accompany you when hunting big game.

Restricted Non-resident Licence

This type of non-resident licence is for those who are not BC residents but are Canadian citizens or landed immigrants. It is also for a person whose primary residence is somewhere else in Canada and who has resided in the country for the last 12 months. If you have these conditions, you have to be accompanied by a guide outfitter, assistant guide or a permit holder to accompany you when hunting, either small or big game.

Restricted Non-resident Alien Licence

This licence is available to a person who is neither a BC resident nor a non-resident. You have to be accompanied by a guide outfitter, assistant guide, or permit holder to accompany you when hunting small and big game animals.

Big Game Animals Non-residents Can Hunt on Vancouver Island

Small Game Animals Non-residents Can Hunt on Vancouver Island

BC Resident Licence

To get the initiation hunting licence, you must have a few conditions.

BC Resident Licence Conditions

✓ Have a Fish & Wildlife ID (or FWID, a passport to hunting services in BC). If you don't have it register for an ID, and if you have it, you can log in to your profile.
✓ Have to be a resident of BC.
✓ Have 18 years or older.
✓ You did not have held a BC hunting licence in the past, except for a youth hunting licence.
✓ And you have to be under the close personal supervision of an adult with a licence who meets the qualifications to be a supervising hunter.

Hunting Licence Fee on Vancouver Island

Hunting Licence Cost | Region 1

Species Licences on Vancouver Island

✓ There is a barcode for each species licence which makes it possible to link it to your Fish and Wildlife profile.
✓ It is necessary to carry all of your species licences while hunting for the applicable year. It includes both cancelled and uncancelled species licences.
✓ You have to notch your species licence in order to cancel it immediately after you harvest an animal.
✓ Your Fish & Wildlife ID must be on your species licence.
✓ It is not possible to buy a species licence online and pick it up in person. If you plan to hunt within a few days, buy your species licence at a vendor to receive it immediately.
✓ For some species' licences, it takes a two-day waiting period before you can use them.
✓ You can visit your licences on your Fish and Wildlife profile.

Resident Species Licence Type on Vancouver Island

Species Licences | Region 1

British Columbia Hunter Safety Education Card

Residents of BC who are ten years of age and older and wish to obtain a CORE (Conservation and Outdoor Recreation Education) Graduate Certificate and FWID (Fish and Wildlife ID) must complete a hunter education program. A hunting credential on your FWID profile shows you have completed hunter safety training.