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Hunting in British Columbia as a non-resident
Guide-outfitter territories, big moose, and premier Stone sheep country.
In British Columbia, all non-resident big game hunters must be accompanied by a licensed guide outfitter, an assistant guide, or a resident holding a Permit to Accompany. Guide outfitters hold exclusive territories under government allocation, so access follows the territory rather than a licence you buy on your own. BC is a strong moose destination at $7,500 to $20,000 or more, and a premier Stone sheep destination at $85,000 to $105,000 and up, alongside the Yukon.
One accuracy note that separates us from stale listings: grizzly hunting in BC has been banned since late 2017. We do not offer it and neither can anyone else. Any page still quoting a BC grizzly price is out of date.
What you can hunt in British Columbia, and what it costs
BC's headline hunts are moose across a wide price range and Stone sheep at the very top of the market. Elk, black bear and wolf round out the guided offering through the same territory system. Prices below are the guided hunt only; licences, tags, GST, travel and tips are extra.
- Moose: $7,500 to $20,000+, one of the widest price ranges in Canada. See the moose cost guide.
- Stone sheep: premier BC country, $85,000 to $105,000+, with the Yukon also open for it. See the sheep cost guide.
- Elk: guide-outfitter territories with government allocation.
- Black bear and wolf as available through the same territory system.
| Species | Guided price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Moose | $7,500 - $20,000+ | Wide range by territory |
| Stone sheep | $85,000 - $105,000+ | Premier Stone sheep country; the Yukon also offers it |
| Elk | Market varies | Guide-outfitter territory, allocation |
| Black bear | $2,500 - $8,000 | Often baited or spot and stalk |
| Wolf | As available | CITES permit to export |
| Grizzly | Not available | Banned in BC since late 2017 |
The legal requirement for non-residents
Per the official BC hunting authority, every non-resident big game hunter must be accompanied by a licensed guide outfitter, an assistant guide, or a resident with a Permit to Accompany. There is no draw you can enter to bypass this; the guide requirement is the framework.
There is one narrow non-outfitter route worth knowing about. If you have a BC resident willing to accompany you, they can hold a Permit to Accompany, the province's way of letting a resident vouch for a visiting hunter. For most non-residents that person does not exist, which puts you back with a licensed guide outfitter or an assistant guide, but it is the one door besides hiring a guide.
The official BC licence fees, CAD with GST extra: a non-resident alien licence is $180 (a non-resident Canadian licence is $75), and a moose species licence is $250 for both classes. Those are current figures, though the province adjusts fees, so confirm the current year at purchase. Verified July 2026.
The law says you need a guide. Good.
In Alberta, British Columbia, Yukon and the Northwest Territories, a non-resident cannot hunt big game alone. You go with a licensed outfitter-guide (or, in Alberta only, an unpaid resident hunter host). We treat that as the whole point: the guide is the person who turns a licence into an actual hunt. See do you need a guide in Canada.
How BC guide-outfitter territories work
BC guide outfitters hold exclusive territories under government allocation. Each territory belongs to one licensed guide outfitter, who controls guided access to the game on it. In practice that means the guide outfitter who holds the ground you want to hunt is the path to hunting it as a non-resident. There is no shopping around within a single valley: the territory holder is the territory holder.
This is different from a draw-and-guide system. In BC the territory itself is the scarce asset, so choosing the right territory matters as much as choosing the right guide outfitter. A well-run outfit on strong ground is worth waiting for.
Grizzly: banned since 2017
BC grizzly hunting has been banned since late 2017. Prices for it still circulate on stale pages and old forum threads, which is one way to spot content that has not been updated. It is not available in BC under any arrangement. Grizzly remains legal in the Yukon, the Northwest Territories and Alaska, so if a grizzly hunt is the goal, those are the destinations to look at, not British Columbia.
What to budget beyond the hunt price
Plan for more than the guided price in BC. The non-resident licence is $180 for an alien ($75 for a Canadian) with a species tag on top, a moose species licence at $250, all CAD, plus 5% GST, airfare, tips, and any taxidermy or export. A wolf or a black bear needs a CITES permit to leave the country.
For the full itemised stack, work through the moose cost guide and the other cost guides. See meat and trophy export for CITES and shipment, and tipping your guide for the convention.
When to book a BC hunt
Because BC access is tied to exclusive territories, the guide outfitter who holds the ground you want is booked well ahead, commonly one to two years out for the strong areas. Cancellation hunts occasionally open a nearer door.
We hunt Alberta's Rockies ourselves, not BC. If you want straight answers on a British Columbia hunt, the territories, the species, the costs, tell us what you are after.
Common questions
Q. Do non-residents need a guide to hunt in BC?
Yes. All non-resident big game hunters in British Columbia must be accompanied by a licensed guide outfitter, an assistant guide, or a resident holding a Permit to Accompany. There is no draw that removes this requirement.
Q. Can you hunt grizzly in British Columbia?
No. Grizzly hunting in BC has been banned since late 2017. Grizzly is still legal in the Yukon, the Northwest Territories and Alaska, but not in BC. Any listing quoting a BC grizzly price is out of date.
Q. Is Stone sheep still open in BC?
Yes, British Columbia is premier Stone sheep country, at $85,000 to $105,000 and up. The Yukon is also open for Stone and Fannin sheep and booking for 2026, so BC is one of two destinations for the species, not the only one.
Q. How much is a guided BC moose hunt?
Roughly $7,500 at the low end up to $15,000 to $20,000 or more, depending on the territory and format. On top, a non-resident alien licence is $180 (Canadian $75) plus a $250 moose species licence, all CAD with GST extra.
Q. What does it mean that BC outfitters have exclusive territories?
Each guide outfitter holds a defined area under government allocation and controls guided access to the game on it. As a non-resident, the guide outfitter who holds the ground you want to hunt is your only path to hunting it, so choosing the territory matters as much as choosing the guide.
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