Haida Gwaii/Queen Charlott Trip in Sept 2021 want info on tags temps and where to go.

[Survival Bill]

I read in the regs and saw 15 deer limit but after reading around I find that their is only a 5 possession limit although I dont see that in the regs it says 15 and 15 to me that sounds like you can have 15 in your possession maybe just wishful thinking on my part.

I hear their are special tags that one can get and are they available online?

I would like to go in sept during buck and doe season what are the temps like then would it be cool enough without a cooler and just in the back of the truck?

I have never been so have no idea of where to go do I go as far north or west as I can find how far do you need to go till one gets to some decent places to hunt I am reading that logged areas are the place to hang out or does one road hunt till they see something or is hiking in the thing to do also hear hunting along the shoreline is good?

How long should I plan on staying for a relaxed hunt if their is such a thing in Haida Gwaii I also hear fishing is something to try is their plenty of rivers to fish or will that be salt water fishing from shore?

Is it still worth going these days I heard that they had pro hunters in shooting all the deer they dont say where though...

Guess I should look up and see if they FN have closed things down due to covid but hopefully things will be done with covid by then anyways...

[Treed]

Possession is 5, so you can only have 5 when you drive home. You can shoot 5, eat one, and shoot another. There are special tags. Google it. Nope. Too warm and wet to have 5 deer lying in your truck bed. You’ll have to arrange refrigeration or bring it.

The deer are small. Mostly. There are some good sized bucks but they are rare. The ‘pro hunters’ were shooting deer on National Park land. You can’t hunt here anyway. I’d hunt the roads. Watch out for bears, they have learned to come into the sound of a shot and are fracking big. No more black bear season up there so the conflicts are steadily mounting.

COVID? Who knows. They have the highest per capital rates in BC right now, despite banning all ‘non-essential’ travel unless you live there already and then there is no issue with mixing in PR, which has the second higher per capita rates in BC.

Unless you live close, it’s not really a hunt I’d travel to. Lots of better hunting elsewhere and lots of better reasons to go to QC.

[KodiakHntr]

Bucket list item for me as well.

What reasons are better to go to QC Treed? What other stuff should a guy (or a few guys) be looking at to do?

[Weatherby Fan]

Take a boat/fishing rod/cod jig as well head west towards Rennel Sound, go hunting go fishing trip of a lifetime, tons of area between QC City and Rennel Sound

[theoutdoorsman]

Weatherby fan gives good advice, crazy to go there and not bring in some sea food. Also see deer on the shoreline, so bring the rifle on the boat too. I’ll add that there is a butcher shop in charlotte city with a walk in cooler. I had him process two aug bucks up in burger and he did great. vacuum sealed and frozen for the ferry ride home, very convenient. If you’re just going for deer Nov is good and doesn’t cut into elk/moose hunting season.

[Treed]

I’m up there for work every year (except for last year). If you are going to spend the cash for the Ferry, I’d be putting fishing first and hunting second. The fishing can be amazing. If you can’t get a boat, beach fishing and dip-netting crabs is great fun. I just wouldn’t make it a hunting trip only. What would be really fun is getting up into some of the alpine areas and hunting those. I saw a half dozen nice bucks up in the alpine a few years ago... from a helicopter;).

[Blacktail 270]

End of Nov hunting during the rut on the island is a blast. One of my favorite hunts. I go there to to fill my freezer with beautiful blacktail meat. It really is the best I've eaten and I shoot does and bucks. Camp by the inlets and bring a boat to set some crab and shrimp traps. Picked up some deer off the secluded beaches while dropping the traps and going for a shore cruise. During that time the ferry has a longer sailing schedule and so I stay for about a week. It rains a lot and the temps are all over the map so the last trip we brought a small freezer and a gen. I wouldn't go without one anymore, as all the meat is taken care of. We quarter and take all the neck, tenderloins, and backstraps off. Wrap each quarter in cling wrap as well cling wrap the backstraps and tenderloins together for meal size. Freeze in pieces along with evidence of sex, ie. head, and once frozen, put one deer in a construction garbage bag and keep it frozen until you get home. Once home, vac seal each piece whole and leave frozen until ready to thaw. The deer are small and take up little room this way and if you get stopped by the CO's, your deer are easily separated and identified. Newer cut bocks that are lower in elevation, close to the beaches, seam to produce the most deer. Although, I have not hunted high up in the mountain tops as that is probably where the bigger bucks hide out. They are Blacktails... Go there with an adventure attitude and with respect for all the people that live there. Follow the regs and the islands no shooting areas. Most important is not to leave a mess of carcasses when you leave and respect the place. The island really is an amazing place and beautiful place to visit.

[Survival Bill]

Lots of better hunting elsewhere and lots of better reasons to go to QC.

I have tried most of BC and have not done well at all that was the reason for wanting to do the QC trip.
Now if you know places on the mainland that one can actually find critters to shoot that are not in parks or sub divisions let me know as the wolves and the FN have pretty much wiped out the game anyplace I have gone to in the last 15 years...

[pro 111]

Last year the bands paid 100 per deer for a food hunt program due to covid. Every doe fawn and buck avaible anywhere you could drive got shot. This time of year there ususlly all over the place after the seasons over.
not this year. Hardly any. Theres your update. Not gonna get into the politics. Lol.

