BC Limited Entry Hunting
Have You (n)EVER Been Drawn?

Limited Entry Hunting in British Columbia... How well does the system work for you?

Love-it or hate-it LEH draws are here to stay in BC, at least for now!

For years, my Dad who lived in the Kootenay's put in his name for LEH moose hunts in the Caribou... and he was drawn for an any bull moose tag seemingly EVERY SINGLE YEAR!

Some People Never Get LEH Draws

My uncle on the other hand who lived in the lower mainland, put in for the same hunts at the same time of the year... he applied for 13 years before he got his first and only moose draw! He was always accusing my Dad of knowing someone in the Wildlife Branch!

These guys were old timers, my Dad who will turn 92 this year and my Uncle would have been 93 (at the time of this writing). They remember the days when, if you wanted to get a moose tag, all you did was go to the local hardware store and buy one. No fuss, no muss! My how times have changed!
Sadly, both of these hunters are gone now, leaving us only with memories and stories to mull over. Speaking of stories, I did manage to get my dad on camera retelling a story of moose hunting in the Caribou (5 Parts).

Photo by Vickie King

LEH is for Residents of BC Only

Limited Entry Hunting in British Columbia is for residents of BC only. How well does the system work for you? Do you get draws or not?

In a nutshell, if you have a Fish and Wildlife ID (FWID) number you may apply for an LEH draw for the species of your choice. Be sure that you don't make any errors on your application, every year many cards are rejected because of incomplete or incorrect information. If in doubt have someone else check them for you.

New for 2016: You can only apply on-line. Errors should be limited. Read on to find out more...

Understanding the LEH System

Travis from Silvercore which is Canada's largest and longest standing training company of its kind recently able to secure a podcast with two BC government representatives who are directly responsible for working on our LEH. This is a very informative Podcast in which Travis was able to get answers to most LEH system questions. Have a listen here. Or if you prefer you can watch the interview on YouTube.

LEH Announcements

Limited Entry Draw Results

Can't remember your BCeID but need to check the status of your LEH draw? No problem. Follow the link BCeID to the Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations Limited Entry Draw Results, type in your FWID into the box and you will get your results.

It works the same as the old system where you would have typed in your hunter number (no longer valid).

Limited Entry Hunting Draw Dates

• 2023 - Monday June 26th
  
• 2022 - Monday June 27th
  
• 2021 - Monday June 21st
• 2020 - Monday June 22nd
  
• 2019 - Monday June 24th
  
• 2018 - Tuesday June 19th
• 2017 - Thursday June 15th
  
• 2016 - Monday June 27th ... login to BCHUNTING using your BCeID to see your LEH Results
  
• 2015 - Wednesday July 8th
• 2014 - Tuesday July 8th
  
• 2013 - Tuesday July 2nd
  
• 2012 - Tuesday June 26th
  
• 2011 - Wednesday June 15th
  
• 2010 - Monday June 14th

Although the BC Government has said in the past they are trying to hold the draws earlier so the hunters can make plans; as you can see we have started to see a trend in that direction. Let's hope it continues.

2023 LEH News

June 26, 2023 - LEH Draw results were made available today. If you didn't receive an email from notifying you that you were successful then you did not get a draw. I don't know about you, but I don't trust the system so I log into WILD and find out for myself.

For this year, myself and 3 others that have not had a moose draw in years entered for an area that last year had odds of 2.2:1 so we figured we would have a good chance. Well, lady luck was not on our side so we have to come up with another plan. Likely heading up near the Yukon this year, maybe we will run tinto some of you? How about you, were you drawn for an LEH tag?

May 11, 2023: Limited Entry Hunting Synopsis for 2023-2023 is now available for download.  Applications must be in Victoria by 11:59 PM on June 8, 2022. Don't miss the deadline!

FYI: Don't think for a minute that you can't get a draw even if you had one in the previous few years. I saw a few people posting that they were drawn in consecutive years. You can't win if you don't play the game!

2022 LEH News

May 25, 2021: Limited Entry Hunting Synopsis for 2021-2022 is now available for download.  Applications must be in Victoria by 11:59 PM on June 16, 2022. Don't miss the deadline!

This coming season will signal a dramatic change to the way hunters access moose and caribou licenses in BC.

The provincial government has begun talks to reduce or remove available moose licences in North Eastern BC by 50, any remaining available moose licenses for the foreseeable future will then be converted to LEH licenses.

In addition, the caribou hunt the the region will be closed completely to resident hunters.

The release of the Limited Entry Synopsis will layout the forthcoming changes.

With these eminent changes in mind, be prepared to see an increase in hunter numbers into areas where there are General Open Seasons (GOS)  available.

• The LEH draw results for 2022 are in (draw date was June 27th), no-one in our groups received moose draws for this season. How about you? Did you get a draw this year?
  

2021 LEH News

April 21, 2021: Limited Entry Hunting Synopsis for 2021-2022 is now available for download.  Applications must be in Victoria by 11:59 PM on Friday May 28, 2021. Don't miss the deadline!

Applications may only be submitted online! The printed version of the synopsis will no longer be available in print. If you want a paper copy, just download the PDF and print it yourself or in the case where you don't have a printer, you can go to a print shop such as Staples and have them print it for you.

COVID continues to influence the Province of BC. As I write this we have sweeping travel restrictions across the province which are preventing you and I from leaving our Health Authority Region. Although the restrictions are supposed to be in place as a temporary measure till May 24th, 2021... we will have to wait and see what if any restrictions are in place this coming fall.

2020 LEH News

April 22, 2020: Limited Entry Hunting Synopsis for 2020-2021 is now available for download.  Applications must be in Victoria by 11:59 PM on Friday May 29, 2020. Don't miss the deadline!

Applications may only be submitted online! Because of COVID-19 the printed version of the Limited Entry Synopsis is not available for 2020, however if you have access to a printer you can print the pages that are of importance to you,

This year is a year like no other, COVID-19 has taken over our lives and the results of social distancing make things more difficult to be sure!

Quoted from the provincial LEH Webpage...

• The Provincial Health Officer has asked all British Columbians to limit travel
• Hunters are asked to only apply for Limited Entry Hunt areas close to home
• It is uncertain when these measures will change or if more restrictive measures may come into place in the future

Be sure to check for updates as time goes on, the province may enforce further travel restrictions that could affect any hunting trips you have planned.

I know a lot of people are interested in going hunting and fishing this year, license sales have more than doubled previous years so you can expect a lot of competition in the woods and for the LEH draws this year.

As our PHO, Bonnie Henry says... Be Calm, Be Kind, Be Safe

2019 LEH News

April 15, 2019: Limited Entry Hunting Synopsis for 2019-2020 is now available for download.  Applications must be in Victoria by 11:59 PM on Friday May 31, 2019. Don't miss the deadline!

Applications may only be submitted online!

I only applied for one draw this year and I received the same results as usual.
"Unsuccessful"
So, I am headed to the Yukon this year. Stay tuned for exciting stories!

2018 LEH News

April 10, 2018: LEH Synopsis is now available for download  Applications must be in Victoria by midnight on May 25th, 2018. Don't miss the deadline!

2017 LEH News

March 8, 2017: LEH Synopsis is now available for download  Applications must be in Victoria by midnight on May 26th, 2017. Don't miss the deadline!

Applications may only be submitted online!

2016 LEH News

June 27, 2016: The LEH draw has been run. Login to BCeID to see the results of your draws.
No moose draws for us... again! We will head to an area for the archery only season, or further north where there are open seasons.

April 25, 2016: The LEH system is available online only. Draw cards are no longer used.

April 18, 2016: The LEH Synopsis is now available for the current year.

The LEH Application Deadline is May 27, 2016

2015 LEH News

July 8, 2015: The limited entry draw has been run for the year 2015. Interestingly enough, the result were available the same date as in 2014.
We didn't receive a draw this year, which really is of no surprise because we were awarded one last year.

March 20, 2015: The Limited Entry Synopsis has now been published and is available for download. (See the list below for current and archived synopsis.)

Note: The deadline for 2015 is May 22. Your application must reach Victoria before 4:30 PM on this date!

2014 LEH NEWS:

July 8, 2014: We are happy this year! My Dad who just turned 89 will join me on shared a moose hunt. This could be his last, so I'm very happy about that!

Update: We went on our moose hunt as scheduled in Region 5 and were rewarded with a respectable meat bull... on our very first morning! We had planned up to two weeks and our hunt was over an hour after leaving camp!

July 3, 2014: No draw to date! :-(

March 19, 2014: The Limited Entry Synopsis for 2014/2015 is now available. Your applications for regular draws must reach Victoria by May 23, 2013 at 4:30 PM to be eligible for entries.

At first glance one thing I noticed right away in this year's limited entry hunting synopsis is the reduction of moose draws compared to last year. In one MU that we hunt in region 5 the number of moose draws was reduced by almost 50%. That is a direct reflection of what we've hearing; the number of moose in some areas of British Columbia has declined dramatically and therefore the harvest must be reduced as well.

