A lottery system will be in place for issuing special guide licences for the upcoming hunting season, says Yukon Party cabinet spokesman Dan Macdonald.

Macdonald said Environment Minister Wade Istchenko is today forwarding his final response to the Yukon Fish and Wildlife Management Board regarding its recommendation pertaining to the change in regulations for special guide licences.

Exactly what the recommendation says was still under the confidentiality provision this morning.

Changing the method of issuing special guide licences was among the 15 regulation changes reviewed by the Yukon Fish and Wildlife Management Board late last year.

Environment Yukon proposed the regulation change which would see the lottery system put into use, as opposed to issuing the licences over the counter on a first-come, first-served basis.

In its proposal to the board, the department noted how the interest in the special licences has risen dramatically, creating a lineup at the door on April 1, the day the licences are made available.

Since 2009, all 100 licences available were taken within the first couple of weeks, but last year, they were taken in 2 1/2 hours, the proposal indicates.

Under it, the same type of lottery used to issue permits for certain big game animals in certain areas would be used to issue the licences.

Non-resident Canadians can only be guided under a special licence every three years, or hire a big game outfitter.

Resident hunters unsuccessful in the lottery could apply again the following year.

Their applications would be weighted in their favour until they were successful, just as it is currently for permit hunts.

A special guide licence allows resident hunters to guide non-resident Canadians, so that hunters have the opportunity to invite family or friends to go hunting without having to hire an outfitter.

Currently, resident hunters are only allowed a special guide licence every three years.

Under the new proposal, they would be eligible to apply every year, though non-resident hunters would still only be eligible every three years.

Also under the proposal, an additional 50 licences would be made available but only for bison, beginning with 25 licences this year.

Currently, bison cannot be hunted under a special guide licence.

The intent to allow for bison hunting now is to reduce pressure on moose and caribou while helping to fulfill the management goal of reducing the bison population, according to the proposal by Environment Yukon.

Under it, resident hunters could choose either a licence to guide for bison, black bear, wolf and coyote, or moose, caribou, black bear, wolf or coyote, but not both.

During the public meeting hosted by the wildlife management board last November to discuss the 15 proposed regulation changes, there was concern expressed by a few hunters about what they described as abuses of special guide licences.

It’s illegal for resident hunters to receive any pay or benefit from a hunter they’re guiding under a special licence.

But everybody knows the system is being abused, and resident hunters are benefiting, several at the meeting indicated, including one big game outfitter.

As one Whitehorse hunter put it, it’s the “new best friend” who’s the problem, he said.

With the Internet today, he added, it’s not hard to find a new best friend who would love nothing more than to come on a big game hunt in the Yukon.

Every year, the wildlife management board reviews proposals for regulation changes, whether they come from Environment Yukon, non-government organizations or individuals.

If the board deems the recommendation is appropriate and has the information required for public review, it includes the recommendation in its annual public review.

The board then makes recommendations to the Environment minister, though its nature remains confidential until the minister makes his or her final response.

Under the process, the minister makes an initial response, the board replies, and the minister issues a final response.

Until the minister provides his final response, the recommendation remains confidential.

Macdonald said the minister’s final response was being sent to the board today.

Executive director Graham Van Tighem of the wildlife management board said last week Istchenko had provided initial responses to two of the 15 recommendations forwarded by the board in January, including the response regarding special guide licences.