BCHunter · Preparation and travel
Bringing Your Hunting Trophy Home from British Columbia
You've had a successful hunt in British Columbia, and now it's time to get your meat, antlers or trophy home. Before you pack everything up, there's one more detail to sort out: whether you need permission to take your harvest out of the province.
British Columbia has export rules for wildlife and wildlife parts, but not every hunter needs an export permit. The requirements depend on what you've harvested, how it's leaving the province and who's transporting it.
Do you need a BC wildlife export permit?
British Columbia generally requires an export permit when wildlife or wildlife parts leave the province, unless an exemption applies.
One important exemption covers a species-licence holder who legally takes big game under that licence, follows the applicable hunting rules and personally accompanies the game out of BC within one year of the licence's cancellation.
That means a hunter driving home with their own legally harvested moose may not need a separate provincial wildlife export permit. But the exemption has conditions, and it doesn't eliminate other requirements, including compulsory inspections or international border rules.
Start with the province's wildlife export permit information and the exemptions in Section 24 of the Permit Regulation under the Wildlife Act.
What if your trophy is shipped home later?
Suppose you're flying home after a moose hunt and decide to leave the antlers and cape with a local taxidermist.
Because the trophy will travel separately, the exemption for hunters personally accompanying their game may no longer apply.
A provincial export permit may be necessary, and the person arranging shipment will need the appropriate information about the animal and its legal harvest.
Before leaving your trophy behind, ask who will apply for any required permits, who will arrange shipping and what those services will cost.
Some species have different requirements
Not every animal follows the same export process.
For lawfully held wildlife leaving Canada, BC directs exporters to a separate CITES permit process for certain species, including black bear, grizzly bear, cougar, wolf, lynx and bobcat.
CITES is an international agreement regulating trade in certain wildlife species. It can apply to hunting trophies even when the animal was legally harvested.
The provincial one-year exemption doesn't waive CITES requirements. A narrow Canadian CITES exception covers qualifying U.S. hunters returning with their own legally hunted black bear: fresh, frozen or salted hide (including attached paws and claws), skull or meat, excluding organs, in their accompanying baggage. Finished mounts and trophies shipped separately don't qualify for that exception. Check the federal black-bear CITES guidance before relying on it.
If you're planning a bear or wolf hunt, for example, confirm the CITES requirements before making your return arrangements.
What paperwork should you keep?
Whether you need an export permit or qualify for an exemption, keep the documents that establish where and how your animal was harvested.
Depending on the species, these may include your hunting licence, species licence, harvest records and compulsory inspection information.
Complete any required compulsory inspection before export. Mountain sheep inspection includes a numbered horn plug; for Stone and Dall's sheep, BC requires that PIN on an export-permit application when horns are included.
Ask your outfitter which records you'll receive and whether anything needs to be completed before you leave camp.
What does an export permit cost?
When a provincial wildlife export permit is required, BC currently lists a fee of CAD $30 for personal use, including hunting trophies.
Applications are handled through FrontCounter BC. You'll need details about the species, harvest, exporter, recipient and the wildlife parts being transported.
The exporter listed on the application must have a BC address.
The province's export permit application page explains the application process and current fees.
Check the requirements at your destination
Permission to take wildlife out of British Columbia doesn't automatically mean you can bring it into another country.
For hunters returning to the United States, USDA APHIS, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service and Customs and Border Protection may have additional requirements.
Our companion guide, Bringing Your Hunting Trophy into the USA, explains the next part of that journey.
Before you leave camp
Ask your outfitter to help you confirm three things: which documents you need, how your meat or trophy will be prepared, and who is responsible for any remaining arrangements.
If you're taking everything home yourself, make sure your planned route and transportation meet the applicable requirements.
If your trophy is staying behind, get the taxidermist's contact information, expected charges and shipping responsibilities in writing.
Sorting out those details before departure is much easier than trying to resolve a missing document after you've returned home.
For more on planning the practical side of a successful harvest, see our meat, hide and trophy transport planning guide.