Seasons Cougar

Cougar hunting seasons in BC, 2026–2028

General open seasons for cougar 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 1-15	Any	Apr 1 – Jun 15	Any licensed hunter	Not a kitten or a cougar in a kitten's company Compulsory inspection required 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)
1-1 to 1-15	Any	Sep 10 – Mar 31	Any licensed hunter	Not a kitten or a cougar in a kitten's company Compulsory inspection required 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)

Synopsis p. 21

Region 2 · Lower Mainland

Units	What	Season	Who	Also check
2-2 to 2-19	Any	Apr 1 – Jun 15	Any licensed hunter	Not a kitten or a cougar in a kitten's company Compulsory inspection required
2-2 to 2-19	Any	Sep 10 – Mar 31	Any licensed hunter	Not a kitten or a cougar in a kitten's company Compulsory inspection required

Synopsis p. 28

Region 3 · Thompson-Nicola

Units	What	Season	Who	Also check
3-34 to 3-44	Any	Sep 10 – Mar 31	Any licensed hunter	Not a kitten or a cougar in a kitten's company Compulsory inspection required
3-12 to 3-20, 3-26 to 3-33	Any	Nov 15 – Mar 31	Any licensed hunter	Not a kitten or a cougar in a kitten's company Compulsory inspection required

Synopsis p. 34

Region 4 · Kootenay

Units	What	Season	Who	Also check
4-1 to 4-5, 4-20 to 4-26, 4-34 to 4-36	Any	Sep 10 – Feb 28	Any licensed hunter	Bag limit 1. Not a kitten or a cougar in a kitten's company Compulsory inspection required
4-6 to 4-8, 4-28 to 4-31, 4-38, 4-39	Any	Sep 10 – Mar 31	Any licensed hunter	Bag limit 2. Not a kitten or a cougar in a kitten's company Compulsory inspection required
4-9 to 4-19, 4-27, 4-32, 4-33, 4-37, 4-40	Any	Sep 10 – Mar 31	Any licensed hunter	Bag limit 1. Not a kitten or a cougar in a kitten's company Compulsory inspection required

Synopsis p. 39

Region 5 · Cariboo

Units	What	Season	Who	Also check
5-1 to 5-9, 5-12 to 5-15	Any	Sep 10 – Apr 30	Any licensed hunter	Hunters are asked not to harvest a cougar wearing a radio collar in the Cariboo region until the study concludes in winter 2026/27 (p. 42). Not a kitten or a cougar in a kitten's company Compulsory inspection required
5-11	Any	Nov 15 – Mar 31	Any licensed hunter	Hunters are asked not to harvest a cougar wearing a radio collar in the Cariboo region until the study concludes in winter 2026/27 (p. 42). Not a kitten or a cougar in a kitten's company Compulsory inspection required

Synopsis p. 44

Region 6 · Skeena

Units	What	Season	Who	Also check
6-1 to 6-11	Any	Sep 10 – Apr 30	Any licensed hunter	Not a kitten or a cougar in a kitten's company Compulsory inspection required Season not closed: it closes 72 hours after the regional manager publishes that 5 female cougars have been killed in MUs 6-1 to 6-11 this licence year

Synopsis p. 50

Region 7A · Omineca

Units	What	Season	Who	Also check
7-2 to 7-8, 7-16 to 7-18, 7-23	Any	Sep 10 – Mar 31	Any licensed hunter	Bag limit 2. Not a kitten or a cougar in a kitten's company Compulsory inspection required
7-9 to 7-15, 7-24, 7-25	Any	Sep 10 – Mar 31	Any licensed hunter	Bag limit 1. Not a kitten or a cougar in a kitten's company Compulsory inspection required

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	Sep 10 – Mar 31	Any licensed hunter	Not a kitten or a cougar in a kitten's company Compulsory inspection required

Synopsis p. 63

Region 8 · Okanagan

Units	What	Season	Who	Also check
8-1 to 8-15, 8-21 to 8-26	Any	Nov 15 – Mar 31	Any licensed hunter	Not a kitten or a cougar in a kitten's company Compulsory inspection required

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.