Re: New hunter in region 2
Welcome.
Firstly, a firearms ban will not hamper your ability to obtain a hunting license, it will however hamper your success rate. But don't let that deter you. I would recommend venturing further out into regions 3 or 8 to increase your chances though, as there are more deer, and more species to possibly connect on. And kudos for getting your son involved. Good luck!
Re: New hunter in region 2
I Don't mean to sound discouraging but, the idea of bow hunting for blacktail in R2 for an inexperienced hunter will be an exercise in futility, BT's are hard enough to hunt even with a rifle and a wealth of experience, so it'll be a tough slog, as WB rightly points out, a slightly longer drive will drastically improve your odds. Good Luck, happy hunting, and welcome to the fraternity.
Re: New hunter in region 2
WB, thanks for the reply and peace of mind regarding obtaining a license. I'm certainly aware that using a bow significantly decreases success rates but I'm also one of those weirdos that likes a challenge and feels better about something when I worked for it. Was considering region 8 as well considering it's relatively close and there are moose tags to be filled out there. Any input as to whether or not black tails are a good starting point or if there is a better way to gain some experience when just getting started?
Tuner, thanks for your input, nothing wrong with being realistic. Wasn't planning on spot & stalk black tail hunting but rather scouting via trail cams and setting up a ground blind, definitely open to other suggestions though as my main priority is filling the freezer with protein of any kind.
Re: New hunter in region 2
Truth be told, it will be challenging regardless, the first of it being proficient with your bow. That in itself is a challenge. Region 2 Blacktails can be very tough to find, let alone harvest, and if you're attempting to encourage your son, it's best to find a grouse or rabbit that you can at least bring home, and even those are not very abundant in Region 2. Who know's though. There's always beginner luck wherever you do decided to draw your string. ;)
Quote:
Originally Posted by
45freezer
WB, thanks for the reply and peace of mind regarding obtaining a license. I'm certainly aware that using a bow significantly decreases success rates but I'm also one of those weirdos that likes a challenge and feels better about something when I worked for it. Was considering region 8 as well considering it's relatively close and there are moose tags to be filled out there. Any input as to whether or not black tails are a good starting point or if there is a better way to gain some experience when just getting started?
Tuner, thanks for your input, nothing wrong with being realistic. Wasn't planning on spot & stalk black tail hunting but rather scouting via trail cams and setting up a ground blind, definitely open to other suggestions though as my main priority is filling the freezer with protein of any kind.
Re: New hunter in region 2
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Whonnock Boy
Truth be told, it will be challenging regardless, the first of it being proficient with your bow. That in itself is a challenge. Region 2 Blacktails can be very tough to find, let alone harvest, and if you're attempting to encourage your son, it's best to find a grouse or rabbit that you can at least bring home, and even those are not very abundant in Region 2. Who know's though. There's always beginner luck wherever you do decided to draw your string. ;)
Crazy, I know a guy who is able to fill his blacktail bag limit with a crossbow every season by pemberton which is right beside 2-6...had no idea it was considered a tough region for blacktail and I'm even more keen on picking his brain about strategies/tactics now, been trying to convince him to take me out next season but also don't want to be pushy about it. Have already committed to putting in the necessary time getting proficient with the bow before even thinking about getting a tag but in the meantime I'm trying to pick up as much info as possible so I have as much "beginners luck" on my side as I can get. Thanks again for the input, it's much appreciated!
Re: New hunter in region 2
same...be tough go for reg 2 with archery, did it for years. never did even draw back on one. got 2 blk tail in reg but was with rifle, and both standing next to each other, lol
maybe start on bear if reg 2 is priority, much easier in my view. black tail is a hard go even with rifle, the terrain isnt fun for most and give up, isnt so much lack of game. its more lack of going into that thick steep crap
and as far as that bow hunting course...never heard of it. not a must have to hunt anyways
Re: New hunter in region 2
Really good advice above.
I live in Squamish and know the Ashlu and surrounding areas pretty well. My son and I spent a lot of days, him with his bow and me with my rifle, hiking and driving Region 2. Now I drive at least to Pemberton, most often into the Chilcotin to hunt. Lots of deer hunters pounding the area around Pemberton, not so many around here, because there are more critters up there and the habitat is more huntable.
Like Bonz says, if you are planning to stay in Reg 2, bear is your best option.
ProGuide66 used to post here a lot but now he has a FB page. How to Hunt or something like that. Pemberton is an area he knows really well and I think the tips on his page are well suited to that area.
Have fun, don't pressure yourself to put meat in the freezer for the first few years (I'm not kidding) and you will accumulate a body of knowledge worth passing on to your son.
