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BC CORE: 50 practice questions

Real test: 90 questions, 120 minutes, pass 68/90 (76%). Answer key on the last page. From canadianlicensetest.com · independent study aid, not an official test.

1. What is a B.C. Initiation Hunting Licence?
1. A. A one-time licence for adult residents new to hunting
2. B. A licence for a non-resident's first hunt
3. C. A licence for youth who are under 10
4. D. A licence for assistant guides in training
2. A non-resident's hunter safety certificate is written in Spanish. What must they submit to B.C.?
1. A. The original plus a notarized translation
2. B. A translation made by a friend
3. C. A letter from their hunting guide
4. D. Only the original certificate
3. Hunting cougar with hounds in B.C., may your dogs run unleashed?
1. A. No, all hunting dogs must be leashed
2. B. Only after 2 p.m.
3. C. Only with a guide present
4. D. Yes, dogs may run free for cougar
4. What minimum broadhead width does B.C. require on arrows or bolts for big game?
1. A. 1.5 cm (5/8 in) at the widest point
2. B. 3.8 cm (1.5 in) at the widest point
3. C. 2.2 cm (7/8 in) at the widest point
4. D. No minimum width is set
5. Which is usually an early sign of hypothermia?
1. A. Hot, flushed skin
2. B. Fast, heavy sweating
3. C. Uncontrollable shivering
4. D. A strong sense of hunger
6. You feel a 'hot spot' rubbing on your heel early in a long walk to your stand. What should you do?
1. A. Loosen the other boot to balance your stride
2. B. Keep going; it will toughen up by the afternoon
3. C. Pop it with your knife and keep walking
4. D. Stop and cover it with tape or moleskin right away
7. Rescuers are searching nearby at night and you have a flashlight, a whistle and a lighter. What is best?
1. A. Stay silent to save energy
2. B. Walk toward the sound of engines
3. C. Blow three blasts and flash your light
4. D. Shout until your voice is gone
8. Small domed piles of cattails and vegetation on a frozen marsh are usually made by which animal?
1. A. River otter
2. B. Mink
3. C. Muskrat
4. D. Beaver
9. There is no open season for grizzly bears in B.C.
1. A. True
2. B. False
10. What is the federal status of Southern Mountain and Boreal caribou in B.C.?
1. A. Not at risk at all
2. B. Threatened, under SARA
3. C. Already extinct in B.C.
4. D. Overabundant in most areas
11. What must stay attached to a non-migratory game bird such as a grouse while transported in B.C.?
1. A. The feet
2. B. One feathered wing
3. C. The tail feathers
4. D. The whole head
12. How can you tell a bobcat from a lynx?
1. A. A bobcat's tail is black on top and white underneath
2. B. A bobcat's tail tip is black all the way around
3. C. A bobcat has much longer ear tufts
4. D. A bobcat has larger, snowshoe-like feet
13. When does a person need a B.C. hunting licence to hunt feral pigs?
1. A. Unless on or protecting their land
2. B. Never; feral pigs are unprotected
3. C. Only when hunting with dogs
4. D. Only during the deer season
14. How does a foil emergency (space) blanket help keep you warm?
1. A. It produces heat through a chemical reaction
2. B. It reflects much of your radiated body heat back to you
3. C. It absorbs sunlight and stores it for the night
4. D. It lets sweat escape while blocking all wind
15. When should you ask a landowner for permission to hunt?
1. A. After you have already started hunting
2. B. Well before the hunt, in person if possible
3. C. Only if you plan to shoot something
4. D. Only if the land has signs posted
16. Why should you slow down or open your jacket while climbing a hill in cold weather?
1. A. To let game animals hear you coming
2. B. To cool down your rifle barrel
3. C. To avoid sweating, which later chills you
4. D. To burn off extra energy quickly
17. On a 1:250 000 map, how much ground does 1 cm represent?
1. A. 25 km
2. B. 250 m
3. C. 2.5 km
4. D. 25 m
18. In a deer-family track in soft mud or snow, two small marks show behind the main hoof print. What are they?
1. A. Heel pads
2. B. Dewclaws
3. C. Tail drag marks
4. D. Claw marks
19. Which optical device is prohibited on a B.C. hunting expedition?
