Slipping into the purple in a sea of yellow (on IMapBC)

[grouse14]

I’m just wondering what’s the consensus on hunting small parcels of crown around lots of private land.

I hunted a season in Ontario for resident whitetails on crown land and I would find small parcels sometimes less than an acre or hectare square (~ some around 400 m square) to hunt. These parcels are often surrounded on all sides by private yet and quite busy. On the busiest day if you slammed a car door in the parking lot around 4-5 active hunters would hear it.

This sort of practice is common and acceptable out east, though I can’t say I’ve heard or seen anyone do it in BC.

Would like to hear your guys thoughts as I’m considering doing this to be able to hunt closer to town after school.

[LBM]

I’m just wondering what’s the consensus on hunting small parcels of crown around lots of private land.

I hunted a season in Ontario for resident whitetails on crown land and I would find small parcels sometimes less than an acre or hectare square (~ some around 400 m square) to hunt. These parcels are often surrounded on all sides by private yet and quite busy. On the busiest day if you slammed a car door in the parking lot around 4-5 active hunters would hear it.

This sort of practice is common and acceptable out east, though I can’t say I’ve heard or seen anyone do it in BC.

Would like to hear your guys thoughts as I’m considering doing this to be able to hunt closer to town after school.

If small parcels one has to really think about were the bullet could end up and also the animal after being shot if runs
could end up on private land.

[lovemywinchester]

Some of the best hunting is right on the outskirts of town, I got a big buck in such a parcel this year. It's either legal, or it's not. Remember that you must be 100m from the nearest dwelling, even on crown land (firearms).

Be prepared to potentially have to deal with an upset dog walker, although everyone I've encountered has been friendly and wished me luck.

This is the biggest issue. People take ownership of crown land nearby their places. Just try and be polite and ignore them.

Before I become a complete hypocrite, I do the same thing with some crown beside my house. I live in a community with small slivers of crown between the road and river. I have had to "encourage" guys to remove their 5th wheels after they decide it would be a great place to live instead of using the public camping with a toilet 500 m down the road. Nothing like trying to have a coffee in the morning on the deck when some guy steps out of his rat infested camper and tales a leak as the school bus goes by.

I had a run ins this fall with a lady on horseback riding an old skidder road in crown close to their property. There is a small road access in and a few old clearcuts. They will say things like "I don't think you can hunt here" or "we ride here" or "you are too close to the road" or " I have dogs following me ". All you can do is be polite and inform them of the actual rules. I pay the government for the right to hunt that land so i will hunt it. I saw her on a Sunday and went back after work Wednesday to put a few cams out and they actually took equipment and moved a bunch of logs into the road to stop entry. I could still go around so I have been. I haven't got any good deer on cam so I haven't been pounding it in there but it adds a level of stress to your hunting knowing you may have to deal with an equestrian Karen. Especially after a few years of every rural property owner watching Yellowstone!

[KootenayKiller]

What really pisses me off is people putting up no hunting signs on crown land. I make a point of hunting these parcels.

This should be punished similar to trespassing. See a lot of this in EK.

[Ron.C]

I've hunted several such areas near my home. Some present very good bow hunting opportunities. Definitely need to be a little more aware of your surroundings as you never know when other users can appear.

I'm always respectful of other users and initiate conversations with them whenever the opportunity arises. I look at it as an opportunity to educate "non hunters". Very rare that I have any problems (when I have it was with other hunters because I have beaten them to "their" spot) and I always have my cell handy to document, just in case.

All that said, it only takes one idiot acting dangerously to screw it up for everyone.

good luck, happy hunting.

[Vortex hunter]

This is the biggest issue. People take ownership of crown land nearby their places. Just try and be polite and ignore them.

Before I become a complete hypocrite, I do the same thing with some crown beside my house. I live in a community with small slivers of crown between the road and river. I have had to "encourage" guys to remove their 5th wheels after they decide it would be a great place to live instead of using the public camping with a toilet 500 m down the road. Nothing like trying to have a coffee in the morning on the deck when some guy steps out of his rat infested camper and tales a leak as the school bus goes by.

I had a run ins this fall with a lady on horseback riding an old skidder road in crown close to their property. There is a small road access in and a few old clearcuts. They will say things like "I don't think you can hunt here" or "we ride here" or "you are too close to the road" or " I have dogs following me ". All you can do is be polite and inform them of the actual rules. I pay the government for the right to hunt that land so i will hunt it. I saw her on a Sunday and went back after work Wednesday to put a few cams out and they actually took equipment and moved a bunch of logs into the road to stop entry. I could still go around so I have been. I haven't got any good deer on cam so I haven't been pounding it in there but it adds a level of stress to your hunting knowing you may have to deal with an equestrian Karen. Especially after a few years of every rural property owner watching Yellowstone!

Love that comment sir about Yellowstone lol

[mike31154]

My folks lived in Okanagan Falls & I often traveled the east side road along Skaha Lake vs taking Hwy 97. According to the regulations it's a shotgun only zone & you may hunt waterfowl on the lake. I've never seen anyone actually hunt the area though & would be reluctant to do so myself. Too many properties dotting the shore.

The other day I was in 3-12 & was surprised to see a few sections of private land up there. I had a Backroads Map with me otherwise I might not have known about them. It's relatively remote but there's also a major power line with a 'no stopping zone, overhead hazard' along the FSR. A small spur branches off the left with a no trespassing sign, I'm assuming it's a ranch. The Douglas Lake Ranch is also in 3-12, a huge parcel of private ranch land.