Hunting seasons in Canada - hunt what, where

Lever38

Lever38

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I'm wondering what hunting seasons are in Canada for different areas, species and equipment. What do you hunt, when and with what?


Like most Albertans my usual M.O. is to put in for my draws in the summer, see what I get, wait until fall arrives and hunt whitetail and whatever other tags I have in the time blocks allocated by my tags and the regs. I hunt in the foothills around Sundre (WMU 314 through 328). This year, work took me away for too much of the season. I'm seriously contemplating getting a bow and/or a muzzle loader just to extend my hunting window even though I'm not super comfortable with the idea of having no follow-up shot (Please no criticism on this point. I am a good shot and a decent stalker. Most of my kills are one-shot. I just like the security afforded by having a second round that can be quickly chambered, more for the animal's sake than mine). So this lead me to the question of what, if any, kinds of hunting trips can be taken in Canada throughout the year.

So what can you tell me? Many thanks.
 
My hunting season consists of shooting black tailed prairie dogs at the Grasslands national park in Valmarie Sk. (not) give my head a shake here in Canada we protect them, in Montana they are the scourge of the earth just ask any rancher that has them on their land.
So off to Montana the home of the brave and the land of the free, cheap beer and lots of prairie dogs for my vacation doing what i am addicted to, shooting prairie dogs. Last year I spent 27 days down there with my kids and my shooting partners, managed to go through over 3000 rounds of 22-250 and 6mm br. In the middle of the afternoon when the heat gets above 90 we would go up Alder gulch and pan for gold or go for a quad ride in the mountains. Just wish I had started this soon in life but sure am trying to make up for itn now.

Edge
 
In northern Ontario, bears open Aug 15, bunnies Sept 1, partridge Sept 15, moose long weekend in October. Big game tags expire Dec 15. Bunnies stay open till June 15 I think. I get my wolf tag in January, that's good till march. So there's only about two months when nothing is open, but I carry a rifle or shotgun with me when canoe tripping for wilderness protection.
 
Not even a question, the best place in Canada to hunt is BC.

January is cats, weather you call, or chase them with dogs, we've got 3 cats to choose from. We also have ducks. Prime feathers make for nice mounts this month, and the birds to chase are sea ducks.

February is cats and yotes and wolves as well as was in January. Geese open up right now too. They are a getting rutted up and easier to fool.

March is brant, if that is your thing, as well as honkers.

April 1st spring bear opens and closes June. You can get a grizzly tag each year if you're willing to head north. If not, you're allowed 2 black bears.

July is the only month nothing is really open.

August the north opens for stones sheep. There are an estimated 13,000 in the province and you can shoot one every year. Mid august caribou open up as well as goats (but goats have short hair then)

September we really ramp it up with openings for caribou, elk, mulies, white tail, black tail, big horns, stones, grizz and black bear, goats, moose and waterfowl as well as upland.

October some things start to close, but most remain open for most of the month.

November is the rut for deer which is open, as well as goats are prime coats now.

December we have a limited deer season and ducks are getting wicked, geese, cats, dogs, yada yada.

Now, if that wasn't good enough for you, we have a shot at Limited Entry on top of these things. Roosevelt elk, bison, big horns, dall sheep, moose in the southern part of the province, and grizzly all over. Depending on how that goes you can plan that into your season.

The bottom line is, there is no place of opportunity like BC hunting. The best hunting place, pretty much on the planet. 30 species of waterfowl, and 25 big game animals, there really isn't even a comparison.
 
bigbore14 said:
The bottom line is, there is no place of opportunity like BC hunting. The best hunting place, pretty much on the planet. 30 species of waterfowl, and 25 big game animals, there really isn't even a comparison.
Click to expand...

Nice summation of BC hunting bigbore! Really helpful for me as I'm not sure where to land when I get back to Canada but BC sounds pretty good... I'll have to wait 6 months to become a resident but at least that'll give me plenty of time to get myself sorted. Where would you say is the best place to live for a hunter? Of course somewhere like Prince George might be best but lets say somewhere along or below the same latitude as Kamloops?
 
Lever38 said:
I'm wondering what hunting seasons are in Canada for different areas, species and equipment. What do you hunt, when and with what?


