Region 8: Okanagan M.U.s for hunting access and species to hunt.

[Jelvis]

Region 8: Okanagan

VIRTUALLY ALL of Region 8 is accessible to hunting because there are fewer high, rugged mountains than the other regions. These highlands are liberally laced with logging roads, making access possible to sub-alpine terrain in many areas !
:arrow: Along the west edge of Region 8, the Princeton open-timbered hills hold mule deer, elk and moose, plus occasional whitetail deer. Along either side of the Okanagan Valley, from Osoyoos to Armstrong, open highland parklands provide pleasant hiking and hunting conditions.
:arrow: The Boundary district has enjoyed a steady increase in deer numbers during the past seasons and (offers deer hunting second to none!) Both mule and whitetail deer are found here, altho the mules seem to get more hunting pressure than the whitetails. The reason for this lies with the earlier rutting season for mule deer. During the late part of the season, large mule bucks are more easily taken, whereas large whitetail bucks don't become vulnerable until the very last days, sometimes rutting after the season closes.
:arrow: In MU 8-3, the Ashnola Range ( reached from Hwy 3 by crossing the Similkameen River on the bridge five km west of Keremeos) is a fine hunting area. The healthy California bighorn herd there is open to LEH.
Check up to date hunting regs and leh.
Big mule bucks, however, are open to regular hunting and there are many fine trophy heads to be seen roaming the open timberlands and grassy hillsides of this beautiful MU.
:arrow: In MU 8-11, reached from Hwy 97 through Westbank, or from the Peachland-Kelowna backroad, this is (considered the best bow hunting in the province).
:arrow: In the Pass Creek area north of Grand Forks in MU 8-15 a small herd of Cali sheep had been introduced years ago. This is excellent deer hunting country and is heavily hunted.

[Jelvis]

MU 8-1
U.S. border to OK Falls

Access roads from Hwy 3 and 97: from Oliver via Fairview road (west) and Camp McKinney road (east). Several access roads into the southern part of 8-1 from Hwy 3 above Osoyoos: first is 13 km from Osoyoos others 3 and 5 km beyond that. Camp McKinney-Sidley Meadows-Mt Baldy (ski access) roads connect with old Weyerhauser forest access roads which run east from Okanagan Falls and Vaseux Lake. Fair to good deer, grouse, bear hunting. California bighorn hunting in hills east of Vaseux lake, check leh and gos.
Jelly Smelly

[Jelvis]

MU 8-2
Keremeos

Reached by Oliver-Cawston backroad, Twin Lake road from Hwy 3A and a road 2 km west of Yellow Lake (Green Lake road) which leaves Hwy 3A almost opposite the Apex Alpine ski road. The latter runs north of 3, through the corner of 8-2, joining the Penticton-Apex road in MU 8-7. (Good mule deer on high ground away from roads), good blue grouse if dry spring.
Jelvis up to the Yellow on the Green - Lake- road. 8-2 Keremeos --

[Jelvis]

MU 8-3
Ashnola - Cathedral Lakes

Five km west of Keremeos, the Ashnola River road turns off Hwy 3 to cross the Similkameen on an old covered bridge, then up through open country to lightly timbered ridges. Good hunting for trophy mule deer, leh goat, and leh California bighorns.
Check trophy restrictions for mule deer in gos.
Jelly up the Ashnola with the huge mules and large Cali's

[300H&H]

Region 8: Okanagan

VIRTUALLY ALL of Region 8 is accessible to hunting because there are fewer high, rugged mountains than the other regions. These highlands are liberally laced with logging roads, making access possible to sub-alpine terrain in many areas !
:arrow: Along the west edge of Region 8, the Princeton open-timbered hills hold mule deer, elk and moose, plus occasional whitetail deer. Along either side of the Okanagan Valley, from Osoyoos to Armstrong, open highland parklands provide pleasant hiking and hunting conditions.
:arrow: The Boundary district has enjoyed a steady increase in deer numbers during the past seasons and (offers deer hunting second to none!) Both mule and whitetail deer are found here, altho the mules seem to get more hunting pressure than the whitetails. The reason for this lies with the earlier rutting season for mule deer. During the late part of the season, large mule bucks are more easily taken, whereas large whitetail bucks don't become vulnerable until the very last days, sometimes rutting after the season closes.
:arrow: In MU 8-3, the Ashnola Range ( reached from Hwy 3 by crossing the Similkameen River on the bridge five km west of Keremeos) is a fine hunting area. The healthy California bighorn herd there is open to LEH.
Check up to date hunting regs and leh.
Big mule bucks, however, are open to regular hunting and there are many fine trophy heads to be seen roaming the open timberlands and grassy hillsides of this beautiful MU.
:arrow: In MU 8-11, reached from Hwy 97 through Westbank, or from the Peachland-Kelowna backroad, this is (considered the best bow hunting in the province).
:arrow: In the Pass Creek area north of Grand Forks in MU 8-15 a small herd of Cali sheep had been introduced years ago. This is excellent deer hunting country and is heavily hunted.

