 |
|
|
604-291-9990
1-888-881-2293
|
The BCWF would like to acknowlege the on-going support of the
BC Government.
As of April 1, 2000 the following is a change in documentation required to obtain a
BC Resident Hunter Number Card. An applicant must still be age 10 or more and be a BC resident. Previously,
a lawfully issued old licence from another jurisdiction was also acceptable. The definition residency, was
revised as of March 1, 2000 as follows the definition below.
Resident Hunter Number Cards
The Resident Hunter Number card is a mandatory requirement for all British Columbia residents who wish to obtain a British Columbia Resident Hunting Licence. The card containing the hunter number must be presented to the licence issuer to obtain a Resident Hunting Licence.
Hunter number cards can only be obtained from Government Agent offices and the Ministry of Environment, Lands and Parks issuing offices. It is illegal for a person to obtain, possess, or use more than one (1) Hunter Number.
A resident of the Province may obtain a Resident Hunter Number card by applying to a government agent or person employed in an office of BC Environment who is authorized to issue resident hunter number cards, and producing:
(a) a Conservation Outdoor Recreation Education program (CORE) certificate as defined in BC Reg. 53/98, the Hunter Safety Training Regulation, or
(b) a document issued by a province of Canada , other than British Columbia, or a state of the United States of America evidencing successful completion of a hunter safety training course, and
(c) a document proving that the applicant is a resident of the province of British Columbia (BC Drivers Licence, BC Health Care card, BC Identification card or other combination) which would show permanent residency in BC.
Note for (a) and (b) above:
"Document" does not include an affidavit. Affidavits are no longer accepted. verification of graduation from a hunter safety training course from another province/state (written or fax) is acceptable. If a person cannot comply with the above requirement, they must complete both the Conservation and Outdoor Recreation Education *(CORE) written examination and practical firearms handling test.
Residency
1) Resident - means
(a) a person who
(i) is a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident of Canada, whose only or primary residence is in British Columbia, and
(ii) has resided in British Columbia for 6 months in the 12 months immediately before making an application under this Act, or
(b) a person who
(i) is not a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident of Canada, but whose only or primary residence is in British Columbia, and
(ii) has resided in British Columbia for the 12 month period immediately before making an application under this Act.
2) Non-resident - means
(a) a person who is not a resident but who is a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident of Canada, or
(b) a person who
(i) is not a resident, but whose only or primary residence is in Canada, and
(ii) has resided in Canada for the 12 month period immediately before making an application under this Act.
3) Non-resident (Alien) - means a person who is neither a resident or a non-resident.
|
|
The
BC Wildlife Federation is a province-wide voluntary conservation organization of hunters,
anglers and recreational shooters, representing all British Columbians whose aims are to
protect, enhance and promote the wise use of the environment for the benefit of present and
future generations.
The B.C. Wildlife Federation was incorporated under the B.C. Societies Act in 1951 and it
became a registered charity in 1969. The Federation is British Columbia's largest and oldest
conservation organization. |
BCWF AFFILIATES
| Outdoor Edge Magazine |
Articles * Reviews *
* Stories * Opinions *
and much more available only to members of the BCWF! more » |
|
|
|
• CORE - What is it, how do I get started?
• How many licences do I need to get before I can go hunting in BC?
• Hunter Code of Ethics
• Hunting in British Columbia - Hunting & Trapping Information
• Insurance Questions
• Placing Hunting in Perspective Manual (2.2MB PDF)
• Qualifying for a BC Resident Hunter Number Card
• Workshop: Developing Bear Safety Lesson
The Conservation and Outdoor Recreation Education (CORE) Program is British Columbia's Hunter Education Program. It is also a great program for anyone interested in outdoor recreation.
The CORE Program consists of a practical firearms handling test, and a written examination on all of the following subjects:
• Conservation
• Ethics
• Law and Regulations
• First Aid and Survival
• Firearm Safety
• Animal Identification
• Bird Identification
The CORE Manual and the Hunting and Trapping Regulation Synopsis are the resource manuals used to learn these subjects.
BC Residents who are 14 years of age or older and who wish to obtain a hunting licence are required to complete the CORE Program.