[Hunterguy]

Take lots of bug repellent lol.

[nitro hunter]

Coulton must have made allot of money on the food hunt program,Nothing survives when he is around.

[David Heitsman]

Perhaps 8 years ago, five of us, all seasoned BC and international hunters went to the Charlottes. Stayed in QC and rented a truck. Two of the group drove over from Rupert. We drove, glassed and hiked for 5 days all over the North Island seeing exactly two bucks, one a spike and the other was in the ferry parking lot. We actually flew out two days early as there was nothing to hunt there. I think I had bought 5 tags... Good luck to you guys.

[REMINGTON JIM]

Last year the bands paid 100 per deer for a food hunt program due to covid. Every doe fawn and buck avaible anywhere you could drive got shot. This time of year there ususlly all over the place after the seasons over.
not this year. Hardly any. Theres your update. Not gonna get into the politics. Lol.

Phucking BS - Eh ! :icon_frow Sad again ! RJ

[shortrange]

I used to go every year and get a few deer walking on the logging road mainline between Port Clements and Queen Charlotte City. I avoided Hwy 16 because too many homes nearby. The hotel in Masset is nice, or was when I went. In 2018, I hunted for a few days and saw no deer. Lots of bones though. I think the population crashed, probably because of competition for food combined with a hard winter the previous year. Maybe the numbers will come back since the islands have been closed to outsiders for over a year. The Natives hunt the deer for food. Most of the locals are also friendly to outsiders and I never had any issue. Tags can be had at the government agent office. Maybe online too.

[6.5x55mm]

I have been twice. First trip in late 90's was a blast. Went back in 2019 whole different story. NO DEER. Seafood.... You would thing your buying drugs. I would do something else with your money.

[Would Rather Be Fishing]

Hmmm glad I came across this post... I was actually thinking of making a trip out to HG this fall as I had heard so many good things about the hunting there... Guess more research is needed...

[triggerhappy]

End of Nov hunting during the rut on the island is a blast. One of my favorite hunts. I go there to to fill my freezer with beautiful blacktail meat. It really is the best I've eaten and I shoot does and bucks. Camp by the inlets and bring a boat to set some crab and shrimp traps. Picked up some deer off the secluded beaches while dropping the traps and going for a shore cruise. During that time the ferry has a longer sailing schedule and so I stay for about a week. It rains a lot and the temps are all over the map so the last trip we brought a small freezer and a gen. I wouldn't go without one anymore, as all the meat is taken care of. We quarter and take all the neck, tenderloins, and backstraps off. Wrap each quarter in cling wrap as well cling wrap the backstraps and tenderloins together for meal size. Freeze in pieces along with evidence of sex, ie. head, and once frozen, put one deer in a construction garbage bag and keep it frozen until you get home. Once home, vac seal each piece whole and leave frozen until ready to thaw. The deer are small and take up little room this way and if you get stopped by the CO's, your deer are easily separated and identified. Newer cut bocks that are lower in elevation, close to the beaches, seam to produce the most deer. Although, I have not hunted high up in the mountain tops as that is probably where the bigger bucks hide out. They are Blacktails... Go there with an adventure attitude and with respect for all the people that live there. Follow the regs and the islands no shooting areas. Most important is not to leave a mess of carcasses when you leave and respect the place. The island really is an amazing place and beautiful place to visit.
Please be aware that a deer's head is NOT evidence of sex. You must leave the genitals attached.

[ElectricDyck]

With all the opposition to the fishing resorts during covid I wonder how friendly your welcome will be there now?

[CranePete]

Bought all my tags for the year today, and was reading some of literature on hunting during COVID. There was a notation about QCI deer, namely that the tags wouldn’t be available online, must be bought in person in the Charlottes. Puts the brakes on blacktails unless you live there.

[MichelD]

Please be aware that a deer's head is NOT evidence of sex. You must leave the genitals attached.

Yup. Page 20 of the regulations . You have to leave naturally attached to the carcass or one part of the carcass the unskinned tail and the a testicle or part of the penis of if the animal is female a a portion of the udder and teats.


https://www2.gov.bc.ca/assets/gov/sports-recreation-arts-and-culture/outdoor-recreation/fishing-and-hunting/hunting/regulations/2020-2022/hunting-trapping-synopsis-2020-2022.pdf

[Iron Glove]

With all the opposition to the fishing resorts during covid I wonder how friendly your welcome will be there now?

Don't know if it's been changed but a friend who loves in the QCI said his Son and Family were denied ferry reservations unless the Tribal Council approved their visit.
I believe it wasn't approved.

[Linksman313]

Please be aware that a deer's head is NOT evidence of sex. You must leave the genitals attached.

What if there in his mouth?
:wink:
Links

[trebreklaw]

Deer numbers have been going down since bear hunting banned. Fawn preditation?

[Survival Bill]

Well since the QC trip has been kyboshed for me anyone have a spot on the mainland that may have a chance at success?
And yes thanks for the update on the QC you saved me paying for the ferry ride...
Re & Re my hunting kit over the winter so very interested in testing out the new setup...