Where to hunt blacktails on Vancouver Island?

[Thad]

I know most people want to keep this info to themselves for obvious reasons. I just went scouting for the whole day in Cowichan and did not see a single animal. Lots of sign no deer. We did walk for over and hour and a half and glassed everywhere. This will be my first hunt and I must admit I felt very discouraged not to see anything. I know all of you will say ok buddy if that already crapped on your cornflakes give up and play video games. It is just hard to want to go out there in the bad weather and come up without even a peek at something. I also have been told I have to put in a lot of time to come up with results, never the less. Anyone willing to tell me where I should be opening weekend? If this thread does not get any replies, I do understand. Thanks.

 

[x-Hare]

Lots of sign no deer.

You Know I think your in the right area already get in the area early set up close to a trail up wind ridgers are really good have a snooze wake up and shot a deer.
I used to chase the buggers all over the place you can never walk them down not like Moose.
It's amazing just what you see when you sit still but you have to give the area time to settle down after youve crashed through it.

 

[bisonhd]

Lots of sign no deer.

That's pretty good considering what's been around the last decade. ie. no sign, no deer.

 

[imsharkbait]

My father in law got a 5 point today in his backyard . He told me he left the spike for me. He is out in maple bay ( Duncan) area. Every time I have bean to his house he has always had 3-5 deer in his yard.

 

[snowhunter]

I hear that the areas around the Nanaimo Lakes should be primium deer country.

 

[ratherbefishin]

vancouver Island has undergone a huge population shift of deer.In the 60's it was not uncommon to count 60 or 70 deer feeding in the Victoria Watershed logging slashes, then the wolves basically eliminated them, in places we used to see many deer, we saw none-not even sign.Paradoxically, at the same time the deer disapeared from the bush, they invaded the urban areas,and today Victoria is over run by them deer being seen throughout the whole Sannich #####ula-even in Oak Bay.Cougar sighting are now common-whereas 40 years ago they were rare.Last year in Saanich alone there were over 700 vehicular deer accidents.
I haven't bothered to hunt the bush for 30 years,since the deer populations imploded, but I hear they are coming back.Bear populations are good though.

 

[Thad]

Thanks guys. I will take all the advice to heart.

 

[Calum]

Try up around the Campbell River area...away from the developers in the South of Van Island.