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This archived revised Act states the law as of December 31, 1996 and includes provisions enacted and in force by that date. For the most current information, click here. The Revised Statutes of British Columbia, 1996 were brought into force on April 21, 1997 (B.C. Reg. 92/97). |
Contents
Section | ||
Action if conditions of licence or certificate not fulfilled | ||
1 (1) In this Act:
"amphibian" means a vertebrate of the class Amphibia and includes the eggs and other developmental life stages;
"angler day" is a unit representing one person angling during any part of a day and is used to determine the extent to which a stream, lake or area specified under section 53 may be used for angling, for example, "a limit of 1 000 angler days" means that the total obtained by adding together the number of anglers using the stream, lake or area on each day of a specified period must not exceed 1 000;
"angler day quota" means the number of angler days allocated by the regional manager to an angling guide for the use of the angling guide's clients, or a class of those clients, during a period specified under section 53;
"angling" means catching or attempting to catch fish with a hook and line, with or without a rod, and includes
(a) spear fishing or attempting to spear fish, and
(b) catching or attempting to catch crayfish;
"angling guide" means a person licensed as an angling guide under this Act;
"angling guide operating plan" means a description of the operations of an angling guide that is in the form and contains the information required by the regulations;
"angling site" means a location on a stream or lake, or on the bank, bed or shore of a stream or lake, from or from near which a person angles;
"animal" means a mammal, reptile, amphibian or bird;
"assistant angling guide" means a person licensed as an assistant angling guide under this Act;
"assistant director" means the assistant director of the Wildlife Branch of the ministry;
"assistant guide" means a person licensed as an assistant guide under this Act;
"big game" means
(a) any member of the family Cervidae,
(b) mountain sheep, mountain goat, bison or pronghorn antelope,
(c) bear, cougar or wolf, or
(d) a mammal prescribed as big game;
"bird" means an animal of the class Aves, and its eggs;
"bow" means a longbow or crossbow;
"camp" includes a hunting or fishing camp, logging camp, construction camp or camp established in connection with developing the oil, gas or mineral resources of British Columbia;
"carry" includes the storing of or having in possession of, in a boat, aircraft, motor vehicle, trailer or all terrain vehicle, even though the boat, aircraft, motor vehicle, trailer or all terrain vehicle is used as temporary living quarters;
"closed season" means a specified period during which a species of wildlife must not be hunted or taken;
"cold storage plant" means a facility where, for compensation or reward received or promised, wildlife or fish or parts of them are processed and stored, either fresh or frozen, for later consumption;
"conservation officer" means a conservation officer designated under the Environment Management Act and includes a deputy conservation officer appointed under this Act;
"constable" includes a special constable and an officer, member and constable of the Provincial police force and of a municipal police force in British Columbia and a member of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police;
"critical wildlife area" means land in a wildlife management area that is designated as a critical wildlife area;
"crossbow" means a bow fixed across a stock with a groove for the arrow or bolt and a mechanism for holding and releasing the string;
"Crown land" means land, whether or not it is covered by water, or an interest in land, vested in the government;
"director" means the director of the Wildlife Branch;
"domestic animal" means an animal that is prescribed as a domestic animal;
"endangered species" means a species of animal that is designated as an endangered species;
"firearm" includes a rifle, shotgun, handgun or spring gun and any device that propels a projectile by means of an explosion, compressed gas or spring but does not include a bow;
"fish" means any
(a) vertebrate of the order Petromyzontiformes (lampreys) or class Osteichthyes (bony fishes), or
(b) invertebrate of the class Crustacea (crustaceans) or class Mullusca (mollusks)
from or in non-tidal waters of British Columbia, and includes their eggs and juvenile stages;
"fur bearing animal" means a mammal prescribed as a fur bearing animal;
"fur management plan" means a plan for managing and trapping fur bearing animals that is in the form and contains the information required by the regulations;
"fur trader" means a person who is engaged in the business of buying, selling or trading in pelts or skins of fur bearing animals or other wildlife prescribed for the purpose of this definition, whether as principal, agent or employee, and whether the pelts or skins were obtained, taken or trapped by the fur trader or another person;
"game" means big game, small game, game birds and fur bearing animals, and other species prescribed as game;
"game bird" means a bird prescribed as a game bird and includes the eggs of that bird;
"guide" means a person who, for compensation or reward received or promised, accompanies and assists another person to hunt wildlife, but does not include a guide for fish;
"guide for fish" means a person who, for compensation or reward received or promised,
(a) accompanies another person and assists that person to angle,
(b) attends another person at or near an angling site in a manner that, directly or indirectly, assists that person to angle, or
(c) transports, for the purpose of angling, another person to, from or between angling sites,
but does not include a member of a class of persons prescribed by the Lieutenant Governor in Council;
"guide outfitter" means a person licensed as a guide outfitter under this Act;
"habitat" or "wildlife habitat" means the air, soil, water, food and cover components of the environment on which wildlife depend directly or indirectly in order to carry out their life processes;
"harass" includes worry, exhaust, fatigue, annoy, plague, pester, tease or torment, but does not include the lawful hunting, trapping or capturing of wildlife;
"hunt" includes shooting at, attracting, searching for, chasing, pursuing, following after or on the trail of, stalking or lying in wait for wildlife, or attempting to do any of those things, whether or not the wildlife is then or subsequently wounded, killed or captured,
(a) with intention to capture the wildlife, or
(b) while in possession of a firearm or other weapon;
"hunting licence" means a licence to hunt under section 11, but does not include a limited entry hunting authorization;
"Indian" means a person defined as an Indian by the Indian Act (Canada);
"limited entry hunting authorization" means an authorization issued under section 16;
"longbow" includes a longbow, recurve bow and a compound bow;
"mammal" means a vertebrate of the class Mammalia other than humans;
"meatcutter" means a person who, for compensation or reward received or promised, processes wildlife or fish for consumption;
"no shooting area" means a designated area in which the discharge of a firearm is prohibited;
"non resident" means a person who is not a resident of British Columbia but who
(a) is a Canadian citizen, or
(b) makes his or her home and is ordinarily present in Canada and has resided in Canada for the 12 month period immediately before making an application under this Act or the regulations or doing another thing relevant to the operation of this Act;
"non resident alien" means a person who is neither a resident nor a non resident;
"officer" means a person who is
(a) a conservation officer or constable, the director, an assistant director, a regional manager of the fish and wildlife program of the ministry or a biologist or biological technician in the ministry, or
(b) an employee of the ministry designated by name or position as an officer;
"open season" means a specified period of time during which a species of wildlife may be hunted or taken;
"person", for the purpose of issuing a licence, limited entry hunting authorization or a registration of a trapline, means a natural person;
"prohibited hours" means the hours during which the hunting of specified species of wildlife in a locality is prohibited;
"quota" means
(a) the total number of a game species, or
(b) the total number of a type of game species
specified by the regional manager that the clients or a class of client of a guide outfitter may kill in the guide outfitter's guiding area, or part of it, during a licence year, or part of it, but does not include an angler day quota;
"raptor" means a bird of the order Falconiformes known as vultures, eagles, falcons and hawks or the order Strigiformes known as owls, and includes its eggs;
"regional manager" means a regional manager of the recreational fisheries and wildlife programs;
"reptile" means a vertebrate of the class Reptilia and its eggs;
"resident" means a person who makes his or her home in British Columbia and has been present in British Columbia for 6 months in the 12 months immediately before making an application under this Act or doing another thing relevant to the operation of this Act;
"small game" means animals prescribed as small game;
"spear fishing" means fishing by use of a spear propelled by a spring, an elastic band, compressed air, a bow or by hand;
"stream" includes a section of a stream;
"tanner" means a person who, for compensation or reward received or promised, unhairs, fleshes, tans, plucks, dresses or dyes the pelts of wildlife or parts of the pelts;
"taxidermist" means a person who, for compensation or reward received or promised, prepares, preserves or mounts heads, skeletons, pelts or skins of wildlife or fish;
"threatened species" means a species of animal that is designated as a threatened species;
"traffic" means to buy, sell, trade or distribute for gain or consideration or to offer to do so;
"trap" includes a snare, net or other device, as defined by regulation, capable of being used in the taking or capturing of wildlife;
"trapline" means an area for which registration is granted to one or more licensed trappers for the trapping of fur bearing animals;
"wildlife" means raptors, threatened species, endangered species, game or other species of vertebrates prescribed as wildlife and, for the purposes of sections 3 to 5, 7, 8 and 108 (2) (v), includes fish;
"wildlife management area" means land designated as a wildlife management area;
"wildlife sanctuary" means land in a wildlife management area designated as a wildlife sanctuary.
(2) For the purposes of this Act,
(a) a person has anything in possession when the person has it in his or her personal possession or knowingly
(i) has it in the actual possession or custody of another person, or
(ii) has it in any place, whether or not that place belongs to or is occupied by him or her, for the use or benefit of himself or herself or of another person, and
(b) if one of 2 or more persons, with the knowledge and consent of the rest, has anything in his or her custody or possession, it is deemed to be in the custody and possession of each and all of them.
2 (1) Ownership in all wildlife in British Columbia is vested in the government.
(2) A person does not acquire a right of property in any wildlife except in accordance with a permit or licence issued under this Act or the Game Farm Act or as provided in subsection (3) of this section.
(3) A person who lawfully kills wildlife and complies with all applicable provisions of this Act and the regulations acquires the right of property in that wildlife.
(4) If a person by accident or for the protection of life or property kills wildlife, that wildlife, despite subsection (3), remains the property of the government.
(5) Despite anything in this Act, no right of action lies, and no right of compensation exists, against the government for death, personal injury or property damage caused by
(a) wildlife, or
(b) an animal that escapes or is released from captivity or is abandoned
in British Columbia.
3 The minister, for the purpose of access to or the management or protection of wildlife, may
(a) acquire and administer land, improvements on land and timber, timber rights and other rights on private land, and
(b) enter into and carry out an agreement with a person, association or other body.
4 (1) In this section, "park" and "recreation area" have the same meanings as in the Park Act.
(2) With the consent of the Lieutenant Governor in Council, the minister may, by regulation, designate as a wildlife management area land that is under the minister's administration and is not in a park or a recreation area.
(3) The designation of land under subsection (2) does not affect any rights granted before the designation.
(4) With the consent of the regional manager, a person may be authorized under another Act to use land or resources in a wildlife management area for purposes that are compatible with wildlife management.
5 (1) If the minister requires land for habitat for a species of wildlife designated as an endangered species or threatened species, the minister may, by regulation, designate land in a wildlife management area as a critical wildlife area.
(2) The minister may, by regulation, designate land in a wildlife management area as a wildlife sanctuary.
6 (1) If the Lieutenant Governor in Council considers that a species of wildlife is threatened with imminent extinction throughout all or a significant portion of its range in British Columbia because of the action of humans, the Lieutenant Governor in Council may, by regulation, designate the species as an endangered species.
(2) If the Lieutenant Governor in Council considers that a species of wildlife is likely to become endangered in British Columbia if the factors affecting its vulnerability are not reversed, the Lieutenant Governor in Council may, by regulation, designate the species as a threatened species.
7 (1) A person commits an offence if the person
(a) alters, destroys or damages wildlife habitat, or
(b) deposits on land or water a substance or manufactured product or by product
in a manner that is harmful to
(c) wildlife, or
(d) wildlife habitat
in a wildlife management area, except as authorized under section 4 (4) or by the regulations or a permit.
(2) The regulations may provide that compliance with standards set by the Coal Act, Geothermal Resources Act, Mineral Tenure Act or Petroleum and Natural Gas Act or regulations or other instruments under those Acts constitutes sufficient compliance with subsection (1) and, for that purpose, may adopt different standards for different areas designated under sections 4 and 5.
(3) For the purposes of subsection (1), the regional manager may issue a permit if the applicant has complied with section 3 of the Environment Management Act.
(4) A regional manager may make orders prohibiting a person from
(a) entering,
(b) cutting, picking, removing, altering, destroying or damaging vegetation in,
(c) disturbing or harassing wildlife in,
(d) releasing or abandoning an animal in, and
(e) allowing an animal to enter
a wildlife management area, a critical wildlife area or a wildlife sanctuary.
(5) A person who contravenes an order made under subsection (4) commits an offence.
8 The government has a right of action against a person who, without authority, destroys or damages wildlife habitat in a wildlife management area or an area set apart for wildlife management and may recover damages from the person for
(a) any money that the government spends to restore the habitat and its wildlife to its original state, or
(b) the loss of the habitat and its wildlife if restoration of the wildlife habitat is impossible.
9 (1) A person commits an offence if the person disturbs, molests or destroys
(a) a muskrat house or den, except on diked land, or
(b) a beaver house or den or beaver dam.
(2) Subsection (1) does not apply
(a) to a licensed trapper,
(b) if the action is taken to provide irrigation or drainage under lawful authority for the protection of property, or
(c) if the action is authorized by regulation.
10 (1) The minister may require bonding under the Bonding Act from a person who engages in, or proposes to engage in, an operation on land designated under section 4 or 5.
(2) A payment or forfeiture under a bond under subsection (1) does not relieve the person of any other obligation or liability under this Act.
11 (1) A person commits an offence if the person hunts wildlife or carries a firearm unless
(a) the person holds
(i) a hunting licence issued to him or her under this Act, if the person hunts,
(ii) any limited entry hunting authorization required by regulation, if the person hunts,
(iii) a firearm licence issued to him or her under this Act, if the person carries a firearm, and
(iv) any other licence required by regulation, if the person hunts or carries a firearm, or
(b) the person, if he or she is under 19 years of age, complies with subsection (5) and
(i) holds a hunting licence, or
(ii) his or her parent or guardian holds a hunting licence on his or her behalf.
(2) A person must not issue a hunting licence for a person under 10 years of age.
(3) A person must not issue a firearm licence to a person under 19 years of age.
(4) A person under 19 years of age commits an offence if the person carries a firearm unless the person is accompanied by and under the close personal supervision of a person who
(a) is 19 years of age or older, and
(b) holds, or is exempted from holding, a hunting licence or firearm licence.
(5) A person under 19 years of age commits an offence if the person hunts unless the person is accompanied by and under the close personal supervision of a person who
(a) is 19 years of age or older, and
(b) holds, or is exempted from holding, a hunting licence.
(6) Despite subsections (1) and (4), a person may possess a firearm without a hunting licence or firearm licence in any of the following circumstances:
(a) aboard a boat used as his or her home;
(b) on property owned or occupied by the person or by his or her parent or guardian;
(c) while transporting a firearm as part of a move of household effects;
(d) if he or she is not a resident of British Columbia, while travelling in British Columbia in a motor vehicle on a highway as defined in the Highway Act.
(7) A person must not issue a trapping licence to a person unless the applicant is a citizen of Canada or a permanent resident of Canada.
(8) A person commits an offence if the person traps fur bearing animals unless he or she holds a trapping licence.
(9) Subsections (1) (a) (i), (iii) and (iv) and (8) do not apply to an Indian residing in British Columbia.
12 A person commits an offence if the person angles in the non-tidal waters of British Columbia unless the person is
(a) the holder of
(i) an angling licence, and
(ii) any other licence or permit that is required by regulation,
(b) an Indian residing in British Columbia, or
(c) exempt by regulation.
13 The Lieutenant Governor in Council may prescribe other licences required in addition to any licence required by this Act.
14 A person commits an offence if the person obtains or is in possession of more licences or limited entry hunting authorizations than the number prescribed by regulation.
15 (1) The director may issue and authorize the issue of licences in the form, with the content and valid for the term the director specifies.
(2) Applications for licences must be made in the manner and form required by the director.
16 (1) The Lieutenant Governor in Council, by regulation, may
(a) limit hunting for a species of wildlife in an area of British Columbia,
(b) provide for limited entry hunting authorizations to be issued by means of a lottery or other method of random selection among applicants, and
(c) do other things necessary for the purposes of this section.
(2) An application fee collected under a lottery or other method referred to in subsection (1) must be paid into the general fund of the consolidated revenue fund.
17 (1) A person who
(a) is a resident and does not hold a resident hunter number card issued under the regulations, or
(b) is a non resident under 19 years of age, or a non resident alien under 19 years of age, unless the person is to be accompanied by a licensed guide or a person who holds a permit under section 70,
must not apply for or be issued a hunting licence unless he or she complies with the regulations and has successfully completed examinations on conservation, outdoor recreation and safety approved by the director.
(2) If a person referred to in subsection (1) applies for a hunting licence for the first time following successful completion of the examinations referred to in that subsection, the person must apply to
(a) a government agent, or
(b) a person employed in an office of the ministry.
(3) Despite subsection (1), a hunting licence must not be issued to a person who is under 19 years of age unless a parent or guardian applies for the licence in person and signs a written undertaking that the parent or guardian will not allow the son, daughter or ward to hunt or carry a firearm unless he or she is accompanied by and under the close personal supervision of a person who is 19 years of age or older and who holds a hunting licence or firearm licence.
(4) For the purpose of subsection (3), if the parent or guardian is not a resident, he or she may apply for the licence in writing.
(5) Despite subsections (1) and (3), a hunting licence may only be issued to a parent or guardian on behalf of a son, daughter or ward who
(a) is 10 years of age or older,
(b) is under 14 years of age, and
(c) has not completed the examinations referred to in subsection (1).
(6) If a person 19 years of age or older accompanies a person under 19 years of age who carries a firearm, the older person commits an offence unless the older person holds or is exempted from holding
(a) a hunting licence, if the younger person is hunting, or
(b) a hunting licence or firearm licence, if the younger person is not hunting.
(7) A person 19 years of age or older, who accompanies a person under 19 years of age while the younger person hunts or is in possession of a firearm, commits an offence if
(a) the younger person is required to possess a hunting licence and does not possess a hunting licence, or
(b) the older person fails to provide close personal supervision of the younger person.
(8) A parent or guardian commits an offence if he or she gives permission to his or her child or ward, who is under 19 years of age and with respect to whom the parent or guardian has given an undertaking under subsection (3), to
(a) hunt, or
(b) be in possession of a firearm
unless the child or ward is accompanied by and under the close personal supervision of a person who is 19 years of age or older and who holds a hunting licence or firearm licence.
(9) If a person kills wildlife and the person
(a) has not successfully completed the examinations referred to in subsection (1), and
(b) is under 14 years of age,
the wildlife must be included in the bag limit of the person who accompanies him or her under section 11 (5).
