Limited Entry Hunting in British Columbia
The 2026 Fall Limited Entry Hunting draw is open. Applications close at 11:59 PM Pacific on Tuesday, June 23, 2026. That is the date that matters.
This is the working hunter's guide to LEH in BC. What it is, how to apply, what changes this year, and what you actually need once you're drawn. If you're applying for the first time, start with the FWID section below. If you've applied before, skip to "What changed for 2026" and confirm your WILD login is current before deadline week.
What is Limited Entry Hunting in BC?
Limited Entry Hunting (LEH) is BC's draw system for species and zones where a general open season would result in over-harvest. You submit an application by the annual deadline. The province draws authorizations at random. If you're drawn, you can hunt the species, zone, and season your authorization covers. If you're not drawn, you can apply again next year, and preference points accumulate each year you miss.
Species available under LEH include bison, black bear, caribou, elk, moose, mountain goat, mountain sheep, deer, and turkey. Availability depends on management unit and year. Many of these species are also available through General Open Season (GOS), which does not require a draw.
LEH is the only legal path to hunt certain species in certain places. Read the synopsis for your target before you apply.
When does LEH open in BC for 2026?
The 2026 Fall LEH draw is currently open. Applications close at 11:59 PM Pacific on Tuesday, June 23, 2026. The Wildlife Branch typically releases draw results in the last week of June or early July, published through your WILD account.
There is no late application option. If your submission is not in by 11:59 PM Pacific on June 23, you are out for the 2026 fall season.
Two things will stop your application from being accepted:
Overdue Mandatory Hunter Report (MHR) or Permit to Accompany (PTA) reports. Submit any overdue reports before you apply.
An expired or missing BC resident credential on your FWID. The new BC Services Card login (covered below) can auto-renew this if you're eligible.
Where is the 2026 BC LEH Synopsis?
The official 2026 to 2027 Limited Entry Hunting Regulations Synopsis is published by the BC Wildlife Branch and posted at gov.bc.ca/hunting. The synopsis is the authoritative source for available hunts, management units, season dates, and species-specific rules for this draw. Read it before you apply, not after.
The companion document is the 2026 to 2028 BC Hunting and Trapping Regulations Synopsis, which covers everything outside LEH including general open seasons, bag limits, and compulsory inspection requirements. Both documents are free PDFs at the gov.bc.ca hunting page.
The synopsis is updated annually. Anything you read on third-party sites, including this one, should be cross-checked against the current synopsis for your specific hunt.
How do I log in to BC LEH and apply?
LEH applications go through the WILD (Wildlife Information & Licensing Database) system at gov.bc.ca/hunting.
You have two login options for 2026. The first is your WILD username and password, the legacy method that still works for everyone. The second is your BC Services Card Account, new for 2026, and the one I'd recommend. If you're a BC resident, this option will auto-renew or grant your BC resident credential on your FWID when eligible. One fewer thing to scramble on before you can apply.
If you're locked out of WILD or have not logged in for a few years, recover your account before deadline day, not on it. Service BC and FrontCounter BC offices can help if the online recovery fails.
Once you're in, verify your FWID and hunting credential are active. Submit any overdue MHR or PTA reports. Select your hunt opportunities. You can enter up to four choices ranked in order of preference, and you can apply as a group of up to four hunters with a Group ID. Submit. Keep your confirmation.
What is an FWID and how do I get one?
A Fish and Wildlife ID (FWID) is the personal identification number BC issues to track everything you do as a hunter or angler in this province. You cannot apply for LEH without one. You cannot buy a hunting licence without one.
To obtain an FWID you need to either complete the CORE Hunter Education program or, if you already hold a valid Canadian Firearms Safety Course report, complete the CORE written exam through a certified examiner (the practical handling test may be waived with proof of CFSC completion).
The CORE program is administered by the BC Wildlife Federation on behalf of the province. The online CORE course is delivered through Silvercore in partnership with the BCWF, and it includes the mandatory $30 student graduation certificate required to receive your FWID. You can take the online CORE course here. Once you have your graduation certificate, request your FWID through Service BC, FrontCounter BC, or online.
Once your FWID is active and your hunting credential is on file, you can log in to WILD with either your WILD account or your BC Services Card Account.
What changed for the 2026 LEH draw?
Two changes worth knowing.
