Units Region 5 Cariboo MU 5-8
MU 5-8 hunting seasons · Cariboo, BC
Management Unit 5-8 is in Region 5 (Cariboo), about 12,445 km², around Bella Coola, Firvale, Hagensborg, Dawsons Landing, Namu and South Bentinck.
18 general open seasons in the synopsis cover MU 5-8: Mule deer, White-tailed deer, Mountain goat, Black bear, Cougar, Wolf, Grouse.
General open seasons, 2026–2028
| Species | What | Season | Who | Also check |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mule deer | Bucks | Sep 1 – Sep 9 | Bow only | |
| Bucks | Sep 10 – Nov 30 | Any licensed hunter | ||
| Bucks | Oct 1 – Oct 31 | Any licensed hunter | ||
| Bucks | Dec 1 – Dec 24 | Bow only | Tweedsmuir Park Bow Only Area only (Map E17; area straddles the MU 5-8/5-11 boundary near Hwy 20 / Hotnarko-Atnarko rivers); table footnote: a portion of MU 5-11 only. Tweedsmuir Park No Hunting Areas (Map E16) excluded | |
| White-tailed deer | Bucks | Sep 1 – Sep 9 | Youth hunters only | |
| Bucks | Sep 1 – Sep 9 | Bow only | ||
| Bucks | Sep 10 – Nov 30 | Any licensed hunter | ||
| Antlerless | Oct 10 – Oct 31 | Any licensed hunter | ||
| Either Sex | Nov 1 – Nov 30 | Youth hunters only | ||
| Bucks | Dec 1 – Dec 10 | Bow only | ||
| Mountain goat | Any | Sep 1 – Oct 31 | Any licensed hunter | See LEH. Mountain goat populations are sensitive to harvest; hunters are requested to select male mountain goat. Compulsory inspection required |
| Black bear | Any | Apr 1 – Jun 30 | Any licensed hunter | |
| Any | Sep 1 – Nov 30 | Any licensed hunter | ||
| Cougar | 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 |
| Wolf | Any | Apr 1 – Jun 15 | Any licensed hunter | |
| Any | Aug 1 – Mar 31 | Any licensed hunter | ||
| Grouse (sooty/dusky, ruffed, spruce) | Any | Sep 1 – Sep 9 | Youth hunters only | Sooty/Dusky (Blue) grouse bag 5 (15); Spruce & Ruffed 10 (30); daily aggregate 10, possession aggregate 30. |
| Any | Sep 10 – Nov 30 | Any licensed hunter | Sooty/Dusky (Blue) grouse bag 5 (15); Spruce & Ruffed 10 (30); daily aggregate 10, possession aggregate 30. |
Synopsis p. 44
Bag limits in Region 5
Deer: mule (black-tailed) deer 2, only one may be a buck (antlerless mule deer by LEH only). White-tailed deer 2, only one may be a buck. See also the Deer Bag Limits article on p. 14. Bighorn sheep 1, mountain goat 1, black bear 2, cougar 2 (p. 44). Wolf 3, except no bag limit in MUs 5-1 to 5-6, 5-12 to 5-15. Grouse: Sooty/Dusky (Blue) 5 daily (15 possession); Spruce & Ruffed 10 (30); daily aggregate 10, possession aggregate 30 (p. 44). Synopsis p. 43
Region 5 notices
- Tsilhqot'in Nation declared Aboriginal Title area (hatched on the region map, MUs 5-4/5-5): treat as private land; hunters are advised not to enter and to contact the Xeni Gwet'in band office (p. 42). Hunting is prohibited within 400 m of the portions of Chilko-Newton Road and Elkin Creek-Lord River FSR within the title area (Maps E10, E11).
- No black bear season in the Mussel Inlet Special Management Area (MU 5-9); portions of MU 5-9 are Black Bear No Hunting Areas (Map F14, p. 52).
- No Shooting Areas (firearm discharge prohibited): 100 Mile House (MU 5-2, Map E1); Rose Lake (MU 5-2, Map E2); Gibraltar Mines (MU 5-2, Map E4); Williams Lake and Williams Lake River (MU 5-2, Map E3); Snootli Creek Park (MU 5-8); Ocean Falls (MU 5-9, Map E8); Wells (MU 5-15, Map E23).
- Reidemann Wildlife Sanctuary (Alkali Lake, MU 5-2): no hunting, trapping or discharge of firearms (Map E5).
- Nekite River Spawning Channel (MU 5-7): hunting and firearm discharge prohibited within 100 m of the DFO spawning channel.
- Stum (Pelican) Lake Park (MU 5-13): hunting, trapping and firearm discharge prohibited Mar 1 - Aug 31, including all of Stum Lake below the high water mark and its islands.
- Tweedsmuir Park No Hunting Areas in MUs 5-10, 5-11 (Map E16).
- Quarter-mile single-projectile closed areas (no single-projectile firearm within 400 m either side of the road; shot permitted): Robertson Road and side roads (MU 5-2); Tatlayoko Road south from Eagle Lake Road (MU 5-5); Horn-Bluff Lakes Road (MU 5-5, Map E12); West Fraser Road (MUs 5-2, 5-13, 5-14, Map E18); Soda Creek Rd / Williams Lake Cutoff Rd along Buckskin Road; Tibbles Road (MU 5-13, Map E19).
- Highway No Shooting Areas and No Hunting/No Shooting Areas on page 10 apply.
- Motor vehicle closures: all motor vehicles (except snowmobiles) prohibited above 1700 m except on existing roads and trails; ATVs/snowmobiles for hunting closed 4:00-10:00 a.m. Sept 1 - Nov 30 in MUs 5-3 to 5-6 and 5-14, and all of MUs 5-12 and 5-13 Sept 1 - Nov 30; plus mapped road/area closures (see www.gov.bc.ca/caribooaccess).
- Access to the Mount Polley mine site (MU 5-2) is prohibited.
- It is unlawful to intentionally feed or bait ungulates within 200 m of a dwelling, school yard or playground.
Synopsis p. 43
Next to MU 5-8
MU 5-6 MU 5-7 MU 5-9 MU 5-10 MU 5-11
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.