Government of Yukon shares updates for the 2026–27 hunting and fishing licensing year

Press Release

April 7, 2026

The 2026–27 hunting and fish licensing year began on April 1. All hunting and fishing licences are valid from April 1 to March 31 and must be renewed annually.

Hunting licences are now available. A valid 2026–27 hunting licence is required to apply for hunting lotteries, including:

• Special Guide Licence (SGL) lottery: Open April 1 to 23, at 4 pm.
• Permit Hunt Authorization (PHA) lottery: Open April 16 to May 14, at 4 pm.

The Kluane Sheep permit will be offered this season. To apply, applicants must be Yukon residents, at least 14 years of age and hold a valid big game hunting licence. Successful hunters are only eligible for this permit once in their lifetime; those who are drawn but do not harvest a sheep may apply again.

Fishing licences for the 2026–27 season are also available. Anyone planning to fish as of April 1 must hold a valid 2026–27 fishing licence. Licences can be purchased online, at a Department of Environment office or through an approved vendor.

Before heading out, hunters and anglers must review current regulations and make sure they hold required licences and permits. Following the rules helps protect wildlife populations for the future.

The 2026–27 hunting and fishing season offers exciting opportunities for outdoor enthusiasts, and I look forward to it. The return of the Kluane sheep permit demonstrates our government’s commitment to careful wildlife management, strong partnerships with First Nations and to reviewing past hunting restrictions and offering new hunting opportunities in future seasons. I encourage all hunters and anglers to plan ahead, get their licences and follow the rules to help keep our wildlife populations healthy.

Minister of Environment Wade Istchenko

Quick facts

• Regulations vary across the Yukon. Hunters and anglers must review the rules for their specific area before planning their activities.
• Yukon residents applying for a resident hunting licence for the first time, or if they have not held a licence in the previous year, are advised that the licence application process has changed. Effective April 1, 2026, there has been updates to accepted identification and processing times.
• The Kluane First Nation Final Agreement allows two sheep permits to be offered annually in the Wildlife Sanctuary, at the discretion of the Minister of Environment and the First Nation. One permit goes to a Yukon resident hunter through the permit hunt process, and another can be auctioned to a non-resident by the First Nation. Kluane First Nation auctioned their permit for the 2026–27 hunting season.
• The Kluane sheep hunt is designed as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity: hunters who harvest a sheep are no longer eligible for future draws, while unsuccessful hunters may apply again.

Media contact

Tim Kucharuk
Press secretary, Cabinet Communications
867-335-2419
tim.kucharuk@yukon.ca

Mara De La Rosa
Communications, Environment
867-456-5565
mara.delarosa@yukon.ca

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