The first is the BC Services Card login to WILD. New for 2026, you can log in to WILD with your BC Services Card Account in addition to your legacy WILD username. If you're a BC resident, this also auto-renews or grants your BC resident credential on your FWID when eligible, eliminating one of the most common pre-deadline scrambles.
The second is the refreshed 2026 to 2027 LEH Synopsis. The regulations synopsis covering this draw is the 2026 to 2027 edition. Hunts, zones, and quotas have changed in places. Do not rely on prior-year memory. Pull the current synopsis from gov.bc.ca and check your specific MU.
For the broader regulatory picture, the 2026 to 2028 Hunting and Trapping Regulations Synopsis remains in effect through June 30, 2028. Check both documents for compulsory inspection requirements and species-specific rules.
You got drawn for LEH. What do you actually need?
If you're new to a drawn hunt, the next 60 days are different from a general open season. You're committed to a specific area, a specific season, and a specific species. Logistics matter more, mistakes cost more, and the gear and coverage you arrive with shape the outcome.
A few things to handle early, not late.
Liability insurance. If your drawn hunt is anywhere in the Fraser Valley Special Licence Hunting Area (Management Units 2-4 and 2-8), you are legally required to carry at least $1 million in third-party liability insurance for hunting. Many hunters do not have this until they're already in the field. The Silvercore Club exceeds the FVSLHA requirement with $5 million in third-party liability coverage through Lloyd's of London, valid across North America. Membership is $59 per year. If you're drawn in the Fraser Valley, this is the simplest path to compliance.
Authorization to Transport. If any part of your hunt involves a restricted firearm, you need an active ATT, which requires gun club membership. The Silvercore Club is RCMP-approved for ATT issuance and renewal and has been since 2007.
Gear without paying retail. Club members get standing discounts on Tangent Theta (10 percent), SAI Optics (15 percent), Tenebraex (20 percent), and other partner brands across optics, knives, and outdoor essentials. If you're buying a scope for the hunt, the discount on a single Tangent Theta covers the membership several times over.
Information and community. The Outpost is the member-only podcast for Silvercore Club members. Hunting-specific content, guests with field experience, and material that doesn't appear on the public feed.
The honest version: you do not need a Club to hunt. Plenty of people hunt without one. But if you've been drawn, the math on insurance alone makes the membership a $59 decision rather than a five-figure problem if something goes wrong. Most of our LEH-drawn members tell us the same thing.
Continue on the Silvercore Path
New to hunting in BC? Start with our BC CORE Hunter Education course.
Do not have your PAL yet? See How to Get Your PAL in Canada.
Want to hear hunters talk LEH strategy? Listen to Silvercore Podcast Ep. 75: BC LEH Masterclass.
Already a member? Log in to pull your insurance letter for your hunt.
FAQ
Q: What is LEH in BC? A: LEH is BC's draw system for hunting species and zones where a general open season would result in over-harvest. Apply by the annual deadline. If drawn, you can hunt the species, zone, and season your authorization covers.
Q: When does LEH open in BC for 2026? A: The 2026 Fall LEH draw is currently open. The application deadline is 11:59 PM Pacific on Tuesday, June 23, 2026.
Q: Where is the 2026 BC LEH Synopsis? A: The 2026 to 2027 LEH Regulations Synopsis is published at gov.bc.ca/hunting as a free PDF. Cross-check anything you read elsewhere against the current synopsis for your specific hunt.
Q: How do I log in to apply for LEH? A: Through the WILD system at gov.bc.ca/hunting. For 2026 you can log in with either your existing WILD username and password or your BC Services Card Account, which is new this year and auto-renews your BC resident credential if eligible.
Q: Do I need an FWID to apply for LEH? A: Yes. You cannot apply for LEH or buy a BC hunting licence without an active Fish and Wildlife ID with a valid hunting credential. CORE completion (or the equivalent CFSC exemption path) is required to obtain an FWID.
Q: What happens if I'm drawn for LEH? A: You will receive your authorization through WILD. Read the hunt-specific conditions carefully, confirm your licence is current, line up your liability insurance if you're hunting in the Fraser Valley Special Licence Hunting Area, and plan logistics. Authorizations are non-transferable.
Q: Do I need liability insurance to hunt in BC? A: For most areas, no. For hunting in the Fraser Valley Special Licence Hunting Area (Management Units 2-4 and 2-8), yes. The minimum is $1 million in third-party hunting liability coverage. Silvercore Club membership includes $5 million through Lloyd's of London.