What do I need to buy for a good Camp/Hunt?

[Bravepaw]

Howdy, I'm from West Virginia and just moved up here. I posted on here before and asked if anyone would let me tag along on a hunt. I got to go with a guy from on here and finally got to see the beauty that is British Columbia. I'm trying to plan a trip when I can with a few more guys off here but I have been tagging along not with a weapon. I am not aloud to harvest an animal because I'm not Canadian and don't have the proper paper work or money to hunt here as an American. Well great news just came to me this week. I got accepted to be a resident of Canada. Which means I can get a cheaper hunting license just like a Canadian. It also means I can legally find a job and save money. Hunting and Fishing was my life back in West Virginia and I plan for it to be the same in Canada. only issue is hunting was a poor mans sport back home. It seems theres more investment in time, traveling, and gear here. Which I accept. I know this land is more vast and grand then what I'm used to. But I'm starting fresh and blind.

So what I'm hoping is if some wise hunters from this area could give me a list of things I'm going to need for becoming a successful hunter in BC. what I plan on doing is taking week 3-7 day trips into where ever the best hunting is. I know for sure I'll be hunting Whitetail deer, mule deer, black tail, turkey, and small game. I hope to hunt Elk, Moose, goat or ram, and black bear. I heard of some lottery system on i think elk, moose, and goat. so I'm not for sure I'f I'll focus on those. I'll have to do more research. here is a list of what I have that isn't staying back in West Virginia.

1) Savage .308 10 FLCP-K
(( I have a scope but it doesn't zoom in far. its not an issue in the woods back home. but I'm planning on upgrading it for the more open views in BC so if anyone has a make and model I should get please let me know ))

I do a lot of traditional bow hunting and have everything for that.

A toyota tacoma 4x4

I have normal camping tools but I lost most of my supplies in a hurricane back on the east coast. It took all three of my tents full of stuff :(

Here is a list of what I guess I'll need.

1) my wife wants to hunt a lot with me and needs a cozy place to sleep so I am thinking a slide in truck camper so she has a home away from home. I'm guessing my truck can handle one around 1,000 pounds. I ask you, is this a good choice? Am I able to get to where I can to set up camp in an area for successful hunting. If there's more I need for a camp let me know.

2) Camo and boots to match this area. the Camo I own back home is a lot different then up here I found. So I'm just going to leave it there for when I hunt back home. any suggestions on brand and camo pattern for here?

3) binoculars. we don't use them back some so I know jack squat about whats good or bad.

4) bear repellant or something of the sort.

5) A 4-wheeler or ATV and trailer. I really hope I can hold off on this purchase until a few years and still hunt in great locations. please let me know if its an necessity.

6) maybe a tree stand. I do a lot of ground hunting back home but every now and then I get in the trees. do you guys use tree stands up here?

7) if I can get into Elk hunting I plan to buy the calls you need for that.

8.) A good backpack for day hikes and to carry meat in if need be.

Well I'm sure I left out plenty. I know you guys get a lot of post on here about new guys in the area asking noobie questions. But Hunting and fishing is my passion and have been doing it my whole life. I really want to get a great set up to enjoy it and be successful up here. If you could just list me off things I need for a great affordable camp for my wife and I as well as what I need to hunt the animals up here I listed it would be greatly appreciated.

[Moose63]

Use the search command on this website and you'll find all you need...

[Bravepaw]

I did before this post and found a thread of camp set ups but it was mostly pictures but I'm looking for more details. In the mean time I'll take your advice and keep searching though.

[swampthing]

You can hunt with what you have. A slide in camper is great, I run one for certain trips. Get a good tent for rough access areas. ATVs are great but you dont need one. Some areas require a lot of driving and others require nothing other than walking out of camp. That rifle of yours will do as well. Camo patterns dont mean anything, if your boots are healthy use them. Most gear hunters have is luxery stuff. I have lots of it and could get by with little of it. A good backpack is required . I would rather carry a deer 500 yards than drag it. Go have fun.