Like most Albertans my usual M.O. is to put in for my draws in the summer, see what I get, wait until fall arrives and hunt whitetail and whatever other tags I have in the time blocks allocated by my tags and the regs. I hunt in the foothills around Sundre (WMU 314 through 328). This year, work took me away for too much of the season. I'm seriously contemplating getting a bow and/or a muzzle loader just to extend my hunting window even though I'm not super comfortable with the idea of having no follow-up shot (Please no criticism on this point. I am a good shot and a decent stalker. Most of my kills are one-shot. I just like the security afforded by having a second round that can be quickly chambered, more for the animal's sake than mine). So this lead me to the question of what, if any, kinds of hunting trips can be taken in Canada throughout the year.

So what can you tell me? Many thanks.
Click to expand...


Anyone that needed to extend their season in a province where tons of deer are open sept.17ish-nov30ish works to any hours!!
 
Lyallpeder said:
Anyone that needed to extend their season in a province where tons of deer are open sept.17ish-nov30ish works to any hours!!
Click to expand...

That is true enough.

Sask. has hunting opportunities for Alberta hunters. You have to apply for a white-tail deer draw but then you can hunt them with a bow or muzzleloader in their early seasons. And with a rifle in the short late season.
 
I live west of PG on the Yellowhead midway to Prince Rupert. Nice country and the winters are not as mean as PG. There is more variety in Kooteny country because they have elk and more kinds of predators down there. The Cariboo is not to be overlooked in the hunting department especially with the Chilcotin next door but is a bit depressed work wise so it depends on what you do. Valemount and area are "rustic" as well. Stay away from the lower mainland and you can't really go wrong in BC.
SeamusMac said:
Nice summation of BC hunting bigbore! Really helpful for me as I'm not sure where to land when I get back to Canada but BC sounds pretty good... I'll have to wait 6 months to become a resident but at least that'll give me plenty of time to get myself sorted. Where would you say is the best place to live for a hunter? Of course somewhere like Prince George might be best but lets say somewhere along or below the same latitude as Kamloops?
Click to expand...
 
SeamusMac said:
Nice summation of BC hunting bigbore! Really helpful for me as I'm not sure where to land when I get back to Canada but BC sounds pretty good... I'll have to wait 6 months to become a resident but at least that'll give me plenty of time to get myself sorted. Where would you say is the best place to live for a hunter? Of course somewhere like Prince George might be best but lets say somewhere along or below the same latitude as Kamloops?
Click to expand...
I would say here in Saskatchewan is the best place for a hunter to live. Lots of moose, elk, deer, bear and birds everywhere in the fall. Lots of predators to be had as well in this neck of the woods.Yup I personally think I live where hunters should live in Canada. Just my honest opinion but I have only lived and hunted here so what do I really know anyway.
Cheers
Geoff
 
When in the Cariboo, January started with Coyotes, March started with crows and ravens on private land during calving and coyotes continued into April.
May opened with Gophers and Marmots until August. September through to December was for deer, bear and moose.
There are lots of other species but there was literally shooting and hunting all year
 
Duffy said:
That is true enough.

Sask. has hunting opportunities for Alberta hunters. You have to apply for a white-tail deer draw but then you can hunt them with a bow or muzzleloader in their early seasons. And with a rifle in the short late season.
Click to expand...

muckwa said:
I would say here in Saskatchewan is the best place for a hunter to live. Lots of moose, elk, deer, bear and birds everywhere in the fall. Lots of predators to be had as well in this neck of the woods.Yup I personally think I live where hunters should live in Canada. Just my honest opinion but I have only lived and hunted here so what do I really know anyway.
Cheers
Geoff
Click to expand...

SHHHHHH!!!!!!! There's no game in Sask!!!! You guys must live in a different Sask than me!!! :)
 
horseman2 said:
When in the Cariboo, January started with Coyotes, March started with crows and ravens on private land during calving and coyotes continued into April.
May opened with Gophers and Marmots until August. September through to December was for deer, bear and moose.
There are lots of other species but there was literally shooting and hunting all year
Click to expand...

That's really what I'm after. After having been living and hunting in New Zealand for a year I don't think I could go anywhere they didn't offer some kind of hunting all year round!
 
bigbore14 said:
Not even a question, the best place in Canada to hunt is BC.
...

The bottom line is, there is no place of opportunity like BC hunting. The best hunting place, pretty much on the planet. 30 species of waterfowl, and 25 big game animals, there really isn't even a comparison.
Click to expand...

Dont say that! They will all want to come here!
 
bigbore14 said:
Not even a question, the best place in Canada to hunt is BC.