The goal of the CORE Program is to ensure that prospective hunters meet acceptable standards of knowledge and skill for safe and ethical participation in hunting recreation.
The Hunter Safety Training Regulation prescribes the required fees for the CORE Program is $10 for each test and $30 for the graduate certificate.
Individuals who have completed a hunter education program from another state or province in North America are exempt from the requirement to complete the CORE Program. Contact the Government Agent at BC Access Centres for more details on program exemption.
Designated Agency
The B.C. Wildlife Federation (BCWF) operates the CORE Program on behalf of the Ministry of Environment.
CORE Examiners
CORE Examiners are appointed under provincial regulation. They may instruct classes and conduct examinations.
CORE Examiners should be able to inform you of where and when courses and/or examinations sessions are being conducted, and how to obtain the CORE Manual and the Hunting and Trapping Regulation Synopsis in your community.
CORE Examiners names can be obtained from the Government agent, Ministry of Environment,
or by calling the BCWF at 1-888-881-2293 or go to the BCWF's website: http://www.bcwf.bc.ca
Exam preparation by:
• Enrolling in a CORE Course: or
• Completing a program of self-study.
Independent instructors offer CORE Courses. The student should ensure that the course offered is of the quality, content and length appropriate for their learning requirements. Instructors offering CORE Courses should provide complete examination preparation and may make arrangements for testing by CORE Examiners. Discuss these arrangements with the instructor.
You should ask the independent instructor if the course fee includes all costs: the manual, examination fees and graduate certificate fees. The fees for a CORE Course vary greatly and are not prescribed by regulation.
Individuals may choose the self-study method to prepare for the examinations. It is suggested that you allow approximately 24 hours to study the CORE Manual and use of the Hunting and Trapping Regulation Synopsis.
The CORE Manual explains the self-study method and has sample questions to prepare you for the written examinations. A combination of reading, previous firearms handling experience and training, or tutoring maybe required to prepare you for the firearms practical examination.
You may also wish to try the Introduction to Hunter Education Internet course as another tool for self-study for the CORE Examinations. Check out the website www.ihea.com for more details.
Once you feel ready to take the examinations contact the CORE Examiner in your area. CORE Examiners operate on their own schedule and should be contacted well in advance of the desired examination date to arrange a mutually agreeable time and location for testing.
The examination process
Prior to starting the examinations, the CORE Examiner will have you complete a registration form. Until both exams have been successfully completed, the registration form may be kept by the student to be shown to an examiner each time an examination is taken, otherwise the record of the success completion of a test may be lost.
Two tests required
The written examination consists of 75 multiple-choice questions based on the CORE Manual and the Hunting and Trapping Regulations Synopsis.
You must obtain at least 56 points overall to pass the written examination. Supplemental information from the CORE Manual is not tested.
There is no time limit for the written examination. Upon completion of the test, the examiner will provide the results to the student. A failed exam must be retaken on a date other than the day the test was failed. Each time an examination is taken, a $10 fee is payable to the examiner.
The practical firearms handling examination requires the safe handling of two of the five types of firearm actions, including the identification and loading/unloading use of dummy ammunition. A minimum score of 21 out of 27 is required for a pass. The examiner will provide the firearms.
Individuals who have satisfactorily completed the Canadian Firearm Safety Course (CFSC) need not complete the CORE practical firearm-handling examination.
You must provide the CORE Examiner with either the completed CFSC report form showing successful test completion or a Possession and Acquisition Licence (PAL) to be exempted the practical firearms handling examination.
A Possession Only Licence (POL) is NOT acceptable for the exemption to the CORE practical firearms handling exam.
Graduate Certificate
When both examinations have been successfully completed, the examiner will give the student a document of completion. The student must send this form, along with a $30 administration fee payable to the BCWF, to obtain a graduation certificate, which can then be presented to the Government Agent to obtain a hunters license.
You will need to take this graduation certificate to the local government agent and request a BC Resident Hunter Number Card (RHNC). There is no cost for the RHNC. Before a RHNC is issued, you will have to prove that you are a BC resident and that you meet the minimum age requirements.
With your RHNC you may purchase a hunting licence and enter the limited entry-hunting draw.
Updated September 30, 2005
Most hunters use firearms. Provincial and federal law governs how the hunter gets a firearm and uses it during hunting.