[BiG Boar]

Below is a GEAR CHECK LIST I created to make sure I have everything I need when going out for a day hunt. I don't always bring the entire list, but its a good start, especially when you get stuck somehow. Remember, here in BC, if you get stuck out over night unprepared, you can die from exposure.

GEAR LIST Checklist for Day Trip
Stuff that comes with me when hunting

On my person or in pockets:

Gun
8 bullets and magazine full
wind checker bottle
S.P.O.T.
GPS
Digital camera
Rangefinder
Binoculars

In my small day pack:

Two heavy duty garbage bags (will work as game bags for pack out)
One large zip-loc bags with water proof or bic Lighter in it(for grouse, organs, etc)
20ft strong light cord
Choice of Jerky, instant oatmeal, instant soup, granola bars
500-1000ml water depending on availablity
Headlamp with all electronics using the same type of batteries so no extras needed
spotting scope
Short lightweight tripod
Compass
TP as marking tape
Olfa Knife w/one extra blade
Electrical tape wrapped around end of barrel
Small first aid kid w/ tenser bandage, butterfly and regular bandaids, gauze, Mole skin, coagulating powder, tylenol, tums, Space Blanket, krazy glue vial, medication
2 feet of duct tape rolled up (emergency fix)
rain poncho or packable rain gear
Tags w/ LEH's and gun registration
2 inch square of rubber inner tube (awesome firestarter even wet)


Optional gear (Check list to see if anything is needed prior to leaving):

Season appropriate Gloves
Season appropriate hat
Lightweight saw
Animal Scents
Game Calls
Snare wire
paperback novel
Sat. Phone
Spare socks
Shooting Stix
Hiking poles
Accessories for walking stick/hiking poles (rubber end caps)
Bear spray
Gaiters
water purification tabs (area pending)
trail cam
Sunglasses
Wet Wipes
Radios (for someone walking you into an animal)
camo face/bug net
Siltarp for overnight emergency, but have garbage bags also for emergency cover
Whiskey
Swiss army knife or multi tool
Camcorder
Dog tracking collars

If you print this out and keep it with you're gear you will never go without. Or save it into the notes section of your cell phone so you can check off the list and go hunting knowing you'll be okay.




Not neccesary if main list is brought

Knife sharpener – you got two olfa blades, easy to sharpen with a break off blade

Matches – bring a waterproof lighter or flint and steel as they are more reliable

spare batts – use all electronics with interchangeable batteries

extra knife – have extra olfa blades, weighs too much

extra headlamp – lights are a luxury, 1 is plenty

Spare Jacket or Hoodie – dress in wool layers before you leave

Bore snake and bore light – shoe lace or paracord will work to remove debris from barrel

Reflector vest – this isnt alberta

flagging tape – use tp as its bio degradable

Game bags cheese cloth – you’ve got two garbage bags
that will work to get your meat to camp

scalpal knife and blades (in case I get something worth mounting) – olfa will work in an emergency

hatchet – why not bring a chainsaw

keys – leave at camp or at truck under a rock

map – GPS and back up compass will get you to a road

can of spam – shoot a rat if you’re that hungry

tea light candles – rubber tubing is lighter and burns long as well

Whistle – something you should learn

A spoon – this isn’t a sit down dinner, drink your soup like a cup

Disposable rubber gloves – man up, its only blood, unless wolf hunting

stove and fuel A blue enamel mug - shouldn’t need for 1 day away from main camp

lens cloth – use your shirt, or just clean before you leave camp

sleeping bag – should have enough clothes to stay dry and warm next to a fire over night

survival kit in a can – your daypack is this

fishing line with 3 or 4 hooks – 20 days before you starve to death

[XPEIer]

Bravepaw, grab a good set of binos as you may be in a situation where you have to count points and the country is so large you will do a lot of glassing.
A slide in camper is fine, but then that takes your truck out of commision, a small tow behind may be a better bet.
Atv, great for getting a moose or elk out, but I have hunted for years without one.
Grab a 22 for grouse
Camo, not as important as some good wool clothing, your camo color will work anywhere.
GPS so you dont get lost

it may take years to acquire all that you need (and stuff you dont need, but it looks cool so you buy it), keep it basic to start and pick away at it.