1. A. Binoculars
2. B. Infrared optics
3. C. A spotting scope
4. D. A laser rangefinder
20. When shooting a crossbow, where must you keep your fingers and thumb?
1. A. On top of the rail to steady the bolt
2. B. Below the rail, away from the string's path
3. C. Wrapped firmly around the string
4. D. Out in front of the crossbow limbs
21. What does 'extirpated' mean?
1. A. Gone from one area but still living elsewhere
2. B. Extinct everywhere in the whole world
3. C. Recently introduced to a new area
4. D. Overabundant and causing habitat damage
22. Your hunting partner suggests shooting a grouse from the truck window on a logging road. What should you say?
1. A. No: shooting from a vehicle is unsafe and illegal
2. B. Yes, as long as the engine is turned off
3. C. Yes, if the grouse is on the road shoulder
4. D. Yes, because small game rules are looser
23. You are walking single file with a partner directly behind you. Which carry must you avoid?
1. A. Shoulder carry with the muzzle pointing back
2. B. Two-hand carry with the muzzle forward
3. C. Trail carry with the muzzle forward
4. D. Cradle carry toward the open side
24. What are Schedule C species in B.C.'s wildlife rules?
1. A. Species with no closed season or bag limit
2. B. Species at risk that are fully protected
3. C. Big game species that need an LEH
4. D. Species that must be inspected
25. You find stomach contents mixed with blood on the trail after your shot. What is usually best?
1. A. Wait several hours before following the trail quietly
2. B. Run after it at once so you finish before dark
3. C. Give up, because gut-shot animals usually survive
4. D. Drive the area with vehicles to push it into view
26. A non-hunting hiker on a trail asks you, politely, why you hunt. What is the best response?
1. A. Answer respectfully and explain calmly
2. B. Ignore the question and walk away
3. C. Tell them it is none of their business
4. D. Argue until they agree with you
27. Under B.C. rules, when may you hunt on Crown land under a grazing lease?
1. A. Only when snow covers the ground
2. B. With consent, while livestock are present
3. C. Only once the lease has expired
4. D. Any time, since it is Crown land
28. You see another hunter shoot a moose out of season. What is the most responsible action?
1. A. Note the details and report it to the poaching hotline
2. B. Confront the hunter and take the moose away yourself
3. C. Ignore it, because it is not really your business
4. D. Post the hunter's photo on social media right away
29. What is the best way to prevent immersion foot (trench foot) on a multi-day hunt in wet, cold conditions?
1. A. Wear two pairs of cotton socks at all times
2. B. Rub the feet with snow to toughen the skin
3. C. Dry your feet and change into dry socks every day
4. D. Keep wet boots laced tight overnight
30. In B.C., it is an offence to cause or allow a child under 10 years old to hunt.
1. A. True
2. B. False
31. It is 5 °C with light rain. Your cotton jeans and sweatshirt are soaked. What is the risk?
1. A. Frostbite of the fingers and toes only
2. B. Heat exhaustion caused by the rain
3. C. Hypothermia, even though it is above freezing
4. D. No real risk, since it is above zero
32. Along certain B.C. highways listed as '400 Metre Single Projectile' areas, what may still be discharged?
1. A. A rifle
2. B. A shotgun with slugs
3. C. A muzzleloader with a ball
4. D. A shotgun loaded with shot
33. Coyote tracks are usually larger than grey wolf tracks.
1. A. True
2. B. False
34. When may an unplugged shotgun holding more than 2 cartridges be used in B.C.?
1. A. For waterfowl during the late season
2. B. For grouse hunted on private land
3. C. Never, under any circumstances at all
4. D. For big game where allowed, firing slugs only
35. How does a broadhead-tipped arrow kill big game?
1. A. By cutting blood vessels and causing rapid bleeding
2. B. By the shock from the arrow's high energy
3. C. By breaking the large leg and shoulder bones
4. D. By a chemical coating on the arrow shaft
36. During the rut you find a patch of pawed-up bare soil under an overhanging branch, with a strong urine smell. What sign is this?
