I'm starting a British Columbia Hunting Mentor Program

To change direction here a bit I will point out a few things those seeking guidance should be aware of based on my 30+ years mentoring new-comers.


Showing up to hunt with a rifle that won't hit what you are aiming at will upset both you and your host. And no .... having the guy at the gun store bore-sight your rifle for 200 yards does not constitute "sighting-in". While I usually take a newbie rifle hunter to the local gravel pit to ensure his or her rifle is hitting point of aim - and to see for myself their shooting abilities - I don't want it to turn into a 30-40 round marathon.

Practise your shooting before the hunt. It doesn't matter if you are hunting big game, small game with a 22, or wingshooting you must be able to show a little bit of ability.

Think Safety! The first time you scratch your chin in the goose blind with the muzzle of your loaded shotgun or sweep someone with any sort of firearm you will be sent home.

Bring good footwear suited to your activity. (Ask your host for advice if unsure) I had one young fellow show up for a 5 day horseback hunt into the mountains wearing a pair of sneakers with nothing for backup. This also hold for clothing. You must have proper gear to wear that should match the conditions you may encounter. This doesn't mean the latest or greatest camo or hi-tech material just good solid serviceable clothing.

As was mentioned earlier on this thread a lot of what you will be learning is the "where" to hunt. If you really want to piss off your mentor show up a week or year later with all your hunting buddies and hunt the spots you were shown.

Avoid getting into religious and/or political discussions . I once had a young fellow - who I had put up in my home for 4 days - denounce my brand of Christianity as were were loading his gear and dead animals into his vehicle at the end of the hunt. He was never invited back even though he phoned me several times the next year. For what it's worth I am RC and he was some flavour of Evangelical. ;)
 
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this sounds like an awesome idea!!, i`ve been hunting with the same guy for a few seasons now on the island, but i`m slowly seeing the ways and methods he uses arent exactly proper or ethical at times, would love to get into a different region, with someone more experienced and learning so new ways !
 
'Boo said:
To change direction here a bit I will point out a few things those seeking guidance should be aware of based on my 30+ years mentoring new-comers.


Showing up to hunt with a rifle that won't hit what you are aiming at will upset both you and your host. And no .... having the guy at the gun store bore-sight your rifle for 200 yards does not constitute "sighting-in". While I usually take a newbie rifle hunter to the local gravel pit to ensure his or her rifle is hitting point of aim - and to see for myself their shooting abilities - I don't want it to turn into a 30-40 round marathon.

Practise your shooting before the hunt. It doesn't matter if you are hunting big game, small game with a 22, or wingshooting you must be able to show a little bit of ability.

Think Safety! The first time you scratch your chin in the goose blind with the muzzle of your loaded shotgun or sweep someone with any sort of firearm you will be sent home.

Bring good footwear suited to your activity. (Ask your host for advice if unsure) I had one young fellow show up for a 5 day horseback hunt into the mountains wearing a pair of sneakers with nothing for backup. This also hold for clothing. You must have proper gear to wear that should match the conditions you may encounter. This doesn't mean the latest or greatest camo or hi-tech material just good solid serviceable clothing.

As was mentioned earlier on this thread a lot of what you will be learning is the "where" to hunt. If you really want to piss off your mentor show up a week or year later with all your hunting buddies and hunt the spots you were shown.

Avoid getting into religious and/or political discussions . I once had a young fellow - who I had put up in my home for 4 days - denounce my brand of Christianity as were were loading his gear and dead animals into his vehicle at the end of the hunt. He was never invited back even though he phoned me several times the next year. For what it's worth I am RC and he was some flavour of Evangelical. ;)
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Excellent advice here. Pay attention, newbies.

The points that give me the most pause, as a potential mentor, are "think safety" and "where to hunt". Safety always comes first, of course. I have had one very close call and that was enough for me (and the firearm operator, I hope).

Regarding "where" to hunt... well it is always a concern taking people into honey holes, even if you know them fairly well. When you are taking Joe Schmoe from an internet forum into your hunting spots, well... let's just say I'd be inclined to take them to a spot I have never hunted. Good habitat isn't that difficult to find.

In fact, I'd be tempted to have the person over to my place and show them how to find good habitat using Google Earth. Help them choose a good area and then take them out there. If it is a good spot, then good for the new hunter. Set an example by letting him/her have that area.
 
Chefhunter said:
I've got my bc hunter card, and I'm mostly interested in small game, birds and deer and eventually elk.
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It's waterfowl season right now. I may get an argument here from dedicated snowshoe hare hunters here, but I contend that BC is not a good small game province. Grouse and waterfowl, yes, but really, I don't think hunting small game is worth the effort.
 
MD said:
I may get an argument here from dedicated snowshoe hare hunters here, but I contend that BC is not a good small game province. Grouse and waterfowl, yes, but really, I don't think hunting small game is worth the effort.
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Ha!

This is a joke, right?

If you ever want to limit out on snowshoe hares, come for a visit in the Loops.

A few hours of exercise and 10 pounds of meat, while hunting in complete tranquility... worth it for me!
 
ironsighter said:
Ha!

This is a joke, right?

If you ever want to limit out on snowshoe hares, come for a visit in the Loops.

A few hours of exercise and 10 pounds of meat, while hunting in complete tranquility... worth it for me!
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I knew you'd respond. That's why I said I'd get an argument. I've seen your posts about hare hunting. Not criticizing you, but that's not for all of us.

We don't all live in Kamloops.

Just not cost effective for me living in Vancouver.

But I'm not big on that kind of hunting anyway; don' t even bother with grouse any more. I do lots of waterfowling after big game season.
 
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ironsighter said:
Ha!

This is a joke, right?

