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Survey:
THE GUIDING TERRITORY
GAME SPECIESAND GAME POPULATION
THE LODGE - HUNTING CAMPS
HUNTS
SPRING HUNTS
FALL HUNTS
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The Guiding Territory
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Since 1991 I’m operating a huge guiding territory east of the Continental Divide in
North-eastern British Columbia. My guiding area is approximately 2,800 square miles in size and crosses three ecological zones. As a consequence of this ecological
diversity I am able to offer a wide range of hunting opportunities for a broad spectrum of game animals.
The eastern arm of Williston Lake and the Peace River represent the northern limit of my territory. The Pine River delineates my southern boundary and the “heights of
land” of the Rocky Mountains is my western limit. Hi-way 29 between Hudson’s Hope and Chetwynd is my border in the east .
By provincial legislation I have the exclusive right to all big game guiding within my territory.
The western half of my territory is located in the Rocky Mountain proper. In this
bio-geographic zone there are substantial mountain massifs, long ridges with peaks in the 5,000 to 7,000 foot range, interspersed with wide mountain valleys. Alpine
tundra with patches of dwarf fir and arctic willow dominate the high ridge tops. The valleys tend to be occupied by spruce and pine as well as willow and alder, with the
occasional open valley. Most this portion of my territory is not well accessed by roads, consequently most hunting is done on foot or on horseback.
The eastern half of my guiding territory is typical “eastern slope” transition zone
with low mountains and foothills in the 2.000 to 4,500 foot range. As one moves eastward through this transition zone coniferous forests taper off into aspen, willow
and alder forests. Access in this region is mainly by forestry roads through the valley bottoms, but that still leaves large areas that are inaccessible by any type of vehicle.
These diverse ecological zones offer very good to excellent habitat for a broad spectrum of game species.
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Game Species and Game Populations
 My black bear population is extremely high. The average size of the black bears, that have been bagged during the past 11 years, is 6 foot 6
inches squared hide. Many bears are in the 7 foot range, with a few reaching actual 8 feet squared hide. Therefore my guiding territory is only
marginally less attractive then those famous areas on Vancouver Island. I have no limit for black bear licenses.
The grizzly bear population has always been relatively high for a non-coastal area.
The grizzly bears that guests have taken in my territory were from 7 foot 4 inches to 9 foot 2 inches. The grizzly population is managed very conservatively by our Wildlife
Branch, therefore, I have a 3 year quota of only 4 grizzlies.
After being depressed during the early Nineties, my moose population has
rebounded with surprising speed and is currently relatively high and still rising. Our Wildlife Branch has been supporting the rebound of our moose population through
tight regulations, but is therefore able to permit a very long season. The maximum
size of my moose trophies is at or just under B & C book entry level. I have no limit for moose licenses.
From a small, re-introduced population in the mid-eighties, my elk herd has increased
at an incredible rate and is currently very high and still growing fast. From humble beginnings in the eastern parkland area, the elk have spread to virtually every corner
of my territory, with the exception of the high alpine meadows. The chance for a top trophy has increased with the increase of the population. The biggest elk trophies
can reach the 360+ B & C points range. I have no limit for elk licenses.
The mountain goat population is stable, but limited to the highest, most rugged
mountains. The Wildlife Branch closely monitors the populations and is very conservative in the allotment of license s. For the hunter with the physical abillity to
hunt at length the difficult terrain that the billies call home,waits a record book trophy. Ihave a quota of three mountain goats within a three year period.
After a sharp decline in the late nineties, my mule deer and whitetail deer herds have now surpassed their former high numbers. The trophy potential for both species is quite
high. In the past my guests have taken mule deer that reached up to 200 gross B & C points, with many non-typical antlers. The whitetail trophy potential is shown by a
winter killed, picked-up set of antlers, that scored as high as 217 B&C points non-typical. I have no limit for deer licenses.
My wolf population is recovering from very low numbers in the late nineties. During
the regular fall season of 2003 we bagged 6 wolves. For those hunters that want to hunt during the predator season from November to the end of March the chances
are very good to take wolves and coyotes over bait.
Lynx and snowshoe hares are currently on the upswing on their interconnected cycle.
Over the past two decades the sightings of tracks, kills and actual cougars have
increased continuously. For the winter season of 2001 / 2002 the Peace River region has received its first ever hunting season for cougar. I am currently not offering
specific cougar hunts, because I don’t have a trained pack of hounds.
Grouse populations are varying dramatically from year to year, depending largely on
favourable weather conditions in the spring and early summer during the nesting and chick rearing season. Waterfowl numbers are stable with geese numbers being high.