1. A. A wallow used by moose calves
2. B. A bear's dig
3. C. A buck's scrape
4. D. A deer bed
37. Why do experienced waterfowlers watch the size, wing beat and flock shape of birds long before they reach the decoys?
1. A. The birds can only be legally shot after they land
2. B. Flock shape shows whether the birds are banded
3. C. It helps them count the birds for the daily report
4. D. Birds must be identified in flight before the shot, often in poor light
38. What is the 'beard' on a wild turkey?
1. A. The red skin hanging from the throat
2. B. The spur on the back of the leg
3. C. A tuft of hair-like feathers on the chest
4. D. The fleshy flap over the bill
39. You hear brush crackling and glimpse brown movement 60 m away in thick cover. What should you do?
1. A. Hold fire until you clearly see and identify the whole animal
2. B. Fire quickly before the animal escapes
3. C. Fire a shot near it to make it move into view
4. D. Shoot at the sound because deer are common there
40. What licence does a person need to be paid for driving hunters to and from hunting spots in B.C.?
1. A. No licence is needed at all
2. B. Only a basic hunting licence
3. C. A transport or guide licence
4. D. Only a valid driver's licence
41. Under section 2(4) of B.C.'s Wildlife Act, who owns a deer killed by accident on the highway?
1. A. The government
2. B. The driver who hit it
3. C. The owner of the nearest land
4. D. The first person to claim it
42. What is the best way to remove a tick found attached to your skin?
1. A. Burn it with a hot match until it falls off
2. B. Cover it with nail polish and wait an hour
3. C. Twist it quickly while squeezing its body hard
4. D. Grip it near the skin with tweezers and pull straight out
43. For which species may electronic calls be used in B.C.?
1. A. Elk and moose during the rut
2. B. Ducks and geese in the fall
3. C. Wolf, coyote, cougar, lynx and bobcat
4. D. Wild turkeys in the spring
44. Why are beavers often called a keystone species?
1. A. They are the most numerous mammal in Canada
2. B. Their dams create wetlands used by many other species
3. C. Their numbers never change from year to year
4. D. They are the main prey of wolves everywhere
45. B.C. duck and goose hunters follow federal hours. When is migratory bird hunting prohibited?
1. A. From half an hour after sunset to half an hour before sunrise
2. B. From one hour after sunset to one hour before sunrise
3. C. From sunset until sunrise the next morning
4. D. From noon until sunset on the same day
46. What is a typical ethical maximum range for most bowhunters on big game?
1. A. Out to about 150 metres or so
2. B. Out to about 300 metres or so
3. C. Any range the arrow can reach
4. D. Close range, often within about 30 metres
47. A duck you shot falls into the marsh and starts swimming away. What should you do?
1. A. Count it as a miss and continue hunting as before
2. B. Retrieve it at once and dispatch it quickly
3. C. Let it go, since it may well recover on its own
4. D. Keep shooting at other birds and look for it later
48. After a hunt under a B.C. Permit to Accompany, what must the permit holder do?
1. A. Nothing, if nothing was harvested
2. B. Report in 10 days, pay royalty in 30
3. C. Mail the non-resident's licence away
4. D. Report only if a sheep was taken
49. What does B.C. require of a compound crossbow used for hunting?
1. A. At least 20 kg (44 lb) of pull
2. B. A bolt at least 1 m in length
3. C. A scope sight of at least 4 power
4. D. At least 45 kg (100 lb) pull or a 16.2 g bolt
50. What should hunters do when they find a cabin in the B.C. backcountry?
1. A. Use it freely as an overnight shelter
2. B. Take any useful tools left inside
3. C. Leave it alone, as it belongs to someone
4. D. Burn it down if it looks abandoned

Answer key

1. A — It is a one-time annual licence for a B.C. resident 18 or older who has never held a B.C. hunting licence (except youth or junior). The holder must be supervised by a qualified hunter.
2. A — If a hunter safety training document is in a language other than English or French, the hunter must submit the original document along with a notarized translated version.
3. D — Unleashed dogs may be used to hunt small game, lynx, bobcat, black bear or cougar. Dogs must be leashed for deer, elk, moose, sheep, goat and caribou.
4. C — For big game, arrows and bolts must carry a broadhead at least 2.2 cm (7/8 in) wide at the widest point.
5. C — Shivering is the body's early attempt to create heat. As hypothermia worsens, people begin to stumble, mumble, fumble and grumble, and shivering may stop.
6. D — A hot spot is the first stage of a blister. Covering it early with tape or moleskin and fixing wrinkled socks or loose laces prevents a blister that could slow you down far from camp.
7. C — Signals in threes, like three whistle blasts, carry far and use little energy. A light shows your position at night. Stay put so searchers can reach you.
8. C — Muskrats build small lodges of cattails and other plants, and in winter they push vegetation up through holes in the ice to make feeding shelters called push-ups.
9. A — The synopsis reminds hunters that there is no open season on grizzly bears, nor on the white (Kermode) or blue (Glacier) colour phases of black bears. Positive identification is essential.
10. B — Southern Mountain and Boreal caribou populations are listed as Threatened under the federal Species at Risk Act. Northern Mountain caribou are listed as Special Concern and some herds support licensed hunting.
11. B — Anyone possessing or transporting a game bird other than a migratory game bird must leave one feathered wing attached, and for turkey also the beard during a bearded-turkey season. Migratory birds need a feathered wing or the feathered head.
12. A — The lynx's short tail is tipped black all around; the bobcat's is black only on top with white below. Lynx also have longer ear tufts and much larger feet for snow.
13. A — You need a hunting licence to hunt feral pigs unless hunting them on your own property or they are damaging your property. Possessing or transporting a live feral pig is an offence except for recapture by the owner, and kills must be reported.
14. B — A metallized emergency blanket reflects radiant body heat and blocks wind, which slows heat loss. It is light and cheap, so it belongs in every hunter's personal survival kit.
15. B — Ask in advance, ideally in person, and explain when, where and what you plan to hunt. Posted signs are not always required for land to be off limits.
16. C — Sweat soaks your clothing, and once you stop moving it draws heat from your body. Regulating effort and venting prevents that chill.
17. C — At a scale of 1:250 000, 1 cm on the map equals 250 000 cm on the ground, which is 2.5 km. Smaller-scale maps like this show large areas with less detail than 1:50 000 maps.
18. B — Deer, moose, elk and caribou have two dewclaws above and behind the main hooves. They often print in soft ground, deep snow or when the animal is running or heavy.
19. B — It is unlawful to use or possess infrared optics on a hunting expedition. Standard optics such as binoculars and spotting scopes are allowed.
20. B — A crossbow string travels with great force along the rail. Fingers or thumbs above the rail can be severely injured, so keep them below it.
21. A — An extirpated species has disappeared from a particular region but survives elsewhere. Extinct means it no longer exists anywhere.
22. A — Discharging a firearm from a vehicle is prohibited in Ontario, Alberta and B.C., and roadside shooting also breaks road rules. Get out, move away from the road, and only then load and shoot safely.
23. A — In a shoulder carry the muzzle points up and back, so it would cover a person walking behind you. Choose a carry that keeps the muzzle away from your companions.
24. A — Schedule C species (such as European starling, house sparrow, rock dove and some invasive animals) have no closed seasons or bag limits. Other hunting rules still apply.
25. A — A gut-shot animal often lies down if not pushed and dies there, but it can travel far if chased. Waiting several hours, then tracking carefully, gives the best chance of recovery.