18 The Lieutenant Governor in Council may make regulations as follows:
(a) requiring that a person, before being entitled to hunt or to receive a hunting licence or firearm licence, successfully complete examinations on conservation, outdoor recreation and safety approved by the director;
(b) prescribing fees for any examinations required by or under this Act;
(c) designating the persons required to pay the fees;
(d) respecting the conduct of examinations.
19 (1) A regional manager or a person authorized by a regional manager may, to the extent authorized by and in accordance with regulations made by the Lieutenant Governor in Council, by the issue of a permit, authorize a person
(a) to do anything that the person may do only by authority of a permit or that the person is prohibited from doing by this Act or the regulations, or
(b) to omit to do anything that the person is required to do by this Act or the regulations,
subject to and in accordance with those conditions, limits and period or periods the regional manager may set out in the permit and, despite anything contained in this Act or the regulations, that person has that authority during the term of the permit.
(2) The form and conditions of the permit may be specified by the director.
(3) If a regional manager issues a permit respecting the use of firearms, the regional manager may exempt a person from the requirements of section 9 of the Firearm Act and may specify the conveyance or type of conveyance for which the permit is limited.
(4) The regional manager or the person authorized by the regional manager may amend the conditions of a permit as determined by him or her and issued under this section, but the amendment is not effective until the permittee has notice of it.
20 (1) Applications for permits must be made in the manner and form specified by the director.
(2) If the director issues a permit to a non resident or non resident alien for a period of 14 days or less, the director may waive a prescribed fee.
21 (1) Except as authorized by a permit issued under this Act or under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, a person commits an offence if the person
(a) imports into British Columbia live wildlife, or the egg of a wildlife species, or
(b) exports out of British Columbia wildlife or parts of them, or the egg of a wildlife species.
(2) A person who exports out of British Columbia fish caught by angling, or parts of them, commits an offence unless
(a) the person is authorized to do so by a permit issued under this Act, or
(b) the fish were caught by the person and they, or the parts of them, are in his or her possession while they are being exported.
22 A person who traffics in live wildlife or wildlife meat, except as authorized by regulation or a permit, commits an offence.
23 (1) A person who kills or wounds another person by the discharge of a firearm or a bow
(a) must immediately surrender his or her hunting licence and firearm licence to a conservation officer, and
(b) is prohibited, from the time of the killing or wounding until the expiry of a period beginning on the day of the surrender of his or her licence and continuing for
(i) 2 years, if the other person is wounded, or
(ii) 5 years, if the other person is killed,
from
(iii) hunting,
(iv) carrying a firearm, and
(v) obtaining a hunting licence or firearm licence,
and his or her hunting licence and firearm licence are cancelled.
(2) If a person who kills or wounds another person by the discharge of a firearm or a bow does not hold a hunting licence or firearm licence, the period in subsection (1) (b) begins on the day of the killing or wounding.
(3) The director may authorize the issue of a licence to a person to whom subsection (1) or (2) applies if the director is satisfied that it would not be contrary to the public interest.
24 (1) In this section, "convicted" includes the granting of an absolute or conditional discharge.
(2) If a person holding a licence or permit issued under this Act or the regulations is convicted of an offence under
(a) this Act, other than section 22, subsections (6), (7) or (14) of this section, sections 26 (1) (a), (e), (f) and (g), 28, 81 and 82, or section 3 of the Firearm Act,
(b) section 9 of the Firearm Act,
(c) the Migratory Birds Convention Act, 1994 (Canada) or its regulations,
(d) the Fisheries Act (Canada) or its regulations, or
(e) the Criminal Code respecting the use or possession of firearms while the person is hunting,
or for any other cause considered sufficient by the director, and after providing an opportunity for the person to be heard, the director may suspend the licence and all rights under it for a period that to the director seems fit, or may cancel it.
(3) On notice of a suspension or cancellation under subsection (2), the person must immediately deliver the licence or permit to the director.
(4) If a licence has been suspended, the director must return the licence to the person at the expiration of the period of suspension.
(5) If a licence is cancelled, the director may order that the person is ineligible to obtain or renew a licence for a period that to the director seems fit within the prescribed limits and the director must inform the person of the period of ineligibility.
(6) If the licence held by a person has been suspended, the person commits an offence if during the period of suspension
(a) of the licence, he or she applies for or in any way obtains a new licence,
(b) of a hunting licence, he or she hunts,
(c) of a firearm licence, he or she carries a firearm, or
(d) of an angling licence, he or she angles.
(7) If the licence held by a person has been cancelled, the person commits an offence if, during the period the person is ineligible to obtain or renew
(a) a licence, he or she applies for or in any way obtains a new licence,
(b) a hunting licence, he or she hunts,
(c) a firearm licence, he or she carries a firearm, or
(d) an angling licence, he or she angles.
(8) A hunting licence issued to a person under this Act is cancelled automatically and without notice from the date of sentencing, the date that the passing of sentence is suspended, the date of being granted an absolute or conditional discharge or the date a court makes a disposition under the Young Offenders (British Columbia) Act if the person is convicted of
(a) an offence under section 22, 26 (1) (a), (e), (f) or (g),
(b) an offence under subsection (6), (7) or (14) of this section or section 28 with respect to hunting,
(c) an offence under section 81 or 82 with respect to a hunting licence,
(d) an offence under section 3 of the Firearm Act, or
(e) a second or subsequent offence as prescribed within 2 years.
(9) A firearm licence issued to a person under this Act is cancelled automatically and without notice from the date of sentencing, the date that the passing of sentence is suspended, the date of being granted an absolute or conditional discharge or the date a court makes a disposition under the Young Offenders (British Columbia) Act if the person is convicted of
(a) an offence under section 26 (1) (e) or (g),
(b) an offence under subsection (6), (7) or (14) of this section with respect to a firearm,
(c) an offence under section 81 or 82 with respect to a firearm licence,
(d) an offence under section 3 of the Firearm Act, or
(e) a second or subsequent offence as prescribed within 2 years.
(10) An angling licence issued to a person under this Act is cancelled automatically and without notice from the date of sentencing, the date that the passing of sentence is suspended, the date of being granted an absolute or conditional discharge or the date a court makes a disposition under the Young Offenders (British Columbia) Act if the person is convicted of
(a) an offence under subsection (6), (7) or (14) of this section with respect to angling,
(b) an offence under section 81 or 82 with respect to an angling licence, or
(c) a second or subsequent offence as prescribed within 2 years.
(11) A person to whom subsection (8), (9) or (10) applies must immediately surrender his or her licence to
(a) the court, which must forward it without delay to the director, or
(b) the director, if the director orders the person to do so.
(12) If a person to whom subsection (2) would otherwise apply does not hold a licence or is exempted from holding a licence, the director may prohibit the person for a period from doing the thing for which a licence would ordinarily be required.
(13) If a person to whom subsections (8), (9) or (10) would otherwise apply does not hold a licence or is exempted from holding a licence, the person is automatically and without notice prohibited from the date of sentencing, the date that the passing of sentence is suspended, the date of being granted an absolute or conditional discharge or the date a court makes a disposition under the Young Offenders (British Columbia) Act, from doing the thing for which a licence would ordinarily be required, and subsection (5) applies.
(14) A person commits an offence if the person, during a period of prohibition under subsection (12) or (13),
(a) applies for or in any way obtains a licence that he or she is prohibited from obtaining, or
(b) while prohibited from
(i) hunting, hunts,
(ii) carrying a firearm, carries a firearm, or
(iii) angling, angles.
(15) The sanctions provided for in this section apply in addition to any penalties that may be imposed under section 84 and whether or not they are requested or ordered at the time of sentencing for an offence.
(16) If a person who has obtained a licence for which residence in British Columbia is a prerequisite ceases to be a resident, the person's licence is suspended for as long as he or she is not a resident.
25 (1) A regional manager, for any cause he or she considers sufficient, may suspend or cancel a permit held by a person, may order that the person is ineligible to obtain or renew a permit for a period and, if he or she does make an order, must inform the person of the period of ineligibility.
(2) An officer may, without the necessity of holding a hearing, exercise the powers of a regional manager under this section to suspend a permit and, if a permit is suspended by an officer, the matter must be referred to the regional manager, who may confirm, reduce, extend or terminate the suspension.
26 (1) A person commits an offence if the person hunts, takes, traps, wounds or kills wildlife
(a) that is an endangered species or threatened species,
(b) in a wildlife sanctuary,
(c) at a time not within the open season,
(d) with a firearm or a bow during the prohibited hours,
(e) by the use or with the aid of a light or illuminating device,
(f) with poison,
(g) with a set gun, or
(h) with a pump, repeating or auto loading shotgun unless the magazine contains a plug that is incapable of removal except by disassembling the gun, and that makes the magazine incapable of holding more than 2 cartridges.
(2) Subsection (1) (c), (d), (e) and (h) does not apply to a person who hunts or traps wildlife that is on the person's property and is a menace to a domestic animal or bird.
27 (1) A person who discharges a firearm or wounds or kills wildlife from a motor vehicle or from a boat that is propelled by a motor commits an offence.
(2) A person commits an offence if the person
(a) hunts wildlife from an aircraft, or
(b) uses a helicopter for the purposes of transporting hunters or game, or while on a hunting expedition,
except as authorized by regulation.
