BC CORE Exam Practice Test 2026: Practice test 5

Practice test 5 of 5 for the BC CORE Exam Practice Test: 25 more questions with answers and explanations.

Hunting
British Columbia
120 questions
Checked October 10, 2026

Question 1 of 25
In the firearm safety rules taught in Canada (ACTS), what does the "A" stand for?
- Aim only at legal game
- Assume every firearm is loaded
- Always carry your hunting licence
- Avoid shooting near roads
Show answer
Answer: B. Assume every firearm is loaded
The first ACTS rule is to assume every firearm is loaded, even when someone tells you it is empty.
Question 2 of 25
When should your finger move onto the trigger?
- Whenever you see or hear movement in the bush
- As soon as the firearm is loaded, so you are always ready for a quick shot
- Only when you have identified your target and are ready to shoot
- As soon as you leave the vehicle and start walking
Show answer
Answer: C. Only when you have identified your target and are ready to shoot
Resting your finger on the trigger while walking or waiting can cause an accidental shot.
Question 3 of 25
What are the four basic parts of wildlife habitat?
- Food, roads, fences and towns
- Trees, rocks, sun and snow
- Food, water, shelter (cover) and space
- Water, hunters, predators, weather and roads
Show answer
Answer: C. Food, water, shelter (cover) and space
Animals need food, water, shelter and enough space, arranged so they can reach them.
Question 4 of 25
You come to a wire fence while hunting alone. What do you do first, as shown in the diagram?
- Push the loaded firearm through the wires
- Unload the firearm and open the action
- Lean the loaded firearm against a fence post
- Climb over while holding the firearm
Show answer
Answer: B. Unload the firearm and open the action
Always unload before crossing a fence, log, ditch or other obstacle where you could slip.
Question 5 of 25
How do mule deer antlers usually differ from white-tailed deer antlers?
- They fork into two branches, which can fork again
- They are broad and flat, like a shovel
- All their points grow straight up from one main beam on each side
- They never grow more than two points
Show answer
Answer: A. They fork into two branches, which can fork again
White-tailed deer points grow up from one main beam. Mule deer antlers branch into forks.
Question 6 of 25
Where does blaze orange do the most good?
- On a backpack, so it can be taken off
- On the back only, since other hunters usually walk behind you in the woods
- On the boots and lower legs only
- On the head and upper body, visible from all sides
Show answer
Answer: D. On the head and upper body, visible from all sides
Rules such as Ontario's require orange above the waist, visible from all sides, plus an orange head cover.
Question 7 of 25
Two hunters reach a fence. What is a safe way for them to cross?
- One person climbs over while the other covers them with a loaded firearm
- Unload both firearms; one person holds both while the other crosses, then hands them over
- Each person climbs over carefully while holding their own loaded firearm with the safety on
- Both lean their loaded firearms on the fence and climb over together
Show answer
Answer: B. Unload both firearms; one person holds both while the other crosses, then hands them over
With both firearms unloaded and actions open, one hunter can safely hand them across to the other.
Question 8 of 25
What is the safe rule about alcohol, cannabis and other drugs while hunting?
- Do not use them before or while handling firearms or hunting
- A small amount is fine if you are an experienced hunter who knows your limits
- They are fine once you are settled in the tree stand
- They are fine as long as you only hunt with a bow
Show answer
Answer: A. Do not use them before or while handling firearms or hunting
Alcohol and drugs slow your reactions and affect your judgment, which leads to accidents.
Question 9 of 25
If you realize you are lost, what does "STOP" remind you to do?
- Start, Turn, Open, Proceed
- Search, Travel, Orient, Push on
- Shout, Turn, Off-trail, Panic
- Stop, Think, Observe, Plan
Show answer
Answer: D. Stop, Think, Observe, Plan
Staying calm and thinking clearly is the first step to surviving when lost.
Question 10 of 25
Which federal course must you pass before applying for a Possession and Acquisition Licence (PAL)?
- A provincial boating safety course
- A provincial bowhunter education course and exam
- The Canadian Firearms Safety Course (CFSC)
- A standard first aid and CPR course
Show answer
Answer: C. The Canadian Firearms Safety Course (CFSC)
The CFSC student report form is the proof of completion needed before you can get a PAL.
Question 11 of 25
What should you do with your firearm before you climb a steep bank, cross a creek on a log, or get into a boat?
- Hold it with your finger on the trigger for balance
- Put the safety on and keep it loaded
- Unload it
- Carry it by the barrel
Show answer
Answer: C. Unload it
Unload any time you could slip or fall, because a fall can make a loaded firearm fire.
Question 12 of 25
How should you help someone with mild hypothermia?
- Get them out of the wind and wet and put dry layers on them
- Make them walk fast in the cold to warm up
- Give them a drink of alcohol to warm them up
- Rub their arms and legs hard to get blood moving
Show answer
Answer: A. Get them out of the wind and wet and put dry layers on them
Warm the person gently from the core. Never give alcohol, and get medical help if signs are severe.
Question 13 of 25
What does the evidence say about most hunting incidents?
- They involve breaking one or more basic firearm safety rules
