A Big THANK YOU HBC thread - hunting pic heavy

[smallfry14]

Hey folks,
I have been thinking about making a thread like this for a while, and with it being the middle of winter and all the politic/bickering threads going crazy on here lately I thought now would be a good time for some hunting content. The idea is simple: I would like everyone to post up their stories and pictures about how HBC or individual members have helped them out on hunts in the past, and how that help has led them to success in the field. Whether you had no idea how to hunt a certain species and read all about how to do it on here, posted a question about an LEH you got, needed advice on gear, tips or tricks, or even just found a solid hunting partner on here, I want HBC to hear about your success and see the proof! I'll start.
Edit: Maybe we should go further and include ALL mentorship stories and ensuing success. Some of us young guys might not believe it but some people actually learned to hunt BEFORE the internet was around.

As a young teen I lived in a different town than my dad, who had taught me how to hunt and was the only person I hunted with. Between that and starting sports like hockey, baseball, etc I just rarely got a chance to get out hunting for a few years. The problem was, when I shot my first buck as a kid, I got completely hooked. I couldn't top thinking about hunting and all I wanted to do was figure out how to shoot more bucks more often, and learn how to get the big ones. I would go on HBC every single day and look up old threads about alpine hunting tactics, big bucks guys killed, etc. It didn't take long to become obsessed with the idea of alpine hunting and mountain species in general. I had no hunting mentors in that town, and never got to go out with my dad as much as either one of us would have liked, so often times I was stuck on HBC looking at everyone else's big hunting adventures and photos. Sure there are hunting magazines galore, but those massive prairie bucks in hay fields and 400" elk in sage brush seemed like they may as well have been on another planet. HBC had content that was close to home, attainable, realistic. And some of the folks were even willing to post up about exactly how to do their hunts, and sometimes even where to go. It was something to dream about while waiting to get a chance to do it for myself one day.
There are too many people to name that were a great help, but I will never forget sending Srupp a message asking about a grizzly draw I intended on pulling, and he responded with his phone number and said to call him. I sat down with a note pad and pen and called him up, and we chatted for quite some time while I jotted down notes and soaked up all I could. I always wondered if he knew my awkward pauses in conversation was because I was trying to write down what he told me. I believe I still have that notepad in a box of hunting knick knacks and memories somewhere.

Even longer story short, I weasled my way into a wrangler position (thanks to my dad and neighbour, got lucky) for an outfitter when I was 16 between school years, and since then I've packed, wrangled, and guided on about 45-50 big game hunts in BC, Alberta, NWT (as far as I can figure anyways) and done a bunch of awesome personal hunts both solo and with friends to boot. Unfortunately I've lost thousands of photos due to not backing them up on other sources and then losing phones and SD cards, but I will post a whole bunch of the ones I can find anyways, probably in no particular order.

Some of the old threads I remember digging through (not all, but some):

http://www.huntingbc.ca/forum/showthread.php?70400-Region-7-Stone-s-Sheep-Double-Header

http://www.huntingbc.ca/forum/showthread.php?49196-Billy-Goat-Pictures&highlight=billy+goat+pictures

http://www.huntingbc.ca/forum/showthread.php?33192-sheep-pack-weight&highlight=sheep+pack+weight

http://www.huntingbc.ca/forum/showthread.php?50330-Sheep-hunting-tips&highlight=sheep+hunting+tips (great info)

http://www.huntingbc.ca/forum/showthread.php?77579-BIG-BUCK-thread-must-be-shot-in-bc&highlight=mule+deer+hunting

http://www.huntingbc.ca/forum/showthread.php?64171-Alpine-Mule-Deer-Hunting&highlight=dana+mule+deer

http://www.huntingbc.ca/forum/showthread.php?100649-Stalking-Mule-Deer-in-the-west-tips-tricks-and-methods&highlight=dana+mule+deer

http://www.huntingbc.ca/forum/showthread.php?133432-RACKS-on-PACKS-horns-too&highlight=dana

http://www.huntingbc.ca/forum/showthread.php?54829-Show-Us-Pics-of-Your-Hunting-Camp-Setup&highlight=dana

http://www.huntingbc.ca/forum/showthread.php?75225-Chasing-a-dream-Stone-s-SHEEP-and-Roosevelt-ELK-PICTURE-HEAVY&highlight=stone+sheep+locations (and all the other BiGBoar threads and trophies)

http://www.huntingbc.ca/forum/showthread.php?54311-Stone-s-sheep-hunting-locations&highlight=stone+sheep+locations
(lots of guys hate this one, and i understand why. but there's no doubt that it has helped many a newbie, for better or for worse)

and a few pics to start..
First muley on my own
https://i.imgur.com/OYI4Dd6.jpg
First, and last, grizzly (thanks NDP)
https://i.imgur.com/Vi6x5Ax.jpg