What ?
I don't know about that !?!

[Jelvis]

MU 8-4
Princeton Southeast

Reached from Copper Mountain road from Princeton, or from several logging mains running south from Hwy 3 between Princeton and Hedley. Fair mule deer hunting, moderate hunting pressure.
Jelly Princeton lil south and east for a muley beast! MU 8-4

[Jelvis]

MU 8-5
Princeton West

Highway 5 cuts through the northeast corner of 8-5, the Otter Creek road from Princeton more or less bisects it for it's entire length. A maze of roads run back from either main although the Fish & Wildlife in co-operation with Forestry, have blocked off several of these to encourage walk in hunters and relieve excessive road hunting. A good mule deer population, some whitetails and a small herd of elk. Fair hunting, heavily hunted.
Jeldo -- Up the Otter with some fodder --

[Jelvis]

MU 8-6
Princeton Northeast

Hwy 5 is the western boundary for 8-6 to a point just north of Allison Lake. Several logging roads run up into 8-6 from Hwy 5. The Summers Creek road gives access to the central part, same area also reached from Missezula Lake road which turns east from the Hwy, 40 km from Princeton. The Princeton-Summerland back road runs just inside 8-6 to Osprey Lake. Fair mule deer country along the open ridges, best late in the season. Occasional moose and whitetail. Heavily hunted.
Jelly 8-6 -- north and east of Princeton --

[Jelvis]

MU 8-7
Similkameen

The Similkameen River borders the south edge of 8-7 from a few kilometres east of Princeton, right to Keremeos. Mountain goat are often seen from Highway 3 between Hedley and Keremeos, small LEH hunt permitted. (Check up to date regs and LEH) Fair mule deer occasional moose and whitetails, from Hedley-Apex road which goes past Nickel Plate Lake. This road can be in poor condition with wash outs and mud holes. It drops down to cross the Apex-Alpine ski slopes. Good to fair early season mule deer in the high country. Good Blue grouse when dry springs permit good broods. The northwest ends of 8-7 can also be reached from the Princeton-Summerland backroad.
jel -- MU 8-7 sum milk I meen.

[Stone Sheep Steve]

You are behind a few decades there, Jelly.

Mulies in the Boundary aren't doing well. Let's hope those 2015 fires can help to turn things around for them.

One thing you are bang on is the grouse numbers this year. Warm, dry late spring and early summer have lead to some of the best grouse numbers in a loooooong time.

[Jelvis]

MU 8-8
Summerland - Trout lake - Darke Lake

After leaving 8-7, the Princeton-Summerland backroad climbs through open rangeland high above Trout Creek. This is the Bald Range which used to have (the best late season mule deer hunting in B.C.). Halfway along the Bald Range an old logging access road runs uphill to the top of the ridge. Considered a 4x4 road, it provides access to fair mule deer hunting, heavily hunted. The Brenda Mine road from Peachland runs into good mule deer ridges in 8-8. Ten kilometers from Hwy 97 the Brenda Mine road (paved) continues uphill to the right, and the gravelled Penask Lake road turns left. About 19 km along, a logging main drops down to the left past Glen Lake, thence up onto the flank of Kathleen Mountain. Fair mule deer hunting, occasional moose. Several roads drop down into the Princeton-Summerland back roads from this logging network.
Jelly in the Darke by the Trout up from Summerland -- 8-8 -- don't be late the Mules r grr ate

[bangbangkhan]

is there a catch to all this info...