Re: New hunter in region 2
Quote:
Originally Posted by
45freezer
Crazy, I know a guy who is able to fill his blacktail bag limit with a crossbow every season by pemberton which is right beside 2-6...had no idea it was considered a tough region for blacktail and I'm even more keen on picking his brain about strategies/tactics now, been trying to convince him to take me out next season but also don't want to be pushy about it. Have already committed to putting in the necessary time getting proficient with the bow before even thinking about getting a tag but in the meantime I'm trying to pick up as much info as possible so I have as much "beginners luck" on my side as I can get. Thanks again for the input, it's much appreciated!
He may have an area dialed in but unless he takes to to his exact spot you might have a hard time seeing a buck there.
Re: New hunter in region 2
go do your scouting when you can get out there, find an area with lots of trails and track and get some salt and a cam out.
cant help with info out squamish way, if your ever out the valley direction i could show couple spots. showed couple other but the never used them. and they still have no deer...lol, one guy that did stick to the info is shared, tagged his deer and bear first season.
find an area and work it. dont give up and keep moving to a diff spot cause you havent seen deer in a week or something. seems to be the main thing ive seen helping newer guys out.
Re: New hunter in region 2
Don't let guys tell you will experience really low success rate on BT bow hunting lol
The best areas I hunted for BT in region 2 you can't hunt with a rifle. My fav BT locations in region 2 bow or shotgun are the only way you can hunt them. Don't hunt where others flock to and all will be fine. I hunted thick bush so short range shots were the norm.
If you hunt the correct places you will see way more bucks than 90% of those hunting with a rifle in region 2. Don't hunt where the hunters are hunt where the deer are and hunters are not. You don't need miles of bush to hunt think small pockets. There is a lot of deer hiding right under hunters noses in region 2. I am not talking private land but don't ignore that option.
The key is with bow hunting is to hunt in a fashion that creates short range opurtunity. Focuse on tight quarters hunting in the bush instead of glassing clear cuts. Sitting in ambush or really slow still hunting are the tactics I recommend investing your time in learning.
Hunt like a shot range hunter and don't follow the crowds.
Good luck
Re: New hunter in region 2
If your going to target BT in region 2 invest in quiet breathable rain gear. Rain is your friend but it does make tracking bow hit deer tough at times. Learn to track beyond blood trailing
Re: New hunter in region 2
Really good advice above and as Bronz and albravo2 said, you should get a bear in the spring and success only comes with time spent hunting.
Re: New hunter in region 2
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Bonz
go do your scouting when you can get out there, find an area with lots of trails and track and get some salt and a cam out.
cant help with info out squamish way, if your ever out the valley direction i could show couple spots. showed couple other but the never used them. and they still have no deer...lol, one guy that did stick to the info is shared, tagged his deer and bear first season.
find an area and work it. dont give up and keep moving to a diff spot cause you havent seen deer in a week or something. seems to be the main thing ive seen helping newer guys out.
Thanks for the reply/info, much appreciated. I'm not married to the squamish area by any means it's just the area I'm most familiar with. Would definitely appreciate any spots you would be willing to show me, I'll take all the help I can get and wouldn't mind making a trip out that way in the future.
Re: New hunter in region 2
Thanks for the info, that's one reason I thought ashlu area might be decent, there are a lot of firearm restricted zones there. After hearing the feedback so far I'm thinking region 8 might be a better plan but I appreciate the peace of mind knowing starting out in region 2 wouldn't be a complete waste of time. I figured a tight quarters ambush would be my best bet, will make sure I do a fair amount of scouting though so I don't waste too much time in low activity areas. Thanks again for the reply and info!
Re: New hunter in region 2
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Wild one
If your going to target BT in region 2 invest in quiet breathable rain gear. Rain is your friend but it does make tracking bow hit deer tough at times. Learn to track beyond blood trailing
Good tip, much appreciated!
Re: New hunter in region 2
Put in the time to learn region 2 find the pockets and it's well worth it. Close to home means you can invest time to truly learn the area and deer your hunting. I never hunted the Ashlu so can't say if it is worth while or not. I hunted BT from Mission east
8 is good but only travel if you can invest 5 days plus at a time day trips will be low success and waste of fuel. Often it takes a few days just to come up with a good game plan. Mule deer are the main deer in western 8 spot & stalk or still hunting is often best but find the right spot you can ambush them. Western 8 gets hit hard during rifle season but the archery seasons are not that busy. Early archery season is good for stalking young dumb bucks they are forgiving. WT become more common farther east you go pattern and ambush is best
Learn your local spots and learn them well. It don't hurt to day trip local. Traveling out of the lower mainland save the fuel unless you can camp out for a few days or more.
