Different Type of Hunting Thread - Relocating to BC

Honestly it’s hard to go wrong in BC once you get away from the island and lower mainland with regards to hunting, yes I know there’s good hunting on the island depending on where you are. There’s a ton of opportunity on the mainland once you get out of the more populated areas, depending on your field of work there might not be much going on in some rural areas. I’m originally from Ont and there’s no way I’d go back, especially since we left the coast. You couldn’t pay me to live there again, or the island for that matter.
 
Someone dreaming of moving to Prince George? Now I've seen everything. :dancingbanana:

Agreed on the backyard hunts VS "adventure hunts" but I have lived in a few " adventure hunt" locations, not to mention fishing, in BC.

Lots of towns with multiple mills, and railway hubs in BC. If fishing is a consideration go west or central imo.

PG, Dawson Creek and Fort St.John are all a little full on in terms of urban decay (PG) and general insanity (FSJ looking at you). Dawson is a bit of a boring flatland meets rural hub, not sure if they have a saw mill either.


Of the three I would take the John. It ain't Montreal but it's a good mix of "urban" and access to good hunting


Region 7b was (appears to be changing) an area with very generous otc tags and seasons. Hunting any bull moose in August and Elk in the rut NW of town are some of my best hunting memories. You can also hunt deer on private land and have a bit more of an "alberta" style experience. Some hog mulies around as well. Excellent spring bear hunting too

Go further north and west and you are really living the dream if you get out there. If you avoid wherever the adventure hunters are congregating especially.

Lots of bc outside of kootenays, Okanogan, shush ways etc, you can even go fishing or hunting and not see anyone in a lot of it
 
For the avid outdoorsman the highway 16 corridor west from Burns Lake through to Terrace is a sportsman’s paradise. In particular, the Bulkley Valley with major towns of Smithers and Houston is beautiful, friendly and affordable with reasonable job prospects. Long winters like anywhere in the north but spectacular summers and falls with a major ski hill, mountain snowmobiling, ice fishing and town sports in the winter. Smithers is a regional provincial government hub with government jobs, it’s a CNR railway divisional point, a major sawmill provides hundreds of forest and mill jobs, this is also the supply hub for hundreds of ranches and mining exploration operations in the area. The downside? There’s always one. It’s a long drive or an expensive flight to get to major urban centres.
 
we re getting more and more hunters here but still a paradise as for fishing.

winter can be harsh and long, mosquitoes look like birds here and are in love with newbies ...

there is also something hard to find here: OTC bison hunting but you need to survive the one year newbie probation.

and you will need your 9.3x62 there ...
 
Butcherbill said:
Honestly it’s hard to go wrong in BC once you get away from the island and lower mainland with regards to hunting, yes I know there’s good hunting on the island depending on where you are. There’s a ton of opportunity on the mainland once you get out of the more populated areas, depending on your field of work there might not be much going on in some rural areas. I’m originally from Ont and there’s no way I’d go back, especially since we left the coast. You couldn’t pay me to live there again, or the island for that matter.
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I can vouch for this, I live on the island and would move off if it wasn't for my wife, she won't leave :(. I think somewhere in the Rocky Mountain Trench, Cranbrook up to Radium Hot Springs would be a good area for hunting. Not sure how it would be for work, however housing is affordable. It is also a good area for other outdoor activities.
 
I actually love the island, gulf islands, and south coast. Truly love them. Goal is to never move out of sight of the ocean again. For awhile I thought I had to be rural, bought acreage, shot deer on it. In the end I’d rather live by the ocean, it’s the greatest outdoorsman’s paradise in my mind. The one place we can’t take over yet, give me the west coast any day over the Rockies. Pretty as the Rockies are.
 
Ardent said:
I actually love the island, gulf islands, and south coast. Truly love them. Goal is to never move out of sight of the ocean again. For awhile I thought I had to be rural, bought acreage, shot deer on it. In the end I’d rather live by the ocean, it’s the greatest outdoorsman’s paradise in my mind. The one place we can’t take over yet, give me the west coast any day over the Rockies. Pretty as the Rockies are.
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Ya know, I can relate and also agree with this. Coming from NS and never living more then 3kms from the ocean(currently not even 30 meters from it) I couldn't imagine not living by it. But personally for me I don't like people so much so I'd rather live on an island or very rural mainland between Powell River and Stewart skipping the chunk around Prince Rupert. Bella Coola was an awesome place to visit for sure I could see living around that area. Although I wouldn't suggest it for the OP of this thread.


this is the view form my kitchen window, that's Nanaimo in the far back ground.
no filters on the pic and it looks like this probably 85 times a year. I gave up on taking pics of it
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The scenery on the coast is 2nd to none, I'll admit that! The hunting on the island other than black bear, isn't good. Sure you can still hunt blacktail deer however there are lots of gated roads. North of Campbell River it's not as bad. Elk are by LEH, good luck getting a draw, I've been putting in over 30 years. If you're into fishing it's great here. I travel to the interior annually to hunt. My other outdoor activities include skiing and other than Whistler the best ski hills are in the interior. I'm also getting tired of the BC Ferries :) Hey Angus! if I had a floatplane I would enjoy the island much more :)
 
Can’t recommend it enough. :) I drive a $10k truck to have a plane the cost of a new truck, and it burns less fuel flying up north and back than driving. Instead of 15 hours and a boat to my favourite spots it’s ~3hrs, right when you need to pee you’re there.

Somebody on here may be triggered by that, but it’s a good system for anyone who loves the outdoors. Plus the view’s good. Shoulda kept this plane.

HK0DyOP.jpg
 
BC is an NDP voting shight hole. Too many communists here

Don't think of moving to a place to rent. Wait one year there is going to be a huge correction with high interest rates. Don't rush into anything
 
The island is a pretty amazing place. If you are a boater/ angler especially. The North and West of the island have some really unique and awesome (in the truest sense) areas.

The Broughtons etc north of there are for lack of a better word, magical


The gulf islands; despite being generally unfriendly to hunting are some of the nicest spots in BC imo.

The coast will never replace the north and interior for me but it is certainly not without its charms. Not really a hunter or renters paradise but Vancouver is surely the most livable city in Canada
 
In the course of my job I travel every environment in BC in a typical year, there isn’t a #### hole in it I’ve found. Places I prefer, sure, but compared to what’s abroad this is all amazing.

I really love every environment we’ve got, but especially so the rainforest and coast, gulf islands, and the desert. Pretty wild being between prickly pear cactus, sagebrush and rattlesnakes, and giant old growth in the course of one tank of fuel. Every few houses at home someone has a palm tree in their yard. Nowhere else like it in Canada.
 
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