June 17, 2026

BC Non-Resident Hunting Requirements: A Complete Guide for Outfitters (2026)

If you guide non-resident hunters in British Columbia, you are operating inside one of the most regulated non-resident hunting frameworks in North America. The rules are not optional, they are not suggestions, and they are not the same as what your American or out-of-province clients dealt with back home. Getting this wrong — even unintentionally — puts your guide outfitter licence at risk.

This guide covers the legal requirements your non-resident clients must meet before they arrive, what you are responsible for as their licensed guide, and how to manage the paperwork without losing your mind two days before a hunt.

Who counts as a non-resident in BC?

In British Columbia, a non-resident is any Canadian citizen or permanent resident who is not a resident of BC. A non-resident alien is anyone who is neither a Canadian citizen nor a permanent resident — including US hunters and any international clients.

Both categories face the same mandatory guide requirement for big game. The distinction matters mainly for licensing fees, which are higher for non-resident aliens than for non-resident Canadians.

The rule: non-residents cannot hunt big game alone

Under the BC Wildlife Act, a non-resident hunter cannot hunt big game in British Columbia unless they are accompanied by a licensed guide outfitter, a licensed assistant guide outfitter, or a BC resident who holds a Permit to Accompany. There is no exception for experienced hunters, returning clients, or hunters who hold licences from other provinces.

Big game in BC includes:

• White-tailed deer, mule deer, black-tailed deer
• Elk
• Moose
• Caribou
• Mountain sheep
• Mountain goat
• Cougar
• Lynx and bobcat
• Wolf
• Black bear
• Wolverine

If your clients are hunting any of the above species, they need you — or one of your licensed assistant guides — in the field with them.

Small game is different. Non-residents with an unrestricted licence can hunt small game (game birds, fox, coyote, raccoon, hare) unaccompanied. Non-residents with a restricted licence must still be accompanied by a guide.

The two-hunter limit — and why it matters for scheduling

A licensed guide outfitter may not have more than two non-resident hunters in the field at one time. This is not a recommendation — it is a licensing condition. If you send three clients into your territory with a single assistant guide, you are in violation.

This limit shapes every booking decision you make. It determines your maximum revenue per guide per day, how many assistant guides you need to staff a multi-client week, and when you have to turn bookings away. The smart play is to track guide assignments at the booking level — not on a whiteboard you update each morning — so you can see scheduling conflicts before they become compliance problems.

What your clients need before they arrive

Non-resident hunters need to arrive with the right documents already in hand. Helping clients understand this before they book — not the week before the hunt — is part of running a professional operation.

1. Fish and Wildlife ID (FWID)

Every hunter in BC needs a Fish and Wildlife ID number, issued through BC's online WILD system. Non-residents apply for this first — it is the account that holds their licences and tags. Clients who have hunted in BC before may already have one.

2. Non-resident hunting licence

Non-residents purchase a base hunting licence through the WILD system. For the 2026 season, the base licence runs approximately $210 for non-residents (Canadian non-residents and non-resident aliens). Fees change; direct clients to gov.bc.ca for current numbers.

3. Species-specific licences and LEH draws

The base licence does not authorize hunting any particular species. Clients need a separate species licence for each animal they intend to hunt:

For moose, elk, and most sheep and goat hunts, clients must apply through the LEH draw system well before the season opens. They cannot purchase a species licence for an LEH species unless they hold a successful draw result. If your client books a moose hunt with you before applying for the draw, they are gambling on their draw success — make sure they understand that.

RCMP Non-Resident Firearm Declaration (Form RCMP 5589)

Any non-resident hunter bringing a firearm into Canada must declare it at their first point of entry into the country. This is mandatory under the Firearms Act and is completely separate from the BC hunting licence process.

The document is Form RCMP 5589 — Non-Resident Firearm Declaration. Here is what your clients need to know, and what you should communicate before they travel:

Before the border crossing

• Clients should complete the form before arriving at the border but must not sign it until a Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) officer witnesses the signature. A pre-signed form is invalid.
• The form is available at the border crossing, but downloading and completing it in advance saves time and reduces errors under pressure at the port of entry.

What goes on the form

For each firearm, the declaration requires:

• Firearm type (rifle, shotgun, handgun)
• Make and model
• Serial number
• Calibre or gauge
• Barrel length

If a client is bringing more than two firearms, they need an additional Form RCMP 5590 (Continuation Sheet).

At the border

• The CBSA officer witnesses the signature and stamps the declaration.
• The fee is $25 CDN.
• Once signed and witnessed, the declaration acts as a temporary import licence, valid for 60 days and only for the firearms listed.
• The declaration is personal — it cannot be transferred to another hunter or used for a firearm not listed on it.

What you should tell your clients

The most common mistake is clients who arrive at the border without knowing about the form, then hold up the line while customs officers walk them through it. Tell every incoming client the following:

• Download and complete Form RCMP 5589 before you drive to the border.
• Do not sign it. The CBSA officer must witness your signature.
• Have your serial numbers written down — not just in your head.
• Bring $25 CDN (or the USD equivalent — most border crossings accept it).
• Keep the declaration in the field with you. You may be asked to produce it.

What you need on file

As the guide outfitter, you should have a copy of your client's firearms declaration on file for the duration of their hunt. If Fish and Wildlife officers encounter your party in the field, they may ask to see documentation for any firearm present. A client who cannot produce their declaration — even if they have a legal firearm — creates a problem for your operation.

In-field documents your clients must carry

When non-resident hunters are afield in BC, they must be able to produce:

• Their BC hunting licence (printed or digital via WILD app)
• The appropriate species licence for what they are hunting
• Their LEH draw confirmation (if hunting a limited entry species)
• Their RCMP Form 5589 (if they brought a firearm from outside Canada)
• Photo ID

You should also carry your guide outfitter licence and, if applicable, the assistant guide licence for any guides in your party. Conservation officers can and do check in the field, particularly in high-pressure regions during peak season.

What this means for how you run bookings

Running non-resident client bookings without a system means you are manually tracking licence status, firearm declarations, LEH draws, and guide assignments across email threads and spreadsheets. That works until it doesn't — and when it fails, it usually fails at 6 AM on the first morning of a hunt.

Hunt Outfitter's client intake flow lets you capture firearms information — make, model, serial number, calibre, barrel length — as part of the booking process, before the client arrives. You can attach their signed RCMP 5589 to their client record, track which guides are assigned to which clients (with the two-hunter limit visible at the scheduling level), and generate a signed document package for the hunt.

It does not replace the paperwork — your clients still need to complete the real RCMP form at the border. But it means the information exists in your system before the season starts, not in a folder you cannot find when a conservation officer asks a question.

Hunt Outfitter offers a 14-day free trial — no credit card required. If you guide non-resident hunters in BC, you can set up your client intake flow, including firearms fields, within the first hour.

Start your free 14-day trial →