In my opinion utilize the region 8 archery seasons and target BT in 2 once rifle opens.
Re: New hunter in region 2
As a Squamish hunter I'd recommend Region 8 or 3. My method is hunt Squamish/Sea to Sky/Pemby when I only have time for a one day hunt, if I have more time I head to Region 3 - depending on the time of year I'll even hunt region 3 as a day hunt (lonnnng day).
I also schedule several hunting trips to Region 4 that are the year-in-year-out freezer fillers. My Sea to Sky hunting is more of a long term project... some years I'm in the right place at the right time, other years skunked.
To keep my kids (9 and 11) super stoked on hunting I take them to high population areas where we keep a running tally of sighed wildlife - Region 3, 8 and 4 that usually means deer in the double digits (same for chickens) and a handful of bears. In 7 years of hunting Squamish (one season entirely dedicated to my back yard) I doubt I've seen more than 10 deer the whole season.
Throwing in the static of being a new hunter, and trying to put it all together with a stick of wood and string in Squamish is recipe for a wet bored kid. My two cents.
Re: New hunter in region 2
Quote:
Originally Posted by
markathome
As a Squamish hunter I'd recommend Region 8 or 3. My method is hunt Squamish/Sea to Sky/Pemby when I only have time for a one day hunt, if I have more time I head to Region 3 - depending on the time of year I'll even hunt region 3 as a day hunt (lonnnng day).
I also schedule several hunting trips to Region 4 that are the year-in-year-out freezer fillers. My Sea to Sky hunting is more of a long term project... some years I'm in the right place at the right time, other years skunked.
To keep my kids (9 and 11) super stoked on hunting I take them to high population areas where we keep a running tally of sighed wildlife - Region 3, 8 and 4 that usually means deer in the double digits (same for chickens) and a handful of bears. In 7 years of hunting Squamish (one season entirely dedicated to my back yard) I doubt I've seen more than 10 deer the whole season.
Throwing in the static of being a new hunter, and trying to put it all together with a stick of wood and string in Squamish is recipe for a wet bored kid. My two cents.
Thanks for the reply, most likely going to start out in region 8 since there seems to be more tag options out there as well as more wildlife. Not going to bring the boy with me for a few years still, how old were your kids the first time you brought them out with you if you don't mind me asking?
Re: New hunter in region 2
Quote:
Don't let guys tell you will experience really low success rate on BT bow hunting lol
The best areas I hunted for BT in region 2 you can't hunt with a rifle. My fav BT locations in region 2 bow or shotgun are the only way you can hunt them. Don't hunt where others flock to and all will be fine.
Listen to this advice! I rifle hunted the lower mainland (Squamish and Chilliwack) for years with limited success. Then I moved to the Island and started hunting the bow shotgun zones almost exclusively. Not only do I see deer regularly, I have learned more about deer and hunting in a single season hunting with a short range weapon than I did in years of hunting the lower mainland with a rifle. Its a different game being in close and ignoring the open spaces, but its rewarding and you will become a better hunter if you can stick it out.
Re: New hunter in region 2
Agreed find the trails and keep on them. Get one or two trailcams and salt licks. I hunt for the meat so Will take smaller bucks then some. Have shot some big deer as well. My favourite way to hunt deer is to move from cutblock to cutblock. Using binoculars to find the deer then stalking into shooting range. Much like black bears. I have also shot many a deer on the road (logging road that is) while leaving an unsuccessful hunt. I shoot a rifle now. Learning to hunt with a bow is way better imo because it forces you to learn to be quiet, patient, and extremely accurate. That way if you ever try or upgrade to a gun it's a breeze. I would advise bear spray and a good blade as well as the reason I stopped bow hunting was an 8 yard bear charge in a river bed with my bow. If you're ever on the island pm me. We have a doe shotgun season here that I capitalized on this year. Loads of fun cause there's no competition.
Re: New hunter in region 2
Quote:
Originally Posted by
45freezer
Thanks for the reply, most likely going to start out in region 8 since there seems to be more tag options out there as well as more wildlife. Not going to bring the boy with me for a few years still, how old were your kids the first time you brought them out with you if you don't mind me asking?
No worries - I love hunting region 8, good luck out there. I'd say both daughters have been hunting since each was about four or so - they're pretty independent kids and are good at telling me if they need something - food, rest, bathroom. We're also lucky that we have relatives in Region 4 back in the sticks so hunting is a good old time. Girls can sit on the bench seat, take a turn driving, and see lots. We were usually home for a hot lunch and a break and lots of relatives to cheer them on. I didn't harvest an animal in front of them until they were 8 and 10. This last year they came backpack hunting with me in the Chilcotins... CORE this year so we'll have lots of tags for the freezer next fall.