(3) A person who herds or harasses wildlife with the use of a motor vehicle, aircraft, boat or other mechanical device commits an offence.
(4) A person who hunts game within 6 hours after being airborne in an aircraft, other than a regularly scheduled commercial aircraft, commits an offence.
28 A person who hunts or traps without reasonable consideration for the lives, safety or property of other persons commits an offence.
29 Except as authorized by this Act, the regulations or a permit, a person who attempts to capture wildlife commits an offence.
30 Except as provided under section 35, a person who hunts, takes, wounds or kills big game while it is swimming commits an offence.
31 A person who discharges a firearm on or across the travelled portions of a highway prescribed under section 108 commits an offence.
32 A person who discharges a firearm in a no shooting area commits an offence.
33 (1) A person commits an offence if the person has live wildlife in his or her personal possession except as authorized under a licence or permit or as provided by regulation.
(2) A person commits an offence if the person has dead wildlife or a part of it in his or her possession except as authorized under a licence or permit or as provided by regulation.
(3) Subsections (1) and (2) do not apply to a person acting under a licence under the Fur Farm Act or the Game Farm Act.
34 A person commits an offence if the person, except as provided by regulation, possesses, takes, injures, molests or destroys
(a) a bird or its egg,
(b) the nest of an eagle, peregrine falcon, gyrfalcon, osprey, heron or burrowing owl, or
(c) the nest of a bird not referred to in paragraph (b) when the nest is occupied by a bird or its egg.
35 (1) In this section, "residence" does not include a temporary or seasonal camp.
(2) A person commits an offence if the person hunts wildlife and kills or injures that wildlife and fails to make every reasonable effort to
(a) retrieve the wildlife, and if it is alive to kill it and include it in his or her bag limit, and
(b) remove the edible portions of the carcass of game to a residence or to a cold storage locker or meat cutting plant,
unless exempted by regulation.
36 (1) A person who possesses the carcass of any wildlife, whether or not the carcass has been divided, without leaving attached the parts required by regulation to be left attached, commits an offence.
(2) Subsection (1) only applies until the earlier of the following:
(a) the carcass is given to the owner or operator of a cold storage locker or meat cutting plant to be recorded in accordance with section 71,
(b) the carcass arrives at the person's normal dwelling place and is butchered and stored there for consumption on the premises, or
(c) the carcass is presented to an employee of the Ministry of Environment, Lands and Parks or other person specified by the Lieutenant Governor in Council for inspection.
37 A person who ships or transports in British Columbia, or engages another person to ship or transport in British Columbia, wildlife or fish or parts of them, except as provided by regulation, commits an offence.
38 A person who fails, on the request of an officer, to state correctly the locality where and the date on which wildlife or fish in the person's possession was killed, taken or caught by the person or came into his or her possession, commits an offence.
39 (1) A person commits an offence if the person, without the consent of the owner, lessee or occupier of land,
(a) hunts over or traps in or on cultivated land, or
(b) hunts over Crown land that is subject to a grazing lease while the land is occupied by livestock.
(2) This section does not affect the Trespass Act.
40 (1) Despite anything in this Act or the regulations or the privileges conferred by a licence or limited entry hunting authorization, the minister may, by regulation, prohibit a person or a class of persons from
(a) hunting or trapping, or
(b) using a method of hunting or trapping
in a defined area for a period the minister considers necessary for the proper management of wildlife in that area.
(2) Despite anything in this Act or the regulations, the minister may, by regulation, allow a person or a class of persons to hunt or trap in a defined area for a period the minister considers necessary for the proper management of wildlife in that area.
41 A person commits an offence if the person sets a trap for, hunts, kills, takes or captures a fur bearing animal in an area of British Columbia unless the person
(a) is a registered holder of the trapline for that area,
(b) has written permission of a registered holder of the trapline for that area,
(c) is the owner or occupier of the land,
(d) has written permission from the owner or occupier of the land, or
(e) holds a permit to trap that is required by regulation.
42 (1) A regional manager, or a person authorized by the regional manager, may grant registration of a trapline on Crown land to a person who is, or to a group of persons each of whom is,
(a) 19 years of age or older, and
(b) a citizen of Canada or a permanent resident of Canada.
(2) A person or group of persons must not be granted registration of more than one trapline unless
(a) the traplines are contiguous,
(b) the person or group of persons has submitted to the regional manager a fur management plan, and
(c) the regional manager has approved the fur management plan.
(3) Registration of a trapline or traplines in the name of more than one person creates a tenancy in common.
(4) If a holder of the traplines for which a fur management plan was submitted does not observe the undertakings given in the plan, the regional manager may take action under section 61.
(5) Registration of a trapline does not
(a) give the holder of the trapline any proprietary rights in wildlife, or
(b) restrict the rights of another person
(i) to hunt, or
(ii) to capture wildlife if authorized by the regulations or a permit.
43 (1) A person must not hold a registered trapline unless the person complies with the regulations and the conditions of his or her licence.
(2) Despite a regulation or a condition of a licence requiring the holder of a trapline to carry on active trapping, the regional manager may authorize the holder of a registered trapline to temporarily discontinue the use or part of the use of the trapline for a period not exceeding 2 years.
44 A person who leaves a trap set after the last day of the open season for the trapping of fur bearing animals commits an offence.
45 If a dispute arises as to priority of rights respecting any trapline, the matter must, at the request of a party to the dispute, be determined by the regional manager, who may alter, eliminate or reassign part or all of a trapline.
46 A person who knowingly damages or interferes with a lawfully set trap commits an offence.
47 A person commits an offence if the person hunts big game unless he or she
(a) is a resident, or
(b) is accompanied by
(i) a guide licensed under this Act, or
(ii) a person who holds a permit under section 70 (1) (a) allowing him or her to accompany the hunter.
48 (1) A person commits an offence if the person acts as a guide for game, or offers to act as a guide for game, unless the person
(a) holds a guide outfitter licence,
(b) holds an assistant guide licence,
(c) holds another licence to guide for game, or
(d) accompanies or assists a person to hunt game birds or small game on land other than Crown land.
(2) A person who holds a guide outfitter licence commits an offence if the person employs another person to guide for game and that other person does not hold an assistant guide licence.
(3) A guide outfitter must be present in his or her guide area during substantially all the times when his or her assistant guides are guiding for game.
(4) If a guide outfitter fails to comply with subsection (3), a regional manager may take action under section 61.
49 (1) A person commits an offence if the person acts as a guide for fish, or offers to act as a guide for fish, unless the person
(a) holds an angling guide licence, or
(b) holds an assistant angling guide licence.
(2) A person who holds an angling guide licence commits an offence if the person employs another person to guide for fish and that other person does not hold an assistant angling guide licence.
(3) An angling guide must
(a) be present in one of the regions specified in the angling guide's licence, or
(b) if specific waters or a specific area is authorized in the angling guide's licence, be present on or near those waters or in that area, in the manner specified on the angling guide's licence
during substantially all of the times when assistant angling guides employed by the angling guide are guiding for fish.
(4) If an angling guide fails to comply with subsection (3), a regional manager may take action under section 61.
(5) An angling guide who guides for fish elsewhere than on the waters or in the area authorized by the angling guide's licence commits an offence.
(6) An assistant angling guide who guides for fish elsewhere than on the waters or in the area authorized by the licence of the angling guide employing the assistant angling guide commits an offence.
50 An applicant for a guide outfitter licence must satisfy a regional manager that he or she possesses a working knowledge of this Act and the regulations.
51 (1) A regional manager may issue a guide outfitter licence to a person who
(a) is a citizen of Canada or a permanent resident of Canada,
(b) has held assistant guide licences for 24 months and actively guided during that time, and
(c) has public liability insurance and other qualifications prescribed by regulation.
(2) A guide outfitter licence authorizes the holder to guide persons to hunt only for those species of game and in the area described in the licence.
52 (1) A regional manager may issue an angling guide licence to a person who
(a) is a citizen of Canada or a permanent resident of Canada,
(b) has public liability insurance and other qualifications prescribed by regulation, and
(c) has submitted an angling guide operating plan that has been approved by the regional manager.
(2) If the holder of an angling guide licence does not observe the undertakings given by the holder in an angling guide operating plan, the regional manager may take action under section 61.
(3) Until the publication by the Recreational Fisheries Branch of a plan for managing guiding for fish and angling on a stream or lake or in an area of British Columbia, the minister may order the regional manager to restrict the issue of angling guide licences or endorsements for that stream, lake or area to persons who, on the date of the order, hold an angling guide licence or endorsement for that stream, lake or area.
(4) If a plan referred to in subsection (3) for a stream, lake or area specified in an order of the minister is not published within the period of 18 months after the date of the order, the order ceases to have any effect on the expiry of that period.
