Typical Day & Tactics

Greet the outfitter at the airport in beautiful Campbell River, and grab a couple of last provisions in town. Set off on a 2-3-hour drive across the island to either to the main lodge, or a harbor where the live-aboard custom landing barge is moored. The western coast of the island is a labyrinth of sounds and inlets branching and penetrating deep into the island’s interior. Almost immediately hunters begin cruising the mosaic of logging roads by side by side, or the many inlets by Zodiac skiffs with a mission to locate the herds of rutting Elk.

Many of the guides have a decade or more experience hunting this expansive outfitting territory, often focusing on specific animals they have patterned or have a history with over the years. The Elk tend to favor localized areas, so it pays to know where to look. Despite being huge and fairly abundant, these Elk are shy, secretive and elusive creatures, and the lush rainforests provide ample cover. A typical week of hunting however often yields 5-6 different good bull sightings. Archery hunts in September rely mainly on calling tactics during the peak bugle, which makes Elk easier to locate. Greener cover and a soft, mossy forest floor help archery hunters slip into a closer position undetected, then call the bull into bow range. Rifle hunting occurs during the second and less vocal rut, but the Elk tend to reside in somewhat predictable areas. Recent cut blocks bordering swamps or river valleys are excellent locations. Rifle hunting is conducted more spot and stalk, relying less on calling tactics. Judging is vital and big bulls are often crowned with heavy beams and ivory tips.

A typical day sees early mornings, usually with a midday lull for lunch, and out hunting again till dark. A light breakfast, lunch often in the field, followed by hearty home-cooked meals comprised of local ingredients back at camp fuels hunters throughout the adventure.  Between Elk hunts, check prawn or crab traps and perhaps even try a little fishing for lingcod or rockfish which only adds to this exciting coastal adventure! The plentiful Coastal Black Bears here are huge, especially in the fall, and may be taken on a trophy fee basis, completing this Vancouver Island quest. Once the hunt is concluded, drive back to Campbell River with your guide to catch your flight home. The outfitter is partnered with quality taxidermists in BC who contacts the hunters regarding their trophies shortly after returning home.

Landscape & Climate

This mountainous, coastal rainforest ecosystem is set along the ragged Pacific coastline. River valleys carve through the slopes spilling into the ocean at estuaries amongst a series of sounds and inlets. The collision of these two environments provide incredible biodiversity and heightened fertility brought on from the sea. Trees grow enormous and dominant, species include Western Red Cedar, Sitka Spruce, and Douglas Fir. Primary hunting areas occur along the river basins, or in old-growth timber adjacent to recently logged or burned areas. Coastal tidal flats or any low elevation meadows are also worth checking.

Roosevelt Elk share this landscape with Black Bears, Coastal Wolves, Sitka Blacktail Deer, Mountain Lions, Mink, Marten, River and Sea Otters, Harbor Seals, Sea Lions, Orcas, Bald Eagles, Ravens, Mergansers, Loons, Hummingbirds, Steller’s Jays, and many others. Below the surface, Rockfish, Lingcod, Halibut, Salmon Sharks, Herring, Dungeness Crabs, and Spotted Prawns call these waters home.

With rainforests come the likelihood of rain, and best to be prepared with rubberized raingear. Fronts are constantly blowing through and most hunts see at least some rain over the course of 10 days. If it’s not raining the weather is usually quite pleasant, however, warm and sunny, weather does not lend itself to the best hunting conditions, and much like the Coastal Black Bears, Elk tend to prefer cool, darker, overcast days, perhaps with light periodic sprinkles. Temperatures have the potential to be quite cool on the coasts if its windy, but generally all that’s needed is a light sweater under a quiet weatherproof shell in the mornings, evenings or overnight. Middays can heat up if its sunny.

Meals & Accommodations

There are two accommodation options for this hunt. Boat-based and/or cabin lodgings. The Coastal hunting vessel is a 40-foot live-aboard landing barge custom-built for this exactly this hunt by the outfitter, which allows access to the remote fringes of the hunting territory. Comfortably sleeping up to 5 with bedding included, this barge is complete with running water, a flushing toilet, shower, generator-powered electricity, fridge, large chest freezer, BBQ, quad ramp, hydraulic prawn hauler with prawn and crab pots and Zodiac tender skiff to access and hunt the coastal rivers.

The main lodge is beautiful, remote and right on the coast with fantastic views from off the porch as well as many creature comforts.  Full-service kitchen and chef, a large dining hall and common lounge, running water, flushing toilets, electricity and WIFI Hunters stay in separate cabins with private rooms and bathroom with the guide quarters being a separate building.

Eggs Benedict, French toast or pancakes, bacon, muffins, yogurt, fruit, coffee, juice or cereal rounds out the breakfast line up. Depending on tides, weather and hunting locations, lunches are usually quick and often packed for the field. Sandwiches, wraps, fruit, various snacks and bottled water are common options. Days are long this time of year and dinners are usually quite late but spare no expense. Grilled chicken or steaks, spaghetti, pork loin are classic items but freshly caught Pacific Spotted Prawns, Dungeness Crab or Ling Cod also find their way onto the menu and are incredibly delicious with a local flare.

Key Equipment Suggestions

This hunt requires only basic equipment with several specific recommendations, and the outfitter provides a more detailed equipment list upon booking. A day pack, quality rain gear (top & bottom and rubberized for maximum waterproofing), gloves and warm hat, layered hunting clothing, 10x binoculars, rangefinder, comfortable, tall waterproof walking boots, camp shoes, a headlamp or flashlight and a digital camera covers the essentials. Hunter orange is not required in British Columbia.