Do I Need a PAL to Hunt in BC?
Only if you hunt with a firearm. A PAL does not let you hunt, and CORE does not let you own a firearm. To hunt with a firearm in BC you need both: CORE for the hunting credential on your Fish and Wildlife ID (FWID), and a PAL for the rifle or shotgun. Bow hunters need CORE, an FWID and a hunting licence, and no PAL.
CORE is provincial
CORE, the Conservation and Outdoor Recreation Education program, is British Columbia's hunter education standard, administered by the BC Wildlife Federation. Successful completion is required for BC residents age 10 or older who wish to obtain hunting credentials. Passing CORE earns the hunting credential BC adds to your FWID, which you need to buy a BC hunting licence. CORE gets you a hunting licence. It does not get you a firearm.
Your PAL is federal
The PAL, your Possession and Acquisition Licence, is your federal firearms licence. You apply for it through the RCMP Canadian Firearms Program, and first-time licence applicants must pass the Canadian Firearms Safety Course (CFSC) before applying. Anyone wanting to acquire restricted firearms must also take the Canadian Restricted Firearms Safety Course (CRFSC) and pass its written and practical tests.
The RCMP's possession rule is broad: usually, if you are in possession of a firearm, you need a licence even if you are not the owner and never handle the firearm. The Criminal Code defines a firearm as a barrelled weapon from which any shot, bullet or other projectile can be discharged and that is capable of causing serious bodily injury or death to a person. Bow hunters go through CORE, the FWID and the hunting licence, and do not need a PAL.
Which to take first
If you plan to hunt with a firearm, take the CFSC first and CORE second. You learn to handle a firearm properly in the firearms course before the hunting course tests you on it, and the CFSC course report you walk out with exempts you from the CORE practical firearms handling exam.
Bring the course report itself. A PAL card alone is not accepted as proof of exemption under BCWF rules.
Why the two courses are never combined
We get asked to run the CFSC and CORE as one course. We cannot. The two courses are separate sittings.
Plan for the PAL wait
Your PAL does not arrive the day you pass the course. You apply to the RCMP Canadian Firearms Program after you pass, and the application takes time to process, so apply early if you want the licence for the coming season. Our guide on how long it takes to get your PAL in Canada covers the steps from course to card.
Take the CFSC and CORE in Delta
We teach both at the Silvercore training facility, #115-7198 Vantage Way, Delta, BC V4G 1K7. The combined CFSC and CRFSC course ($270 plus tax) runs two days or three evenings, and the CORE Hunter Education Course ($210 plus tax) runs two full days. We also hold CORE exam challenges there. Parking is in front of the building, behind it, and on the street.
Both have an online option. You can study the CFSC and CRFSC theory online before your in-person course, and the course itself is taken in person because neither course has a challenge option. For CORE, the BC Wildlife Federation runs the online CORE course, followed by an exam challenge with a certified CORE Examiner.
Pass CORE and you have the hunting credential BC adds to your FWID. Pass the CFSC and you can apply for your PAL.
Continue on the Silvercore Path
- Take the firearms course: Canadian Firearms Safety Course, non-restricted and restricted, in Delta.
- Take the hunting course: CORE Hunter Education Course, in person in Delta.
- Get your firearms licence: How to Get Your PAL in Canada, start to finish.
- See the full path: How to Hunt in BC, from CORE to your hunting licence.
- Join the Silvercore Club: $59 a year, $5 million in liability coverage for lawful hunting and shooting across Canada and the United States, and free access to every Silvercore online course.
Travis Bader
Silvercore Outdoors
