Units Region 1 Vancouver Island MU 1-5
MU 1-5 hunting seasons · Vancouver Island, BC
Management Unit 1-5 is in Region 1 (Vancouver Island), about 3,508 km², around Nanaimo, Parksville, Lantzville, North Cowichan, Ladysmith and Cassidy.
15 general open seasons in the synopsis cover MU 1-5: Mule deer, Black bear, Cougar, Wolf, Grouse.
Parks inside the unit include Arbutus Grove Park, Chemainus River Park, Englishman River Falls Park and Eves Park. Hunting rules in parks differ; Huntable shows each park’s rules where you stand.
General open seasons, 2026–2028
| Species | What | Season | Who | Also check |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mule deer (black-tailed) | Antlerless | Aug 25 – Sep 9 | Bow only | Special antlerless areas only (Maps A1, A10, A13, A14, A19, A20, A32): Saanich Peninsula/Gulf Islands and Sidney and James Islands (MU 1-1); special shotgun or bow only portions of MUs 1-2, 1-4, 1-5, 1-6 and 1-15. Not on the Gulf Islands in MU 1-1 except Gabriola Island (Valdes, Sidney and James Islands have no bow season), not in zone B of MU 1-5, not on Denman or Hornby Islands Not on the Gulf Islands in MU 1-1 (except Gabriola Island), in zone B of MU 1-5 (Map A12) or on Denman and Hornby Islands (MU 1-6): no bow only season there |
| Antlerless | Aug 25 – Sep 9 | Youth hunters only. Bow only | MUs 1-1, 1-5, 1-6 except where there is no bow only season: the Gulf Islands in MU 1-1 (Gabriola Island is open), zone B of MU 1-5 (Nanaimo River Camp, Map A12), Denman and Hornby Islands (MU 1-6). In MU 1-6 youth antlerless may be limited to the Map A26 area Bag limit for antlerless deer taken in the youth only or youth bow only season is one. | |
| Bucks | Aug 25 – Sep 9 | Bow only | MUs 1-1, 1-5, 1-6 except where there is no bow only season: the Gulf Islands in MU 1-1 (Gabriola Island is open), zone B of MU 1-5 (Nanaimo River Camp, Map A12), Denman and Hornby Islands (MU 1-6) If in the Iron River/Oyster River portion of MU 1-6 (Map A26): buck has two points or greater; keep antlers with species licence | |
| Antlerless | Sep 10 – Dec 10 | Any licensed hunter | Special antlerless areas only (Maps A1, A10, A13, A14, A19, A20, A32): Saanich Peninsula/Gulf Islands and Sidney and James Islands (MU 1-1); special shotgun or bow only portions of MUs 1-2, 1-4, 1-5, 1-6 and 1-15. Valdes Island (MU 1-1, Map A1) is open for antlerless only Nov 1 - Nov 10; Denman and Hornby Islands (MU 1-6) only Oct 5 - Dec 10 On Denman and Hornby Island the season date is Oct 5 to Dec 10. Bag: only two antlerless deer from Special Areas. Not on Denman or Hornby Island (MU 1-6) before Oct 5: season there is Oct 5 - Dec 10 Not on Valdes Island (MU 1-1) outside Nov 1 - Nov 10: Map A1 gives Valdes Island a Nov 1-10 antlerless deer season 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) | |
| Antlerless | Sep 10 – Dec 10 | Youth hunters only | Bag limit for antlerless deer taken in the youth only or youth bow only season is one. 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) | |
| Bucks | 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) | |
| Black bear | 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) |
| 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). | |
| 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) | |
| Cougar | 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) |
| 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) | |
| Wolf | Any | Apr 1 – Jun 15 | Any licensed hunter | Compulsory reporting 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) |
| Any | Sep 10 – Mar 31 | Any licensed hunter | Compulsory reporting 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) | |
| Grouse (sooty/dusky, ruffed, spruce) | Any | Aug 20 – Aug 31 | Bow only | MUs 1-1, 1-5, 1-6 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; no upland game bird season on Denman Island Sooty (blue) and ruffed grouse only. |
| Any | Sep 1 – Dec 31 | Any licensed hunter | Sooty (blue) and ruffed grouse only. |
Synopsis p. 21
Bag limits in Region 1
Deer: mule (black-tailed) deer bag limit is 3, of which only two may be antlerless from Special Areas and only two may be bucks; antlerless deer taken in the youth only or youth bow only season (MUs 1-1, 1-2, 1-4, 1-5, 1-6) limit is one. Mountain goat 1, black bear 2, wolf 3, cougar 2 (p. 21). Grouse: daily bag 5 each of blue (sooty) and ruffed grouse, possession 15 each. Synopsis p. 20
Region 1 notices
- Gulf Islands Special Hunting Area (Denman and Hornby Islands in MU 1-6 and all islands in MU 1-1 except Vancouver Island): hunters 18+ need a Gulf Islands Special Area Licence and $100,000 liability insurance (unless guided); under-18s must be accompanied by a licence holder. Mostly private land and National Park; no hunting in Gulf Islands National Park.