[wideopenthrottle]

is there a catch to all this info...

yes...it may be inaccurate or completely untrue...heheheheh

[Tripitaka]

Lordy, hurry along Jelvis, I need 8-13, 8-14 and 8-23! ;-)

[HarryToolips]

8-11 the best bow hunting bwahahahahahha, what version of the backroads Map book did you get this from Jelly??

[Weatherby Fan]

is there a catch to all this info...

theres no harm in what he's posting, some may get some basic info from it.

[Jelvis]

MU 8-9
Penticton East

Fair to (good mule deer and whitetail hunting on the slopes and plateaus) of this highland MU. From Okanagan Falls, roads run east to connect with the Weyerhauser 201 Main. This main branches into a myriad of logging roads extending to the Boundary country, Click click BANG! Also reached from the Penticton-Naramata road which services the Greyback Dam and the logging operations behind. Occasional moose. An elk herd in behind Naramata is what is taking over and provides a real challenge for deer hunters and elk hunters of all shapes and sizes, check gos and leh b4 planning a short hunt. Check GOS as well for antler restrictions. A hike in hunters dream come true, those willing to tackle the ruff and tuff terrain, will be rewarded over and over and over with game filled rocky bluffs and coulees. Your going to find what your looking for only, on Okanagan Mountain. The Chute Lake road up from Naramata provides the best access to this hunting elk and deer paradise, folks your eyes are going to bug-out and you'll be rubber neckin as you hike in and out and thru this topographical garden of eating. Don't be worried about the others hunting around here, it's a elk and deer hunters natural magnet, you smell the ungulates in the sparse pines.
Jeldo rockafeldo -- MU 8-9 -- Penticton East -- This is what hunters of elk and deer dream of --

[Jelvis]

MU 8-10
Kelowna-Winfield East

Highway 33 bisects MU 8-10, the McCulloch and Pipeline roads provide access to much of this MU. Logging mains running off Hwy 33 run through (good mule and whitetail hunting). From Winfield on Hwy 97, the Beaver-Dee Lakes road runs through the northern part of 8-10, with fair to (good deer hunting), coming out onto Hwy 6 at Lavington.
Jelly Smelly some good deer hunting in MU 8-10 -- whites and mules all over Rover!

[Jelvis]

MU 8-11
Westbank-Westside Road

Just south of Westbank a good road climbs from Hwy 97 to the Last Mountain ski hill. It connects with the Peachland-Kelowna backroad 24 km along near Lambly Lake. About 3 Km before the junction, a rather rough road runs back to Jackpine Lake. There is good deer hunting throughout this area for mules and some whitetails to boot. excellent hunting has been enjoyed by bowhunters, along with the rifles season whaaa? Oh yea! Some bow hunters believe it is the best bow hunting in B.C. So there. Fair to good deer hunting is also found by continuing uphill toward Pennask Lake, or by hunting along Esperon Main, which branches into a network of logging roads. California bighorn sheep in Shorts Creek, yah'll fill your shorts seeing the full curl with a swirl. Check LEH - ASAP - or your SOL --
jelly fill your tags at Shorts Creek -- Pennask and Jackpine Lake Muuley Estates --

[Jelvis]

MU 8-12
West Kettle

=-///------> This country of open parkland intersected by deep ravines and rocky ridges can be reached from all sides. Highway 33 between Kelowna and Rock Creek intersects it for much of it's length, with many access logging roads running back from the highway. It's western portion is laced with logging roads pushed in from Penticton and OK Falls. The Conkle Lake road cuts through it, running from Hwy 33 near Beaverdell over the highlands to come out on Hwy 3 near Bridesville. -----=-ll---> (Excellent) (deer hunting for mostly mule), some whitetail. Occasional moose, check gos and Leh.
Jello Pudding -- MU 8-12 -- West Kettle --

[Jelvis]

MU 8-13
Monashee-Summit

Highway 5 is joined by the Christian Valley road from Westbridge on Hwy 33, in MU 8-14, about one third of the way in from the west. There is (good whitetail and mule deer hunting) to be found by (hiking back from Hwy 6 near the summit). Also several access roads off Hwy 6 leading up to (alpine country and good mule deer hunting). Occasional moose.
Jello Rockafellow -- MU 8-13 -- Monashee summit is A-OK! Eh! -- walk back hike up -- BANGO!