xpeier

[BCBRAD]

Over the last 30yrs we went from sleeping in the canopy of the pick up to a wall tent, to a travel trailer, to a slide in camper, back to travel trailer, back to wall and specialty canvas tents. Today we use the Glacier and Yellowstone tents from Reliable tent in Billings Montana. All the gear will fit in a short box super cab truck, this includes; cots, table, tent, two sleeping bags, memory foam, cloths, cooler for food, air tight stove, chainsaw and gas, small propane stove and kitchen box. Two people can have this up and running in an hour. Excellent for week end hunts and there is still room for a moose (quartered). For longer outings we set up both tents and take a 16x6 cargo trailer for the additional stuff and a quad. The cargo trailer makes life easy. Everything excluding the quad comes in at around $12,000 if you bought it all at once. And you can use the cargo trailer for sleeping with a bit of outfitting for comfort. We like this set up and the two cots are tied together with the memory foam is super comfortable. Seen as we aren't responsible to carry a handgun in the bush , I would suggest buying 2 or 3 Dominion Backpacker shotguns for defense and grouse. They are cheap and with many you can have one at hand all the time.

[squamishhunter]

For boots, go with full leather (find sone with minimal stiching) and make sure they have a goretex lining. donr cheap on boots. your gun = bear repellant.

[Bravepaw]

The bear repellant was for when I go bow hunting. Can you carrying a defense shotgun while bow hunting? All this informations is great. I have a much clearer picture of whats needed. Thank you everyone for posting. So what's a good bang for the buck on a GPS?

[proguide66]

What county are you from? I spent some time in 'Lost River' a handfull years back.Hunted those rolling 'hills' , cool country , shitloads of deer and turkey and fox.

[416]

l started with a 2nd hand rifle, two wheel drive pick-up and an urge to hunt.....shot more game in my early years then l have with all the "have to have" gear l drag along now adays.

[kennyj]

l started with a 2nd hand rifle, two wheel drive pick-up and an urge to hunt.....shot more game in my early years then l have with all the "have to have" gear l drag along now adays.
X2
Keep it simple, go hunting.
kenny

[Bravepaw]

What county are you from? I spent some time in 'Lost River' a handfull years back.Hunted those rolling 'hills' , cool country , shitloads of deer and turkey and fox.

You where in Hardy County. If you think there was a lot of deer there try Mason county It's in the Ohio Valley. One of the most populated places in the world for whitetail. But I hunt in many counties and have hunted counties around Hardy county. I got to say I always am happy when I hear someones been to West Virginia and enjoyed there self. Not many people have been there if you weren't born there. If your ever there when I am I'll take you hunting on the Ohio river, home of some of the biggest whitetail.

[The Dude]

I wouuld also take a tow trailer over a piggyback. They're a pain in the ass to set up, and the acks always **** up, even the electric ones.
Camo boot patterns? Don't worry. The camo on your boots is irrelevant. There's lots of boot threads on here , you can read for days.
If you're used to still hunting with a long bow, don't bother with a quad. You can walk. Set up your trailer, find a good area, and walk, I saved you 12 Grand right there.
Get a good GPS, good boots, and a decent pack.
Binos are KEY in BC. Get a decent pair.

Do a few seasons, figure out what kind of hunting you wanna do. Sheep or goats is a whole new level of gear. Keep it simple early on.