- Rifle discharge is prohibited in MU 1-1 except on Valdes, Sidney and James Islands (and by permit). No Shooting or Hunting areas in MU 1-1: Maps A1, A2, A4, A7 (Mudge/DeCourcy Islands No Hunting/No Shooting; Link Island No Shooting).
- Special shotgun or bow only (Firearms Using Shot Only) areas in MUs 1-2, 1-4, 1-5, 1-6 and 1-15: Maps A10, A13, A14, A19, A20, A32; Stamp Lagoon (Map A37, MU 1-7).
- Conuma Watershed (Map A29, MU 1-12) is bow only for all big game with open seasons.
- Black bear closed areas: Kakweiken River (A28), Kingcome Inlet (A30), Wakeman Sound (A31), Glendale Cove (A35), Knight Inlet (A36); no black bear hunting within 800 m of the Beaver Cove Rd / Telegraph Cove Rd intersection (MU 1-11).
- Nanaimo River Camp (zone B of MU 1-5, Map A12) is closed during the bow only season for grouse, deer and black bear; ATVs/snowmobiles prohibited there Sept 1 - Dec 31.
- No Shooting areas: Cowichan Bay (incl. seasonal, Map A8), Westcan Terminals (25 m), Cowichan River (100 m of high water mark, Holt Creek Trailhead to Lake Cowichan), Nanoose Bay, Mayo Lake (A9), Nanaimo (A14), York Lake (A15), Englishman River (A11), Comox Harbour (A22), Quinsam Coal Mine (A24), Shoemaker Bay (A25), Buckley Bay (A34), Cherry Point (A3), Ganges (A2), Sooke/Metchosin (A7).
- No Hunting or No Shooting/Hunting areas: Nitinat River (A5), Cowichan Lake (A6), Woodhus Slough (A18), Lazo Marsh (A21), Lukwa Lake (A23), Ucluelet Inlet (A27), Beaver Lodge Trust Lands (A33), Saturna Island (A4).
- Qualicum National Wildlife Areas (MU 1-6): hunting and possession of any firearm prohibited.
- Capital Regional District: hunting and discharge of firearms, bows and crossbows prohibited within CRD Water Supply and Regional Park lands (Sooke/Goldstream area, p. 23). Hunting prohibited within 100 m of all Regional District Parks in Regions 1 and 2 (p. 9).
- Nanaimo River estuary is within city limits; municipal bylaw limits hunting to part of the estuary during migratory bird seasons only. Municipal No Shooting bylaws are not in the synopsis.
- Year-round motor vehicle closed areas: Parksville-Qualicum Beach WMA (A16), Willow Creek (A17), Block 1392 on Green Mountain (MU 1-5).
- Unlawful in Region 1: using a wireless camera for hunting; intentionally baiting or feeding ungulates or turkey within 200 m of a dwelling, school yard or playground.
- No open season for grizzly bears; grizzlies are present on northern Vancouver Island. Mule (black-tailed) and fallow deer regulations differ; know the difference.
- No Hunting and No Shooting Areas on page 10 apply.
Synopsis p. 20
Next to MU 1-5
MU 1-1 MU 1-4 MU 1-6 MU 1-7 MU 2-16
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.