See up-to-date hunting rules and regulations

Sheep

• Game Management Subzone 5-17 (the Donjek Sheep Management Unit) closed to sheep hunting. See a map of the area.
  • This area is closed to licensed hunting effective August 1, 2024, to October 31, 2026
  • Harvesting sheep in this area is prohibited during the time of the closure.
  • This decision supports conservation and population recovery. A 2023 survey showed a 63 per cent decline in sheep since 2015 in this area.
  • The decision also follows consultation with wildlife co-managers, which include:
    • Kluane First Nation
    • White River First Nation
    • Champagne and Aishihik First Nations
    • Dän Keyi Renewable Resources Council
    • Alsek Renewable Resources Council
    • The Yukon Fish and Wildlife Management Board
    • Parks Canada
  • Feedback that contributed to decision making was also welcomed from:
    • The Yukon Fish and Game Association
    • The Yukon Wild Sheep Foundation
    • The Yukon Outfitters Association
    • The Yukon Conservation Society
  • The Game Management Subzone 5-17 (the Donjek Sheep Management Unit) closure is a short-term measure where sheep population declines are most concerning.
  • Wildlife co-managers have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to work together on long-term management plans for sheep in southwest Yukon where 2022 and 2023 surveys have shown declines.
  • View the Info Sheet for this hunting change.
• Kluane Wildlife Sanctuary sheep permit
  • This permit is offered at the discretion of the Kluane First Nation and territorial Minister of Environment.
  • Due to conservation concerns with sheep populations, in 2023 the Kluane First Nation cancelled their auction of the Kluane Wildlife Sanctuary sheep permit for the 2023-24 and 2024-25 hunting seasons.
  • In the spirit of co-management and to support sheep population recovery by reducing hunting pressure, the Government of Yukon did not issue its 2023-2024 Permit Hunt Authorization lottery for the Kluane Wildlife Sanctuary.
  • Due to continuing conservation concerns the Kluane Sheep Wildlife Sanctuary sheep permit will not be offered for the 2024-2025 season.
  • We are continuing to monitor the sheep populations the area and will continue to work with Kluane First Nations to re-establish this one-of-a-kind opportunity.

Snowmobile use along the Dempster Highway

The Dempster Highway corridor extends to 8 kilometres either side of the centre line of the highway, from kilometre 68 to the Yukon-NWT border.

The Dempster Highway is closed for snowmobile use as of April 30, 2024. 

If weather conditions change, snowmobile closures may come also into effect when this area is open to protect the tundra from damage.

We remind hunters on snowmobiles:

• Not to harass or chase any animals while on their snowmobile. 
• Operate your machine responsibly.
• Use common sense and do not travel across a landscape that might not be properly protected by snow cover. 

Other types of off-road vehicles such as ATVs are not permitted within the Dempster Highway corridor.

Attention Dempster Highway caribou hunters

Hart River caribou herd

Caribou south of kilometre 140 on the Dempster Highway (near Windy Pass) are from the Hart River caribou herd. These are not Porcupine caribou. Hart River caribou are a much smaller herd (approximately 2,700 in number) and are vulnerable to over-hunting.

Harvest rights granted to Inuvialuit and Gwich’in beneficiaries under the Porcupine Caribou Management Agreement do not extend south of kilometre 140 at this time.

Remember that caribou hunting in the 5Game Management Subzones 2-16, 2-23, 2-27, 2-28 and 2-39 is closed to licensed hunting effective November 1. This includes the Dempster Highway from kilometre 77 (North Fork Pass) to kilometre 195 (Ogilvie River bridge).

The Government of Yukon monitors the Porcupine caribou herd’s movements, and if large numbers move south of kilometre 140 we may open this area to harvest. We continue to monitor caribou movement to the northwest of Windy Pass using satellite collars and fixed-wing aircraft to help ensure the most up to date knowledge of herd movements is available. If Porcupine caribou enter these subzones in sufficient numbers before January 31 each year, we'll make an announcement opening these subzones.

Hunters can monitor the movements of Porcupine caribou by checking PCMB.ca.

For more information about harvesting caribou along the Dempster Highway in the Yukon, contact the Department of Environment office in Dawson City at 867-993-5492.

Help conserve the Hart River caribou herd.

Hunting the Porcupine caribou herd

• Licensed hunters can only hunt Porcupine caribou north of kilometre 195.
• Subsistence hunters can hunt Porcupine caribou north of kilometre 140.

Game Management Subzones

The Government of Yukon uses Game Management Subzones (GMS) to manage Yukon wildlife species. These are areas within which authorities can make specific regulations for managing big game.

There are 443 Game Management Subzones in the Yukon, grouped into 11 Game Management Zones. Most zone boundaries follow highway-centre lines, while Game Management Subzones boundaries follow creeks and rivers. Except for national parks, Game Management Subzones cover all of the Yukon.

Each Game Management Subzone has different:

• open species;
• bag limits;
• season dates; and
• special area restrictions.

Check the Yukon hunting regulations summary for details.

Maps for hunting

Download a map of Yukon Game Management Zones and Subzones, as well as special area restrictions.

You can purchase printed administrative boundary maps showing Game Management Subzones, First Nation Category A and B Settlement Lands, conservation officer districts and other areas from the Department of Environment’s offices in Dawson City and Haines Junction and in Whitehorse at 10 Burns Road for $10 plus GST.

Hunting near roadways

• You must be off the road or highway completely before you can fire a shot. This includes the shoulder.
• You must shoot away from the road, not across or along it.

Hunting on First Nations Settlement Lands

Licensed hunters must:

• comply with the general Yukon hunting laws and any laws the First Nation has enacted regarding hunting on Settlement Lands;
• obtain written permission from the First Nation before hunting any big game or small game species on all Category A Settlement Land;
• obtain written permission from the First Nation before hunting bison and elk on Category A and B Settlement Lands;
• not damage the land or structures;
• not commit acts of mischief; and
• not interfere with the use and enjoyment of the land by the First Nation.

The map included with the Yukon hunting regulations summary only shows the larger blocks of Category A Settlement Land. Smaller blocks of Category A Settlement Lands, and all other First Nation Settlement Land, are marked on detailed maps. You can view these at:

• the local First Nation’s office; 
• at Department of Environment offices; or
• download them online.

For more information about rights and responsibilities when hunting on First Nations lands:

• See the Yukon hunting regulations summary; or
• contact the First Nation government directly.