Limited Entry Hunting in British Columbia

If you want to hunt certain species in specific areas of BC, you need a Limited Entry Hunting (LEH) authorization. This guide covers how the LEH system works, how to apply, what it costs, and how to read the synopsis.

What is Limited Entry Hunting?

BC has two types of hunting seasons. General Open Seasons (GOS) are open to all licensed hunters with harvest managed through season length, bag limits, and class-of-animal restrictions. Limited Entry Hunting is a draw-based system that controls the number of hunters who can pursue a specific species or class of species in a defined area during a set time period.

LEH exists because some populations cannot sustain unlimited hunting pressure. The draw allows wildlife managers to issue a precise number of authorizations per area per season.

LEH draws are random. Previous year results are published beside each hunt code to show the odds of a successful application. Some hunts are highly competitive with draw odds in the single digits. Others are more accessible. Knowing the odds before you apply is part of the strategy.

LEH authorizations are typically available for bison, mule deer, elk, moose, mountain goat, mountain sheep, and other BC game species. The specific hunts, areas, season dates, and authorization numbers are published in the LEH synopsis each year.

What You Need Before You Can Apply

You need a Fish and Wildlife ID (FWID). No FWID, no LEH application, no hunting licence.

To get your FWID you must complete the CORE Hunter Education Course or challenge the CORE exam. Silvercore offers both in-person and online across BC. Book your CORE course or CORE challenge at silvercore.ca.

If you already have your FWID, make sure your profile is current in the WILD system before applying.

How to Apply

LEH applications are submitted through the BC Hunting Online Service (WILD system) at gov.bc.ca/hunting. You can also apply in person at any Service BC or FrontCounter BC office.

What you need to apply online: a credit card and a basic BCeID account. If you do not have a BCeID you will be prompted to register for one when you sign in.

What you need to apply in person: government-issued photo ID and the hunt codes for the hunts you want to apply for.

Application Fees

LEH applications cost $6.30 each, taxes included. This fee is non-refundable regardless of whether you are successful in the draw.

LEH Application Types

There are several ways to apply:

Single applicant. You apply on your own for one authorization.

Group hunt. You apply with other hunters as a group. If the group is drawn, all members receive an authorization. Group applications are not accepted for elk in Regions 1 and 2.

Shared hunt. Available for certain species like bison. Groups of up to four applicants can share a single authorization.

How to Read the LEH Synopsis

The LEH synopsis is published annually and is your primary planning document. It is arranged by species, then by region, followed by animal class, hunt area, management unit (MU), season dates, and the tentative number of authorizations.

The tentative authorization numbers are exactly that. They can be adjusted before the draw. An increase or decrease in authorization numbers can significantly change your odds.

Pay attention to the footnotes. Many hunts have restrictions on equipment (archery only during certain dates), land access (private land only, with landowner permission required), or special requirements (compulsory inspection, mandatory reporting).

The LEH synopsis is published separately from the Hunting and Trapping Regulations Synopsis. You need both documents to plan your hunt properly. Download the current LEH synopsis from gov.bc.ca/hunting.

Key Dates and Deadlines

BC typically runs two LEH application periods per year. The fall LEH application deadline for the current cycle was November 20, 2025. Results are generally published the following spring.

The Special Mountain Sheep draw has its own deadline, also in November. Check gov.bc.ca/hunting for exact dates as they are published each year.

Mark these deadlines on your calendar well in advance. Missing the deadline by even a minute means waiting another year.

LEH Authorizations Are Digital

LEH authorizations are electronic and no longer mailed. They are available on your Fish and Wildlife profile through the WILD system. If you prefer not to access them online, you can get a copy at any Service BC or FrontCounter BC office.

LEH Strategy Tips

Study the odds. The previous year's results published in the synopsis tell you how many people applied versus how many authorizations were available. Use this to prioritize your applications.

Apply every year. Some draw systems reward consistency or longevity, and even where they do not, the odds reset each year. You miss 100% of the draws you skip.

Have a backup plan. If you are not drawn for your preferred LEH hunt, know which GOS opportunities are available in the same region and time frame.

Scout early. An LEH authorization gives you the right to hunt a specific area. It does not guarantee success. The hunters who fill their tags are the ones who scouted before the season opened.

Where to Find Official Information

Current LEH Synopsis: https://gov.bc.ca/hunting (published annually)

Hunting and Trapping Regulations Synopsis (2024-2026): gov.bc.ca, Hunting and Trapping Regulations Synopsis

WILD System (licensing, applications, draw results): https://gov.bc.ca/hunting

LEH zone maps: Available through the BC government hunting page, organized by region

CORE Hunter Education Course: silvercore.ca

This article is an informational guide. Always consult the official LEH synopsis and the Hunting and Trapping Regulations Synopsis for the specific rules governing your hunt. Contact your regional Fish and Wildlife office with questions about regulations in your area.

Before you go:

First things first, to even submit an LEH application or buy a B.C. hunting license you will need a Fish and Wildlife ID (FWID). How do you obtain an FWID? Easy! You have to either take and complete the CORE Hunter Education Course or challenge the CORE Hunter Education Course. Bonus, you can do both with Silvercore! Head to our website to book either your CORE challenge or your CORE course today.

Now, that you know the Spring Limited Entry Hunting deadline and what you need to do in order to obtain LEH, aka a FWID, let’s talk about Limited Entry Hunting in B.C. 

The LEH synopsis is also a helpful tool to use as it outlines the application process for Limited Entry Hunting. The synopsis is arranged by species, then
by region, followed by the animal class, where the hunt takes place, and the Management Unity (M.U.). It also indicates how to apply for an LEH Hunt, how to use the LEH synopsis, and the overall summary itself. 

View the Limited Entry Hunting Synopsis here.

Additional Helpful Documents:

• For more information on How To Hunt in B.C. head a previous Silvercore blog post we wrote! View it here 
• View B.C. Limited Entry Hunting Maps here
• Information sourced from the Province of British Columbia website  

This is a brief overview of Limited Entry Hunting in B.C. Should you have any further questions, please visit the Province of British Columbia website or contact us and we’d be happy to answer any of your questions!