HUNTING ON LYACKSON / VALDES ISLAND
A reminder to everyone coming to the island, Valdes Island is home to a small community with over 75 cabin properties which are visited year-round. Rifles cannot be discharged within 100 meters of any cabin and hunters should be aware that they are hunting where others are living and recreating, and cabins are occupied throughout the year.
Over the years, there have been a number of Lyackson / Valdes Island residents reporting hunting activity on the island too close to cabins, and outside of the regulated hunting season.
To help islanders and visitors understand, the BC Hunting Regulations regarding open seasons, time of day and type of equipment allowed on the island, are now posted on our Resources page, and summarized here.
Hunting regulations have changed on Lyackson / Valdes Island. The 2018-2020 BC Hunting and Trapping Synopsis state there is no antlerless season on Lyackson / Valdes Island. This means that only bucks (male deer bearing visible bony antlers) may be hunted for the next 2 years (September 10th - December 10th) . This change in regulations will likely curb hunting on Valdes to some extent as the antlerless season historically saw the greatest hunter traffic on the island.
Reminder: Hunting can only occur on private land (including Island Timberland Lands shown as FW on the map below) and Reserve land with permission.
No permission is required for hunting on provincial Crown land (Noted as Crown Land on the map below).
No rifles can be discharged within 100m of a cabin.
Lyackson / Valdes Island is within Region 1-1, indicating that the open season for 2018-2020.
Mule Deer (black-tailed deer)
Antlered deer (bucks) between September 10 - December 10 2 animals per person
Antlerless animals (does and fawns) NO SEASON (new regulation)
Cougar (*no cougar kitten or a cougar in the company of a kitten(s) may be killed)
between September 10 - March 31 1 animal per person
between April 1 - June 15 1 animal per person
Ducks (*restrictions on bag limits of 4 pintails, 4 canvasbacks, 2 goldeneye and 2 harlequin)
between October 6, 2018 - January 18, 2019
For all other animals on the island, refer to our Resource page for full details.
If you observe illegal hunting on the island, phone the Report All Poachers / Polluters (RAPP) at 1-877-952-7277 or *7277 on your cell phones. Further, please contact Lyackson First Nation, Gary Drouillard at 250-210-2831 or email gary.drouillard@lyackson.bc.ca
If any islanders are witness to irresponsible firearm use or concerning behaviour, we strongly encourage them to report the incident to the Gabriola RCMP so that there is documentation and a record of wrongdoing: 250-247-8333
A reminder to everyone coming to the island, Valdes Island is home to a small community with over 75 cabin properties which are visited year-round. Rifles cannot be discharged within 100 meters of any cabin and hunters should be aware that they are hunting where others are living and recreating, and cabins are occupied throughout the year.
Over the years, there have been a number of Lyackson / Valdes Island residents reporting hunting activity on the island too close to cabins, and outside of the regulated hunting season.
To help islanders and visitors understand, the BC Hunting Regulations regarding open seasons, time of day and type of equipment allowed on the island, are now posted on our Resources page, and summarized here.
Hunting regulations have changed on Lyackson / Valdes Island. The 2018-2020 BC Hunting and Trapping Synopsis state there is no antlerless season on Lyackson / Valdes Island. This means that only bucks (male deer bearing visible bony antlers) may be hunted for the next 2 years (September 10th - December 10th) . This change in regulations will likely curb hunting on Valdes to some extent as the antlerless season historically saw the greatest hunter traffic on the island.
Reminder: Hunting can only occur on private land (including Island Timberland Lands shown as FW on the map below) and Reserve land with permission.
No permission is required for hunting on provincial Crown land (Noted as Crown Land on the map below).
No rifles can be discharged within 100m of a cabin.
Lyackson / Valdes Island is within Region 1-1, indicating that the open season for 2018-2020.
Mule Deer (black-tailed deer)
Antlered deer (bucks) between September 10 - December 10 2 animals per person
Antlerless animals (does and fawns) NO SEASON (new regulation)
Cougar (*no cougar kitten or a cougar in the company of a kitten(s) may be killed)
between September 10 - March 31 1 animal per person
between April 1 - June 15 1 animal per person
Ducks (*restrictions on bag limits of 4 pintails, 4 canvasbacks, 2 goldeneye and 2 harlequin)
between October 6, 2018 - January 18, 2019
For all other animals on the island, refer to our Resource page for full details.
If you observe illegal hunting on the island, phone the Report All Poachers / Polluters (RAPP) at 1-877-952-7277 or *7277 on your cell phones. Further, please contact Lyackson First Nation, Gary Drouillard at 250-210-2831 or email gary.drouillard@lyackson.bc.ca
If any islanders are witness to irresponsible firearm use or concerning behaviour, we strongly encourage them to report the incident to the Gabriola RCMP so that there is documentation and a record of wrongdoing: 250-247-8333
