Small animal to hunt near Coquitlam

[marcom82]

Hi team,

I have recently obtained my FWID and now I am ready to get a license and go hunt. I have two small kids that require my attention at night, so I can only go on day trips, up to 2 hours drive from Coquitlam. I would like to start with some small animal that can be eaten (it doesn't have to be the best meat, I am just not into trophy hunting). I also would like to start ASAP, so I get experienced going out, hunting, skinning etc.

Is there an animal and general area that you recommend me to go this spring and summer? The best I could come up with is grey squirrel, but AFAIK they usually live near the cities, where firearm discharge is not allowed. I have a .22 rifle and a 12ga shotgun.

Thank you for your help!

Marco

[Woodchuck Dan]

Hi Marco,

Welcome! I'm sure there are many folks on here with kids who can related to having limited time to spend hunting.

You don't have the greatest timing I'm afraid. Unless I am mistaken there is no small game currently open in your region. (Region 2)

Open seasons:
Rabbits - August
Grouse - September

Squirrels I believe there is no open season in your area. I know over here in the Kootenays (Region 4) they have an unlimited open season if you are on your own property.


A little bit of patience is going to be required while we work our way through the early part of the spring/summer. If you are interested in hunting deer, it's a great idea to start going into the woods to scout for animals - You could start researching this and doing day trips.

Hope this helps

[N¡ck]

No closed season for grey squirrels in bc. I don't even think you need a hunting license for them I think.

[N¡ck]

https://www.google.ca/url?sa=t&sourc...g1tmKQJxmZo_A9

[MichelD]

Not to be critical of you or anyone else, but this isn't Nova Scotia.

I understand the desire to start out small, but other than grouse and snowshoe hares, which don't open until August 1, BC is just not small game country. Trying to break into hunting by hunting grouse will cost you a lot of gas for every grouse you see.

We don't have huntable rabbits. Like I said what a lot of people call "rabbits" are hares. Kinda like calling donkeys horses, but whatever.

And snowshoe hares live higher up in elevation than the coast and you rarely see them at mid-day anyway, only at the last half-hour of light.

[brian]

Look up schedule C animals.

grey squirrels, American bullfrogs, eastern cottontails, feral pigs. All are no closed season and no bag limit.

[RBH]

There are eastern cottontails on the east coast of Vancouver Island. Also European rabbits. They are listed under Schedule C of the BC Wildlife Act and may be hunted without a hunting license.

[shortrange]

Silver Skagit Road has lots of rabbits and some hares. Just walk along the road near sunset. Also Skagit Valley Park allows hunting. Just be careful as there are lots of campers along the river in summer. You can harvest rabbits starting August 1.