Here are some of the frequently asked questions on this subject.
- Do I need a Firearms Acquisition Certificate (FAC) or the new Federal Firearms Licence in order to go hunting?
Yes in most cases and no if you are being supervised. To hunt you need a hunting licence issued by the province. If you are just carrying a rifle or shotgun in the bush, you have either a valid hunting licence or federal firearms licence. As of January 1, 2001, the Wildlife Act will now accept a FAC, Possession and Acquisition Licence (PAL) or Possession-Only Licence (POL) for the purposes of carrying a gun in the bush.
If you borrow a firearm you need a valid FAC or the new federal firearm licence (PAL, or POL) unless you are being supervised by someone who is legally allowed to have that firearm.
If you have passed the Conservation and Outdoor Recreation Education (CORE) program,
obtained a BC Resident Hunter Number Card, and purchased a hunting licence; you can
go hunting in accordance with the rules in the Wildlife Act and Regulations. If you
do not own a firearm and your hunting partner lends you a firearm, as long as he or
she provides direct and immediate supervision, you may hunt with that firearm. If your
hunting partner leaves you on a tree stump while he or she goes out to scare the game
towards you, are you under their direct and immediate supervision? Most people and the
police would say NO, you need a FAC or the new federal firearm licence.
If stopped at a roadblock, the Conservation Officer will ask you for your hunting licence. The Conservation Officer will ensure you are in compliance with the Wildlife Act and Regulations (Provincial Law). If the RCMP officer or municipal police force officer approaches you, he or she may ask for your FAC or Federal Firearms Licence. They want to check and see if you are legally in possession of that firearm in accordance with the Criminal Code of Canada and the Firearms Act.
During the hunting season starting in 2001, you must have a hunting licence and a federal firearms licence with you, if you are hunting with a firearm, unless you are being supervised. The person supervising will need a federal firearms licence.
- Does my son or daughter under 18 years of age need a Federal Minors Permit in order to go hunting?
No. The Federal Minors Permit is generally issued to youth in British Columbia between the ages of 12 to 17 who need to use a firearm in an unsupervised situation. This occurs for youth that participate in biathlon competition. It is hard for the adult to supervise the youth while the youth is skiing through the woods.
Youth (ages 10 to 17 inclusive) who participate in hunting in British Columbia must be accompanied by an adult (18 years or older) who holds a valid hunting licence and be accompanied by and under the close personal supervision of that person. Accompanied under the Wildlife Act means to remain in the company of the other person, able to see the other person without the aid of any device other than ordinary corrective lenses and able to communicate by unamplified voice with that person.
Close and personal supervision is not defined in the Wildlife Act. Neither is direct and immediate supervision in the Criminal Code. If you give a youth a shotgun and put them in a duck blind 20 feet away from your duck blind, you may have met the requirement to accompany that youth under the Wildlife Act. Do you think you have met either of the supervision requirements? Most people would say no.
- I have successfully completed the CORE program; do I need to take the Canadian Firearm Safety Course in order to apply for a new Federal Firearms Licence?
Your choice.
If you read the Canadian Firearm Safety Course (CFSC) manual and feel comfortable in challenging the Canadian Firearm Safety Course written and practical exam, you should be able to pass the challenge tests. If you are uncomfortable with challenging the Canadian Firearm Safety Course tests and/or you feel the additional firearm training would be a good refresher, take the course.
You will need to weigh the cost of the challenge tests versus the cost for the course. Other factors such as work and family commitments, personal growth, course availability need to be looked at before you decide to challenge the tests or take the course.
CFSC manuals are available from the BCWF or Crown Publications.
[return to top]
|
|
|
|
International Hunter Education Association
The International Hunter Education Association (IHEA) is the professional association for 63 state
and provincial wildlife conservation agencies, and the 55,000 volunteer instructors who teach hunter
education in North America. |
|
|
Suggested Objectives and Learning Activities
GOAL: "Stay safe in bear country by knowing the dangers, ways to avoid encounters and how to react during encounters." more »
|
|
|
1. Ethical hunters respect the animals we hunt, and, when we hunt, we do so responsibly.
2. Ethical hunters are students of nature - learning as much as possible about the game pursued, its habitat, habits and life cycle.
