New Hunters - where to go advise

[Downtown]

Unless you get detailed information from somebody else,

A) Decide which region/Management you wish to hunt.
B) Talk Face to Face in his Office to a Conservation Officer working that particular region. They are arguably in the best position helping you and should not be afraid giving up "hot spots" another Hunter may sees as his "Honey hole" and does not want to tell you about. They also know about Gates and private property in that particular area.

On another note,
Now if just somebody would tell me how do I go about increasing the Font size in the Title line........................

Cheers

[Wild one]

Big one for new hunters to understand it's not so much about the location it is the small pockets within the location.

This is why many preach get out and scout because sometimes being a 100yards off the mark is the difference between seeing game and seeing nothing. This is why you will meet hunters who connect every year in areas most see nothing. That hunter knows the area well

[monasheemountainman]

Big one for new hunters to understand it's not so much about the location it is the small pockets within the location.

This is why many preach get out and scout because sometimes being a 100yards off the mark is the difference between seeing game and seeing nothing. This is why you will meet hunters who connect every year in areas most see nothing. That hunter knows the area well

this is key advice!

[VirgilOfTheWoods]

Downtown - how would I go about finding the CO for a region?

I did some Googling and searching on the gov.bc.ca site and couldn't find regions specific contact info.

[adriaticum]

Go to BC gov website and look harder. Look for employees. It's there.

[VirgilOfTheWoods]

Adriaticum - you're right. Like most government websites, not great with organization (but I've seen worse).
For anyone reading this in the future, here you go:
BC Government Directory (https://dir.gov.bc.ca/gtds.cgi?searchString=Conservation+Office&sortBy=name&sortOrder=ascending&search=Search&gobutton.x=0&gobutton.y=0)

[scotty30-06]

Learn the small pockets....and don't expect to be putting down a ton of game your first hunt....its a skill to be learned

[Chopper]

Old saying... " 10% of the area , holds 90% of the game "

finding that 10% area is not that easy ...

[Wild one]

Something else to consider when picking locations

Just because you hear about a lot of hunters hunting an area does not make it the best location. Usually the locations that are heard about the most see a ton of hunting pressure. My best hunting areas are places that see very little pressure.

You want to find the best locations don't chase the crowds. If you choose to hunt areas that see lots of pressure think about where the game is and people are not. There is so many spots that hunters drive by all the time and don't hunt them. Something to consider animals don't need roads or clear cuts so why do so many hunters think they are a must. You don't need FSRs to go hunting

It is way easier to get away from pressure than most hunters think.

[Wild one]

Or maybe I just hate people lol

[Downtown]

Downtown - how would I go about finding the CO for a region?

I did some Googling and searching on the gov.bc.ca site and couldn't find regions specific contact info.

A---Open current Hunting regulation.

B---You find CO services printed on the first page for each Region.

C---Make appointment.

Cheers

[ianm]

Big one for new hunters to understand it's not so much about the location it is the small pockets within the location.

This is why many preach get out and scout because sometimes being a 100yards off the mark is the difference between seeing game and seeing nothing. This is why you will meet hunters who connect every year in areas most see nothing. That hunter knows the area well

So, rookie question: what do these "pockets" look like? I've hiked around region 2 and a bit in 3-30/5-1 and keep getting ghosted.

[scotty30-06]

If your scouting go slow and read the ground....follow game trails into the deep bush...especally in region 2....and look for old growth...this will help you find some trails....scouting "your"area can be way more productive then driving all over a mountain and only learning the logging road.

[islander7mm]

First thing when looking for pockets would be game trails and sign. Like rubs, poops, evidence of feeding, sheds, etc. Then if you happen to bump critters while scouting. If you find this then try setting up a game camera and then you can really get an idea of what's in the area.
Good luck.
One of the things I love most about hunting is the strategy of the hunt.

[ianm]

Awesome, thanks a lot guys!

[plumberjustin]

I find a lot of well used game trails while hunting early season for grouse and hares just off the road. When I'm out cruising fsr's, I look for small clearings 25-50yds into the bush or small creeks that meander down from above. Get familiar with using your compass, gps and flagging tape, you're gonna need those skills to get back to your vehicle. Once you find a heavily used trail, droppings, rubs and broken branches, your on the right track. Slowly creep those trails as far up as they go, you'll find more times than not they go up into some prime deer territory. Thick stands of sparse timber will turn into alpine bowls and ridges.