Bag limit question

[madshawn]

Hey everyone,

I had a trip to Haida gwaii this year and we had a chance to talk to some really nice CO's.

There were a few things that left me and my group a little confused.

1. In Haida gwaii the bag limit is 5 possession is 15. If, while on a 10 day hunt we fully eat 1 small Sitka deer. Does that mean if I shot 5 deer my bag limit goes back down to 4 ?

2. If I shot 5 deer and gifted a full deer to the people who let us stay at their places does that also mean my possession is now 4?

The co seemed to think that gifting a deer still means I'm at a possession of 5. I have searched the regs for an hour and can't find clarification on either gifting or eating. I know the eating part is a little hard but over on Haida gwaii you can go through a full deer in days with a few hungry fellas.

Thanks in advance for the replies.

[Pioneerman]

Whether you eat it or gift it, you limit is the same. If you had a large moose hunting party and ate a small moose for camp meat, you do not get an extra one. You are allowed so many and that is it

[madshawn]

But moose possession is 1 bag limit is 1.

Haida gwaii possession is 5 bag limit is 15. I can go home come back and get 5 more. I can't do that with moose because possession is 1?

[Pioneerman]

Tried to make it simple, but NO you can not exceed your bag limit whether you give it away or not. I guess you want a loop hole to kill more than bag limit. The CO told you already, his word is generally over ours. I am sure many people will take grouse during a hunting trip and if camped probably eat them along with bringing home their full limit, but they still exceeded the limit correct ? The hunting synopsis is just that a Synopsis, a briefing of rules and regulations, they have a far more in depth rule book defining each aspect, so you probably will not find the wording and explanation you want in the synopsis

[madshawn]

Very true, I have also scoured the wildlife act but to no avail. I appreciate your insight. The co only talked about gifting not about eating. Also I am not looking for a loophole at all.

Cheers

[Pioneerman]

If your limit on fish is 4, you catch your 4 go home gift them to your wife or eat them can you go catch 4 more ? We know people who have done what you are saying , I doubt it would be agreed as legal by CO

[brian]

Actually you have that flipped around. Bag limit is 15 and possession is 5. This means that you cancel 15 tags all total and be in possession of 5 at a time. It doesn’t say what possession actually means. But I would figure it is the amount of deer you have with you at one time.

[nelsonob1]

Possession is amount with you, except at the place you reside.

[j270wsm]

Here is how I understand the situation…….your legally allowed to tag 15 deer but only allowed to posses 5. So until you take your 5 deer to your primary residence/meat cutter you can’t tag any more. Once you’ve gone home you can go back and tag another 5.

In theory, Eating or giving deer meat away removes that deer from your possession but I believe they will get you because you didn’t take it to your primary residence or a meat cutter.

[IslandWanderer]

But moose possession is 1 bag limit is 1.

Haida gwaii possession is 15 bag limit is 5. I can go home come back and get 5 more. I can't do that with moose because possession is 1?

I think you've got the terms mixed up.

[madshawn]

Yah I did, I fixed it. Thanks!

[Redthies]

Actually you have that flipped around. Bag limit is 15 and possession is 5. This means that you cancel 15 tags all total and be in possession of 5 at a time. It doesn’t say what possession actually means. But I would figure it is the amount of deer you have with you at one time.

I was waiting to see when someone would point out the 5/15 was reversed.

I know quite a few people who live on the Queen Charlottes, and quite a few who have hunted and guided there. The standard procedure is shoot 5, and then drop off at the local butchers, who will process, wrap, freeze and then ship to your home address. While he is doing that, those 5 are not in your possession, and therefore you can shoot 5 more. Repeat as necessary.

[Treed]

My take: If you shoot 5 and eat one, you now have 4. You can shoot one more so you are again in possession of five. It has nothing to do with your place of residence. If you shot five and took them to the butcher and shot five more you would be exceeding your possession limit. The butcher does not own your deer, they are still yours and count as part of your possession limit. The gifting of the deer is a little tricky. I don’t think the CO is right but I wouldn’t want to test it.

[Bustercluck]

Just an opinion, but I think you’re allowed 5 with you. Eat one and shoot one more and you’ll be back at 5. Seems simple, Maybe there was a misunderstanding with the co.

I’ve never hunted there, but a guy I know used to go there with a group and one guy would take turns running the deer home. So if there was 3 of them with 3 trucks then one guy would go home with 15 deer and come back. I really don’t know if that’s legal, but they seemed to think so.

[HappyJack]

Just an opinion, but I think you’re allowed 5 with you. Eat one and shoot one more and you’ll be back at 5. Seems simple, Maybe there was a misunderstanding with the co.

I’ve never hunted there, but a guy I know used to go there with a group and one guy would take turns running the deer home. So if there was 3 of them with 3 trucks then one guy would go home with 15 deer and come back. I really don’t know if that’s legal, but they seemed to think so.

Yes it's legal to transport other hunters game if you have the proper documentation with you.

[koothunter]

The better question is, since they are culling the deer on other islands there anyway, why is the possession limit still at 5??

[HappyJack]

The better question is, since they are culling the deer on other islands there anyway, why is the possession limit still at 5??

Probably to slow down the off island hunters while at the same time leaving the special limits for residents of Haida Gwaii. Personally I think 15 is a little overkill.

[Bernie O]

You must cancel your tag immediately upon killing a deer, So wheter you eat it or gift it you are down in the further number you are allowed to take.

[HappyJack]

You must cancel your tag immediately upon killing a deer, So wheter you eat it or gift it you are down in the further number you are allowed to take.

You can buy 15 tags and must have them all in your possession, you can only have 5 island deer in possession at at time. I would think that if he ate one completely that it would be legal to cancel another tag.