[HarryToolips]

MU 8-11
Westbank-Westside Road

Just south of Westbank a good road climbs from Hwy 97 to the Last Mountain ski hill. It connects with the Peachland-Kelowna backroad 24 km along near Lambly Lake. About 3 Km before the junction, a rather rough road runs back to Jackpine Lake. There is good deer hunting throughout this area for mules and some whitetails to boot. excellent hunting has been enjoyed by bowhunters, along with the rifles season whaaa? Oh yea! Some bow hunters believe it is the best bow hunting in B.C. So there. Fair to good deer hunting is also found by continuing uphill toward Pennask Lake, or by hunting along Esperon Main, which branches into a network of logging roads. California bighorn sheep in Shorts Creek, yah'll fill your shorts seeing the full curl with a swirl. Check LEH - ASAP - or your SOL --
jelly fill your tags at Shorts Creek -- Pennask and Jackpine Lake Muuley Estates --

Like you said, good to check the regs and maps...a lot of Pannask area and Esperon Main area is region 3-12...and they still don't have an LEH for the Bighorns in 8-11, I'd love to see that one day, their population from my observations is very healthy:wink:..

[bearheart]

8-15, increased pressure, hunter's coming into area figure increased numbers due to Rock Creek fire. Didn't work that way, but as a consequence increased hunting pressure, more wolves, mule deer numbers very low in the areas I am familiar with and whitetail numbers west of Granby at least seem lower. Good luck

[Dutch]

Was in region 8 all last week, seen more deer than I did in the last 5 years,luck? good fortune? took our 2 and went home was nice to see...

[ruger#1]

Was in region 8 all last week, seen more deer than I did in the last 5 years,luck? good fortune? took our 2 and went home was nice to see... I got a nice 3x3 whitey up there. Arrived Sunday morning. Passed on a lot of deer. And Tuesday morning dropped the three pointer. I never seen so many whitetails.

[Jelvis]

MU 8-14
Boundary Creek

The Boundary Creek road turns north from Hwy 3 just east of the CPR overpass east of Greenwood. The Jewell Lake road turns right from this good logging main a short distance in. Just before Jewell Lake, another right turn runs parallel to Hwy 3, but well above the valley. This is a good whitetail road that drops back to Hwy 3 at Eholt Station. Fair whitetail hunting below Eholt along the CPT tracks, or along the old Brown Creek road. Good mule and whitetail hunting along the height-of-land between Boundary Creek and main Kettle River. There are several access roads. The Roderick- Dhu-Jewell Lake area holds good mule deer hunting.

CHRISTIAN Valley

Hwy 33 runs north from Rock Creek on Hwy 33 to Westbridge, where the West Kettle is then followed upstream through Beaverdell and Carmi. Continuing north along the main Kettle River, the Christian Valley road runs 115 km's to connect with Hwy 6 in the Monashee Pass. Good whitetail hunting along much of this road, reached by hiking back from the Hwy.
Access is a problem, permission must be obtained from ranchers to hunt much of this land. Mule deer are found in the high country along either side of the valley. A network of logging roads penetrates the hills along the east side of the Kettle, reached by crossing Five Creek or Lost Horse Creek bridges. These roads run across to connect up with roads off the Boundary Creek Main. There is also good access from Christian Valley up into the Lassie Lake-Trapping Creek country good mule deer and fair whitetail hunting. The maze of roads up there drop down to Hwy 33 between Kelowna and Carmi, providing access to virtually all of the area. Check Elk LEH and GOS each calendar year for seasons and bag limits.
Jelly Von Boundary Creek with Guest Host: Mule Deer Zeke in -- MU 8-14 -- Hunting Pair-a-Dice

[Jelvis]

MU 8-15
Granby River - Christina Lake

=-ll----> A road north from Grand Forks follows the Granby River. Access roads run back from this road into fair mule deer and whitetail hunting for most of the length of the main road, which runs all the way over to Edgewood on Arrow Lake. Fair mule deer up Pass Creek 21 km north of Grand Forks. There is also a herd of California bighorn sheep in the Pass Creek area; check LEH and GOS before planning to hunt any MU.