53 (1) The Lieutenant Governor in Council, by regulation, may do one or more of the following:
(a) limit the number of angling guides permitted to guide for fish on a stream or lake or in an area of British Columbia during a specified period;
(b) limit the number of angler days on which members of a class of persons may be guided for fish on a stream or lake or in an area of British Columbia during a specified period;
(c) limit the number of
(i) clients an angling guide may guide for fish, and
(ii) assistant angling guides an angling guide may employ
on a stream or lake or in an area of British Columbia on any day during a specified period;
(d) limit the number of angler days on which members of a class of persons may angle without a guide on a stream or lake or in an area of British Columbia during a specified period;
(e) provide for the selection of applicants for angler days by a lottery or a booking system or by any other means;
(f) provide for the issue of licences specifying the number of days on which a person may angle on a stream or lake or in an area of British Columbia;
(g) provide for the allocation of angler day quotas to and among angler guides and for the disposal of angler day quotas by auction or tender or any other means;
(h) provide for the suspension, cancellation or variation of an angler day quota;
(i) prohibit or regulate the transfer of an angling licence or angler day quota or both;
(j) prescribe the information and undertakings to be included in an angling guide operating plan;
(k) impose or provide for requirements respecting the use of angler day quotas to ensure that the use of an angler day quota is not restricted to a club or other group of persons.
(2) For the purpose of subsection (1) (e), (g), (h), (i), (j) and (k), the Lieutenant Governor in Council may make different regulations for different classes of streams or lakes or for different areas of British Columbia.
(3) A regulation made under this section may
(a) provide for the attachment of an angler day quota to, or for the reduction or cancellation of an angler day quota attached to, an angling guide licence issued before or after this section or the regulation comes into force, and
(b) impose limitations, restrictions and requirements relating to guiding for fish on an angling guide, even though the angling guide's licence was issued before this section or the regulation comes into force.
54 (1) The regional manager or the regional manager's designate may issue a licence to an assistant guide or assistant angling guide who is a citizen of Canada or a permanent resident of Canada and is 19 years of age or older.
(2) A licence of an assistant guide or assistant angling guide is only valid when endorsed with the signature of the guide outfitter or angling guide who employs the assistant guide or assistant angling guide.
55 (1) A guide outfitter must
(a) immediately after a hunt is concluded, complete and sign a guide report in the form specified by the director,
(b) immediately after signing the completed guide report, give a copy of the report to each hunter guided on the hunt, and
(c) within 10 days after the hunt is concluded, deliver the original of the completed guide report to the regional manager.
(2) A guide outfitter who contravenes subsection (1) commits an offence.
56 (1) A guide who guides a hunter for game commits an offence unless the hunter holds a hunting licence and any other required licence.
(2) A person who guides an angler for fish commits an offence unless the angler holds an angling licence and any other required licence.
57 A person may be licensed as a guide outfitter for only one guiding area, as described in the person's licence.
58 If a guide outfitter or an angling guide does not guide or states that he or she does not intend to guide hunters or anglers in a year,
(a) the guide outfitter or angling guide may apply to the regional manager for permission to temporarily discontinue or partially discontinue the use of his or her guiding area or the use of the waters or area authorized by his or her angling guide licence, as the case may be, or
(b) the regional manager must review the guide outfitter's or angling guide's operation and, after affording him or her an opportunity to be heard, the regional manager may suspend, cancel or refuse to renew the guide outfitter licence or certificate or both or the angling guide's licence.
59 (1) On application for a guide outfitter's certificate by a person licensed as a guide outfitter, the regional manager may issue a certificate in a form and containing conditions the director may specify granting the holder
(a) the privilege of acting as a guide in the area described in the certificate, and
(b) the exclusive guiding privileges for a period not exceeding 10 years.
(2) On each 5th anniversary of the date of issue of a guide outfitter's certificate, the regional manager may issue a new certificate, on application by the guide outfitter, for a period not exceeding 10 years.
60 (1) If a regional manager issues a guide outfitter licence, the regional manager may attach a quota as a condition of the licence and may vary the quota for a subsequent licence year.
(2) If a guide outfitter has a quota assigned as a condition of his or her guide outfitter licence and allows his or her clients to kill game to the extent that the number killed exceeds the quota assigned to the guide outfitter, the regional manager may reduce or take away his or her quota for a period and may take action under section 61.
61 (1) If a person who holds or applies to renew a guide outfitter's licence or guide outfitter's certificate, assistant guide licence or another licence to guide for game, angling guide licence, assistant angling guide licence, trapping licence or fur trader's licence is convicted of an offence under this Act or the regulations or does not comply with the conditions contained in his or her licence or certificate, or for another cause that the regional manager considers reasonable, the regional manager may conduct a hearing to determine whether the person should continue to enjoy the privileges afforded him or her by the licence or certificate and may do any one or more of the following:
(a) suspend, cancel or refuse to renew the person's licence or certificate;
(b) amend the licence or certificate to specify a different area in which the person is authorized to operate;
(c) in the case of a guide outfitter, amend the licence to further limit the numbers, age and sex of game in respect of which the person may guide;
(d) amend the licence or certificate to require the person to meet other restrictions considered appropriate;
(e) in the case of an angling guide, reduce or cancel an angler day quota attached to that person's licence.
(2) A person, in respect of whose licence or certificate a hearing is to be held, must be given reasonable notice of the time and place for the hearing, and section 101 applies.
(3) A hearing conducted under subsection (1) must be held in public unless the minister orders that the hearing be held in private.
(4) If notice of a hearing is given to the holder of a licence or certificate and the licence or certificate expires before the regional manager makes a determination under subsection (1), the regional manager is not obliged to
(a) renew the licence or certificate until the end of the 30 day period immediately after the licence or certificate expires, or
(b) consider renewing the licence or certificate until the regional manager makes the determination after the hearing is held,
whichever occurs first.
(5) Despite subsection (4), if the hearing is delayed at the request of the holder of the licence or certificate, the regional manager is not obliged to consider renewing the licence or certificate until the regional manager makes the determination after the hearing is held.
62 (1) The privileges conferred in a guide outfitter's licence or certificate may not be transferred without the authorization of the regional manager.
(2) Guiding privileges in a portion of a guiding area held under a guide outfitter's licence or certificate may not be transferred without the authorization of the regional manager.
63 If a guide outfitter's licence is cancelled or if a guide outfitter fails to renew his or her licence or pay an annual fee for more than one year, his or her privileges in and to a guide outfitter's certificate terminate, and the guide outfitter must surrender the guide outfitter's certificate to the regional manager.
64 (1) A guide outfitter's certificate is part of the estate of the guide outfitter and, subject to the approval of the regional manager, the heirs or administrators of a deceased guide outfitter may transfer, within 2 years after the guide outfitter's death, the privileges conferred by the certificate to a person who qualifies under section 51 for a guide outfitter licence.
(2) An angling guide licence, including any angler day quota attached to it, is part of the estate of the angling guide and, subject to the regulations, the heirs or administrators of a deceased angling guide may transfer, within 2 years after the angling guide's death, the privileges conferred by the angling guide licence and any angler day quota attached to it.
(3) If an annual fee for a guide outfitter licence or an angling guide licence becomes due in the interval between the death of the licence holder and the date of a transfer under this section, no annual fee is payable.
(4) If privileges conferred by a guide outfitter's certificate or an angling guide licence are not transferred in accordance with this section, the heirs or administrators must surrender the guide outfitter's certificate or the angling guide licence, as the case may be, to the regional manager.
65 (1) If the privilege of guiding in an area is not assigned in a licence or certificate, the regional manager may designate the area as a guiding area.
(2) If
(a) the regional manager designates a new guiding area, or
(b) a guide outfitter's certificate or licence is surrendered to the government and the regional manager considers that the privilege of guiding in the area described in the certificate or licence should be reassigned,
the privilege of guiding in that area must be advertised for sale by the regional manager and sold by tender or by any other prescribed means to a person qualified to hold a guide outfitter licence.
(3) If the privilege of guiding in an area is not assigned in a licence or certificate and the regional manager considers that the area is not by itself suitable for designation as a guiding area, the regional manager may assign, by amendment to the licence or to the licence and certificate and on payment of the prescribed charge, the privilege of guiding in all or part of that area to any guide outfitter holding a licence or a licence and certificate in respect of an adjoining area.
66 Only one guide outfitter's licence or certificate may be held by a person at one time.
67 A guide outfitter's certificate or angling guide's licence does not
(a) give the holder any proprietary rights in wildlife or fish, or
(b) restrict the rights of a resident to hunt or fish.
68 The regional manager must not cancel a guide outfitter's licence or certificate or an angling guide's licence because of the establishment of a park under the Park Act or the Municipal Act in the area described in the licence or certificate.
69 A guide outfitter commits an offence if the guide outfitter fails to pay to the Minister of Finance and Corporate Relations a royalty on an animal taken by a person guided by the guide outfitter, or guided on his or her behalf, in the amount and within the time prescribed by regulation.
70 (1) The regional manager may, by issuing a permit containing conditions the regional manager considers suitable, authorize
(a) a licensed resident hunter of British Columbia who meets prescribed qualifications to accompany
(i) a non resident, or
(ii) a non resident alien, as provided in the regulations,
while hunting big game, if no remuneration is requested by, offered to or accepted by the permittee, or
(b) a guide outfitter or angling guide to guide in an area other than that endorsed on his or her guide outfitter licence or angling guide licence.
(2) A person commits an offence if the person, without a permit issued under subsection (1), accompanies a non resident or a non resident alien referred to in subsection (1) (a) (i) or (ii) while the non resident or the non resident alien hunts for big game.
71 (1) A taxidermist, a tanner, a fur trader, a meatcutter or an operator of a cold storage plant commits an offence if
(a) he or she fails to keep, in the prescribed manner, a record of the receipt of wildlife or fish or a part of either, or
(b) having received wildlife or fish or a part of either, he or she fails to keep the record referred to in paragraph (a) for a period of 2 years from the time he or she gives up possession of the wildlife or fish or a part of either.
