So let me first introduce myself,
I did not grow up in a hunting family whatsoever, however I always loved to go on fishing and camping trips with my dad. As I got older, for some reason, the pursuit of hunting game always seemed to draw me. Maybe it was from my time as a young kid when I lived in a mining camp near Mayo, Yukon for the summer; seeing the northern lights on a daily basis, while being completely surrounded by the wilderness for miles? Maybe, it was just the next logical step for my love of camping and fishing? Or maybe it was a primal instinct in me wanting to pursue meat outside the comfort of my freezer? All of the above? Regardless, I knew that hunting was in my veins and I needed to get out in the bush!
However, this instinct would have to be put on hold, as I moved away from B.C. to complete 7 years of school. Yet, this did not stop me from researching as much as I could about hunting. I would spend hours in my dorm room looking up satellite images of “potential” hunting spots, reading this forum and gaining valuable knowledge from fellow members, reading every book and article I could find. This is of course while I’m “supposedly” doing readings for my normal classes.
Fast forward to me graduating after 7 years away. I don’t know which part was more exciting, finally graduating school, or the fact that I was finally able to hunt in my own backyard (the close to million square kilometres of BC). I knew it was going to be a steep learning curve, but I was prepared to be patient. I went in with the mindset that just being in the outdoors and camping under the stars was the reward, with anything else just being the cherry on top. So I make a couple purchases with money I had saved up working summers during school and start to plan for the spring bear hunt.
So after a few phone calls with a fellow forum member Floden, getting comfortable with my rifle, and doing some online “e-scouting”, I make my way to an area that I had staked and begin to glass for a black bear. I knew that for my first time, the likelihood to see anything was slim, and the ability to connect on something was even slimmer (I’d like to add that I’m like the unluckiest person on the planet so I had no expectations of seeing anything). However, while leaving my spot to go home for the day, I spotted a black bear (nothing to write home about nor the size of some of the bruins I have seen posted on here) but I decided to try and make a stalk on it. Sure enough, the wind was in my favour and I got within 70 yards. I made an ethical shot and the bear dropped in its tracks! Wow, I couldn’t believe it, my first big game animal down. I quickly got to work, but while field dressing I knew that hunting was going to be a lifelong passion of mine!
Fast forward to recently. I put my name in a few draws with the expectation that I was not going to be drawn for anything (especially given my luck). However, when I opened the site yesterday I was shocked to find out that I had been drawn for a Bull Moose LEH AND an ELK LEH on Vancouver Island! Immediately thoughts run through my head on how I didn’t deserve this or the fact that I “didn’t pay my dues”, I felt guilty. However, I knew that I drew them with the same odds as anyone else on here. Notwithstanding, I understand that to honour these tags, I need to put 100% of my effort in (irrespective if I punch the tags or not). So I am hoping that if anyone on this forum has any advice or tips about these tags, or would love to just talk about hunting generally, I would love to gain your insight! I am currently a sponge and hoping I can absorb as much as I can from any other hunters out there. I am also hoping to make some scouting trips out to both locations this summer, if people are interested in tagging along.
I am happy that I am able finally introduce myself to this forum, it’s been a long time coming! I am also looking forward to connecting with some of you fellow hunters in the future!
Jesse
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Originally Posted by jesse
