For 7 years I've promoted British Columbia on these forums. Since non-resident aliens are required to hunt with a licenced guide and outfitter in BC, I've responded to many threads and PM?s asking advice on BC outfitters. I've directed people to the Guides Outfitters Association of BC (GOABC) to start their research. The problem has always been that the vast majority of outfitters in this province don't have a clue how to hunt monster muleys. For the most part, outfitters within this province have been sleeping and ignored the fact that trophy mule deer have become the most desired hunt within North America. While they have been busy selling their small ?southern? moose that they try to pass off as Shiras or their horseback mountain goat hunts, trophy mule deer have been ignored and sold as a ?add on? in combo hunts. The vast majority of the bucks killed by the GOABC every year are just plain dinks. Many are lucky to break the 160 mark. The odd buck gets killed that can have the tape stretched to squeak out 180. The true monsters that live in this province, the 200+ bucks, are rarely, if ever killed.
The pictures that I have shared of my friends, my family and my success? might give the impression that British Columbia is a trophy mule deer sleeper province, and in my opinion, that is correct. BC can hold it's own against some of the best producing states. But the one thing I've come to notice, while magazines like Muley Crazy highlight outfitter success? in other parts of North America, BC falls flat on its face. It is instead the DIY regular joe blow hunter that gets the job done within this province. It is almost embarrassing to know that the success I've personally had in the last 6 years, beats the success that the entire GOABC has had in the last 10 years. While my friends and I are hitting the high country all summer long or glassing the winter range for the next target, picking up sheds to know what the potential in the area is, essentially scouting our asses off, the GOABC are sleeping in and don't have a clue what caliber of bucks live within their territories.
BC is a DIYer?s paradise. Currently, resident hunters can hunt GOS mule deer for 3 months a year with OTC tags and a provincial bag limit of 3 deer a year. We are one of the only jurisdictions where mule deer numbers are very strong and increasing. We do not have a conservation concern. For the most part, we do not manage for trophy mule deer, with the exception of 4 point or better seasons during the rut. The bulk of the hunters within this province are meat hunters not trophy hunters. Currently, we only have about 80 thousand hunters within this huge province. That number has been steadily declining from a high of about 180 thousand in the early 80?s. If the numbers continue to drop, we could see the loss of hunting rights altogether given the liberal granola cruncher mindset of many of BC?s voters.
So this is what brings me to the point of this thread. Currently the GOABC has been putting the pressure on the Ministry of Environment to push for exclusive trophy mule deer only seasons and want mule deer across the province to be put on Limited Entry. They think this somehow will increase their success at selling you bigger deer. It seems they have the Ministry in their pocket and it looks like the resident hunter is going to get the shaft. Will this help them kill more big bucks? Nope, because they still are lame ass hunters when it comes to trophy mule deer. They figure if they eliminate the resident's from hunting, they can drive around and trophy bucks will be behind every tree and their clients can shoot right from the truck. As many of you know, trophy muleys rarely, if ever, come easy.
I for one am not willing to sit idly by and watch my hard work go down the drain while some lazy ass outfitters think they might get more bookings by restricting resident hunters. I am not willing to see draw odds where I have to sit out season after season waiting for a chance to hunt mule deer. If the outfitters want to kill big bucks, they are going to have to do it the same way I do, through a lot of hard work.
If you are considering a mule deer hunt with BC, I would recommend you go elsewhere. Your money will be better spent hunting with guides who actually know how to get the job done. If you book in BC, you will be sadly disappointed, as it ain?t as rosey as my pictures may have led you to believe.
The pictures that I have shared of my friends, my family and my success? might give the impression that British Columbia is a trophy mule deer sleeper province, and in my opinion, that is correct. BC can hold it's own against some of the best producing states. But the one thing I've come to notice, while magazines like Muley Crazy highlight outfitter success? in other parts of North America, BC falls flat on its face. It is instead the DIY regular joe blow hunter that gets the job done within this province. It is almost embarrassing to know that the success I've personally had in the last 6 years, beats the success that the entire GOABC has had in the last 10 years. While my friends and I are hitting the high country all summer long or glassing the winter range for the next target, picking up sheds to know what the potential in the area is, essentially scouting our asses off, the GOABC are sleeping in and don't have a clue what caliber of bucks live within their territories.
BC is a DIYer?s paradise. Currently, resident hunters can hunt GOS mule deer for 3 months a year with OTC tags and a provincial bag limit of 3 deer a year. We are one of the only jurisdictions where mule deer numbers are very strong and increasing. We do not have a conservation concern. For the most part, we do not manage for trophy mule deer, with the exception of 4 point or better seasons during the rut. The bulk of the hunters within this province are meat hunters not trophy hunters. Currently, we only have about 80 thousand hunters within this huge province. That number has been steadily declining from a high of about 180 thousand in the early 80?s. If the numbers continue to drop, we could see the loss of hunting rights altogether given the liberal granola cruncher mindset of many of BC?s voters.
So this is what brings me to the point of this thread. Currently the GOABC has been putting the pressure on the Ministry of Environment to push for exclusive trophy mule deer only seasons and want mule deer across the province to be put on Limited Entry. They think this somehow will increase their success at selling you bigger deer. It seems they have the Ministry in their pocket and it looks like the resident hunter is going to get the shaft. Will this help them kill more big bucks? Nope, because they still are lame ass hunters when it comes to trophy mule deer. They figure if they eliminate the resident's from hunting, they can drive around and trophy bucks will be behind every tree and their clients can shoot right from the truck. As many of you know, trophy muleys rarely, if ever, come easy.
I for one am not willing to sit idly by and watch my hard work go down the drain while some lazy ass outfitters think they might get more bookings by restricting resident hunters. I am not willing to see draw odds where I have to sit out season after season waiting for a chance to hunt mule deer. If the outfitters want to kill big bucks, they are going to have to do it the same way I do, through a lot of hard work.
If you are considering a mule deer hunt with BC, I would recommend you go elsewhere. Your money will be better spent hunting with guides who actually know how to get the job done. If you book in BC, you will be sadly disappointed, as it ain?t as rosey as my pictures may have led you to believe.
