![]() ![]() That was a great-looking bear, and he was only a half-hour hike from the car. If you’ve read any of my other hunting posts, you may be familiar with my habit of throwing away the first good opportunity of most hunts. He, of course, ran away immediately, never to be seen again. The tree had obscured him from my sight, and I became aware of him kind of mid-stumble as I erupted from inside the thickly-leafed branches. Sure enough, standing there on the other side of the tree, twenty yards down the middle of the path, was a nice big bear. The whole thing shook as I stumbled out onto the other side of it. As I stepped over one branch, and ducked under the other, I tripped, and reached out quickly to grab hold of the tree and stop my fall. As I muttered to myself about the less than ideal conditions, I encountered a downed tree across the path that had two large branches blocking the way. After half an hour of climbing up the old spur, I hadn’t seen any fresh bear crap. ![]() The salmonberries were barely green nubs on the bushes, and the grass was only a couple inches long. I was somewhat dismayed to find that the grasses and berries were way behind schedule. Making camp can wait when there’s bears out there to be hunted. I got out of the car, loaded my rifle, and was creeping up the spur within minutes of arriving. Perfect conditions for still-hunting bears. It winds its way up a steep slope for a few kilometres, and is normally covered in grass in the springtime, with salmonberry bushes overhanging on both sides. When I arrived in the area, I pulled right up to the base of an old, overgrown spur road that I’ve had success with before. I drove up in the afternoon, with the intention of getting there in time for an evening hunt. That small barrier is enough to turn most people off, and ensure I have a pleasant, solitary hunting experience. It’s a five-and-a-half hour drive to my preferred spot about four hours on paved road, and then an hour-and-a-half on progressively worse logging roads. Like, so many that I might be tempted to make a trip up there this fall just to hunt birds. I hadn’t been up that way for two years not a lot has changed, except that there are a lot more grouse than I remember there ever being before. I drove up there the first week of May, and it was nice to check out the area again. Leaving the paved roads of Gold River behind, you will begin your scenic journey on the Tree to Sea Drive – a 64km forest service road that takes you to the Village of Tahsis, which has a small population of around 250 people, year-round.With the fall hunting season fast approaching, I thought I’d take the time to post about my latest trip to Nootka Sound now, before I have a bunch of other things to write about. Once booming logging towns, these Villages now boast ample ecotourism opportunities on both land and sea and come alive with adventurous tourists in the warmer months.Ī one-and-a-half-hour drive from Campbell River through Strathcona Provincial Park brings you to the Village of Gold River, with a population of 1,200. These remote communities are nestled in the mountains on the western edge of Vancouver Island. Tahsis and Gold River are known as the gateway to Nootka Sound. ![]()
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