First northern moose hunt
https://i.imgur.com/lvD4NqG.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/6qJE0g4.jpg



https://i.imgur.com/2KTMPLS.jpg

[smallfry14]

First sheep hunt
https://i.imgur.com/dJ41eAJ.jpg

First caribou hunt
https://i.imgur.com/rnRvvls.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/2j50B56.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/eh2hCdH.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/ydUMJ0a.jpg

[Huntingtyler123]

http://www.huntingbc.ca/forum/showthread.php?158838-Spring-black-bear-hunt-2020/page2&highlight=Spring+black+bear

second page has the pics


great idea for a thread. I’d like to shout out to my friend Steven. Like many people on here. Steven has been so very helpful with helping many people on successful hunts. For me he took me under his wing. When I first called him up I also had a pen and notepad ready, writing down everything I could. I had a million questions about black bears and he taught me what to look for and what they are looking for. I have learned a tremendous amount from him, forever grateful and the best part was making a life long friend. I’ll never forget the year I got that black bear with him by my side.

[ACB]

smallfry14, you've been a busy, busy boy, good on ya. Great Photo's

[weatherbyjunkie]

Awesome pics thanks for posting!! What region was your grizzly harvested in? Cheers

[Norwestalta]

Happy new year Tim and excellent thread.

[HarryToolips]

That's some serious success right there, congrats, looks like you've worked hard for those harvests...

[Everett]

Great thread I love it

[smallfry14]

http://www.huntingbc.ca/forum/showthread.php?158838-Spring-black-bear-hunt-2020/page2&highlight=Spring+black+bear

second page has the pics


great idea for a thread. I’d like to shout out to my friend Steven. Like many people on here. Steven has been so very helpful with helping many people on successful hunts. For me he took me under his wing. When I first called him up I also had a pen and notepad ready, writing down everything I could. I had a million questions about black bears and he taught me what to look for and what they are looking for. I have learned a tremendous amount from him, forever grateful and the best part was making a life long friend. I’ll never forget the year I got that black bear with him by my side.

Right on! Congrats on all your spring bear success. Very well done and thanks for posting it up.

weatherbyjunkie - That grizz was killed near Chetwynd in region 7. Can't remember which mu exactly.

[Bubbacanuck]

Met a couple great guys from HBC. Rob (Buckhunter78) took me on my first duck hunts and got me hooked. He was with me when I got my bear, my biggest BT and my only mulie. He has helped me a ton and I couldn't be more grateful for his help and guidance. The first guy I met off HBC Dylan actually took me on my first ever hunts chasing elk. We came so close on the first 10mins of my first hunt at closing the deal on a 6pt bull but it just never happened. We have been out again since then but more importantly built a great friendship. Srupp's knowledge on moose helped my group get a 57" bull moose on our LEH hunt last year. The older threads on this site provide so much insight and I am grateful for the few that have been willing to take me out and provide some guidance to a new hunter.

[smallfry14]

Met a couple great guys from HBC. Rob (Buckhunter78) took me on my first duck hunts and got me hooked. He was with me when I got my bear, my biggest BT and my only mulie. He has helped me a ton and I couldn't be more grateful for his help and guidance. The first guy I met off HBC Dylan actually took me on my first ever hunts chasing elk. We came so close on the first 10mins of my first hunt at closing the deal on a 6pt bull but it just never happened. We have been out again since then but more importantly built a great friendship. Srupp's knowledge on moose helped my group get a 57" bull moose on our LEH hunt last year. The older threads on this site provide so much insight and I am grateful for the few that have been willing to take me out and provide some guidance to a new hunter.

That's awesome Bubba congrats on your success so far, you and your new hunting buddies have done well.
For anyone who hasn't seen, here's the link to Bubba's big moose and a couple other critters.
http://www.huntingbc.ca/forum/showthread.php?165494-2020-Moose-Hunt
http://www.huntingbc.ca/forum/showthread.php?165495-2020-Hunting-Season

[Bubbacanuck]

That's awesome Bubba congrats on your success so far, you and your new hunting buddies have done well.
For anyone who hasn't seen, here's the link to Bubba's big moose and a couple other critters.
http://www.huntingbc.ca/forum/showthread.php?165494-2020-Moose-Hunt
http://www.huntingbc.ca/forum/showthread.php?165495-2020-Hunting-Season

Looks like you got this hunting thing dialed in dude! That griz you got is a beauty! Bet that is a nice rug, if that’s what you did with its hide.