[Allen50]

well what you need most to start out with is a big bank rool,, then go from there,,, lol lol,, lots of info on line here,, good luck with you and the family hunting,, cool,,,

[Steelpulse]

For Optics I would say Bushnell Trophy XLT line for Binoculars they are amazing, but for optics its really about buying the best you can afford not the best ones on the market, all do the job some better than others, can't go wrong with this line of binos though, for sure a spotting scope, lots of good ones comes down to personal preference same as range finders depends on what your going to do.

good luck W.V. nice place rolling hills great drive, east coast whitetails :-D

[akyne]

I wouuld also take a tow trailer over a piggyback. They're a pain in the ass to set up, and the acks always **** up, even the electric ones.
Camo boot patterns? Don't worry. The camo on your boots is irrelevant. There's lots of boot threads on here , you can read for days.
If you're used to still hunting with a long bow, don't bother with a quad. You can walk. Set up your trailer, find a good area, and walk, I saved you 12 Grand right there.
Get a good GPS, good boots, and a decent pack.
Binos are KEY in BC. Get a decent pair.

Do a few seasons, figure out what kind of hunting you wanna do. Sheep or goats is a whole new level of gear. Keep it simple early on.

This is some excellent advice. A small, used travel trailer can be found for fairly inexpensive and is easier to deal with in the long run. You can get off work, go home, be hooked up to the trailer in 2 minutes and be gone. Likewise, once you're at your campsite, all you have to do is unhook, flip out the awning, and it's miller time! The best part is, you still have your truck free if you want to fill it full of firewood, moose quarters etc. Campers are a lot less roomy, and you either have to spend a fair amount of time finding a perfectly level spot to drop a camper onto sawhorses, or you have to batten down the hatches every time you want to go anywhere in your truck. Granted, some spots are a little harder to get into towing a travel trailer, but given that the FSR network in BC is designed for logging rigs, a tacoma with a little trailer should be able to get in just about anywhere. I'm sure the diehard slide-in camper types are going to disagree with some of this, but having done it both ways myself, the trailer is just easier to deal with in almost every respect.

A quad is nice on certain occasions, but unnecessary. Spend your money on good footwear and the best binos you can afford, and start burning the shoe-leather. If you can't afford euro glass, don't worry, a $100 pair of Bushnells won't provide the same clarity, but they'll get you hunting. I have a $400 pair of Leupolds, and if that's as good as my glass gets in my lifetime, I'm not going to regret it.

[Brambles]

What kind of budget are you on?

Optics are #1, if you can't see em or determine they are legal then your screwed. I recommend the best Bino's you can afford and spotting scope too. 10x40 bino's are what a lot of guys are using. Vortex make some real good bino's that won't break the bank, can't recommend an exact model but someone will chime in. Swarovski, Zeiss and Leica are the best, you pay a premium, but you'll only have to do it once if you do it right.

Wall tents are nice, take a little set up time but are much lighter then a camper, or even a small trailer and you can still use the box of your truck. lots of options out there. Each system has its pro's and con's

Back pack, if your on a budget just get a camptrails pack or Cabela's pack frame. If you have a little money to spend get the Mystery Ranch Nice frame with a 6500 or 7500 bag.

Camo. I wouldn't be too worried about perfectly matching the surroundings, as long as your outline is broken up and isn't solid colors you'll do fine.

Tree stands, we don't use them nearly as much as you fella's south of the boarder. But if you have a situation or spot that the treestand will offer an advantage then use one, boring as hell though.

BOOTS ARE VERY IMPORTANT IN THIS COUNTRY, just go buy some Hanwag Alaska GTX and you'll be good for quite a while. If you have no quad you'll need them even more.

[kishman]

Probably been mentioned but, a good warm Sleeping Bag can be your best friend up here lol.

[barry1974w]

I'd go with a small travel trailer rather than a slide in camper, that way you can put your ATV and game in the back of the truck (if you get an ATV, they're great for recovery but I haven't hunted from one much). And get the best binoculars you can afford, decent seems to start at a few hundred bucks and go up to almost three grand. You might want to check prices south of the border and have people back home pick them up and send them to you as a gift.....

[Bravepaw]

My budget isn't set but I don't want to get too crazy. I haven't looked into pricing of trailers. I'll check them out. I thought slide ins were the way to do it before because all the pics I seen on the camp set up thread, as well as I see them all over the roads up here. So its easier to go up logging roads with a truck and a trailer? personally I'd get by sleeping in the back of my truck bed but my wife ain't having that.