BC Hunting license

Gattonero

Gattonero

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Delta, BC
Hi all,

Anyone from BC here?
I've just recently moved to BC from Ontario and would like to swap my Ontario small game hunting license for the identical, valid in BC...
I called Service BC Center and was told that I'm not qualified for Hunting license as I have to reside in BC for at least 6 months before I can get one...:mad:
Is that right??? I don't get it... People moving around, going for hunting trips all over the country and even south of the border.

Hunting season just started and I'm cut off... There must be something wrong here...((

Please, advise...
Cheers,
G
 
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I remember when I moved there you had to be a resident for 6 months to get a resident license otherwise you had to buy a nonresident license.
 
You pretty well need the services of a Philadelphia lawyer to wade through the BC hunting regs... it IS a big province, but things still seem overly complicated. Anyhow, ya - I think you'll be stuck with a non-resident license (and all the additional fees and guide requirements) for this season. As for next year, it will be awesome! The largest variety of big game to shoot anywhere in North America!
 
You need to look at taking the CORE course......a course very similar to the Pal course. Passing that gets you a BC resident hunting number. If you have the hunter number you could buy a hunting license, without it no retailer will sell you one.

If you are considered out of province...which you would before getting the hunter number, then you can get a accompany permit....were you accompanied by a resident hunter. Read the regs on this, its ...just like anything else hunting and firearms....pretty stupid and bureaucratic. License fees for out of province are very high. Personally i would not spend $250 for a Moose tag.
 
He can get the BC Hunter Number based on his Ontario qualifications.

It doesn't matter where you go in Canada there is usually a waiting period before being classed as a "Resident" hunter.
 
You need to be in BC for 6 months to be a resident. This is so that people cannot come here for a few weeks on vacation and claim to be residents living with a friend or family.

Universities are the same - price goes up for out of province students, and goes up even more for international students.
 
There is one exception for the six month rule in BC that I am aware of and that is members of our military. Otherwise hooped.
 
Go to the Service BC Office in either Maple Ridge or Squamish and they wil be able to better serve you than the opinion of us here.
You Ontario Hunters Card should suffice to the officials here that yu have taken a recognized hunter training course.
6 months residency or active member in the Armed Forces or as a Member of the RCMP and maybe one or two other professions.
Best be prepared to produce some proof that you have been a resident too, like your hydro bill, your dedicated landline and the change to your DL will go a long way in proving your established residency.
Tight Groups,
Rob
 
Correct me if i'm wrong but you can still hunt small game with you Ontario licence in BC no extra cost. At least it will give you idea where to go next season for big game
 
Take the CORE course now. You missed the good hunting this year anyway.

Taking the course will familiarize you with BC regs etc. It's a joke now compared to when I took it years ago anyway. The damn duck section was crappy! I don't even duck hunt!

Anyway Gattonero, you will really enjoy hunting here and jumping through the hoops is worth it.

For the time being all crown land is open to hunting and that means most of it. BC is huge and coming from Bantario you will be blown away by the opportunities afforded to you here.
 
You need to wait 6 months in order to get your BC hunter number and then subsequently buy a big game license.

You should still be able to go out and buy a non-resident small game license (in fact I'm sure you can). It'll be a bit more expensive and will limit you to hunting small game (grouse, rabbit, ptarmigan) but at least you'll be able to get out. Not sure if you'll need to be accompanied by a BC resident or not while hunting, so double check on that.

It should all be listed in the hunting regs, make sure you give them a good read over.
 
corwin-arms said:
Correct me if i'm wrong but you can still hunt small game with you Ontario licence in BC no extra cost. At least it will give you idea where to go next season for big game
Click to expand...

Please give your head a shake. Why would you think that someone from Ontario is able to hunt in BC without a BC licence?
 
corwin-arms said:
Correct me if i'm wrong but you can still hunt small game with you Ontario licence in BC no extra cost. At least it will give you idea where to go next season for big game
Click to expand...

I'm not aiming for the big game this year...
All I need for now - a small game license, so I could go for duck/rabbit - search/walk through the hunting grounds with my O/U on me without a risk of being troubled by local authorities.
Big game is definitely postponed until next year or so...
 
Don't wast'in yer time.
No game left in B.C. to hunt.
Fishing even sucks the bigg'un weenie now.
They awll swum owt to the big blew sea.
There yuh need a migratory leesawnce tuh fish'em.
B.C. stands fer ...... Bin Cawt.

Me werk izz dun hear.
 
Rabbits aren't exactly the most common game in B.C.

A handful of people actively hunt snowshoe hares and some even call it "rabbit " hunting. I think I've shot three in 45 years hunting in B.C.

You'll qualify for Spring bear though!
 
this is the goods as I'm sure you will find out

with your proof of having in your lifetime, an out of province hunter card or old hunting licence , AND proof you have been a resident of BC permanently for 6 months..... you can head to a service bc office with that proof and immediately receive a BC resident hunter card

otherwise it's the non-resident licence and tags. you must also be a resident to partake in the new mentoring licence or whatever it's called
other than the mil/leo exceptions mentioned by others, it is what it is.

depending when you got here..... you could be a resident hunter maybe by the time spring bear season rolls around ;)

as long as you have proof of having a hunting licence in the past, you do not under any circumstances have to take the BC CORE hunter course.
 
No core is required if you have held a previous hunting license but the 6 month wait is a requirement unless your military then its waived.. If you meet this requirement all you have to do is show id showing when you entered the province (D.L or bill in your name showing services start date etc and a previous hunting license and your good to go.
 
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