This year there have been a few changes to the world of Hunting Licenses in BC. Included with those changes are the new FWID's BC Resident Hunters will be required to get. This FWID will consist of 3 more digits added to the front of your current hunters number. The way to go about getting this FWID is to go online (link to the website below) and follow the registration form, the system will automatically generate your new FWID.

For more information please visits www.gov.bc.ca/hunting to learn how to get your FWID.  

It may surprise you to know that it is only mostly illegal to carry a handgun in Canada.  If you can convince the chief firearms officer in your area that there is a compelling reason, they can grant you that privilege.  Unfortunately the standards for permission are essentially at the whim of said official; although a good starting point is that you work in the wilderness.  

An advocacy group is attempting to convince the federal government to set reasonable guidelines and a path to legally carrying your handgun while you hunt. https://wildernesscarry.wordpress.com/

Two people hunting 40 kilometres west of the Alaska highway - and roughly South-West of Fort Nelson - were surprised by a Grizzly sow in late afternoon on September 6 (2015).  This follows an attack on a bow hunter by a sow and 2 cubs near Cranbrook on September 2.  In both cases the hunters were attacked with, essentially, no warning.
All three hunters required evacuation to hospital.  The Fort Nelson hunters waited for over nine hours, until 3 a.m. on Sept. 7 while a SAR Cormorant helicopter flew in from Comox to evacuate them to the Fort Nelson Regional hospital.  The Cranbrook hunter was flown to Calgary for medical treatment.

The US ATF (alcohol, tobacco and firearm agency) is floating a trial balloon about surplus M855 ball ammunition this week.  M855 is the standard issue NATO 5.56mm cartridge for the US military.  It is also the round of choice for thousands of civilian users as well, due to its widespread availability and low cost.  Now the ATF is considering designating the round an armour-piercing; essentially making it illegal overnight.

How will that effect us in Canada?  Well if history is an indicator every 5.56mm owner in the US is either purchasing thousands of rounds as we speak or planning to in the very near future.  This means it will become very difficult for sporting stores in Canada to get new orders of 5.56mm ammunition.

UPDATE:
According to TheBlaze.com the ATF is now backing away from the re-classification of M855 rounds.  The ATF calling it a "Publishing Mistake" OR does sanity prevail?

The Civilian Review and Complaints Commission for the RCMP released their much anticipated report on the actions of RCMP members at High River, Alberta - in June, 2013 - during a once in a century flood.  The report clearly outlines the systemic failure that resulted in the inappropriate seizure of firearms during the flood. The commission does not have the mandate to recommend charges.

Barry & Judy Jenkins are Instructors and Examiners for both the C.O.R.E. (Hunter Training) and Firearms Safety Courses (non-restricted & restricted PAL) in the Williams Lake area. They frequently hold courses for both programs, and you can request more information or register by calling 250-392-6750, or by sending an e-mail to judyjenkins@telus.net.

Visit the BMGS Community Corner often for course dates and updates.