January is cats, weather you call, or chase them with dogs, we've got 3 cats to choose from. We also have ducks. Prime feathers make for nice mounts this month, and the birds to chase are sea ducks.

February is cats and yotes and wolves as well as was in January. Geese open up right now too. They are a getting rutted up and easier to fool.

March is brant, if that is your thing, as well as honkers.

April 1st spring bear opens and closes June. You can get a grizzly tag each year if you're willing to head north. If not, you're allowed 2 black bears.

July is the only month nothing is really open.

August the north opens for stones sheep. There are an estimated 13,000 in the province and you can shoot one every year. Mid august caribou open up as well as goats (but goats have short hair then)

September we really ramp it up with openings for caribou, elk, mulies, white tail, black tail, big horns, stones, grizz and black bear, goats, moose and waterfowl as well as upland.

October some things start to close, but most remain open for most of the month.

November is the rut for deer which is open, as well as goats are prime coats now.

December we have a limited deer season and ducks are getting wicked, geese, cats, dogs, yada yada.

Now, if that wasn't good enough for you, we have a shot at Limited Entry on top of these things. Roosevelt elk, bison, big horns, dall sheep, moose in the southern part of the province, and grizzly all over. Depending on how that goes you can plan that into your season.

The bottom line is, there is no place of opportunity like BC hunting. The best hunting place, pretty much on the planet. 30 species of waterfowl, and 25 big game animals, there really isn't even a comparison.
Click to expand...

hello,

the way i read your sum up for BC we should stay away from Yukon ..... so in Yukon there is no hunting opportunity and we re only 35000 people living there .... but the winter man, the winter is the killer especially this winter damn it was so cold than barely no game nor hunters will survive ....

all the best.
 
bigbore14 said:
Not even a question, the best place in Canada to hunt is BC.

January is cats, weather you call, or chase them with dogs, we've got 3 cats to choose from. We also have ducks. Prime feathers make for nice mounts this month, and the birds to chase are sea ducks.

February is cats and yotes and wolves as well as was in January. Geese open up right now too. They are a getting rutted up and easier to fool.

March is brant, if that is your thing, as well as honkers.

April 1st spring bear opens and closes June. You can get a grizzly tag each year if you're willing to head north. If not, you're allowed 2 black bears.

July is the only month nothing is really open.

August the north opens for stones sheep. There are an estimated 13,000 in the province and you can shoot one every year. Mid august caribou open up as well as goats (but goats have short hair then)

September we really ramp it up with openings for caribou, elk, mulies, white tail, black tail, big horns, stones, grizz and black bear, goats, moose and waterfowl as well as upland.

October some things start to close, but most remain open for most of the month.

November is the rut for deer which is open, as well as goats are prime coats now.

December we have a limited deer season and ducks are getting wicked, geese, cats, dogs, yada yada.

Now, if that wasn't good enough for you, we have a shot at Limited Entry on top of these things. Roosevelt elk, bison, big horns, dall sheep, moose in the southern part of the province, and grizzly all over. Depending on how that goes you can plan that into your season.

The bottom line is, there is no place of opportunity like BC hunting. The best hunting place, pretty much on the planet. 30 species of waterfowl, and 25 big game animals, there really isn't even a comparison.
Click to expand...


QCI deer close Feb 28;)
 
muckwa said:
I would say here in Saskatchewan is the best place for a hunter to live. Lots of moose, elk, deer, bear and birds everywhere in the fall. Lots of predators to be had as well in this neck of the woods.Yup I personally think I live where hunters should live in Canada. Just my honest opinion but I have only lived and hunted here so what do I really know anyway.
Cheers
Geoff
Click to expand...

Yeah, saskatchewan is the place to be. hahaha. Not even a close comparison for variety. Sure you've got big mulies, and some nice wt's, and probably even some good sized black bears, and great waterfowl, but it isn't close to BC.



medvedqc said:
hello,

the way i read your sum up for BC we should stay away from Yukon ..... so in Yukon there is no hunting opportunity and we re only 35000 people living there .... but the winter man, the winter is the killer especially this winter damn it was so cold than barely no game nor hunters will survive ....

all the best.
Click to expand...

The yukon is alright too. Its definitely got lots of wild places and very few hunters, but its still not comparable to BC for variety.
 
Canada Geese in Cornwall (between Kingston and Ottawa) and area next to the bird preserve there. Farmer's fields right after the harvest. 12 ga 3" shells of Kent Tungsten Matrix.
 
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