Might be a stupid question but I am not a hunter and never have, but do you need a license or permit to hunt varmints like gophers, squirrels, and other small things like that in BC? I imagine you do, as the gov't doesn't allow you to do much anymore without approval. It would be fun to go out and shoot little varmints, but I am not interested in going through the hunting course etc to do so. Thanks for the info.
Do you need a license?
- Thread starter mattf87
- Start date
Get and read the hunting regs. You can download them on the BC Gov't website, but a paper copy is easier to deal with.http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/fw/wildlife/hunting/regulations/
There are several "Schedules" or lists of animals, Schedule "C", IIRC is the list of critters and birds that can be shot without any consequences, provided you are on property where you can legally shoot.
Gophers, only on private property, with the landowner's permission, not on Crown land.
Here's a copy and paste from Regs
All native species of animals in the
province excluding invertebrates and fish as
well as several non-native species have been
designated as wildlife, giving them full pro-
tection under provisions of the
Wildlife Act
,
RSBC 1996, Chapter 488. These species may
not be hunted, killed, captured, kept as pets
or used for commercial purposes unless spe-
cifically allowed by regulation or by authority
of a permit. Schedules “B” and “C” of the
Designation and Exemption Regulation list
wildlife that are known to destroy property
and/or are detrimental to native wildlife.
These species have fewer restrictions regu-
lating their hunting, killing or capturing. Any
capture or killing of these species must
still abide by provincial laws regarding the
humane treatment of animals.
Schedule "B" lists animals that may be
captured or killed only for the specific
purpose of protecting property unless an
open season is designated by regulation (see
Regional Schedules for open seasons).
(a)
Scapanus orarius- coast mole
(b)
Lepus americanus- snowshoe hare
(c) all of the species of the sub familyArvicolinae and lemmings, except Ondonatra zibethicus - muskrat.
(d)Neotoma cinerea- bushy-tailed woodrat
(e) all species of the genus Peromyscus-deer mice
(f)Erethizon dorsatum- porcupine
(g)Thomomys talpoides- northern pocket gopher
(h)Marmota flaviventris- yellow-bellied marmot
(i)Marmota monax- woodchuck
(j)Spermophilus columbianus- Columbian ground squirrel
(k)Mephitis mephitis- striped skunk
(l)Procyon lotor- raccoon
(m)Spilogale putorius- spotted skunk
Schedule "C" animals can be captured
or killed anywhere and at any time in BC.
Schedule “C” birds may be hunted using electronic
calls. You do not need a hunting licence
to hunt or kill the following
Schedule “C” wildlife:
(a) Rana catesbeiana - American bullfrog
(b) Rana clamitans - green frog
(c) all species of the family Chelydridae -
snapping turtles
(d) Didelphis virginiana - North American
opossum
(e) Sylvilagus floridanus - eastern cottontail
(f) Oryctolagus cuniculus - European rabbit
(g) Myocastor coypus - nutria
(h) all species of the genus Sciurus - gray
squirrels and fox squirrels
(i) Passer domesticus - house sparrow
(j) Sturnus vulgaris - European starling
(k) Columbia livia - rock dove (domestic
pigeon)
You do need a hunting licence to hunt the
following Schedule “C” wildlife UNLESS you
are hunting them on your property or they are
damaging your property:
(a) Corvus caurina - Northwestern Crow
(b) Corvus brachyrhynchos - American Crow
(c) Pica pica - black-billed magpie
(d) Molothrus ater - brown-headed cowbird
and the eggs of this bird species may be
destroyed.
Read the hunting regs and understand them. Pretty much all the wildlife in BC is under the protection of the Government. unless it says you are allowed to shoot it and under which conditions (licensing, etc.).
Cheers
Trev
There are several "Schedules" or lists of animals, Schedule "C", IIRC is the list of critters and birds that can be shot without any consequences, provided you are on property where you can legally shoot.
Gophers, only on private property, with the landowner's permission, not on Crown land.
Here's a copy and paste from Regs
All native species of animals in the
province excluding invertebrates and fish as
well as several non-native species have been
designated as wildlife, giving them full pro-
tection under provisions of the
Wildlife Act
,
RSBC 1996, Chapter 488. These species may
not be hunted, killed, captured, kept as pets
or used for commercial purposes unless spe-
cifically allowed by regulation or by authority
of a permit. Schedules “B” and “C” of the
Designation and Exemption Regulation list
wildlife that are known to destroy property
and/or are detrimental to native wildlife.
These species have fewer restrictions regu-
lating their hunting, killing or capturing. Any
capture or killing of these species must
still abide by provincial laws regarding the
humane treatment of animals.
Schedule "B" lists animals that may be
captured or killed only for the specific
purpose of protecting property unless an
open season is designated by regulation (see
Regional Schedules for open seasons).
(a)
Scapanus orarius- coast mole
(b)
Lepus americanus- snowshoe hare
(c) all of the species of the sub familyArvicolinae and lemmings, except Ondonatra zibethicus - muskrat.
(d)Neotoma cinerea- bushy-tailed woodrat
(e) all species of the genus Peromyscus-deer mice
(f)Erethizon dorsatum- porcupine
(g)Thomomys talpoides- northern pocket gopher
(h)Marmota flaviventris- yellow-bellied marmot
(i)Marmota monax- woodchuck
(j)Spermophilus columbianus- Columbian ground squirrel
(k)Mephitis mephitis- striped skunk
(l)Procyon lotor- raccoon
(m)Spilogale putorius- spotted skunk
Schedule "C" animals can be captured
or killed anywhere and at any time in BC.
Schedule “C” birds may be hunted using electronic
calls. You do not need a hunting licence
to hunt or kill the following
Schedule “C” wildlife:
(a) Rana catesbeiana - American bullfrog
(b) Rana clamitans - green frog
(c) all species of the family Chelydridae -
snapping turtles
(d) Didelphis virginiana - North American
opossum
(e) Sylvilagus floridanus - eastern cottontail
(f) Oryctolagus cuniculus - European rabbit
(g) Myocastor coypus - nutria
(h) all species of the genus Sciurus - gray
squirrels and fox squirrels
(i) Passer domesticus - house sparrow
(j) Sturnus vulgaris - European starling
(k) Columbia livia - rock dove (domestic
pigeon)
You do need a hunting licence to hunt the
following Schedule “C” wildlife UNLESS you
are hunting them on your property or they are
damaging your property:
(a) Corvus caurina - Northwestern Crow
(b) Corvus brachyrhynchos - American Crow
(c) Pica pica - black-billed magpie
(d) Molothrus ater - brown-headed cowbird
and the eggs of this bird species may be
destroyed.
Read the hunting regs and understand them. Pretty much all the wildlife in BC is under the protection of the Government. unless it says you are allowed to shoot it and under which conditions (licensing, etc.).
Cheers
Trev
blasted_saber
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- A blue part of Ontario
Its about protecting a resource
If you want to hunt, go take the hunting course. You never know, you might learn something!
If you want to hunt, go take the hunting course. You never know, you might learn something!
