Many BC hunting seasons will end with hunters being locked out of the bush, because of the severe danger of forest fires. This is the worst year for that, that I can ever remember. Of course, I can't remember another summer when BC had such a long period of extreme hot and dry weather.
Tough year for BC hunters
- Thread starter H4831
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Yes sir. Im in Invermere right now and holy is it a hot one. Very smokey for a few days and then it clears right up. A was drawn for muledeer back home and thank god there is no hunting ban for us Saskatchwanies.
My sympathies for the folks missing out on hunting, and my respect for the other brothers and sisters working hard on the fire departments.
My sympathies for the folks missing out on hunting, and my respect for the other brothers and sisters working hard on the fire departments.
The interior is getting hammered for sure. West of Prince George we are doing OK for now. Wet, cold and lush vegetation at this point. The huckleberries got hammered by a mid June killing frost but everything else is as it should be. So far so good. That can change in one week if it gets hot enough and no rain in this part of BC. There is still a month of prime fire season left so fingers crossed. Just talked to friends in Horse Lake (near 100 Mile) who are on alert and there is still a chance they could get burned out. Everyone around here has personal fire suppression gear and we are water front property but, like most rural people, are watching the interior and wondering if we are next. The fire fighters have been incredible and many people owe them their houses.
Steve, most of the mainland of BC is closed tight, to any kind of use, or travel. There is no relief in sight for the extreme dry and hot weather, so in almost all areas, every kind of hunting except the very late hunts, hunting is over for this year.
The forest workers and related jobs have lost their lively hood, so do you think they are going to sit back and watch the hunters have their fun?
I take it you have never seen BC loggers riled up!
As a point of interest, the two major fires that consumed much of the Shuswap area in 1974 and 1995, were both in late September of the year.
Bruce
Why would loggers care about hunters in the woods after fire danger has passed ? August and September hunts may be problematic depending on your location, but we still have October, November and December.
Much of BC Backcountry was closed in 2003. The closure lasted only until Sept 12.
Much of BC Backcountry was closed in 2003. The closure lasted only until Sept 12.
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I live in Region 3 and the loggers are hauling again and most areas in the bush are still open to recreational use... Not sure where you are saying things are closed other than areas immediately surrounding the large fires and a couple provincial/national parks.
Still logging in Reg 2 as well. They just work early and shut down early. Then there is a fire watch.
Region 3 is a huge area. The Shuswap, part of Region 3, is locked up tight, no one gets in the bush.
Going to edit this, to point out a couple of exceptions to the forest being locked up tight.
A grandson works for BC Hydro and recent storms has blown a lot of trees down. They have been working overtime and steady, to keep the power on for various areas.
Another grand son is a machine operator in the bush and they have been working at higher elevations where it is cooler and damper and not deemed necessary to close the bush in those areas.
So my own grand sons showed that I didn't cover enough ground! Sorry.
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And when the closures are lifted, there will still be a couple of months of hunting season. Just like in 2003 when the closures ended mid September.