26. A — Courteous, honest answers help non-hunters understand hunting. Every hunter's behaviour affects public opinion.
27. B — It is unlawful to hunt on cultivated land or on Crown land under a grazing lease while occupied by livestock without the consent of the owner, lessee or occupant.
28. A — Poaching steals from all hunters and harms wildlife. Record what you saw (time, place, vehicle, description) and report it to the provincial poaching hotline; do not confront the person.
29. C — Immersion foot develops when feet stay cold and wet for many hours, even above freezing. Drying the feet, changing to dry wool or synthetic socks and letting boots dry out protect the skin and circulation.
30. A — No one under 10 may hunt in B.C. A person who causes or allows a child under 10 to hunt commits an offence.
31. C — Wet cotton loses insulation, and rain plus wind can chill you into hypothermia above freezing. Change into wool or synthetic layers and get out of the weather.
32. D — In these areas, discharging a firearm using a single projectile is prohibited within 400 m of the road allowance, but discharging a shotgun using shot only is permitted.
33. B — Adult wolf tracks are much larger, often 10 to 13 cm long, while coyote tracks are usually about 6 to 7 cm. Track size, stride and group size all help tell them apart.
34. D — Where a shotgun may be used for big game, an unplugged shotgun holding more than 2 cartridges may be used if it fires single projectiles (slugs) only.
35. A — Arrows carry far less energy than bullets. Sharp broadheads kill by cutting tissue and causing heavy blood loss, which is why they must be razor sharp.
36. C — A scrape is made by a rutting buck that paws the ground bare, urinates on it and marks the overhanging 'licking branch' with scent. Scrapes show that bucks are active in the area.
37. D — Many ducks are shot in flight, often at dawn or dusk, so hunters learn silhouettes, wing beats, flock patterns and calls to identify species before deciding to shoot. This prevents taking protected birds or restricted species.
38. C — A beard is a tuft of coarse, hair-like feathers growing from the chest. Most gobblers and some hens have beards; spring seasons in Ontario and B.C. generally allow bearded turkeys only.
39. A — Never shoot at sound, colour or movement. Many hunting casualties happen when a hunter mistakes a person for game. Wait until the whole animal is plainly identified with a safe backstop.
40. C — Under the Commercial Activities Regulation, a transporter is paid to move hunters so they can hunt. A person must not act as a transporter without a transport licence or a guide outfitter licence. Scheduled flights and simple charters are excluded.
41. A — Section 2(4) says that wildlife killed by accident or to protect life or property remains the property of the government, even though a lawful hunter normally acquires property in wildlife they kill.
42. D — Pulling steadily with fine tweezers near the skin removes the whole tick. Burning, smothering or squeezing can make it release more fluid. Watch for rash or fever afterwards.
43. C — Recorded or electronic calls are prohibited except for wolf, coyote, cougar, lynx, bobcat or birds listed in Schedule C.
44. B — A keystone species has an effect on its ecosystem far larger than its numbers suggest. Beaver dams flood land and create ponds and meadows used by waterfowl, moose, fish, amphibians and many other species.
45. A — Migratory game bird hunting is prohibited from half an hour after sunset to half an hour before sunrise, following federal rules.
46. D — Arrows slow down and drop quickly, and animals can move before the arrow arrives. Most bowhunters limit shots to short ranges they have practised, often 30 m or less.
47. B — Hunters must make every reasonable effort to retrieve downed birds immediately and dispatch cripples quickly. A trained retrieving dog or a boat helps. Wounded birds count toward the bag when retrieved.
48. B — The permit holder must complete a permit to accompany report within 10 days after the hunt, whether or not it took place, and pay royalty fees within 30 days if there was a harvest.
49. D — Bow C (compound crossbow) must have a peak pull of at least 45 kg (100 lb) or a bolt of at least 16.2 g (250 grains), and a 2.2 cm broadhead for big game.
50. C — Backcountry cabins often belong to trappers or guides running legitimate businesses. They are private and must not be entered, damaged or disturbed.

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