Christina Lake - still in mu 8-15
(Good deer hunting in the hills around Christina Lake). Access to good mule deer hunting from Hwy 3, also for muleys along the old Santa Rosa Summit road out of Christina Lake village. A (good elk herd) is found, check (LEH and GOS) between Christina Lake and Paulson bridge.
Jeldo - This MU 8-15 is a hunters dream -- always try LEH and GOS in this superb MU.

[Jelvis]

MU 8-21
Whiteman Creek - Pinaus Lake

=-ll----> Access from Westside Road along Okanagan Lake, also from near Falkland. Network of logging roads into fair to (good mule and whitetail deer country). From the south end of Monte Lake you can hit into Pinaus also -- some big non-typs hangin out high -- one was a 225 class - check BC Recreational Atlas or mapbook with MU's boundaries before you see that monster muley rack lookin at yah from that hill wholley manoley.
Hunting supreme in the MU 8-21 -- Large mule bucks and whitetails on the Whiteman Creek.
-- Logged off beetle kill a few years back has increased deer populations in here folks.
Big mules will make yah drool when yah see this MU 8-21's topography it's all migration breeding area hunters DUH?
Jelly with your special guest host and hunting person, Mule Deer Zeke -- thanks Zeke

[Jelvis]

MU 8-22
Vernon

Some pheasant and quail, good morning dove shooting along valley. Fair to good mule and whitetail deer hunting in King Edward Lake area, hey I see a deer hold it, logging road access, also Aberdeen Lake area reached from Lavington via good logging road which connects with Dee Lake-Beaver Lake road. Heavily hunted seen yor. Cuz it's loaded with game.
-- Some good mule and whitetails in this one folks -- a Royal hunt up Aberdeen and King Edward Lake --
-- Special thanks to Jake Brake and Rocco for the great info -- also Mule Deer Zeke.
MU 8-22 -- Vernon -- Good MU all around especially as above --
Jelly (hands of stone) Mahlone

[Jelvis]

MU 8-23
Lumby--Harris Creek

MU 8-23 is bounded on the north by the rugged Monashee Range, tuff country to hunt. Access into good deer country via Harris Creek road. From near Cherryville the Sugar Lake road runs past the lake, and on into Greenbush Lake, with various spurs into mountainous terrain. Poor to fair mule deer, mountain goat in Monashees, try LEH. Crawling with black bears, whoa there's a nudder blackie, a big one whoa! Moose and Grizzly? check regs n leh
Jelvis dah Pelly Vis -- MU 8-23 is for me -- mules, whites, blacks n goats wha wha whaaaa?

[Jelvis]

MU 8-24 and 8-25
Mabel Lake

Good whitetail hunting, some mule deer from main access roads along either side of Mabel Lake. Black bear by the numbers don't touch your toes --
Jello -- Mabel is a beautiful lady -- and so is MU 8-24 and 8-25 for whitetails flashing every wheres, hey Johnny look at that ten point whitey, click click BOOM! -- Nice one bro wow!

[Jelvis]

MU 8-26
North Okanagan

Some pheasant shooting in main valley. Fair to (good mule deer hunting in the hills) brothers and sisters, reached by watch this, (Mabel Lake road and Trinity Valley road) which turns off 10 km east of Enderby. Access problems on some roads leading into major hunting areas in MU 8-26, North Okanagan.
Jelly -- Let's go to the North Okanagan and get a big mule -- MU 8-26 -- pheasant under gloss

[bearheart]

Was in region 8 all last week, seen more deer than I did in the last 5 years,luck? good fortune? took our 2 and went home was nice to see...
Which MU? South/North?

[ynielsen]

Good to know! Heading to Region 8 in a couple weeks!


Was in region 8 all last week, seen more deer than I did in the last 5 years,luck? good fortune? took our 2 and went home was nice to see...

[bangbangkhan]

I was in region 8 as well...saw more deer than i did in the last 5 years but all were on private property...FML

[Tripitaka]

MU 8-23
Lumby--Harris Creek

MU 8-23 is bounded on the north by the rugged Monashee Range, tuff country to hunt. Access into good deer country via Harris Creek road. From near Cherryville the Sugar Lake road runs past the lake, and on into Greenbush Lake, with various spurs into mountainous terrain. Poor to fair mule deer, mountain goat in Monashees, try LEH. Crawling with black bears, whoa there's a nudder blackie, a big one whoa! Moose and Grizzly? check regs n leh
Jelvis dah Pelly Vis -- MU 8-23 is for me -- mules, whites, blacks n goats wha wha whaaaa?

