Disabled Hunting Permit

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Contents:

• Overview
• Costs and Responsibilities
• What you need to apply
• What happens after you apply
• Links
• Tips for a successful application

Overview

An application by a hunter having a physical disability for a permit under section 2 (aa), 2 (bb), 3 (2) or 3.1 (1)(a) of the Permit Regulation.

Disabled hunter can request the permit for any combination of the following:

1. to discharge a firearms from a  motor vehicle
2. to seek exemptions from areas subject to motor vehicle closures
3. to be assisted by having one or more hunting companions, to track, kill and retrieve big game wounded by the disabled person
4. to be assisted by having one or more designated (proxy) hunting companions, to hunt and kill big game on behalf of the disabled person.

Costs and Responsibilities

There are no fees associated with a Disabled Hunting Permit application.

What you need to apply

Eligibility

Anyone who is

• 19 years of age or older OR
• 10-18 years old, and has the written consent of a parent or guardian

who has a permanent injury or disability can apply for a Disabled Hunting Permit (see General Permit Restrictions). 

Disabled hunting permits are not limited to BC residents, U.S. citizens and out of province hunters are also eligible. They will have to follow the same process as a B.C. resident and submit a medical assessment form.

Which of the following Permit types are you seeking?

Four different permits, issued under the Permit Regulation are available to disabled hunters, should they meet the criteria:

• Discharge a firearm from a motor vehicle
  • This is intended for those persons who are unable to safely exit a motor vehicle to shoot (e.g., paraplegics)
• Use a motor vehicle to hunt in areas closed to motor vehicles
  • This is primarily intended for those persons who are unable to walk very far without mobility assistance (e.g., cane, walker, crutches, wheelchair, or prosthetics)
• Be assisted by having one or more hunting companions, to track, kill and retrieve big game wounded by the disabled person (open or closed area)
  • This is primarily intended for those persons who are unable to walk very far without mobility assistance (e.g., cane, walker, crutches, wheelchair, or prosthetics)
• Be assisted by having one or more designated (proxy) hunting companions, to hunt and kill big game on behalf of the disabled person
  • This is intended for those persons who are completely unable to discharge a firearm or crossbow due to their physical disability (e.g., quadriplegics, double arm amputee)

Medical Assessment Form

• A completed medical assessment form completed and signed by a medical doctor
• This form will have to be downloaded and signed by a doctor and then be scanned and uploaded along with your Disabled Hunting Application form in Virtual FrontCounter as Supporting Documentation.

Companions

Authorizing a physically disabled person to be assisted by having one or more hunting companions. Please refer to the Disabled Hunting Permit Application (available in Virtual FrontCounter) for further details on companions and the definition of hunt.

Other Important Notes

If you are seeking exemptions from motor vehicle restrictions or time of day restrictions you must provide the management unit (M.U.) and the specific closure within that M.U. where you are seeking the exemption. Please refer to the most recently published Hunting and Trapping Regulations Synopsis.

Please review your application form carefully and ensure that all required fields have been filled out before you submit your application.

What happens after you apply

The target time frame for decision on your permit is 70 days*

*Processing time within the North East Region will be considerably longer as there is a required consultation process.

Receiving the application

Your application will be reviewed to ensure that it is complete. Your payment and documents will be entered into the appropriate systems. When necessary, you will be contacted for more information. 

An application will not be accepted and processed until all required information as well as payment has been received.

Decision Making

A decision will be made on whether to issue a permit or not after a full review of your submission.

Issuance of Permit

If your application is approved, the permit is issued and sent to you by FrontCounter BC. If your application was not approved, you will be notified. 

NOTE: If you used a BCeID and a licence or permit is issued, you can download it from the Manage your Natural Resource Applications webpage by logging in using your BCeID

Links

Link
Disabled Medical Assessment Form
Wildlife Act
Motor Vehicle Prohibition Regulation

Tips for a successful application

Follow these tips to make the application process easier:

1. Review this guide and have all the information and documents ready before you start filling out the application.
2. Use a Basic, Personal or Business BCeID for your application. A BCeID is easy to get and allows you to save your application, reopen it, and check the status of your application online. Applications will automatically time-out after a certain period of inactivity if not saved.
3. Contact FrontCounter BC before you begin, to help you with all natural resource applications.