With the British Columbia hunting season getting into full swing, Backroad Mapbooks is pleased to offer a variety of tips to help make the next hunting season your most successful one ever. Plus, we've hand-picked our most popular products to help increase your chances of success.
From the lush rainforests of BC’s coast to the arid inland desert of the Okanagan and the remote and rugged mountains of the Peace region, BC’s diverse topography creates habitats for virtually every type of game you can imagine. Bear, deer, elk, moose, grouse, waterfowl and a variety of small game can all be found in abundance throughout the province.
With such a vast and diverse landscape, knowing where to go for a particular target is crucial to a successful hunt. Strategy, planning and preparation are key to a productive British Columbia hunting adventure. To help you approach the hunting season as a smart hunter, here are our Top 5 Hunting Tips.
1) BC Hunting Rules and Regulations
Following all of BC's hunting rules and regulations is not only crucial to avoiding fines and seizures, but to maintaining a healthy animal population as well. It is in the best interest of all hunters to be familiar with the Hunting & Trapping Regulations Synopsis, which can be found HERE. Be aware that regulations and season limits vary depending on species and region – BC is divided into 225 wildlife management units (WMU), each with its own specific regulations and open seasons.
2) Where to Hunt in BC
Hunting is possible on most of BC’s Crown land as well as in some provincial parks and our Backroad GPS Maps, Waterproof Maps, Topo Maps and classic Backroad Mapbooks all contain a wealth of information useful for both beginner and veteran hunters. With the recent addition of private land areas along with clearly defined Wildlife Management Units, it is now easier than ever for hunting enthusiasts in BC to know where they can hunt
The temperate climate and high population density of the lower mainland are most conducive to waterfowl hunting while moving into the north and east opens up plenty of large game opportunities. Deer are plentiful in the southern interior, while the mountainous northern region is home to moose, elk, bear, sheep and other large game.
Generally, the more remote a region is, the more game you will be able to find – success may depend on how far into the bush you are willing to go. Our Backroad Mapbooks products are a great tool for getting into and out of that remote BC hunting hotspot with confidence.
3) Safety
A great resource for hunting safety in British Columbia is the CORE (Conservation Outdoor Recreation Education) program. This one-time course not only teaches you the fundamentals of hunting safety but also allows you to obtain a Fish & Wildlife ID (FWID) as well. You can learn more about the CORE program HERE.
Of course, there are some basic hunting safety rules that you don’t need to take a course to follow:
1. ALWAYS wear blaze orange to stand out to fellow hunters
2. NEVER point your firearm at another person or shoot across a roadway
3. PLAN AHEAD using reliable navigational tools (see tip 4 below for more)
4. TELL SOMEONE where you are going and when you expect to be back in case you get into trouble in the bush
5. PREPARE and carry plenty of food, water, and warm clothing - enough to spend 24 hours in the bush in case you get lost run into car trouble
4) Planning
Backroad Mapbooks
Our classic Backroad Mapbooks have been guiding outdoor explorers to the best places to hunt in BC for over 25 years. From whitetail deer hunting in the Okanagan to tracking bighorn sheep in the Chilcotin mountains, our industry-leading topographic maps with private land areas and clearly defined wildlife management units (WMUs) are an essential resource for hunting in British Columbia.
With detailed descriptions of wildlife species and a wealth of British Columbia hunting tips, as well as comprehensive coverage for every corner of the province, there is no better do-it-yourself guidebook available for BC hunters.
Backroad GPS Maps
Our Garmin-licensed BC Backroad GPS Maps give you industry-leading cartographic detail with 3D views, shaded relief and all of the points-of-interest you have come to expect from a Backroad Mapbooks product. Routable roads, private land areas, searchable wildlife management units and countless multi-use trails make this the perfect GPS tool for accessing the best places to hunt in British Columbia.
Waterproof Maps
Our Waterproof Maps are foldable, durable and tear-resistant, making them the ideal tool for navigating the rugged wilderness of British Columbia.
These Waterproof Maps offer the precise cartographic detail you have come to expect from our products, along with info on rec sites, parks, trails and more. Some of the best hunting in British Columbia is found in areas of extreme weather, and these maps are guaranteed to stand up to the elements.
TOPO Maps and Limited Entry Hunting Maps
Our custom BC TOPO Maps show you all the detail of our Backroad Mapbooks maps at an even higher scale and are perfect for planning your hunting trip. The TOPO Maps are also available for digital download on your mobile device through the Avenza Maps Mobile app and, more recently, the Paper Maps App (Vancouver Island and Vancouver Coast & Mountains regions).
In addition to our regular TOPO Maps, we now offer BC Limited Entry Hunting maps. The current LEH boundaries in BC can be added to any BRMB Topo map for an additional fee. We can also create custom hunting Topo Maps in BC covering the entire LEH area, WMU or even the particular hot spot you want to explore. To order a custom hunting Topo Map, email info@backroadmapbooks.com.
From tracking a moose through the remote forests of the Cariboo region to flushing a grouse in a Vancouver Island field, our BC Backroad Mapbooks, BC Backroad GPS Maps, and BC Waterproof Maps can give you the edge you need for a productive hunting season. We hope we can make your hunting adventure a little easier and keep you focused on your target, and not on struggling to find your way through the bush.
5) Stay updated by Joining the #BRMBLIFE Community
Connect with the#BRMBLIFE Community of outdoor explorers, hunters and fishers by liking us on Facebook and following us on Instagram. You’ll stay connected with the best tips for hunting, fishing and exploring the outdoors, as well as important updates regarding weather, road closures, fire bans and restricted access to areas.
