First time Blacktail Hunt in BC - Maps?

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Just as the title suggests, a friend and I who recently completed the CORE program are getting ready for our first attempt at hunting blacktail in B.C. Since we've never done anything like this before, we are sticking close to home and intend to try our luck up Harrison Lake, in area 2-18. We've heard that blacktail are rather elusive in the Lower Mainland, but we're not too dismayed - we just want to get out there and try our hand at it!

As such, we've been trying to get everything together that we think we'll need for a day trip up the lake. We both live in the eastern Valley, so we probably won't be spending the night, so we won't have to make camp and deal with all of that stuff. What we haven't been able to find, though, is a good map of the area. I've phoned the Ministry of the Environment, but they weren't very helpful. The woman I spoke with suggested that I go to the government agent and ask if they have any maps, but she left the impression that the only maps they provide are the ones in the regs, which are next to no help at all.

We are looking for a good quality map of the eastern side of the Harrison, suitable for navigational purposes. Topographic would be a plus as well.

Anyone know where I could find something like this?
 
Should be able to find NTS maps (topo) of the area, but they likely will not show most of the logging roads; many of these maps were last updated in the 60's and 70's, but the main haul roads will be on there. Try the yellow pages under "maps".

Good luck.
 
Man. you picked a tough spot to hunt. Lots of quads, drinkers, campers, but many roads in various states of repair, cut blocks and steep thick bush, but you should know that if you're from the valley. I spent a lot of time in my youth hiking and 4 wheeling in the Stave lk-Harrison area and I hardly ever seen a deer or bear, but they're there. Post a thread on w w w.huntingbc.ca and ask for some help and details there. Those roads change so much from logging you should use your GPS and track while you drive to make your own maps. Good luck!
 
I'd head up the Fraser Canyon or the Coquihalla before I would head over to Harrison Lake area.

In 30 years of hunting out of the Fraser Valley I have only shot 1 blacktail deer in the Harrison Lake area.


:canadaFlag:
 
Thanks for the tips everyone. We'll get ourselves some NTS maps of the area and hopefully that'll be good enough for us.

hannibal said:
Man. you picked a tough spot to hunt. Lots of quads, drinkers, campers, but many roads in various states of repair, cut blocks and steep thick bush, but you should know that if you're from the valley. I spent a lot of time in my youth hiking and 4 wheeling in the Stave lk-Harrison area and I hardly ever seen a deer or bear, but they're there. Post a thread on w w w.huntingbc.ca and ask for some help and details there. Those roads change so much from logging you should use your GPS and track while you drive to make your own maps. Good luck!
Click to expand...

My family used to cut shake blocks up the Stave, usually up in the Winslow, at the top of the lake. Saw some deer up there, but mostly cougars and bobcat. I've had some experience with the Harrison. We decided to go up the Harrison rather than the Stave because neither of us (my hunting partner and I) have a boat at the moment, so we can drive the length of the Harrison and get into some rugged country without having to mess around borrowing a dingy. I've been told that the Big Silver Creek area is a good spot to try our luck, and that a lot of campers and such stay in the southern sections of the lake, near the hotsprings and Echo Island.

Any tips you have, though, I'd love to hear them. I'm a total beginner at this.
 
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