3. Ethical hunters support the concept of "fair chase".
4. Ethical hunters are skilled in the use of the tools of hunting. When we shoot, we do so accurately and safely.
5. Ethical hunters are true conservationists who believe in the sustainable use of natural resources. Our interest in wildlife and the environment includes non-game and endangered species.
BCWF May 24, 2000
|
|
|
1. How much insurance must the Shooting Club and Shooting Range have?
2. The Shooting Club and Shooting Ranges Regulations found in the March 1998 Firearms Act Regulations states that: Section 8 The operator of a shooting club or a shooting range shall at all times maintain the insurance coverage referred to in paragraphs 3 (2) (c) and 4 (2) (b) e.g. evidence of at least $2,000,000 of commercial general liability insurance with coverage on an occurrence basis.
This requirement became effective December 1, 1998. The Chief Firearms Officer did not notify the federation clubs of this requirement until May 1999 when they sent out the 133-page document titled BC shooting clubs and range design guidelines. The BCWF lawyer confirmed in July that the Shooting Club and Shooting Range Regulations had been proclaimed.
Please ensure that your club has adequate coverage to meet the new regulation requirements. Please contact your insurance carrier.
3. Do I need insurance for my ATV or snowmobile on a forest service road? In the 1999 Hunting and Trapping Regulations Synopsis it indicates that:
It is unlawful to use ATVs or snowmobiles any time on forest service roads unless the operator and vehicle are covered by public liability insurance.
This requirement is actually a Forest Service Road Use Regulation. This Forest Regulation requires that you have $200,000 third-party liability insurance.
The Evans Bastion Insurance coverage offered by the BCWF states the following on this issue:
"The policy extend s to cover off road liability coverage only, for ATVs that are not licenced or required to be licensed by ICBC on non-public highways. Please note that ICBC requires automobile liability coverage on vehicles operated on public roads. It is up to each Club or its members to ensure that roads on which they wish to operate ATVs are considered non-public roads. Confirmation of what is considered a non-public road can be obtained by contacting the local Motor Vehicle Department or Forest Services office. This coverage is limited to Clubs and their members only. Also, coverage is excluded if ATVs are loaned or rented to others".
Snowmobiles coverage to be announced at a later date!
According to the Hunting and Trapping Regulations Synopsis:
Evidence of current $1,000,000 public liability and property damage insurance must be provided to obtain a Fraser Valley Special Hunting Licence. This licence is automatically invalid if the insurance coverage is not maintained. A BCWF membership card with insurance notation, a letter from your insurance agent on company letterhead or the policy itself is proof of insurance.
A licenced hunter under the age of 18 does not have to obtain a special area hunting licence, but must be accompanied by a licence hunter 18 years of age or older who holds a Fraser Valley Special Licence Hunting Area licence and insurance and who has signed an acknowledgement of responsibility for the younger hunter.
Please check with your club secretary or the BCWF office at 1-800-533-2293 to confirm when your membership insurance expires. Remember you must have valid insurance coverage while hunting in the Fraser Valley.
Check the Hunting and Trapping Regulation Synopsis for the hunting season for each specific species. Check the Migratory Bird Regulations for more details on waterfowl hunting requirements.
Produced by BCWF office staff October 20, 1999. |
|
|
 |
CORE Hunter Education
A really great program for anyone interested in outdoor recreation. more » |
 |
Wetlands Education Program
Learn how to increase community health by assessing your wetland assets. more » |
 |
Becoming an Outdoors Woman
A unique weekend program offering an all inclusive outdoor skills workshop for women. more » |
 |
Wilderness Watch
Protect our environment by patrolling
and reporting observations to authorities. more » |
 |
Fishing Forever
Many could benefit greatly from a day out
fishing, if they could only get there... more » |
 |
Artist of the Year
Become a select Artist whose work exhibits the
beauty of BC's fish, wildlife and habitats. here » |
 |
Archery in the Schools
The National Archery in Schools Program promotes student education, physical education and participation in the life long sport of Archery... more » |
 |
The Angling Ambassador
The BC Wildlife Federation and the Freshwater Fisheries Society of BC have partnered together to offer the Angling Ambassador program...
more » |
|
|