(2) A taxidermist, a tanner, a fur trader, a meatcutter or an operator of a cold storage plant commits an offence if he or she fails
(a) to produce for inspection, on demand by an officer, all wildlife and records in his or her possession, or
(b) to make a full and complete return, as prescribed by regulation, of all wildlife that has been or is in his or her possession for processing, manufacturing, curing, selling or trading.
72 (1) A person commits an offence if the person engages in the business of fur trading unless he or she holds a fur trader's licence.
(2) A regional manager may issue a fur trader's licence to a person who is a citizen of Canada or a permanent resident of Canada.
(3) If a fur trader has more than one established place of business in British Columbia for the purpose of buying, selling or trading in pelts or skins, the fur trader commits an offence if he or she fails to obtain a separate fur trader's licence for each place of business.
(4) A person is not, for the purposes of subsection (1), engaged in the business of fur trading, if the activity as a fur trader is confined to any of the following:
(a) the buying of furs at wholesale from licensed fur traders at public auction;
(b) the buying of pelts of animals raised in captivity from persons lawfully engaged in carrying on the business of breeding fur bearing animals;
(c) selling pelts taken by the person as
(i) the holder of a trapping licence, or
(ii) a person exempted from holding a trapping licence;
(d) buying pelts for personal use.
73 (1) A person commits an offence if the person, having in possession a pelt or skin of a fur bearing animal not raised in captivity and on which a royalty has not already been paid under this section, fails to pay to the Minister of Finance and Corporate Relations a royalty, as prescribed by regulation, on each pelt and skin in his or her possession.
(2) Subsection (1) does not apply to
(a) the holder of a trapping licence, or
(b) a person exempted from holding a trapping licence
when selling pelts, lawfully taken by him or her, to the holder of a fur trader's licence.
74 A conservation officer or constable may seize a pelt or skin on which he or she believes on reasonable grounds that the royalty payable under this section has not been paid.
75 A person commits an offence if the person
(a) kills or wounds wildlife, other than prescribed wildlife, by accident or for the protection of life or property, and
(b) does not report promptly to an officer the killing or wounding and the location of the wildlife.
76 On the escape from captivity or the release or abandonment of an animal that is not a domestic animal, the government acquires the ownership of that animal.
77 (1) A person who releases or abandons an animal or from whose captivity an animal escapes
(a) is, despite section 11 (4) of the Livestock Act, liable to the government for loss or damage to wildlife or wildlife habitat caused by the animal, and for all costs incurred by the government in pursuing, recovering, holding or destroying it, and
(b) is not entitled to any compensation from the government if the animal is destroyed under section 79.
(2) If a person releases or abandons an animal, other than a domestic animal, the person commits an offence.
(3) If an animal, other than a domestic animal, escapes from the possession of a person, the person commits an offence if he or she fails to make every reasonable effort to recover the animal.
(4) This section does not apply if the person is authorized by the regional manager to release the animal.
78 A person commits an offence if the person causes or allows a dog to hunt or pursue
(a) wildlife or an endangered species or threatened species, or
(b) game, except in accordance with the regulations.
79 (1) An officer may kill an animal, other than a domestic animal, that is at large and is likely to harm persons, property, wildlife or wildlife habitat.
(2) An officer may kill a dog that is
(a) at large in a wildlife management area, or
(b) at large and harassing wildlife.
(3) An officer may kill a cat at large where wildlife is usually found.
80 A person commits an offence if the person interferes with or obstructs a person licensed or permitted to capture wildlife or to hunt, fish, guide or trap while that person is lawfully so engaged.
81 Except as authorized by regulation or as otherwise provided under this Act, a licence, permit or limited entry hunting authorization is not transferable, and a person commits an offence if the person
(a) allows his or her licence, permit or limited entry hunting authorization to be used by another person, or
(b) uses another person's licence, permit or limited entry hunting authorization.
82 (1) A person commits an offence if the person knowingly makes a false statement
(a) in order to obtain a licence, permit or limited entry hunting authorization,
(b) on a licence or permit issued by him or her under this Act or the regulations,
(c) in a book, record, certificate, report or return made, kept or furnished under this Act or the regulations, or
(d) to an officer engaged in the discharge of his or her duties under this Act or the regulations, if the person is required to provide information under this Act or the regulations.
(2) A licence, permit or limited entry hunting authorization is void if it is issued contrary to this Act.
(3) A person commits an offence if the person, without lawful authority, changes or alters a licence, permit or limited entry hunting authorization issued under this Act.
(4) A person commits an offence if the person obliterates, alters, imitates or duplicates a stamp, tag, seal, brand, mark or signature that is placed on wildlife or a part of wildlife under this Act or the regulations.
83 (1) An officer may post signs or notices the officer considers necessary or advisable in order to carry out the provisions of this Act.
(2) A person who without lawful authority removes, alters, destroys or defaces a sign or notice posted under this Act commits an offence.
84 (1) If a person who is convicted of
(a) an offence for hunting, wounding, taking, capturing, injuring or killing a raptor,
(b) an offence for hunting, wounding, taking, capturing, injuring or killing big game during the closed season,
(c) an offence prescribed under section 108 (3) (l), or
(d) an offence under section 7, 22, 24 (6), (7) or (14), 26 (1) (a), (e), (f) or (g), 72, 73, 81 or 82
has previously been convicted of an offence referred to in paragraph (a), (b), (c) or (d), that conviction or those convictions are deemed to be, for the purpose of determining the punishment to which the person is subject under any of those offences, a first, second or subsequent offence.
(2) If a person is convicted of an offence referred to in subsection (1), other than an offence to which subsection (3) applies, the person is liable
(a) for a first offence to a fine of not more than $10 000 and not less than $200 or to a term of imprisonment not exceeding 6 months, or both, and
(b) for a second or subsequent offence to a fine of not more than $50 000 and not less than $1 000 or to a term of imprisonment not exceeding 6 months and not less than 14 days, or both.
(3) If a person is convicted of an offence referred to in subsection (1) in relation to a grizzly bear, the person is liable
(a) for a first offence to a fine of not more than $25 000 and not less than $1 000 or to a term of imprisonment not exceeding 6 months, or both, and
(b) for a second or subsequent offence in relation to a grizzly bear, to a fine of not more than $50 000 and not less than $6 000 or to a term of imprisonment not exceeding 6 months and not less than 30 days, or to both.
(4) Unless subsections (1) and (2) or (3) apply, if a person who is convicted of any offence under this Act or the regulations has previously been convicted of any offence under this Act or the regulations, that conviction or those convictions are deemed to be, for the purpose of determining the punishment to which the person is subject under this Act, a first, second or subsequent offence.
(5) If a person is convicted of an offence to which subsection (4) applies, the person is liable
(a) for a first offence to a fine of not more than $5 000 or to a term of imprisonment not exceeding 6 months, or both, and
(b) for a second or subsequent offence to a fine of not more than $10 000 and not less than $500 or to a term of imprisonment not exceeding 6 months and not less than 7 days, or both.
85 If a person has not paid a fine imposed as a result of a conviction for an offence
(a) under this Act or the regulations or under section 9 of the Firearm Act, the director must cancel all licences, permits and limited entry hunting authorizations issued to that person, and
(b) under this Act or the regulations or under section 3 or 9 of the Firearm Act, the director must refuse to issue or renew a licence, permit or limited entry hunting authorization for that person until the fine is paid.
86 The offence provisions of this Act and the regulations and section 9 of the Firearm Act do not apply to an officer engaged in the performance of his or her duties.
87 A conservation officer or constable may, without a warrant, arrest a person he or she finds committing an offence against this Act or the regulations.
88 (1) A conservation officer or constable may, if he or she has reasonable and probable grounds to believe that by reason of consumption of alcohol a person who is hunting or carrying a firearm is affected in his or her ability to hunt or handle a firearm safely and responsibly, request that person to surrender any firearms in his or her possession and his or her hunting licence and firearm licence.
(2) A conservation officer or constable may, if he or she has reasonable and probable grounds to believe that a person who is hunting or carrying a firearm is affected by a drug in his or her ability to hunt or handle a firearm safely and responsibly, request that person to surrender any firearms in his or her possession and his or her hunting licence and firearm licence.
(3) On a request being made under subsection (1), the hunting licence and firearm licence of the person are suspended, his or her rights to hunt and to carry a firearm are suspended and the person must immediately surrender to the conservation officer or constable any firearms in the person's possession and the person's hunting licence and firearm licence.
(4) A conservation officer or constable must return the firearms and the licences surrendered under subsection (3) to the person on
(a) the person promptly undergoing a test that indicates his or her blood contains less than 50 mg of alcohol to 100 ml of blood,
(b) the expiration of 24 hours after the surrender, or
(c) the production by the person to the conservation officer or constable of a certificate made by a medical practitioner after the suspension and certifying that the blood of the person contains less than 50 mg of alcohol to 100 ml of blood,
and the suspensions are terminated on the person satisfying the requirements of paragraph (a), (b) or (c).
(5) On a request being made under subsection (2), subsections (3) and (4) (b) apply.
(6) If a person to whom subsection (2) applies satisfies a conservation officer or constable having charge of the matter that his or her ability to hunt or handle a firearm safely and responsibly is not affected by a drug other than alcohol, the suspensions are terminated and the firearms and licences must be returned to the person.
