Elk Hunting in the Dawson Creek Area

[JcNemo]

I have been hunting for serval years now and luckily, I met a lot of guys from Hunting BC and also from different hunting trips. They taught me how to hunt and some also even take me to their own hunting spots, so I really appreciate of that. I have hunted many different animals; however, I am having issues to get an elk.

In most areas, elk need to be 6 points. That is a big problem. I have issues counting the points, it is so hard to count. Normally speaking, it takes me more than 10-20 minutes to count, and even then, I can't be sure. My friends told me to take a picture, then count the points on the picture, but still, it is hard.

My other friend has very good success rate on 6 points. However, it requires walk up to the mountain like 10-20 km into the woods. Then once he shoot the elk, he has to carry it out by foot. I am a bit worried about my physical abilities, so I haven't go with him yet.

Anyway, I have been researching where to hunt elk in BC. It seems the Dawson creek area has high density of elks, and most importantly, they allow to shoot 3 points bull and antlerless. The season for the antlerless is Sep.15 to Oct.15. That is a month long. my question is, when should I go there? Should I go there on beginning of the cow season? middle of cow season? or at the end? Also, are there a lot of hunters there at that time? I heard it can be busy during the cow season. I am thinking about to go there this fall. any comment is appreciate it.

[wallz]

You have to remember that VERY few areas are open to the 3 point or cow in relation to the rest, so YES is is VERY BUSY. Many have the idea that it is an easy hunt because its 3 point. You still have to find them.

The best advice I can give is learn to call them. My first year after learning to call elk I had a 5 point come in to 20 yards and actually walk by me. I was in a 6 pt zone, so have some great phone footage of the ordeal. The 2nd year I was able to call a 6x6 to less than 30m, and ended up shooting him. What was real interesting I also had a 5x5 come in to my challenge, and he was about 50m out. So two elk coming in at the same time. That experience is hard to beat in a lifetime.

LEARN to call! When you get them in close it is MUCH easier to count to the required 6 points.

[squeege]

The peace region sucks stay away. There are lots of hunters up here but there are lots of places to go. I would recommend watching the millions of available videos on Youtube regarding elk calling. Primos has many good videos. As Wallz says, learning to call will make a huge difference. I use to think elk hunting was hard but once you learn how to call and figure out how their brains work, they are actually fairly easy to be hunt and be successful. Just takes time and patience and lots and lots of miles.

[chinooker]

Spend the $$ and buy good optics they are worth their weight in gold when it comes to antler restrictions. Cheap binos aren’t good and good ones aren’t cheap.

[HappyJack]

Practice counting so you are faster at it. Wait till you try to count on a bull moose at 200 yards when it's in the willows!! Elk are easy to count if you're not slow.

I've heard elk hunting is better in the Kootenays anyways, but if you go north check out the Del Rio, it's the place to hunt moose and elk Jackfish lake is prime!!

[KodiakHntr]

I've heard elk hunting is better in the Kootenays anyways, but if you go north check out the Del Rio, it's the place to hunt moose and elk Jackfish lake is prime!!

Del Rio *used* to be a good spot, till it got burned by guys talking about it on the internet… Now its camp after camp of guys anywhere that you can set up a tent for most of the fall.

[grouse14]

If you’re questioning your physical abilities to find and retrieve an elk it’s probably not for you, unless you have private land or a few buddies to help out. My first bull ended up being 10x more physically demanding than I expected. Try imagine carrying an awkward 80lbs through dense and snaggy brush at midnight. Dragging a deer 200 m down a cut block is easier

[moosinaround]

Del Rio *used* to be a good spot, till it got burned by guys talking about it on the internet… Now its camp after camp of guys anywhere that you can set up a tent for most of the fall.

Not just a couple guys per camp, dozens per camp!! Last time I was up there, it was a phuckin shit show!! moosin

[JcNemo]

You have to remember that VERY few areas are open to the 3 point or cow in relation to the rest, so YES is is VERY BUSY. Many have the idea that it is an easy hunt because its 3 point. You still have to find them.

The best advice I can give is learn to call them. My first year after learning to call elk I had a 5 point come in to 20 yards and actually walk by me. I was in a 6 pt zone, so have some great phone footage of the ordeal. The 2nd year I was able to call a 6x6 to less than 30m, and ended up shooting him. What was real interesting I also had a 5x5 come in to my challenge, and he was about 50m out. So two elk coming in at the same time. That experience is hard to beat in a lifetime.

LEARN to call! When you get them in close it is MUCH easier to count to the required 6 points.

From Sep.15 to Oct.15, do you now when it is a good time to go? Or it doesn't really matter or temperature depend? I never been to Dawson creek area, but heard a lot about it, so I am currently planning to go there and enjoy some outdoor and check things out.

[JcNemo]

Practice counting so you are faster at it. Wait till you try to count on a bull moose at 200 yards when it's in the willows!! Elk are easy to count if you're not slow.

I've heard elk hunting is better in the Kootenays anyways, but if you go north check out the Del Rio, it's the place to hunt moose and elk Jackfish lake is prime!!

I give up counting on bull moose, to hard. I'll just do the LEH draw for bulls. If I win, then I go shoot a bull. If I don't win the LEH, then I am not even going to try for the moose.

In Kootenays, I have seen hundreds of elks, but they are all 6 points or less, or at least, I haven't got enough time to find a 6 point yet, lol.