After many years of depressed numbers, the aforementioned snowshoe hares are
increasing rapidly in numbers. The coyote population is increasing as well.
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The Lodge - Hunting Camps
 The hunting lodge, my headquarters, is located near the small town of Chetwynd, directly on the banks of the Pine River. The
lodge consists of a spacious cook house, four heated guest cabins with a total of eight 2-bed rooms, four of which have private bathrooms.
In addition to my lodge near Chetwynd, I have many outlaying hunting camps with a
total of 15 cabins including a second main camp in the mountains. Through these bush cabins, I can utilize all the important hunting areas, for the various species of
game, without loosing travel time in the morning and evening.
In addition to the bush cabins there are 28 tree stands or tree house at natural
mineral licks and also at lakes, open swamps and meadows.
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Hunts
1. SPRING HUNT
2. FALL HUNT
1. Spring Hunts for Trophy BLACK BEAR and WOLF
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Spring black bear hunting, from late April to the middle of June, is one of my
specialties. With a large population of black bear, including a high percentage of trophy bears, our area is one of the better ones in British Columbia for hunting black bear.
 There is a bag limit of two bears per year, per
hunter. My clients have a very good chance to take two trophy bears during the 7 days of hunting. I can not hunt specifically for wolf during the spring
season, all the wolves that have been taken in the spring were just luck.
the “Baiting” for bears is illegal in British Columbia.
Fortunately I do not need this hunting method, since the high density of bear in my territory enables me to use the “spot and stalk” method very successfully.
 We actively roam the territory looking for bears, either by four-wheel drive vehicles along backcountry road and trails, by ATV in the more
remote areas, or on foot along the river breaks and game trails. Through these methods my clients will get to see between 20 and 80 black
bears in a week of hunting. With these numbers a hunter can be selective about trophy quality.
Approximately 15 % of my black bear population comes in various shades of brown.
SCHEDULEAND PRICES
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2. FALL HUNTS FOR BLACK BEAR, GRIZZLY BEAR, MOOSE, ELK, CARIBOU, MOUNTAIN GOAT, MULE
DEER, WOLF AND SMALL GAME
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In the latter half of August I am offering early season moose hunts. Most of these hunts
are done by stalking on foot or stand hunting at naturally occuring mineral licks. Early in the moose season the leaves are still on the trees and the big animals don’t move
around very much, therefore we have to hunt those areas that we know to be frequently used by moose. My territory is dotted with naturally occuring mineral reserves, they
tend to visit these licks often. All bull moose can be legally taken during August. Along with moose I can offer black bear, wolf and after August 21stcaribou, as well.
I n early September I begin with my general fall season. Early in the general fall season
the hunting conditions are similar to those which characterize the August moose hunts.
We are still hunt the licks for moose as well
as baited sites for elk by using the “tree houses”.Right from the beginning of
September the elk start their bugling, enabling us to locate the bulls, or at times calling them to our position. The elk rut is
increasing in intensity until it peaks around the 20th of September. After the peak of the rut their activity dropsdown, only to increase around the 10th of October again for a second, but less active rut. Traditionally the
second half of October is also a fairly successful period for us, since the elk begin to use some of the more remote and undisturbed agricultural areas. The minimum legal
antler size is at least 6 points on one side. Because of the ideal elk habitat that my territory provides, the trophy potential is excellent.
 In most years the moose rut starts
after the 15th of September and increases in intensity until it peaks in the first half of October. In spite of
the fact that the peak of the rut is over, some rutting activity continues right through to the end of October. The regulations for moose mandate
that after September 1st the antlers have to have at least one brow palm with 3 points, or on one side a total of 10 points. As a result of these
rules practically all bulls taken, are mature and have respectable antlers.
Because of the steep terrain that the mountain goats use, I tend to book the goat hunt
relatively early in the season, since one good snowfall can end all chances to reach them.
Since my black bear population is very high, I have had very successful bear hunts
even in the fall. Most bears will be found in areas that have been logged over, or in  areas that had a forest fire go through some years ago. These areas have usually a very
good berry crop and offer good vivibility as well. At times we can also hunt in some of the oat fields, that exist in the small
agricultural areas in the east of the territory. The black bears like to raid the oats just before it ripens in late August or early September.
Grizzly bears will utilize the same clearcuts and burn areas that the blackies can be found in, but will also use some of the high
alpine meadows, were they dig for roots and marmots. I have seen as many as 6 grizzlies at time, on the same burned-off mountainside taking care out of the huckleberry crop.
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SCHEDULEAND PRICES
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