Was in Sugar Lake all last week looking for the elusive GOS moose. Plenty of sign down to the river from just past 26Km bridge on the Sugar-Spectrum road despite the amount of logging going on there. Had cams out but nothing showing. Also lots of sign on the cutblock from the R7 road off Reishcler(?) - first left turn after the bridge by the dam but after trailing it for 2 days and getting tracked each day by a reasonable-sized grizz, I decided to leave alone. Anything I dropped would have been given up to it in short order.

Little to no black bear sign anywhere and so few deer it made me want to come back to the island! Talking with the lady at Franks in Cherryville, the COs were out the weekend before we arrived and stopped everyone. They confiscated a bunch of poached stuff apparently, moose bulls and cows. Nice place, not sure I'd head back.

[HammerHawk]

Hey Jelvis,

How do ya feel about the area west of Vaseux Lake, viable mule or wt?

HammerHawk

[DarekG]

Horsefeathers! There are no animals in region 8, just squirrels and skunks.

Don't come to region 8.

[Dirtnap]

Horsefeathers! There are no animals in region 8, just squirrels and skunks.

Don't come to region 8.

This is true. Nothing left here, proceed elsewhere.

[Linksman313]

Only animals here Migrate from MU 2-4 and 2-8

[brotherjames]

Thank you (10 letters)!

[Morgan123]

Thanks for posting Jelvis.

[Takla]

yes tons of great info in that older thread
ive just started scopeing out areas there now that we've moved into the
region..

[Bigman]

Thanks for posting great details on Region 8. Really excited to be moving there and getting into some great hunting areas. Everytime I make the drive out the scenery puts a huge smile on my face. Happy hunting.

[Polartrav]

Has anyone else noticed that the elk herd around vidler ridge has thinned out alot lately?

[HarryToolips]

^^^^wheres vidler ridge??

[HarryToolips]

Thanks for posting great details on Region 8. Really excited to be moving there and getting into some great hunting areas. Everytime I make the drive out the scenery puts a huge smile on my face. Happy hunting.
Our biggest challenge in reg 8 is continuing development on winter range - it's becoming the second lower mainland - this development will ultimately lead to less wildlife of course...

[REMINGTON JIM]

^^^^wheres vidler ridge??

CherryVille BC River Otters backyard ! :-) RJ

[wrenchhead]

Vidder ridge is above sugar lake. And no I dont thun rhe elk herd has thinned. More guys hunting them, and they are smart moving into the thick timber of that country.

[Linksman313]

Our biggest challenge in reg 8 is continuing development on winter range - it's becoming the second lower mainland - this development will ultimately lead to less wildlife of course...

Second biggest challenge learned while having coffee with one of our fine regional CO's on the weekend, this year 12 Mule DOES found shot and abandoned within 40 miles of my home base. Please people, confirm what you are aiming at before you squeeze the trigger, so much for our Mule deer study/program.

[boxhitch]

this year 12 Mule DOES found shot and abandoned

wonder how many with fmj or 7.62x39s ?

[MontyLake]

I wish I had access to that info from whatever document that Jelvis is quoting from the 1980s when I started hunting out of Vancouver in 1986. I'd heard that some places were good but it still took me years to home in on a few good spots and even then they aren't that good and swamped by people now.

[REMINGTON JIM]

this year 12 Mule DOES found shot and abandoned

wonder how many with fmj or 7.62x39s ?

They should be Banned ! RJ

[HarryToolips]

this year 12 Mule DOES found shot and abandoned

wonder how many with fmj or 7.62x39s ?
Ya that's absolutely disgusting....

[338win mag]

Second biggest challenge learned while having coffee with one of our fine regional CO's on the weekend, this year 12 Mule DOES found shot and abandoned within 40 miles of my home base. Please people, confirm what you are aiming at before you squeeze the trigger, so much for our Mule deer study/program.
12 that they know of, likely many more that were not reported or found. Sounds like some hunters are lacking the experience, therefore need to be properly educated in identifying their target before pulling the trigger.