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Hunts
The guiding industry in this region was founded on moose hunting. Today it is still an integral part of our fall hunting season. Moose are doing well in our area with good calf recruitment and a healthy bull to cow ratio.
The majority of our moose hunting is done during the height of the rut when bulls are the most active and are receptive to calling. This ensures the highest rate of success. Hunts are conducted by four-wheel drive vehicle, on foot and by horseback and can be tailored to suit any hunter's abilities. Thus far our average success rate on bull moose has exceeded 95%.
Our area supports an excellent Mule Deer population and produces trophy class bucks year after year. This is in large part due to management that allows many bucks to live out their lives and reach their full potential. Of course the area's abundance of quality winter range helps too.
MOA's trophy Mule Deer hunts take place in November and early December. This allows us to capitalize on the peak of the rut when even the biggest bucks have their guard down. In the last two years our late-November hunts have produced 100% success on mature bucks.
The country in which we hunt deer is a mixture of timbered and semi-open benchlands giving way to steep, south facing river breaks and alfalfa fields. Generally these are cold weather hunts with a few inches of snow on the ground to help make spotting and tracking a little easier.
It is commonly known that a good Mule Deer population is usually followed by healthy numbers of cats. Our territory is no exception.
During these winter hunts we travel snow covered roads and trails using a 4x4 and/or snowmobile until a suitable cat track is found. Once we are certain the track is fresh, the hounds are turned loose and the real fun begins. Almost nothing compares to the excitement experienced when trailing a pack of hounds in pursuit of a wild cat.
Mature toms in our area range from 140 to 200 lbs. We have experienced guides and dogs, and good equipment. With good snow conditions our success rate is usually quite high.
LYNX
This large footed, northern member of the cat family is well known for
its crafty ability to elude hounds and expose many a hunter to one of the most
exhilarating outdoor experiences of his/her life. Aside from being one of the
most beautiful specimens in your trophy room, the hunt for him will also be one
of your most memorable.
Lynx are doing well in British Columbia as their primary food source, the
snowshoe hare, has been graced with an abundance of good habitat due to the
re-growth of areas that were clear-cut logged 20 to 30 years ago.
Large numbers of hares mean that female lynx have large, healthy litters of
kittens, ensuring stability in the population. We
cover ground via 4x4 and/or snowmobile until we find a reasonably fresh Lynx track. From there,
the dogs are turned out and the race is on. A lynx chase can
last anywhere from 5 minutes to several hours. This is an action-packed hunt
from start to finish.
BOBCAT
Bobcats are generally hunted as an addition to a cougar and/or lynx as their
tracks are often found while searching for others. The bobcats in our region
have thick, full coats and are among the most sought after by the fur industry.
These cats are also hunted with hounds and can lead a very exciting chase. Check
out our Lynx/Bobcat combo!
British Columbia has become well known for its excellent Black Bear hunting. Our spring bear hunts offer great opportunities to harvest thick-furred interior bears in black & brown color phases.
Bear hunting is done by traveling logging roads in four wheel drive vehicles and glassing grassy openings in search of hungry bruins grazing on fresh, spring vegetation. Once a suitable bear is found, a stalk is made to get within range. Success on this exciting hunt is very high as bears are generally quite easy to find during this time of year. Mature boars in our area will square over six feet and approximately 20% of the area's bears are brown or cinnamon color.