If you ever want to limit out on snowshoe hares, come for a visit in the Loops.

A few hours of exercise and 10 pounds of meat, while hunting in complete tranquility... worth it for me!
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When I get the money for proper gear, do you mind if i look you up? I love Rabbit meat :) and yes i know the strict guys say hare :)
 
we do indeed have a great many hunting opportunities outside of ungulates, such as the small game mentioned as well as coyote, wolf ect.
I'd love to hunt ducks and geese but that kind of shotgun work is a no go for me due to previous injuries in the work place :(

I'm liking the enthusiasm in this thread and also the many messages I am getting. Again, I may not respond to all of you till after the new year.

As for how I'm going to handle the folks I personally take out......
I'm thinking some meet and greet days in a good , kinda outta the way crown land shooting spot.... so , not little Iraq hahaha (Sylvester road)
firearms handling, questions and answers and just socializing while we set up random distance targets and we do some shooting/sighting in.
I'll have binoculars, spotting scope, range finder ect and we can discuss their use and benefits afield.
Discussions on ethics, safety, gear choices, hunting areas and many other topics will get addressed during such days.

I was fortunate enough to have had a core instructor who took a keen interest in giving us extra info on top of the minimum course content. I'd like to keep with that and kind of pick up from where the core course ends. So, with that said, all you new hunters wanting to get involved, start making your list of questions in a little notepad that will accompany you when you meet up with your mentor ;)

that's it for now.... feel free to discuss
 
45ACPKING and 'Boo are great stand-up generous helpful men. Pay attention to what they write here.
 
I suggest you contact Alberta Hunter Education Instructors Associations in regards to their Hunters For Tomorrow mentoring program.

Chuck Strong ~ chuck@aheia.com He would be more than capable to provide the person you should contact.

You can say I referred you Don Fox ~ donfox1@telus.net
 
Gatehouse said:
I've never been much of a bunny hunter, so I never knew about that. Good info.
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That is one of the first things I learned when I was 9 or 10 years old. I was fortunate that a Cree Elder - the uncle of friend of mine - took me under his wing and taught me how to survive in the bush when he noticed I had an interest in such things. That gentleman taught me how to snare and trap hares, beaver, muskrats, and otters. He also taught me to set gill nets under the ice when he saw I had a strong back and weak mind. ;) LoL

MD said:
45ACPKING and 'Boo are great stand-up generous helpful men. Pay attention to what they write here.
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Thanks MD. Coming from you that is a great compliment.
 
MD said:
I knew you'd respond. That's why I said I'd get an argument. I've seen your posts about hare hunting. Not criticizing you, but that's not for all of us.

We don't all live in Kamloops.

Just not cost effective for me living in Vancouver.

But I'm not big on that kind of hunting anyway; don' t even bother with grouse any more. I do lots of waterfowling after big game season.
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Not arguing, just pointing out a different perspective. You live in Vancouver, but made a generalization about small game hunting in BC. You are a bit biased, as am I being from Kamloops.

Personally, I'd much rather eat hares than ducks. Good for both of us that there is so much choice in BC.
 
AbdullahD said:
When I get the money for proper gear, do you mind if i look you up? I love Rabbit meat :) and yes i know the strict guys say hare :)
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Sure.

Not much gear required. A .22 and a backpack. For winter, throw in some snowshoes.

As mentioned, gloves are a very good idea. I always have a huge supply of disposable surgical gloves with me for cleaning hares. I don't wear a mask, though.

Having said all that, I do not believe I have ever shot a hare in BC that had tularemia. For a while, I thought I had, but upon further research I concluded that the hares had liver flukes, not tularemia.

A buddy of mine who also hunts hares never uses gloves, and laughs at me when I put them on. He has apparently never seen signs of tularemia either. Still, I wear them because well... an ounce of prevention.... (plus, cleanup is much easier).
 
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That makes me think...Terrain around here isn't that condusive to hare hunting but they are around. I think it's legal to snare hares with just a BCHL so maybe that's something to look at.
 
Mad-Don said:
I suggest you contact Alberta Hunter Education Instructors Associations in regards to their Hunters For Tomorrow mentoring program.

Chuck Strong ~ chuck@aheia.com He would be more than capable to provide the person you should contact.

You can say I referred you Don Fox ~ donfox1@telus.net
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Thx for the input but this thread only applies to BC.
Also, I am not affiliating myself with anyone or any organizations, this is just gonna be hunters, helping other hunters, nothing more, nothing less ;)
I'd like to keep this within the confines of our fellow CGN'ers , here in BC
I'd certainly encourage guys from other provinces to start or get involved in mentor programs within their home provinces. ;)
 
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I think this is awesome..... I have hunted all over Canada, and each province has its merits.... BC is likely the best....

But when it comes down to the basics, every province has something for entry level....

I can do this as well for anyone in Ontario as well.....

But what a great opportunity for the bc guys.... Heck, if I could I would sneak in and pretend to be a newb.... Lol
 
ironsighter said:
I agree 100% with you and the others who are singing the praises of small game hunting. All newbies should start this way, IMO. Years later, even after getting a taste of big game hunting, they will still enjoy a sunny day in January with a pair of snowshoes and a .22, or early fall mornings finding grouse along the roads.

When first reading this thread, I thought about offering to take some newbies out and show them how to hunt snowshoe hares (if there is one species I am very good at hunting, it's hares), but I thought it would be a waste of time to offer that, because so few people are interested in hunting them. They are still one of my favourite animals to hunt.

Ridiculously long season, generous bag limit, great eating. What's the downside?
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Hunting hares! Awesome idea. Never done it before. Well, it,s my third season.... Not too much luck... Would love to learn.Would join you any time. Cheers.
 
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