(7) The hunting licence or firearm licence of a person who refuses to surrender his or her licence under this section is invalid for every purpose and is suspended until the expiration of the period of suspension that would otherwise have applied under subsections (4) and (5).
(8) If a person who has been requested to surrender his or her licences under this section does not hold a hunting licence or firearm licence issued under this Act, the person is deemed to be a person whose licence is suspended until the occurrence of an event or the expiry of the time at which, had he or she been the holder of a licence, the conservation officer or constable would have been required to return the licence to him or her under subsection (4), (5) or (6).
89 (1) For the purpose of ensuring that this Act and the regulations are being complied with, an officer may enter and inspect any premises or enclosure in which live wildlife or live fish is kept but, at the request of the owner or occupier, the officer must produce proof of identity.
(2) Despite the Trespass Act, an officer exercising duties under this Act may enter any land, whether enclosed or not but, at the request of the owner or occupier of the land, the officer must produce proof of identity.
90 (1) A person, when requested to do so, for the purposes of this Act, by a conservation officer or constable, must immediately produce and permit inspection of a firearm in his or her possession.
(2) A conservation officer or constable may, for the purposes of this Act, inspect a firearm found in or on a vehicle or boat.
91 An officer may inspect a camp occupied by a hunter or angler.
92 On information in the prescribed form and on oath that there is reasonable ground to believe that an animal or fish, or a portion of an animal or fish, killed, taken or possessed in violation of this Act or the regulations, or about to be illegally exported, is concealed in or on a building or premises, a justice may by a warrant authorize and direct a conservation officer or constable to enter and search the building or premises and to seize and remove an animal or fish, or a portion of it, found, and it may be disposed of as provided in this Act.
93 A conservation officer or constable may, without a warrant,
(a) search a person whom he or she believes on reasonable grounds has in his or her possession any wildlife or fish killed, taken or possessed in violation of this Act or the regulations, or about to be illegally exported,
(b) stop and search a motor vehicle, private or chartered aircraft, boat or other conveyance, in or on which he or she believes on reasonable grounds that wildlife or fish is being carried by a person, and
(c) enter and search a shop, public market, storehouse, garage, restaurant, hotel, eating house or camp, in or on which he or she believes on reasonable grounds that wildlife or fish is located.
94 If a conservation officer or constable
(a) finds on a person, or in a place or thing referred to in section 93, wildlife or fish that he or she believes on reasonable grounds was killed, taken or possessed in violation of this Act or the regulations, or about to be illegally exported, or
(b) finds firearms, ammunition, decoys, traps, fishing rods or other devices or materials, implements or appliances for hunting or trapping wildlife or for catching fish, that he or she believes on reasonable grounds were held, kept or used for or in connection with a violation of this Act or the regulations,
the officer or constable may seize wildlife or fish or parts of either and anything at or in the place, building or premises, or in the possession of a person, that might afford evidence of the commission of an offence under this Act or the regulations.
95 (1) An officer may, for the purposes of this Act, stop a motor vehicle, private or chartered aircraft or boat or other vehicle to determine whether or not the occupants of the vehicle have been hunting, trapping or angling, and to obtain information about wildlife or game fish possessed by them.
(2) A person commits an offence under subsection (1) if the person
(a) fails to stop,
(b) fails to identify himself or herself when requested to do so by the officer,
(c) refuses to give information respecting hunting or fishing, or
(d) being the driver or operator of a motor vehicle, in or on which there is wildlife or game fish or an article or device that may be used for hunting, trapping or fishing, fails, refuses or neglects to stop his or her motor vehicle when signalled or requested to stop by an officer who is in his or her uniform of office or displays his or her official badge.
96 (1) A person who resists or obstructs an officer from exercising his or her duty under this Act commits an offence.
(2) An officer is, for the purposes of this Act, a peace officer.
97 If a person who is required to hold a licence, permit or limited entry hunting authorization issued under this Act or the regulations
(a) fails to produce it for inspection to an officer on request, or
(b) fails or refuses to state his or her name and address to an officer on request,
the person commits an offence.
98 (1) If property, other than wildlife or fish or a part of either, is seized under this Act, an application respecting the property may be made on behalf of the minister to a justice who,
(a) if satisfied that it was used in the commission of an offence under this Act or the regulations or the Firearm Act or that possessed in violation of this Act or the regulations, may order the property forfeited to the government,
(b) if paragraph (a) does not apply and the ownership of the property has been determined, must order the property released to the owner, or
(c) if paragraphs (a) and (b) do not apply, may order that the property be returned to the minister to be held by the minister.
(2) If an order is made under subsection (1) (c) and the ownership of the property has not been determined within one year of the date of the order, the property is forfeited to the government.
(3) If an owner who is notified by an officer of an order under subsection (1) (b) has not removed the property from the place specified in the notice within one year after the date on the notice, the property is forfeited to the government.
(4) If wildlife or fish or parts of either are seized under this Act, and if the conservation officer who has custody of them believes on reasonable grounds that the wildlife or fish or parts of either will rot, spoil or otherwise perish, the conservation officer may dispose of them in a manner considered proper by the minister.
(5) If wildlife or fish or parts of either are exhibits in a prosecution under this Act, at the conclusion of the appeal period in the prosecution they must be delivered to the minister.
(6) If anything is forfeited to the government or delivered to the minister under this section, the minister may dispose of it in a manner the minister considers proper.
99 (1) The minister may
(a) appoint as a deputy conservation officer any person the minister considers suitable, and
(b) confer on a deputy conservation officer any of the powers or authority given to a conservation officer by this Act and section 8 of the Environment Management Act.
(2) A deputy conservation officer has the power and authority conferred on the officer under subsection (1) (b).
100 (1) In addition to other powers given under this Act, the director may do an act or thing that a regional manager is empowered to do.
(2) If the director is satisfied that special circumstances exist, the director may,
(a) if an applicant for an assistant guide licence or assistant angling guide licence or the registration of a trapline meets all the requirements except the age of eligibility, issue or authorize the issue of the licence or the registration of the trapline to the applicant, and
(b) if an applicant for a guide outfitter licence meets all the requirements of section 51 (1) except paragraph (b), issue or authorize the issue of a guide outfitter licence to the applicant.
101 (1) If the regional manager makes a decision that affects
(a) a licence, permit, registration of a trapline or guide outfitter's certificate held by a person, or
(b) an application by a person for anything referred to in paragraph (a),
the person may appeal the decision of the regional manager to the director.
(2) The regional manager must give written reasons for a decision referred to in subsection (1).
(3) In an appeal from a decision of a regional manager, the director may give the regional manager full party status.
(4) A regional manager who has been given full party status under subsection (3) may
(a) be represented by counsel,
(b) present evidence,
(c) if there is an oral hearing, ask questions, and
(d) make submissions as to facts, law and jurisdiction,
and the director and the parties to the appeal may question a person who gives oral evidence.
(5) If the director
(a) exercises the powers of a regional manager respecting the matters referred to in subsection (1),
(b) makes a decision in an appeal from a decision of a regional manager under subsection (1), or
(c) makes another decision that affects a matter referred to in subsection (1),
the person aggrieved by the decision may appeal the decision of the director to the Environmental Appeal Board.
(6) The director must give written reasons for a decision referred to in subsection (5).
(7) Notice of a decision of the regional manager or the director referred to in subsection (1) or (5) must be served on the person or sent by registered mail to the last known address of the person and, in the case of service by mail, the notice is conclusively deemed to be served on the fourteenth day after its deposit in Canada Post at any place in Canada.
(8) An appeal under subsection (1) or (5) must be in writing and must be served on the director not later than 30 days after the day the person is served or is deemed to have been served with the notice under subsection (7).
(9) Unless the director or the Environmental Appeal Board orders otherwise, an appeal taken under this Act does not operate as a stay or suspend the operation of the decision being appealed.
(10) In an appeal, the Environmental Appeal Board may
(a) dismiss the appeal, or
(b) send the matter back to the regional manager or director with directions.
102 Despite the Financial Administration Act, the Lieutenant Governor in Council may
(a) authorize a commercial vendor of licences to retain a prescribed fee or commission for issuing licences, and
(b) prescribe a different fee or commission for different licences.
103 An information for or in respect of an offence under this Act or the regulations must be laid before the expiration of 18 months from the time of the happening of the offence.
104 (1) In a prosecution of a person for an offence under this Act or the regulations, if it is proved that the offence was committed by an employee or agent of the person, whether or not the employee or agent is identified or has been prosecuted for the offence, the person is a party to the offence and is liable to the penalties prescribed for the offence as a principal offender unless the person establishes that the offence was committed without his or her knowledge or consent or that he or she exercised all due diligence to prevent its commission.
(2) Nothing in this section relieves the person who actually committed the offence from liability for it.
105 In a prosecution for an offence under this Act or the regulations, if it is alleged that the defendant was not a Canadian citizen or a resident, the onus is on the defendant to prove that he or she was a Canadian citizen or a resident at the time of the offence.
106 In a prosecution under this Act or the regulations, wildlife or fish found in British Columbia is presumed, unless the contrary is proved, to have been hunted or taken in British Columbia.
