What CORE is and who needs it
CORE is B.C.'s official hunter safety training. The BC Wildlife Federation (BCWF) runs the program, keeps graduate records and makes the exams available through certified examiners. The BCWF says CORE is required for B.C. residents aged 10 or older who want hunting credentials. Non-residents can also take CORE.
Ways to prepare
- Take an in-person course with a certified CORE examiner.
- Take the BCWF online CORE course, then book your exams with an examiner.
- Self-study the CORE manual and the Hunting and Trapping Regulations Synopsis, then book an exam challenge.
The two CORE exams
| Exam | Format | To pass |
|---|---|---|
| Written | 90 multiple-choice questions based on the CORE manual and the Synopsis | At least 68 points |
| Practical firearm handling | Safely handle two of the five firearm action types: identify them, then load and unload dummy ammunition | At least 23 out of 30 |
If you have a completed Canadian Firearms Safety Course report form, you do not need to take the practical exam. A PAL card is not accepted for this exemption.
Subjects on the written exam
- Conservation
- Ethics
- Law and regulations
- First aid and survival
- Firearm safety
- Animal identification
- Bird identification
- Indigenous Peoples and Hunting in B.C.
Preparing for the firearm handling exam
Examiners look for safe habits every second you hold the firearm. Keep the muzzle pointed in a safe direction, keep your finger off the trigger and outside the trigger guard, and open the action to show it is unloaded. Learn to tell the five common action types apart: bolt, lever, pump, semi-automatic and break (hinge) action.
Each safe carry keeps the muzzle pointed away from people.
- Two-hand (ready) carry: muzzle up and ahead, best control.
- Elbow carry: break-action gun open over the forearm, muzzle down at the ground ahead.
- Shoulder carry: muzzle up and behind; do not use it when someone is behind you.
- Sling carry: gun on the back, muzzle up.
- Trail carry: gun in one hand at your side, muzzle ahead and down; do not use it when someone is in front of you.
After you pass: your hunting credential
- Your examiner gives you a document of completion.
- Send it to the BCWF with the administration fee to get your graduation certificate.
- Request a free Fish and Wildlife ID (FWID).
- Apply for your hunting credential online in WILD, or in person at FrontCounter BC, Service BC or a vendor.
Online applications can take up to 3 business days to review. In-person applications are active right away if approved. Your credential decides which licences, applications and services you qualify for.
| Status | What B.C. requires |
|---|---|
| Resident (Canadian citizen or permanent resident) | Lived in B.C. for at least 6 of the last 12 months |
| Resident (others) | Lived in B.C. for at least the past 12 months |
| Resident credential | Expires every 3 years |
Field safety: fences, carries and zones of fire
Many firearm safety questions describe real situations in the field. Before you cross a fence, log or creek, unload the firearm and open the action. If you are alone, lay the firearm on the far side with the muzzle pointing away, then cross at a spot away from the muzzle. If you are with a partner, one person holds both unloaded firearms while the other crosses.
Crossing a fence alone, step by step.
- Unload the firearm and open the action.
- Slide the unloaded firearm under the fence so it lies on the far side, muzzle pointing away.
- Climb over the fence at a spot well away from the muzzle.
- From the far side, pick the firearm up by the stock with the muzzle still pointing away.
In a group, each hunter shoots only into their own zone of fire. Pick a carry that keeps your muzzle away from your partners: do not use the shoulder carry when someone is behind you, or the trail carry when someone is in front of you. Never shoot at a sound, a movement or a patch of colour.
B.C. hunting often means steep, remote country. Carry a map, compass, fire starter, whistle and emergency blanket. If you get lost, stop, think, observe and plan before you move.
Study tips for CORE
CORE covers much more than firearms. Identification questions use both animals and birds, so learn the key features of B.C. big game, such as how to tell a grizzly from a black bear by the shoulder hump and face profile rather than colour. Ethics and conservation questions test why rules exist, not only what they say.
First aid and survival are on the exam too. Know the signs of hypothermia, how to stop serious bleeding, and why you should leave a trip plan with someone before every hunt.