Apply for a Permit Hunt Authorization

Eligibility

You can apply for the Permit Hunt Authorization (PHA) lottery if you:

• are a Yukon resident;
• have a valid Yukon big game hunting licence; and
• are at least 12 years of age.
  • Note: only hunters 14-15 years old can apply for the 2 deer PHAs for young hunters. Youth age 12-13 may apply for weighting purposes.

When to apply

Applications for the 2020-2021 season will open on April 23, 2020. The deadline for applications is May 21, 2020 at 4 p.m.

We do not accept PHA applications after the deadline – no exceptions.

Applying online

You need a Department of Environment eServices account to apply for the PHA lottery online.

 

Get an eServices account

 

You will need your Environment client ID, birth date and phone number to log in to your profile.

Verify your profile

Applicants can review their history and number of years' applied online by logging into their client profile. You will need to verify your previous applications before you can apply.

Where to apply for the PHA lottery

You must submit an application and fee for each species and area you're interested in.

Online

To apply online you need:

• a valid Yukon resident hunting licence;
• a credit card to pay the non-refundable application fee of $10 plus GST, or $20 plus GST if you're applying jointly with another hunter; and
• an email address for confirmation of your application request.

 

Apply for a PHA online

 

In person

To apply in person at any Department of Environment office you need:

• a valid Yukon resident hunting licence; and
• cash, cheque or credit card to pay the non-refundable application fee of $10 plus GST or $20 plus GST if you're applying jointly with another hunter.

Apply for weighting purposes only

If you don’t want a permit this year but want to increase your chance of success in future draws, you should use the option to apply for weighting only.

Your number of years' applied will stay the same if you choose not to apply.

Joint applications

• You can apply with another person for all species except moose and Kluane sheep.
• Applications must indicate a “primary applicant” and a “joint applicant.”
• Joint permit hunt authorization applications will now enter into the draw as the average of years applied for the two applicants.
• When the joint permit is issued, both individuals' number of years applied will start over for the next application for that species.
• If only one permit remains, both the primary applicant and joint applicant will be treated as unsuccessful and will receive an increase to the number of years applied in their application history.
• When the primary applicant returns their permit, the joint applicant’s permit must be returned and will be considered invalid.

Lottery results

Successful applicants for the 2020-21 season will be notified in June 2020 by email. A list of final permit holders will be posted online in August 2020.

We remind successful applicants that they must hold a seal for that species prior to hunting.

Returning permits

Successful applicants can now return their permit online through their Department of Environment eServices account.

Accepted returns will result in the applicant’s number of years applied remaining the same, not increasing. We do not refund application fees for returned permits.

Results

2020

The draw for the 2020-2021 Permit Hunt Authorization lottery has not yet taken place. Draw results will be posted here.

2019

View last year's lottery results for each species.

Results were posted on July 30, 2019.

Statistics

View 2019 statistics for each species including distribution of permits by years applied and the number of applications for each hunt code.

• Caribou
• Deer
• Elk
• Goat
• Moose
• Sheep

 

Permit hunts help responsibly manage overall species populations and improve hunt quality. In some areas of Yukon, you need a permit to hunt moose, caribou, sheep, goat, deer or elk. A unique permit lottery is held for each species.

The number of permits are limited and you must first submit an application and be successful in the weighted lottery to hunt for one of these species in these areas.

To distribute permits fairly, the Government of Yukon uses a weighted, computerized lottery system that randomly selects applicants. Lottery draws are based on species and areas.

First Nations permission

Some permit areas include First Nations Settlement Lands. Written permission from the First Nation is required prior to hunting any big or small game species on Category A Settlement Lands. Larger blocks of Category A Settlement Land boundaries are identified on the Overview map of Game Management Subzones and special area restrictions included with the Yukon hunting regulations summary.

Smaller blocks, and all other First Nations Settlement Lands, are marked on detailed maps which can be viewed at the local First Nation's office or viewed and ordered online.

Number of permits by species

Elk- 6

See the elk permit hunt areas map.

Goat - 3

See the goat permit hunt areas map.

Moose - 44

See the moose permit hunt areas map.

Sheep - 116

Richardson Mountains - 2

Note the Mount Dennis sheep hunting exclusion in this area.

Southern Yukon - 113

See the sheep permit hunt areas map.

Kluane - 1

See the sheep permit hunt areas map.

Caribou - 44*

Permits for Finlayson caribou will not be issued for the 2019-2020 season.

See the caribou permit hunt areas map.

Deer* - 12

No map available. All eligible hunters may apply for hunt code DE601. Youth aged 14-15 may also apply for hunt code DE602. Two of the 12 deer permits are reserved for youth hunters who are 14 or 15 years of age at the time of application.

The number of applicants for Permit Hunt Authorizations (PHAs) has been increasing each year.

To fairly distribute PHAs, the Government of Yukon uses a weighted, computerized lottery system that randomly selects applicants. The Yukon Bureau of Statistics conducts the draw.

How the weighting system works

When you enter the draw for the first time, your name is entered into the draw once.

For each year that you enter the draw and are unsuccessful, your chances increase. Specifically, your name is entered the number of years you have been unsuccessful in that draw, multiplied by itself seven times.

If you apply for a permit for the fifth time, not having been successfully drawn on four earlier occasions, your name is entered into the draw 5x5x5x5x5x5x5=78,125 times.

Your weighting will increase until you are successful in a draw and accept the permit.

Once that happens, the next time you apply your weighting will reset to one.

Many applicants may have the same weighting as you and there are no guarantees for being drawn. Success depends on:

• number of permits available;
• number of applicants;
• number of times you’ve applied; and
• random selection.

How to get a hunting licence and seals

Yukon hunting licences are available online or at any Environment office. New hunters need to apply in person at any Environment office.

Seals are available for purchase at any Environment office or registered vendors. To purchase paper seals from these vendors, you will be required to have a print out of your electronic licence with you.

Applying for different species

Each species is a different draw. Your success in one species will not affect your weighting for a different species.

For example: you apply for moose and sheep. You are successful for moose, but not sheep. Next year you apply for moose and sheep again. Your weighting for moose will be reset to one, but your weighting for sheep will increase.

What happens if you miss a year

Your weighting does not change. You do not have to apply each year to have your name remain weighted.

What if you can't hunt this year

Please make an effort to plan ahead and apply for the PHA based on your interest and ability to accept a permit. Accepted returns will result in applicants’ weighting remaining the same, not increasing.

If you can't accept a permit this year, take advantage of the option to apply for weighting only. By selecting "weighting only" on the application, you will increase your chance of success in future draws.

If you are drawn for a permit but miss the return deadline or do not hunt in the PHA area you will still be considered successful in the draw. The weighting of your name is reset to one for the next time you apply.

You must complete the harvest reporting requirements for the species you hunt. 

See harvest reporting information

For most species, Permit Hunt Authorization holders are required to report their kill no later than 15 days after the end of the month in which the animal was taken.

Bison, elk and deer permits have specific reporting requirements. Season closures may differ between permit areas. Read and follow the instructions that come with your permit.