- They are mostly caused by attacks from wild animals
- They only happen to people in their first year of hunting
- They are mostly caused by broken or faulty firearms that fire on their own without warning
Show answer
Answer: A. They involve breaking one or more basic firearm safety rules
Almost all hunting incidents involve a broken safety rule, such as poor muzzle control or not identifying the target.
Question 14 of 25
A hunter measures success mainly by getting the full bag limit. Which stage is this?
- Limiting-out stage
- Sportsman stage
- Method stage
- Trophy stage
Show answer
Answer: A. Limiting-out stage
In the limiting-out stage, success means reaching the limit. Most hunters move past this stage over time.
Question 15 of 25
Which of these is a limiting factor for a wildlife population?
- A bright full moon in the fall
- A new design for hunting licences
- A new road sign near the forest
- A severe winter that reduces food
Show answer
Answer: D. A severe winter that reduces food
Limiting factors such as disease, predators, harsh weather and lack of food keep populations from growing.
Question 16 of 25
Before you shoot, what must you be sure of?
- Only that the wind is calm enough for an accurate shot
- Your target, and what is in front of it and beyond it
- Only that the animal is a legal species for your licence
- Only that your hunting partner is standing beside you
Show answer
Answer: B. Your target, and what is in front of it and beyond it
You are responsible for where the bullet or shot goes, including if it misses or passes through the animal.
Question 17 of 25
You slip and the muzzle of your firearm goes into mud. What should you do before you shoot again?
- Fire a shot to blow the mud out
- Tap the barrel on a tree
- Wipe the outside of the barrel and carry on
- Unload it and check that the bore is clear
Show answer
Answer: D. Unload it and check that the bore is clear
Mud, snow or other debris in the barrel can make it burst. Always unload and examine the bore.
Question 18 of 25
Under the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation, who does wildlife belong to?
- Only people who hold a hunting licence
- The person who owns the land where the animal happens to live
- Whoever kills the animal first
- It is held in trust for all people by governments
Show answer
Answer: D. It is held in trust for all people by governments
Wildlife is a public resource, managed by governments for everyone.
Question 19 of 25
When should a bowhunter nock an arrow?
- As soon as you leave the vehicle in the morning
- While walking through thick brush toward your spot
- Only when ready to shoot at a target that has been identified
- While climbing into the tree stand, to save time
Show answer
Answer: C. Only when ready to shoot at a target that has been identified
A nocked arrow can be released by accident, so nock only when you are about to shoot.
Question 20 of 25
When should you validate and attach a big game tag?
- Only if a conservation officer asks for it
- When you get home and unload the animal
- Right after the kill, as your regulations require
- When you drop the meat off at the butcher shop
Show answer
Answer: C. Right after the kill, as your regulations require
Tag rules are strict. Follow your province's regulations on when and how to attach the tag.
Question 21 of 25
A hunter feels the most satisfaction from the whole outdoor experience, sharing it and teaching new hunters. Which stage of hunter development is this?
- Shooter stage
- Limiting-out stage
- Sportsman stage
- Trophy stage
Show answer
Answer: C. Sportsman stage
Hunter education describes five stages: shooter, limiting-out, trophy, method and sportsman. The sportsman stage values the full experience.
Question 22 of 25
In the elbow carry shown, the break-action gun is open over the forearm. Why is this a good choice near other people?
- It is the only carry allowed by law near others
- It keeps the barrel warm in cold weather
- Everyone can see the gun is open and cannot fire
- It is the fastest way to raise the gun and shoot
Show answer
Answer: C. Everyone can see the gun is open and cannot fire
An open break-action gun carried over the arm clearly shows it cannot fire, and the muzzle points at the ground.
Question 23 of 25
In the ACTS safety rules, what does the "S" stand for?
- Sight in the scope again every morning
- See that the firearm is unloaded: PROVE it safe
- Shoot only at targets that are standing still
- Store your ammunition in a jacket pocket
Show answer
Answer: B. See that the firearm is unloaded: PROVE it safe
The last ACTS rule tells you to check for yourself that the firearm is unloaded, using the PROVE steps.
Question 24 of 25
What is a "safe direction" to point a firearm?
- Toward the nearest tree, since trees stop bullets
- Always at the ground near your feet, in every situation
- A direction where an accidental shot could not hurt anyone or damage property
- Always straight up in the air, since bullets fired upward cannot hurt anyone below
Show answer
Answer: C. A direction where an accidental shot could not hurt anyone or damage property
The safe direction depends on where people, buildings and hard surfaces are. Straight up or straight down is not always safe.
Question 25 of 25
How should arrows with broadheads be carried?
- In your jacket pocket with the tips up
- In a quiver that covers the broadheads
- Tucked under your belt at your side
- Loose in your hand, ready to nock
Show answer
Answer: B. In a quiver that covers the broadheads
Broadheads are razor sharp. A covered quiver protects you if you trip or fall.

Related tests