Blacktail on the Islands

1899 , we met a group of local first nations staying at the helene long house and got invited for a meal after we helped them get their truck full of firewood thru the logs the tide had dropped in the way of the trail in. We ended up crashing in the day use hut at Agate beach for a week LOL the folks caretaking the area said we may as well use it as a cabin for the week as the season was over for them.
razor clams, crabs and scallops were indeed an amazing thing sided with mini deer tenderloins and potatos.
I have never been so glad I bought a camp chef oven as I was on that trip hehehehe.

would actually be fun to organize a group trip and get everyone to stay at the helene river camp ground. I'm definitely bringing the atv next time I go.
 
c-fbmi said:
What do they look like? I'm not a salt water boy at all, don't know the first thing about all these critters except they are exceptional to eat.

I doubt it will be as simple as sitting on the beach and blasting away, as I want a good buck for mounting. Gotta represent the species in my "boys" room. Would also like a mainland buck as well for mounting.
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Be careful about shellfish - there are only a few openings. Only Razor clams on the North Shore and a few other places are open for Horse clams and Goeduck. That is it. Check in with Fisheries in Queen Charlotte City or in Masset. You will need a tidal fishing license.
 
When I was on VI recently, I saw signs at several beaches warning against eating any shellfish, due to Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning. What's the deal there? Is it very localized, or a widespread problem?

(Forgive the hijack!)
 
Silverado said:
When I was on VI recently, I saw signs at several beaches warning against eating any shellfish, due to Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning. What's the deal there? Is it very localized, or a widespread problem?

(Forgive the hijack!)
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PSP and DSP are caused by various algae blooms. I talked at length to DFO and have read some research papers on the topic. My take on it: there are not enough resources to test everywhere regularly so the available resources are targeted. In the tested areas they will open whatever they think is safe and everything else is closed. That's my personal view from what I have heard and read.

People should be careful. I've suffered from the initial stages of PSP - numb lips and tongue. And that was at a well known oyster house. Maybe it was the ice cold vodka chasers. I can't remember. ;)
 
I just got back after a delayed return...
My second trip.
My thoughts:
1) head shots only- ranges are usually close and they hang around so your not rushed, there just isn't enough meat to waste.
2) they were rutting when I was there (first week in Nov.).
3) IF your going to use a boat you better know the chuck; it is not to be underestimated as it can kill you. I would rather have an aluminum skiff over an inflatable but that's me (lots of sharp rock over there).
4) Expect to get wet- everything is wet everywhere all the time.
5) You are at the mercy of the ferry schedule and the weather so factor that in on how you will protect your meat, next time I'll bring a freezer for peace of mind plus it would have extended my hunting trip (12 degrees for a week isn't in my plan so we looked but never harvested for 3 days...). Ferries have been delayed for up to a week due to weather.
6) The deer are smaller and the does are down right tiny (ok for a camp animal) but like anything if you hunt where others don't there are some nice sized deer- I mostly get 2 pointers but I have gotten a three and others have gotten 4 points (all good sized when compared to Rupert deer).
7) Tons of logging and equipment on the Rennel Sound roads, everything is turned up; you might want to go to the Moresby camp.
8) If you are going to Rennel Sound don't underestimate the hill, lock in and gear down it's 25%+.
9) If your after shellfish the area I was in was closed.
10) Bring everything you will need as there is limited services there (not nothing but not much) and prices are higher due to everything coming on the ferry.
11) Take Gravol; you might need it on the ferry.
12) Tarps are your friend, bring more than one.
13) Watch the meat pole; bears and varmints can screw your trip.
14) Above all enjoy the trip as it's a really beautiful place :)

Cheers
Rick
 
I am going to add some things I have learned from trips to the island. A 243 is a absolute maximum unless you head shooting only a bad practice IMO. If you see a coon shoot it. They are invasive and have no closed season or limit. Smaller vehicles are your friend last check gas was 30% higher than the mainland, bc ferries only allows one 5 gallon Jerry can. The pontoons have elk that is open for about a month in the fall. Wild invasive cows can be found along the east coast noth of the tell river, but this area is Naikon prov park. Ammo can be bought at ams in queen charrotle city and the coop hardware store in masses. Ams has a good selection coop not as good. If you plan your trip in August there is a music festival that is a very good time.
 
I wonder what happened to our Queen Charlotte --oops, I mean Haida Guaii, deer hunters?
Been almost a month since their last report, when do we send out search parties?
 
Maybe they found a new sport?
You know, carving totem poles?
Be a heck of thing to learn how to do.
I'd have a yard full of them.
Interesting stuff.
 
I have passed on two different does going on 25 times in the last two weeks. Made a decision though - took a doe last year as my first and never again. Because....
 
Well we are back.......it was not what I expected at all. The weather was beautiful almost every day, the deer were no where to be found outside the various town limits on the north island. The only buck we saw was right in the town of Skidsgate, period. We hunted hard, checking out beaches, high country, logging cuts, logging trails and I climbed and walked some ridges.......NADA !!!! Rennel Sound road was out due to slide or wash out (differing information), so unable to check out that area.
We then went to the south island and had much the same luck for a couple days, then lucked out watching a beach at sunrise and a doe appeared as though by magic, about 100 mtrs away eating kelp. I promptly jumped from my Ranger and gave her a warning shot off to her right (this is what we have taken to calling misses), she was facing straight away and I did not regret the miss as the damage would have been devastating. She jumped and ran a few mtrs then stopped perfectly broadside at which point I plunked one nicely behind her shoulder, through the ribs.........first deer down.
Things picked up for the next few days as we found an old grown over trail along a beach that had a lot of sign, jumped a deer on this trail the following afternoon and I jumped out and gave him a warning shot as well (trying a head shot but blew it), I then pulled down onto his ribs and gave him one.........bad decision, it exited through the offside ham....oooops, 1/2 a deer destroyed.
Ended up with 5 deer total, 3 does and 2 bucks with just nubs for antlers, couldn't tell they were bucks until in hand. Apparently the blacktail hole up real hard following the rut as even the locals were not seeing or shooting any deer in the 10 days we hunted them. Everybody was saying "Oh you shoulda been here last week the bucks were running everywhere".............story of my hunting career......YOU SHOULDA BEEN HERE LAST WEEK............

This little buck ran into the big timber and stopped at about 120 mtrs or so, when we jumped him in the grass along the beach he flagged just like a WT and ran off 50 mtrs into the timber and stopped.......no warning shot on this guy, spine shot at the top of the shoulders.

 
Awwsum photo Douglas.
Had I been there, I'dda brawt me white metal marker and strateegickalley
place some spots on the fur.

Glad you had fun.

:cheers:
 
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We did see a rather large black bear which we talked to at about 40 mtrs for 10 minutes or so before he lost interest in my conversation and wandered off. We assumed that with a 4 bear total limit for the islands that the season had been already closed and the bag limit filled, but with no internet service we had no way to check for sure. Better safe than sorry !!!!
 
Did you guys try the forest along north beach and up the trail by Helene river?
That's where we had most of our luck.
Itchin to get back over there. Perhaps next season.
 
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