New to the synopsis this year is the opportunity to go on a shared Bison Hunt. If Bison is one of those species that you've always wanted to chase after, now may be your chance.

Earlier this year the BC Government announced the launch of a study to see if they can find out what is happening with the moose population. Hopefully they get some solid findings and act upon them.

2013 LEH NEWS:

July 2, 2013: The draw has been completed and the link is posted here to find out your status.

June 25, 2013: Someone just posted this on Facebook "They [Fish, Wildlife and Habitat Management] emailed me and said due to high applicants [in 2013] the LEH will be completed late June to early July so I will bet on July 2nd."

This is the reply I received: "The LEH draw is not yet complete, although we are getting closer and pushing hard to get it done.  We always run the draw as soon as we can each year and it usually takes approximately a month or so after the application card deadline date to complete everything.  At this point I would say somewhere right around the beginning of July is my best estimate for you."

March 18, 2013: The Limited Entry Synopsis for 2013/2014 is now available. Your applications for regular draws must reach Victoria by May 24, 2013 at 4:30 PM to be eligible for entries.

As always there are some areas where numbers are reduced and others where the number of available draws are increased. Be sure to read the synopsis carefully and be sure you fill in your cards correctly.

My chosen area for moose hunting this year? An increase in the number of draws, hopefully this time we'll be lucky.

I've got two new moose hunters joining me this season, one has never hunted and the other has never hunted moose. To say the least, these two guys are stoked!

2012 LEH NEWS:

The LEH data has been posted for 2012. In 2012 your application must be in Victoria by May 25th 2012. The wildlife branch no longer notifies hunters if they received NIL draws. Only successful applicants will be notified by mail. 

Limited Entry Hunting Regulations

Any Success In the LEH Draw?

How about you? Did you receive a draw? Tell us about it!

2016: Five of us applied for various Limited Entry Draws, I was the only successful applicant and received a Mule antlerless draw in MU-3. No moose or Elk this year.

2013: Two of my hunting buddies and I received mule deer doe draws in 3-14. No moose draws again!

2012: My hunting partner received a mule deer doe draw, and none of our hunting party received a moose draw. 

Who Applies for LEH Cards?

According to Fish, Wildlife and Habitat Management: "As for the number of LEH application cards we received last year (2012), I believe it was somewhere around 162,000 and 163,000".

That is a good number of hunters from BC. Although these numbers are down considerably from when Limited Entry Hunting First began.

LEH Cards are no longer in use!

As of 2016 the BC Government is only accepting LEH applications online. In order to apply for LEH you need an FWID number. This number is assigned to you once you register.

In order to get the FWID, you first need a BCeID number or registration. The basic is the easiest to acquire as you don't need to vist a Government Agency to verify. Once you have your BCeID you can the apply for your FWID number (of course you must have a BC Resident Hunter Number first).

LEH Cards - What to do with them?

Nothing now! Keep one for old times sake!

LIMITED ENTRY HUNTING

FISH, WILDLIFE & HABITAT MANAGEMENT BRANCH
2975 JUTLAND ROAD
PO BOX 9389 STN PROV GOVT
VICTORIA BC V8W 9M7

LEH - Why Not?

Not all BC resident hunters make use of the LEH system... "Why not?" I ask. There are plenty of opportunities to get drawn for some fine hunting prospects.

I'll tell you why I think many hunters in BC are jaded towards this system... "Some believe it is a cash grab... just another tax... or it is a fixed system so that those who: vote just right, live in certain areas and support the right causes are drawn.

Is the System Fair?

What do you think? Is the LEH system fair?

Personally, I believe that the Limited Entry Hunting for British Columbia Residents lottery draw is fair. Like any lottery, there is always a chance. I have read about other jurisdictions and their system of points, I like how our system is set-up.

Is the LEH System Fixed?

As for the LEH draw being fixed... I'll address that here... Limited Entry Hunting Opinions, where you can have your say too!

Also for many participants who do not understand How the Limited Entry System Works, this document explains the process.

LEH Results Graph

I have been tracking the LEH results for Moose Hunting BC in the Caribou on an Excel spreadsheet since 1993... it is

interesting (to me at least) to be able to track the trending of: number of draws available, the odds of being successful for a draw and number of hunters applying for draws.

Do you have an opinion as to how or why the Limited Entry Hunting Draw system works... or doesn't work? Please share it with us!

Recommendations:

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Download a copy today, you won't be disappointed.

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