For the first time in 27 years I won't be heading back to Ontario to go hunting at our hunt camp. The numbers of participating hunters have dwindled down to three, and it's just not worth the hassle or the extreme expense this year. (Between the flight, and non-resident licenses, it's a $2k trip compared to $250 if I was local, like my Dad).
Instead of doing the traditional thing, my Dad and I have decided to do one or two big "destination" hunting/fishing trips per year.
This year he's flying out with my Mom to spend a couple of weeks at my place and we're going Sturgeon fishing near Hell's Gate for a couple of days. Just went on a jet boat guided sturgeon trip a few weeks ago, and it was amazing. The Fraser River, in that part of BC, is surreal, and it should be a blast.
Needless to say that means for the first time ever I'll be hunting here, at home, in BC. Lived here since the late 80's, but never hunted here.
Just got my BC outdoor card and was surprised at how easy it was, as they accepted my Ontario hunter safety course as equivalent.
I was thinking about bear hunting, but that's just too easy where I live, as they just wander through every couple of days.
I'm hoping to talk to a friend of mine's father who deer hunts to start getting some local information and knowledge, and head out for a day or three trip for deer.
Tags around here aren't hard to get, except for mountain goat.