Seasons Black bear

Black bear hunting seasons in BC, 2026–2028

General open seasons for black bear in British Columbia, 2026–2028, region by region, from the hunting and trapping regulations synopsis. 9 of 9 regions have a general open season.

Region 1 Region 2 Region 3 Region 4 Region 5 Region 6 Region 7A Region 7B Region 8

Region 1 · Vancouver Island

Units	What	Season	Who	Also check
1-1 to 1-10, 1-12, 1-13	Any	Apr 1 – Jun 15	Any licensed hunter	Not using a firearm in the Conuma Watershed (Map A29, MU 1-12; bow only for all big game); no rifle in MU 1-1 except on Valdes, Sidney and James Islands; shotgun or bow only in the Firearms Using Shot Only areas (Maps A10, A13, A14, A19, A20, A32, A37)
1-11, 1-14, 1-15	Any	Apr 1 – Jun 15	Any licensed hunter	MUs 1-11, 1-14, 1-15 except the black bear closed areas: within 800 m of the Beaver Cove Rd / Telegraph Cove Rd intersection (MU 1-11); Kingcome Inlet (Map A30) and Wakeman Sound (Map A31) in MU 1-14; Kakweiken River (Map A28), Glendale Cove (Map A35) and Knight Inlet (Map A36) in MU 1-15 Black bear closed areas: Kakweiken River (Map A28, MU 1-15), Kingcome Inlet (Map A30, MU 1-14), Wakeman Sound (Map A31, MU 1-14), Glendale Cove (Map A35, MU 1-15), Knight Inlet (Map A36, MU 1-15); no black bear hunting within 800 m of the Beaver Cove Rd / Telegraph Cove Rd intersection (MU 1-11).
1-1, 1-5, 1-6, 1-11, 1-14, 1-15	Any	Aug 25 – Sep 9	Bow only	MUs 1-1, 1-5, 1-6, 1-11, 1-14, 1-15 except: no bow only season on the Gulf Islands in MU 1-1 (except Gabriola Island), zone B of MU 1-5 (Map A12) or Denman and Hornby Islands (MU 1-6); black bear closed areas in MUs 1-11, 1-14, 1-15 (Maps A28, A30, A31, A35, A36; 800 m of Beaver Cove / Telegraph Cove Rd intersection) Black bear closed areas: Kakweiken River (Map A28, MU 1-15), Kingcome Inlet (Map A30, MU 1-14), Wakeman Sound (Map A31, MU 1-14), Glendale Cove (Map A35, MU 1-15), Knight Inlet (Map A36, MU 1-15); no black bear hunting within 800 m of the Beaver Cove Rd / Telegraph Cove Rd intersection (MU 1-11).
1-2 to 1-4, 1-7 to 1-10, 1-12, 1-13	Any	Aug 25 – Sep 9	Bow only
1-1 to 1-10, 1-12, 1-13	Any	Sep 10 – Dec 10	Any licensed hunter	Not using a firearm in the Conuma Watershed (Map A29, MU 1-12; bow only for all big game); no rifle in MU 1-1 except on Valdes, Sidney and James Islands; shotgun or bow only in the Firearms Using Shot Only areas (Maps A10, A13, A14, A19, A20, A32, A37)
1-11, 1-14, 1-15	Any	Sep 10 – Dec 10	Any licensed hunter	MUs 1-11, 1-14, 1-15 except the black bear closed areas: within 800 m of the Beaver Cove Rd / Telegraph Cove Rd intersection (MU 1-11); Kingcome Inlet (Map A30) and Wakeman Sound (Map A31) in MU 1-14; Kakweiken River (Map A28), Glendale Cove (Map A35) and Knight Inlet (Map A36) in MU 1-15 Black bear closed areas: Kakweiken River (Map A28, MU 1-15), Kingcome Inlet (Map A30, MU 1-14), Wakeman Sound (Map A31, MU 1-14), Glendale Cove (Map A35, MU 1-15), Knight Inlet (Map A36, MU 1-15); no black bear hunting within 800 m of the Beaver Cove Rd / Telegraph Cove Rd intersection (MU 1-11).

