2008-2009 Hunting and Trapping Regulations Synopsis – Complete [PDF 23.9MB]
The Hunting and Trapping Synopsis is a summary of the B.C. hunting and trapping regulations made under the Wildlife Act (British Columbia), prepared for the convenience of hunters and trappers.
Trappers with valid trapping licences,
valid trapping permits, or persons exempted from holding
licences or permits to trap fur bearing animals are now
able to pick up certain species of wildlife that have
died as a result of collisions with motor vehicles and
to use the carcasses as bait for traps set under the authority
of their trapping licence, permit, or exemption.
Trappers may pick up and transport any dead mule deer,
white-tailed deer, elk, moose, black bear, or any wildlife
listed in Schedules B or C (see the Hunting and Trapping
Regulations Synopsis for current schedules) if:
if the wildlife has died as a result of colliding with a motor vehicle, other than a motor vehicle operated by the trapper;
the meat of the wildlife is unfit for human consumption;
the carcass of the wildlife is to be used only:
by the trapper, and
as bait for traps set under the authority of the trapper’s licence or licence exemption; and
at the time of possession and transportation, the
trapper has, on his or her person, the trapper’s
current trapping licence or proof of the trapper’s
licence exemption.
Trappers that pick up road-kill wildlife for use as bait
must, within 30 days of picking up the road kill, must
complete a
Trapper
Road Kill Possession Report Form[PDF 50KB]
and submit
it to the address shown on the form.
Trappers must maintain a copy of every completed Trapper
Road Kill Report Form for at least 2 years after the date
of pick up of the road kill described on the form.
For more information on this regulation, please e-mail
the Ministry of Environment Wildlife
Policy Analyst at: Gerad.Hales@gov.bc.ca
Compulsory Reporting and Inspection of Furbearers
Compulsory Reporting
Trappers must report, within 15 days following the end
of the trapping season, the capture of:
a wolverine in regions 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7
a lynx in regions 4 and 8
a bobcat in M.U.’s 1-14 and 1-15, and in regions 2, 4, and 8
a wolf in regions 1 and 4
a fisher in all M.U.’s
when trapped in a fisher open season
return this form by mail, or report by phone or in person, to offices identified on the front of the form.
Compulsory Inspection
Furbearers that are killed incidentally in areas with
no open season are required to be compulsory inspected.
Trappers must submit, within 15 days following the end
of the trapping season, the carcass of:
a wolverine in regions
1, 2, and 8
a fisher in all M.U.’s
when trapped outside a fisher open season
a weasel in region 1,
and in M.U.’s 6-12 and 6-13
a long-tailed weasel in
M.U.’s 2-03, 2-04, 2-06, 2-18 and 2-19
submit this form, along with the entire carcass
and pelt, to offices identified on the front of the form.
Animals that are submitted may not be reclaimed by the
trapper but may be donated by the Ministry of Environment
to the Trapper Education Program.
The responsibility for managing the fur resources of
British Columbia is shared between the Ministry of Environment (MOE and licenced trappers.
The Management Guidelines for Furbearers series began
in 1988 to provide trappers with a source that would allow
them to properly manage their fur harvests. Guidelines
currently exist in PDF for:
Management Guidelines outline the roles that trappers
can play in the wise management of these important species.
The Registered Trapline System gives each trapper the
ability to manage species on his or her line. These Guidelines
instruct the trapper on techniques that will ensure populations
remain productive and healthy. Management guidelines contain
current figures, statistics, and information on species
biology and management, as well as up-to-date recommendations
regarding such management techniques as habitat enhancement,
use of untrapped refuges, avoidance of non-target captures,
and monitoring of population levels to allow trappers
to adjust their harvest accordingly. Harvest strategies
for furbearers are developed by staff of the Fish and Wildlife Branch but proper management
requires the full cooperation and support from trappers
to be successful.
