Close Peace Caribou Hunts and Reduce Peace Moose Hunts (Region-wide)

Regulation Number: 
2023-07-03
Status: 
Proposed
Region: 
Region 7B - Peace
MU: 
7-19
7-20
7-21
7-22
7-31
7-32
7-33
7-34
7-35
7-36
7-42
7-43
7-44
7-45
7-46
7-47
7-48
7-49
7-50
7-51
7-52
7-53
7-54
7-55
7-56
7-57
7-58
Regulation Type: 
General Open Season
Limited Entry Hunting
Species: 
Moose, Caribou
Closing Date: 
March 23, 2022 at midnight
Current Regulations: 

1) Caribou:

General Open Season:

  • 7-50 to 7-54 5-Point Bulls Aug 15 - Sept 30
  • 7-58 (Bow Only) 5-Point Bulls Sept 1 - Sept 30

Limited Entry Hunting:

  • 7-42A: Pink Mountain 7-42 Aug 15-Sept 30 5 pt Bull

*Note: Closure of the Pink Mountain caribou hunt (M.U.s 7-42 and 7-58) is already being considered, and was posted to the public engagement website in the winter of 2021/2022. See the proposal for more information.

2) Moose

General Open Season:     

7-21B, 7-22, 7-31B     Bulls     Aug 15 - Aug 31

7-19, 7-20, 7-21A, 7-31A, 7-32, 7-33, 7-35, 7-36, 7-42, 7-43, 7-46 to 7-56s     Bulls     Aug 23 - Aug 31

7-19, 7-21B, 7-22, 7-31, 7-36, 7-42, 7-43, 7-46 to 7-56+s H     Bulls     Sept 1 - Oct 31

7-20, 7-21A, 7-32 to 7-35, 7-44, 7-45, 7-57, 7-58 H     Bulls     Sept 1 - Sept 30

7-20, 7-21A, 7-32 to 7-35, 7-44, 7-45, 7-57, 7-58 H     Bulls     Oct 16 - Oct 31

Bow Only 7-20, 7-21A, 7-32 to 7-35, 7-44, 7-45, 7-57, 7-58 H     Bulls     Oct 1 - Oct 15

                    

 Moose hunting restrictions within portions of MUs 7-31 and 7-32 see Map H10. For Zones A and B of 7-21 see Map H4B, for Zones A and B of 7-31 see Map H4A

+ Portion of MUs 7-51,7-52 and 7-53 closed to moose hunting from Oct 1 to Oct 15 (See Maps H27 and H28).

H Open only for bull moose: (a) having no more than two points (tines) on one antler ("Spike-fork bull moose"), (b) having antlers with at least three points (tines) on one brow palm

(“Tripalm bull moose") or (c) having at least one antler with a minimum of 10 points (tines), including the brow palm. See Definitions section: Moose.

The antlers must accompany the species licence.

s Compulsory Inspection required of moose taken in MU 7-51 and 7-53 and in that portion of MU 7-52 accessible from Region 6. See Map F44 (page 71).

 

Proposed Regulations: 

1) Caribou:

  • Close all licensed caribou hunts in Region 7B (General Open Season and Limited Entry Hunting).
  • Note, closure of the 5 point bull caribou bow only season in 7-58 and the Pink Mountain LEH is already under consideration and was part of the previous round of public engagement. See here for additional details.

2) Moose:

  • Close all licensed moose hunting in the Peace region for Aug. 15-31, and Oct 1 – 15.
  • Close the Peace Moberly tract to all moose hunting
  • Change the rut closure around Moose Lake in Management Unit 7-51 to a full moose hunting closure .
  • Convert all remaining moose hunts from GOS to LEH with four LEH seasons as follows:
    • Sept. 1 – 15
    • Sept. 15 – 30
    • Oct. 16 – 31
    • Nov. 1 - 15
  • Establish the area of MU 7-32 outside of the Peace Moberly Tract as LEH Zone A  and LEH Zone B .
  • Authorizations issued will be informed by a recommendation to reduce the number of moose killed by 50% and the number of BC licensed hunters by 50%.
  • Require Compulsory Reporting for all MUs in the Peace Region, with the following exception:
    • Require Compulsory Inspection for moose taken in that portion of MU 7-52 accessible from Region 6. See Map F44 (page 71).
Rationale: 

These proposed hunting regulations are aimed at addressing the ability of Treaty 8 First Nations to continue their way of life and begin to address the impacts of industrial development of the rights guaranteed in this Treaty as confirmed in the Supreme Court of BC decision Yahey vs. BC (June 29, 2021).

The proposed hunting regulation changes are a two-year interim measure and only one part of a broader package of actions specific to improving wildlife stewardship, upholding Treaty rights, and habitat conservation and the future of resource management. This work is bringing the Province, Treaty 8 Nations, and stakeholders together in a shared management vision.

To learn more about this broader package of actions read the detailed backgrounder here .