107 (1) In a proceeding under this Act or the regulations in which proof is required with regard to
(a) the issue, non renewal, suspension or cancellation of or the suspension of the right to obtain a licence, permit or limited entry hunting authorization,
(b) the person who is the licensee or permittee named in a licence, permit or limited entry hunting authorization,
(c) the appointment or authority of an officer, or
(d) the delivery, service, mailing or giving of a notice or document by an official of the Fish and Wildlife Branch of the ministry, a certificate signed by a regional manager certifying as to a matter referred to in paragraph (a), (b), (c) or (d) is admissible and is proof of the facts stated in the certificate and of the authority of the regional manager without further proof of his or her appointment or signature.
(2) In a proceeding under this Act or the regulations, a certificate signed by a regional manager stating that wildlife or fish
(a) has been examined by a person qualified to judge and classify wildlife or fish, and
(b) is of a certain species or sex or is in a certain condition
is proof of the facts stated in the certificate and of the authority of the regional manager without further proof of his or her appointment or signature.
(3) The fact that the person charged in an information laid in respect of an offence under this Act or the regulations has the same name as the person who is referred to as being the holder of a licence, permit or limited entry hunting authorization in a certificate issued under subsection (1) (b) is proof that the person charged in the information is the holder of the licence, permit or limited entry hunting authorization.
(4) In a proceeding under this Act or the regulations, a certificate relating to the analysis of a thing or a sample, signed by a person who is in charge of a laboratory operated, maintained or supported by the government of Canada or a province, is proof of the facts stated in the certificate and of the authority of the person signing the certificate without further proof of his or her appointment or signature.
108 (1) The Lieutenant Governor in Council may make regulations referred to in section 41 of the Interpretation Act.
(2) Without limiting subsection (1), the Lieutenant Governor in Council may make regulations as follows:
(a) respecting threatened species or endangered species;
(b) respecting the use and occupation of a wildlife management area;
(c) respecting applications for licences, permits and limited entry hunting authorizations, specifying conditions of eligibility for them including proof of financial responsibility or insurance for third party liability and discriminating among classes of applicants for them whether or not the classes are specified in this Act;
(d) prescribing conditions of eligibility including proof of financial responsibility or insurance for third party liability for different classes of licence applicants and for different licences, permits and limited entry hunting authorizations;
(e) prescribing the conditions of a licence and conditions that the director or a regional manager may attach to a licence when he or she issues it to a person;
(f) limiting the number and types of licences and limited entry hunting authorizations that may be held by a person;
(g) prescribing surcharges, royalties and fees, including fees for applications, licences, permits and limited entry hunting authorizations and for the transfer of guiding privileges and a trapline registration, and establishing different surcharges or fees for different classes including, without limitation, classes based on the following:
(i) age;
(ii) residence;
(iii) the nature of the activity;
(iv) the manner of collection of the surcharge or fee;
(v) the person entitled to collect the surcharge or fee;
(h) prohibiting or regulating the trafficking or possession in British Columbia of wildlife or fish or parts of either;
(i) prescribing exceptions to requirements for guides and for guides for fish, defining classes of and prescribing qualification of guides and guides for fish, prescribing rules and conditions that a regional manager may attach to a guide outfitter licence, assistant guide licence, angling guide licence or assistant angling guide licence and prescribing penalties, including the prohibition of a person from guiding or guiding for fish, for contravention of this Act or the regulations;
(j) providing for the disposal of guide areas to licensed guide outfitters;
(k) exempting persons or classes of persons from the application of provisions of this Act or the regulations;
(l) prescribing the maximum number of a species of wildlife, by sex and age, that a person may kill or possess in a period of time and the circumstances in which a person may kill or possess wildlife;
(m) constituting a portion of British Columbia as a wildlife unit, area, district or region with a distinctive name or number;
(n) designating no shooting areas;
(o) regulating or prohibiting the types and calibres of firearms or types of projectiles that may be discharged in a prescribed area;
(p) providing for cancellation or suspension of, periods of ineligibility for and periods of suspension of licences for specified offences or combinations of offences, and specifying what is a second or subsequent offence;
(q) specifying lakes, streams or areas of British Columbia for the purpose of requiring a member of a class of persons to hold a licence issued under section 53 (1) (f) to engage in angling in that lake, stream or area;
(r) prescribing practice and procedure in hearings and appeals and methods for serving notice of an appeal or a decision;
(s) prohibiting or regulating methods and devices for hunting, trapping, capturing or taking wildlife and respecting safety in those activities;
(t) requiring specified parts to be left attached to a wildlife carcass;
(u) providing for the reporting and recording
(i) by taxidermists, tanners, meatcutters and operators of cold storage plants of wildlife or fish processed or prepared by them or in their possession, and
(ii) by holders of licences, permits and limited entry hunting authorizations of any matters or activities relating to their licences, permits or authorizations,
and prescribing exceptions to reporting requirements;
(v) requiring wildlife, whether alive or dead, or a part of wildlife to be permanently marked or tagged;
(w) prohibiting or regulating the keeping of wildlife in captivity, and specifying the conditions under which wildlife may be released from captivity;
(x) requiring that a person who captures or kills wildlife take that wildlife or a part of it to a place and report to a member of the staff of the ministry or a person specified by the Lieutenant Governor in Council;
(y) prohibiting or regulating field trials of hunting and gun dogs;
(z) prohibiting or regulating the causing or allowing of a dog to hunt or pursue wildlife.
(3) Without limiting subsection (1), the Lieutenant Governor in Council may make regulations as follows:
(a) controlling the transportation in British Columbia of wildlife or fish or parts of either;
(b) defining methods and devices for trapping and the conditions under which and areas in which trapping may be carried on by a licensed trapper;
(c) providing for the conditions for a person or association to organize or carry on an operation for the purpose of hunting wildlife on property owned or controlled by the person or association and regulating the hunting of wildlife on the property of the person or association;
(d) prescribing the conditions under which boats, aircraft, motor vehicles or snowmobiles may be used for the purpose of hunting, trapping, taking or viewing wildlife or for angling;
(e) specifying open seasons or closed seasons, or both, for a sex, age or species of wildlife;
(f) prescribing the hours of the day or night during which the hunting of wildlife is prohibited or allowed;
(g) respecting the selection, by an auction or other means, of applicants who qualify under section 42 for registration of a trapline;
(h) prescribing restrictions on the manner in which fish caught by angling may be dressed or packed and limits on the amount of fish or fish parts possessed by a person at a place other than at a private residence;
(i) respecting the information and undertakings to be included in fur management plans and requirements for the renewal and amendment of fur management plans;
(j) prescribing licences, permits or stamps that, in addition to an angling licence, must be held to angle for or to catch and retain a designated species of fish or to angle in a designated area of British Columbia;
(k) prescribing tags that must be attached in the prescribed manner to fish caught by angling;
(l) prescribing an offence against a specified provision of this Act or a specified provision of a regulation under this Act as an offence to which section 84 (1) and (2) or (3) applies;
(m) for any purpose contemplated by this Act.
(4) The Lieutenant Governor in Council may delegate a power under subsection (2) or (3) to the minister.
(5) The Lieutenant Governor in Council, despite anything in this Act, may make regulations respecting the issue of permits.
109 The minister may make regulations as follows:
(a) designating employees of the ministry, by name or by their positions, as officers;
(b) prohibiting, restricting or allowing access by members of the public to designated areas of British Columbia, for the purposes of wildlife management;
(c) with the approval of the minister responsible for the highway or road, for the temporary closure of or for the imposition of restrictions on vehicular access to a highway or road, or part of either, for the purpose of protecting wildlife;
(d) providing, for a regulation made by the minister, that its contravention constitutes an offence.
110 Section 5 of the Offence Act does not apply to this Act.
111 (1) The Habitat Conservation Trust Fund is continued as a trust fund, with the minister as trustee of the trust fund.
(2) The minister may make payments out of the trust fund for one or more of the following:
(a) the conservation or enhancement of biological diversity, fish, fish habitat, wildlife or wildlife habitat;
(b) the acquisition and management of land for the conservation or enhancement of a population of a species of fish or wildlife and its habitat;
(c) the furthering, stimulation and encouragement of knowledge and awareness of fish or wildlife and their habitat, or of the trust fund, by way of promotional, educational or other programs;
(d) the reasonable travelling and out of pocket expenses incurred by persons advising the minister on conservation or enhancement matters relating to the trust fund;
(e) administration, services and supplies provided in relation to matters referred to in paragraphs (a) to (d) or provided to otherwise manage the trust fund.
(3) The following must be paid into the trust fund:
(a) surcharges collected on licences or applications for licences issued under this Act or the regulations;
(b) revenue derived from fund raising and the sale of promotional, educational or other materials, goods or services under subsection (2) (c);
(c) money acquired by gift, donation or bequest or by disposition of any land acquired for the purposes of the trust fund;
(d) revenue derived from lands administered by the minister for the benefit of fish or wildlife;
(e) money received as contributions
(i) under an appropriation or requisition, or
(ii) from the government of Canada, municipalities or others;
(f) interest calculated on and attributable to the balance in the Habitat Conservation Fund special account established under section 6 of the Special Accounts Appropriation and Control Act;
(g) any interest and other income of the trust fund.
(4) The Habitat Conservation Trust Fund is not a special fund within the meaning of the Financial Administration Act, but money of the fund is trust funds within the meaning of that Act.