2026 limited-entry hunting draw includes regulation updates in peace region

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — The 2026 limited entry hunting draw includes updates around regulations involving moose and caribou hunting in the peace region. 

According to a May 26th release from the Ministry of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship, applications are now open for the 2026 limited-entry hunting draw.

Hunters can now apply for the draw, which, according to the release, supports sustainable wildlife management and provides licensed hunters with opportunities to hunt throughout British Columbia.

2026 and 2027 regulations around hunting include changes to hunting opportunities for several species in British Columbia, including moose hunting in the Peace River, Cariboo, and Skeena regions, and caribou hunting in part of the peace region. 

The province said the draw is used in areas where interest from hunters exceeds the number of available hunting opportunities. 

Merrit Andrew Cahoose, a resident of Fort St. John, offered their opinion in a Facebook comment. 

“As someone from northern B.C., I think a lot of people in the peace region are frustrated with the 2026 limited-entry hunting draw system,” they said. 

“Hunting isn’t just a hobby here; it’s part of our lifestyle, culture, food security and tradition for many families, including First Nations and rural communities.”

Cahoose explained the hunting draws are making it harder for residents and hunters to access hunting.

“The draw system may help manage wildlife numbers, but many people worry it also limits opportunities for families to hunt together, teach younger generations and provide meat for their homes,” Cahoose said.

Winners of the draw will receive authorization to participate in specific hunting opportunities. 

The release said the province reviews and updates regulations for limited-entry hunting every two years to support sustainable wildfire management and hunting opportunities for license hunters, while also upholding Indigenous harvest rights.

Hudson’s Hope resident Sheldon Marion was asked if he agrees the draw doesn’t fairly represent hunters in Northeast B.C.

“I do, to a certain degree,” he said. “For a good example, my dad lived up here for fifty years. The last five years, he’s been down south in Powell River….so if you want to put a draw or put in his name for the draw for the moose, deer or elk, there shouldn’t be any restrictions on him doing that.”

“The problem that I do see, where I do understand [where] people are coming from is when people live in Vancouver, Nanaimo, Kelowna, their entire life, they put in for all these draws….some of them get those draws and then they just never come up north.” 

Marion said the odd time people will come up to the north and shoot a moose, but then are forced to leave it behind.

“Once in a blue moon, you see a moose is rooting, hanging up in a tree, because somebody from Vancouver came with a Coleman cooler thinking they could take back like 600 pounds of meat [in a] cooler that holds 24 beer[s].”

For a full list of regulation updates, view the release. 

According to the release, the changes are informed by numerous factors, including updated population information, conservation considerations, concerns about crowding, public and stakeholder feedback, and First Nations consultation. 

Hunters must be B.C. residents with a valid fish and wildlife ID to apply for the 2026 draw. Applications can be submitted by 11:59 p.m. on June 23rd through the Wildlife Information and Licensing Data (WILD) system. 

Hunters who have overdue mandatory hunter reports or permit to accompany reports are ineligible to apply for the draw until the reports are submitted.

Application fees for the draw are non-refundable and non-transferable. Hunters who apply for the wrong limited-entry hunt will not receive refunds.

Those who apply are encouraged to verify their information and understand the rules for the area they plan to hunt before submitting an application by reading the 2026 to 2027 limited-entry hunting synopsis.