Alberta vs British Columbia.... goods and bads about hunting

[MiG25]

i would rank it like this:

alberta has the edge in deer hunting.

elk, moose, and black bear are a tie.

bc wins on sheep, goat, grizzly, and caribou.

alberta wins on antelope and on bison as well.

 

[crazy_davey]

Yes by draw I meant Tie, as you can see in my post two page ago. And I would probably give the edge to BC(splitting hairs here) in the mule deer hunting department but its close, and yes I know what the mule deer hunting is like in AB, I do it every year(still waiting for my draw in 166).

I think all of the hunting is close between the two provinces with Alberta having the edge in some areas and BC in other areas.

Ivo

So do I. I would say you are splitting a very fine hair there.

 

[eltorro]

what are the animals that can only be hunted if succesful in a draw?
Like Moose in Ontario. Partial though, as one gets a calf tag over the counter when aplying for the adults....

 

[grouseman]

alberta hands down...

 

[KyleM]

Just remember, Alberta has the old "no sunday hunting" law still on the books for most areas of the province (basically everything south of about Whitecourt), while BC is a 7 day a week proposition.

 

[beretta boy]

Been to both, hunted/fished and did some work in both.

Both are recreation resource rich. Damn poor sal####er fishing in Alberta though. Upland game & waterfowl - Alberta has a distinct edge. Horned game & fishing opportunity - B.C., but it just ain't as easy to get there from anywhere. Alberta travels pretty good.

If I had the chance, I would prefer to live in SW Alberta. More than enough deer hunting for me, plus trout fishing on the Bow, Oldman, Crowsnest Castle and the waters along the southern sections of the Forestry Trunk Road. In short, Andy Russell's part of the world.

If it were steelhead, salmon & other antlered game that interested me most... BC would win out.

Both are pretty exciting places for an Ontario flatlander. Wouldn't want
to live on the prairie ... parklands/boreal/mountains more to my liking, with
the foothills being 1st Choice. l

 

[stewarch]

You can have a great hunt without ever pulling a trigger.

Thanks for the well thought out post. And I really agree with the above quote - the more so as I grow older. I've taken good sized trophies of pretty well every north american species and now all I want is a good camp with some close friends and the time to sit around and talk about the day!! And if that day has included stalking some heavy timber or climbing a little mountain, then all the better.

I worry some times that many younger hunters seem so eager to blast something, that they forget what it really is all about. I hope they live to learn more about our fine sport of "hunting" and forget about so much "shooting".

Just my humble opinion.

 

[popcan]

some random thoughts:

It won't be too long before BC catches up to the rest of the country for White tails.... if that matters.

I really admire the Albertans for their political will, they seem to have it figured out... and AB has a little of everything except an ocean.

Cost of living - not sure how it compares, but "the patch" is making a lot of people rich.

I don't have the experience, but I guess it could be a very different kind of hunting in the two provinces, due to the kind of terrain? I found it weird to see deer standing out in the open on a zillion acres of stubble in Alberta. You'd be deer hunting with a carbine in some of the dense BC woods, but in AB you'd be looking at a long stalk or a long shot.

 

[Foxer]

I don't have the experience, but I guess it could be a very different kind of hunting in the two provinces, due to the kind of terrain? I found it weird to see deer standing out in the open on a zillion acres of stubble in Alberta. You'd be deer hunting with a carbine in some of the dense BC woods, but in AB you'd be looking at a long stalk or a long shot.

there's a little of both in both places, depending where you go. Similar - not the same entirely, you won't find rainforests in alberta, nor will you find those massive tracts of flat land in bc, but some very similar stuff.

To a degree, the whole debate is about the 1 percent difference, ignoring the 99 percent similarities. Both places offer very diverse terrain and a plethora of animals.

 

[aulrich]

Comparing living in Vancouver to living in Calgary for a weekend warior like me even without Sunday hunting everything I want to hunt is an easy daytrip. when I lived in Vancouver it was like I had to drive 3 hour just to get to the hunting areas. It seemed like you had to get past either Pemberton or Hope. So access is easier and quicker, sometimes access can be a problem but it seems to be more localized. I do miss the foresty camp sites that dot BC makes up for the distance you had to drive. As a newbie I found finding hunting parters easier in Alberta but that could have been just fluke.

Fishing is probably better in BC but I have probably fished more in Alberta just because I have quick access to the Bow (front door to fishing in 5-10 min)

And for those that think prarrie hunting is all flat you need to go for coulie county mule deer there is enough up and down you would think your sheep hunting.

Then there are coyotes and gophers a wealth of oppritunity in an hour or 2 drive from home.

 

[Pudelpointer]

Alberta or BC?

Well, I tried not to get involved in this debate, but someone seems to be pushing me in. So here's my 2 cents:

I hunted all over BC for more than 20 years, everywhere except the Peace (save a moose hunting trip in Buckinghorse), and I can honestly say that except for a fabulous Stone sheep hunt where we saw +-150 sheep in 8 days, that Alberta is far ahead of BC in quality and quantity of game (minor and major exceptions of course).

Bird Hunting: BC does not even rate - Pheasants, Hungarian Partridge, 4 types of grouse, and grain fed waterfowl the likes of which you cannot imagine if you are from BC. BC only wins in the Wild Turkey department.

Deer Hunting: If yearlings turn you on, then BC is awsome. For those who like a challenge (ie. more than 2 points), Alberta is unreal for both Whitetails and especially Mulies in the south (100% on draw).

Moose: Well, if you can get a draw, the moose are there for the taking in Alberta, from the Rockies all the way to Medicine Hat. BC is probably a little better in this regard.

No Antelope in BC. Almost no Goats in Alberta (once in a lifetime -not kidding- draw opportunity). No thinhorn sheep either.

Bighorn Sheep, well, I am planning on heading out in AB this year, so I'll let you know. But think about this; The Sheep season opens on August 25th and runs until October 25th (almost everywhere) the entire length of the Rockies! There are very few draws, and most of these are for hunting late season. I put in for sheep in BC for 20 years and never drew once!

The best thing about Alberta is the draw system - you build priority until you get drawn (or want to get drawn) and you can pretty much plan your hunting regarding draws before you even apply. No people with "reduced odds" getting drawn while you sit out another season, the 4th or 5th in a row.

Gotta run,

Ian

 

[Calum]

There is no game in BC! Dont come here! Besides our mountains will kill your lazy asses.

+2

Also good post Foxer...

I guess it boils down to this - love where you live, and love to get to know it. If you do that - the hunting will ALWAYS be good.

 

[Pudelpointer]

As I was saying......

The big advantage in BC is accessable public land, hunt anywhere, camp anywhere, etc. Unless you head towards the mountains or the boreal your usually on private land in Alberta. I have rarely been refused access to hunt, but then I usually ask nicely and follow the rules that landowners set out, but there are definately a lot of landowners who will refuse access, especially near any of the urban centers.

The biggest advantage for AB: freakin' 2 month bow season for any 3 point or cow/calf elk and any mulie or wt deer! I know, I know, this a gun site but I love to bow hunt. If I were a rifle hunter I would rather be in BC.

Hunting is about the place, the animals, and the experience. It is all good.

Cheers

 

[dw]

Thanks Ian....I knew with a gentle push you would speak up.
:beerchug: