Guide Outfitter Licence

Guide Outfitter Licence

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Contents:

Overview

A guide outfitter is licenced to guide resident and non-resident hunters in an exclusive guide area with clearly defined and legally described boundaries. The guide areas vary considerably in size and availability of big game species. The guide outfitter licence is issued annually. The responsibility for issuing guide licences and guiding territory certificates lies with the Regional Fish and Wildlife Managers within the Wildlife Management Regions in the province.

 

Please note that applications for guide outfitter licences and permits to accompany a non-resident or non-resident alien to hunt big game animal are now processed in BC Hunting Online.

Please contact our Contact Centre if you have any questions at 1-877-855-3222 or FrontCounterBC@gov.bc.ca

Contact FrontCounter BC

Costs and Responsibilities

Annual Licence

  • $500.00 Guide Outfitter Licence
  • $25.00 Licence Application Fee (new applicants only, first time applying for any Guide Outfitter Licence)

Five Year Licence

  • $2000.00 Guide Outfitter Licence
  • $25.00 Licence Application Fee (new applicants only, first time applying for any Guide Outfitter Licence)

NOTE: Royalties from the previous year are not processed at the time of application submission (if applicable). A Permitting Clerk will contact you if additional fees are owed. In the case of renewals please note that your previous years royalty fees must be paid in full prior to a new licence being issued. 

Fees are payable at the time of application. Applications will not be processed until the fee has been paid. 

The payment can be made by credit card, cheque or money-order. Credit Card payments are securely processed online in the Final Step of the application process. You also have the option to mail in a cheque or money order or pay in person at any of the FrontCounter BC locations.

The Habitat Conservation Trust Fund surcharge is included in the above fee(s).

Fees calculated in the electronic Fish and Wildlife application may not be final. A Permit Clerk will contact you if late fees are owed or if other licence specific fees are outstanding.

What you need to apply

Eligibility

The following criteria must be met to proceed with an application for a Guide Outfitter Licence:

  • Must be a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident of Canada (i.e. a landed immigrant).
  • Must satisfy the Regional Fish and Wildlife Manager, within the region you intend to acquire a guide area, that you have a working knowledge of the Wildlife Act and the Commercial Activities Regulation, B.C. Reg. 338/82, Division 1, Guides. This is done through the successful completion of the Guide Outfitter exam.
  • A guide outfitter shall carry, in full force and effect, public liability insurance in an amount of not less than $2, 000 000 that is, applicable to his guiding business, in effect at the time of application for an annual licence, and effective for the term of the annual licence period or for the period for which he has paid an annual fee.
  • Must have permission of the guiding territory certificate holder(s).
  • The remaining term on the Guiding Territory Certificate must exceed the term of licence being applied for.

General Requirements

  • Proof of passing the Guide Outfitter Exam (new applicants only)
  • Which Regions your guide area is located in
    • Including a guiding territory certificate number if you are operating within a guiding territory
  • Consent of the Guiding Territory Certificate Holder or Agent
  • This applies if you are not the guiding territory certificate holder
  • Return the signed Guide Outfitter Territory Certificate Holder Consent form with your completed application.

Valid Fish and Wildlife ID's (FWID)

Applicant will need a FWID with verified user credentials. If you have had a hunting licence you will already have a FWID assigned to you. For more information on FWID’s and to apply please click here. 

Guide Outfitter Exam

The Guide Outfitter examination is a screening tool. A mark of eighty percent (80%) is required to pass the exam. However, as stated within the Wildlife Act, the Regional Manager must be satisfied that the applicant has a working knowledge of the Wildlife Act. This may require further consultation in addition to the exam. 

There is no fee associated with the exam. The exam is 2.5 hours in length and is made up of sixty-five (65) multiple choice questions that may cover a number of topics. Questions within the exam are intended to test the applicants knowledge of the Wildlife Act and Commercial Activities Regulation. 

Study material can be accessed electronically through the internet or in hard copy:

  • Wildlife Act
    • online copy
    • hard copy: public library, or BC Courthouse Library
  • Wildlife Act Commercial Activities Regulation, B.C. Reg. 338/82, Division 1, Guides
  • online copy
  • hard copy: public library, or BC Courthouse Library
  • online copy
  • hard copy: FrontCounter BC offices, Service BC Access Centre or wherever hunting licences are sold
  • Hunting and Trapping Regulations Synopsis

You may schedule an examination through your local Service BC Access Centre. Click here to find the Service BC Access Centre location nearest you

What happens after you apply

The target time frame for issuing your permit is 30 days*

Processing time within the North East Region will be considerably longer as there is a required consultation process with members of the Treaty 8 First Nations communities.

Your application will not be processed until payment has been received in full.

Receiving the application

Your application will be reviewed to ensure that it is complete. Your payment and documents will be entered into the appropriate systems. When necessary, you will be contacted for more information. 

An application will not be accepted and processed until all required information as well as payment has been received.

Decision Making

A decision will be made on whether to issue a permit or not after a full review of your submission.

Issuance of Permit

If your application is approved, the permit is issued and sent to you by FrontCounter BC. If your application was not approved, you will be notified. 

NOTE: If you used a BCeID and a licence or permit is issued, you can download it from the Manage your Natural Resource Applications webpage by logging in using your BCeID

*Processing time within the North East Region will be considerably longer as there is a required consultation process with members of the Treaty 8 First Nations communities.
Link
Guide Outfitter Territory Holder Consent Form
Report and Declaration of Guide Outfitter - Filling out the Form
Wildlife Act Commercial Activities Regulation
Wildlife Act
Fish and Wildlife ID (FWID)

Tips for a successful application

Follow these tips to make the application process easier:

  1. Review this guide and have all the information and documents ready before you start filling out the application.
  2. Use a Basic, Personal or Business BCeID for your application. A BCeID is easy to get and allows you to save your application, reopen it, and check the status of your application online. Applications will automatically time-out after a certain period of inactivity if not saved.
  3. Contact FrontCounter BC before you begin, to help you with all natural resource applications.