Hunting mentorship is so important to hunting and I would not have been nearly as successful as I’ve been if it wasn’t for my few buddies.

great thread. It’s great to reflect on the positives of HBC

[Bustercluck]

I think I joined this site back in 2013 to get some info on that bridge across the McGregor river into 7-18 and then took a break from it for a few years mostly because I was far too busy to be posting on forums back then, but things have changed like having a cell phone and service where I live. Lol.

Here’s the moose….first pic I found on my imgur…so you get the wife too
https://i.imgur.com/1iUFT93.jpg

[smallfry14]

Looks like you got this hunting thing dialed in dude! That griz you got is a beauty! Bet that is a nice rug, if that’s what you did with its hide.

Hunting mentorship is so important to hunting and I would not have been nearly as successful as I’ve been if it wasn’t for my few buddies.

great thread. It’s great to reflect on the positives of HBC

Well usually, whenever I get to thinking that I've got it all dialed, the mountains show me different :wink: everyone has their turn in the barrel, sometimes you can do all the right things for 10 days straight and the mountains just don't wanna give anything to ya, meanwhile the next valley over there's a kid shooting a big bull in his underwear from the tent! And the next 10 days might be the other way around.
That grizzly wasn't my personal bear actually, that was my first year trailing a guide around learning to run spring bear hunts, so I actually have no idea what the client did with it. Will never forget the memories of the hunt though. Tried with the bow for maybe 8 days before breaking it and then killed with a rifle on day 9 or 10. Lots of fun.

Totally agree. Mentorship is the most important aspect to keeping this tradition afloat. Hats off to all the folks out there helping the newbies and kids out. Hunters are a dying breed without good mentors.

[smallfry14]

I think I joined this site back in 2013 to get some info on that bridge across the McGregor river into 7-18 and then took a break from it for a few years mostly because I was far too busy to be posting on forums back then, but things have changed like having a cell phone and service where I live. Lol.

Here’s the moose….first pic I found on my imgur…so you get the wife too
https://i.imgur.com/1iUFT93.jpg

Right on Buster thats a great bull! Obviously you found some good access!
I remember reading everything I could find about that unit with the idea of trying to pull a goat or grizzly tag in there too. Never ended up going for it though.

[Weatherby Fan]

wow that a dandy bunch of animals, thanks for sharing Tim

Just curious is that Ram from BC ?

[Bustercluck]

Right on Buster thats a great bull! Obviously you found some good access!
I remember reading everything I could find about that unit with the idea of trying to pull a goat or grizzly tag in there too. Never ended up going for it though.
I think you have to go quite a ways back in there to get at the goats. There was an old outfitter camp behind a good washout in 2013 and the guy guiding was older than the hills. I went back to the same area in 2018ish and ran into another guy guiding goat back there. After a chat it sounded like the old guy retired and the guy I was talking to was doing some of his guiding but the camp was abandoned. He was using the camp to stash a bit of gas and food, but nobody was staying in it. As I remember the camp was made up of a bunch of really old miniature travel trailers and one or two main buildings.

I really liked hunting back in there, because there wasn’t any logging or industry. The animals weren’t really used to seeing people very often. Completely different than most places you go, but last time I was there it sounded like the logging company there was replacing that bridge and going in there after some timber.

[Bustercluck]

Right on Buster thats a great bull! Obviously you found some good access!
I remember reading everything I could find about that unit with the idea of trying to pull a goat or grizzly tag in there too. Never ended up going for it though.
And yeah, lots of grizz in there. Lol

[smallfry14]

wow that a dandy bunch of animals, thanks for sharing Tim

Just curious is that Ram from BC ?

Yup it sure is. I will leave the background un-blurred for the NWT rams;-)

[smallfry14]

I think you have to go quite a ways back in there to get at the goats. There was an old outfitter camp behind a good washout in 2013 and the guy guiding was older than the hills. I went back to the same area in 2018ish and ran into another guy guiding goat back there. After a chat it sounded like the old guy retired and the guy I was talking to was doing some of his guiding but the camp was abandoned. He was using the camp to stash a bit of gas and food, but nobody was staying in it. As I remember the camp was made up of a bunch of really old miniature travel trailers and one or two main buildings.

I really liked hunting back in there, because there wasn’t any logging or industry. The animals weren’t really used to seeing people very often. Completely different than most places you go, but last time I was there it sounded like the logging company there was replacing that bridge and going in there after some timber.
That's really cool. Getting harder and harder to find places like that. Would be neat to talk to the old fella and hear about how and what the area used to be.
I would hate to see what the grizz have done to a mostly abandoned camp after a few years!

[smallfry14]

1 of my favourite caribou shootin' clips:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bP8RNzf7NKw

[Imdone]

Congrats SFry.

You've made it happen.