When considering the best place for a black bear hunt, hunting coastal black bears on Vancouver Island ranks #1. Long renowned for the size and abundance of black bears, hunting on Vancouver Island is a bucket list hunt for many hunters. Our Vancouver Island Guide Outfitters operation is known throughout the hunting community for its great service, excellent hunting, and safe and ethical practices.

Accommodation on our hunts range from the luxurious Riverside Lodge to well-appointed cabins, or full-service hotels. We host our hunters based on the desires of the guest and the location of the best hunting options.  Meals at the Riverside are prepared and served by our in-house chef. We also use restaurants for local fare and home-cooked meals with the guides for small personal groups. Lunches are provided in the field.

Spring and Fall Bear Hunts

Spring black bear hunts are from April 1 to June 15. Early season hunts are conducted on the ocean beaches and estuaries, and low elevation mountain slopes. Hunting is by 4×4’s, boats, and hiking.

Fall hunts from September 10 to October 30 focus on the many salmon streams that flow across Vancouver Island. Using boats, hiking and 4×4’s, hunters access the incredibly scenic and natural world that is a salmon spawning stream in the fall. Watch the eagles, gulls and of course bears gorge on the thousands of salmon the return each year.

Rate for 1:1 – 5-day all-inclusive hunt     $7,900 USD + license /tax
Rate for 2:1 – 5-day all-inclusive hunt     $6,500 USD + license /tax

Giant stags with Boone and Crockett racks. That’s why Vancouver Island is the top destination for Roosevelt elk. Roosevelt Elk bulls, the Island’s massive 1,000 lb stags, sport heavy, gnarled antlers, often crowned on top, unlike those found on any other North American elk.

‘Rosies’ are closely managed by wildlife officials to protect the pure genetics and isolation from other elk species, setting them apart from mainland Roosevelt elk.

Record Book Bulls

This close and careful management results in excellent opportunities for Boone and Crockett bulls for our hunters.

The season opens annually on the first week of October, just after the main rut period. Harem bulls continue to guard their herd or pull the hot cows to protected areas away from competing bulls. All hunts are free-range, spot and stalk hunts in logging slashes, timbered creek bottoms and alpine meadows.

Trophy quality is 300+ B&C and shots are 50 to 350 yards. A heavy bullet in a .300 to .375 caliber rifle is recommended.

Rate for 1:1 – 10-day all-inclusive hunt     $30,000 USD + license /tax

There’s nothing like a massive rack atop a mule deer buck to get the heart racing. And there is nowhere better to pursue trophy mule deer than the great plains of southern Alberta.

Rifle hunts are during the November rut from Wednesday to Saturday. Mature mule deer bucks are on the prowl for hot does and travel great distances to find them. Hunting is by glassing and hiking coulees and stubble fields from 4×4 trucks. 

Bucks score 165 to 185 with the chance to bag a 190+ buck.

Great Plains Mule Deer Hunt Rate for 1:1 – 4-day all-inclusive hunt     $9,500 USD + license/tax

Archery Mule Deer

We offer archery hunts for Mule Deer adjacent to Calgary in the 212 WMU. Archery season is September 1^st to November 30^th, so you can hunt a trophy rack in full velvet or giant rutting buck. This is a great hunt for a hunter located in Calgary or has easy access to the YCD airport. We can work with you to hunt the tag over the term of the season.

The handsome Vancouver Island Blacktail deer are becoming a much-desired hunt at our Vancouver Island operation thanks to exciting new DNA research that has been conducted into the history of blacktail deer. Vancouver Island offers one of the true, pure, indigenous populations of blacktail deer on the Pacific Coast, in an easy to access southern locale.

The research identified the early blacktail deer migration from a single refuge along the Pacific Northwest coast and re-colonization northward following the glacial retreat. The deer’s migration route colonized Vancouver Island first and then northward to the Alexander Archipelago, where the Sitka blacktail subsist.

Hunting Blacktail Deer
Due to the documented evidence respecting the migration and isolated marine environment of the Island, Safari Club International has now recognized our Island blacktails as Vancouver Island Blacktail and created a new record book category for these deer. Grand Slam Club/Ovis (GSCO) also recognizes the Vancouver Island blacktail deer for the Super Ten® and Super Slam® trophy record books.

Blacktails can be hunted from September to December, with prime hunting during the November rut. Hunting is free-range, spot and stalk, glassing or ground blinds conducted in the agricultural and backcountry areas. Trophy quality is in the 80 to 120 pt class, similar to Sitka deer. Shots are 50 to 350 yards and .243 to 7 mm rifles are recommended.

Rate for 1:1 – 5-day all-inclusive hunt     $6,500 USD + license/tax

Mountain lion hunting on the rugged mountains of Vancouver Island is an unforgettable adventure and physical accomplishment. A mountain lion is one of the special hunts for a rarely seen animal in the wild. Mountain lion hunts can be reserved or booked on a “will call” basis for the best hunting conditions. Hunting is with hounds from 4×4 trucks, snow machines, and lots of boot leather. You should be in good physical condition to participate in this hunt.

Rate for 1:1 – 7-day all-inclusive hunt $8,500 USD + license/tax