Synopsis p. 21

Region 2 · Lower Mainland

Units	What	Season	Who
2-2 to 2-19	Any	Apr 1 – Jun 15	Any licensed hunter
2-2 to 2-19	Any	Sep 1 – Sep 9	Bow only
2-2 to 2-19	Any	Sep 10 – Nov 30	Any licensed hunter

Synopsis p. 28

Region 3 · Thompson-Nicola

Units	What	Season	Who
3-12 to 3-20, 3-26 to 3-44, 3-46	Any	Apr 1 – Jun 30	Any licensed hunter
3-12 to 3-20, 3-26 to 3-44	Any	Sep 1 – Nov 30	Any licensed hunter
3-46	Any	Sep 20 – Nov 30	Any licensed hunter

Synopsis p. 34

Region 4 · Kootenay

Units	What	Season	Who	Also check
4-1 to 4-9, 4-14 to 4-40	Any	Apr 1 – Jun 30	Any licensed hunter
4-1 to 4-9, 4-14 to 4-40	Any	Aug 1 – Aug 31	Private land only	Restricted to private land only; hunter must obtain permission from landowners prior to access.
4-1 to 4-9, 4-14 to 4-40	Any	Sep 1 – Sep 9	Bow only
4-1 to 4-9, 4-14 to 4-40	Any	Sep 10 – Nov 30	Any licensed hunter

Synopsis p. 39

Region 5 · Cariboo

Units	What	Season	Who	Also check
5-1 to 5-8, 5-10, 5-12 to 5-15	Any	Apr 1 – Jun 30	Any licensed hunter
5-9	Any	Apr 1 – Jun 30	Any licensed hunter	MU 5-9 except the black bear No Hunting Areas (Map F14, Skeena section p. 52) and the Mussel Inlet Special Management Area (no black bear season); within 1 km of Korich River, Kainet River, Lard River and Salmon Bay the season is Apr 1 - Apr 30 and Oct 16 - Nov 30 only
5-11	Any	Apr 1 – May 31	Any licensed hunter
5-1 to 5-8, 5-10, 5-12 to 5-15	Any	Sep 1 – Nov 30	Any licensed hunter
5-9	Any	Sep 1 – Nov 30	Any licensed hunter	MU 5-9 except the black bear No Hunting Areas (Map F14, Skeena section p. 52) and the Mussel Inlet Special Management Area (no black bear season); within 1 km of Korich River, Kainet River, Lard River and Salmon Bay the season is Apr 1 - Apr 30 and Oct 16 - Nov 30 only
5-11	Any	Sep 10 – Nov 30	Any licensed hunter

Synopsis p. 44

Region 6 · Skeena

Units	What	Season	Who	Also check
6-1, 6-2, 6-4 to 6-10, 6-14 to 6-30	Any	Apr 1 – Jun 30	Any licensed hunter	Not a white or blue (Glacier) colour-phase black bear (closed to hunting)
6-3, 6-11	Any	Apr 1 – Jun 30	Any licensed hunter	Portions of MUs 6-3 and 6-11 are closed to black bear hunting (see Map F14) Not a white or blue (Glacier) colour-phase black bear (closed to hunting)
6-1, 6-2, 6-4 to 6-10, 6-14 to 6-30	Any	Aug 15 – Nov 30	Any licensed hunter	Not a white or blue (Glacier) colour-phase black bear (closed to hunting)
6-3, 6-11	Any	Aug 15 – Nov 30	Any licensed hunter	Portions of MUs 6-3 and 6-11 are closed to black bear hunting (see Map F14) Not a white or blue (Glacier) colour-phase black bear (closed to hunting)

Synopsis p. 50

Region 7A · Omineca

Units	What	Season	Who	Also check
7-2 to 7-18, 7-23 to 7-30, 7-37 to 7-41	Any	Apr 1 – Jun 30	Any licensed hunter
7-2 to 7-18, 7-23 to 7-30, 7-37 to 7-41	Any	Aug 15 – Nov 15	Any licensed hunter

Synopsis p. 57

Region 7B · Peace

Units	What	Season	Who	Also check
7-19 to 7-22, 7-31 to 7-36, 7-42 to 7-58	Any	Apr 1 – Jun 30	Any licensed hunter
7-19 to 7-22, 7-31 to 7-36, 7-42 to 7-58	Any	Aug 15 – Nov 15	Any licensed hunter

Synopsis p. 62

Region 8 · Okanagan

Units	What	Season	Who
8-1 to 8-15, 8-21 to 8-26	Any	Apr 1 – Jun 30	Any licensed hunter
8-1 to 8-15, 8-21 to 8-26	Any	Aug 1 – Aug 31	Private land only
8-1 to 8-15, 8-21 to 8-26	Any	Sep 1 – Nov 30	Any licensed hunter

Synopsis p. 68

Seasons are from the Hunting and Trapping Regulations Synopsis 2026-2028 as transcribed by Huntable. This page is a summary, not legal advice or a licence. It leaves out Limited Entry Hunting (LEH) seasons, area-specific maps and in-season changes: always read the synopsis pages listed and check gov.bc.ca/hunting before you go. Spot a mistake? Tell us.