Alberta vs Vancouver Island, huge difference!

[58thecat]

Love the island just don't enjoy the wet, damp winter and little to no sunshine but spring right through to the fall what a beauty place. Love the ocean and all the game fish variety you have.
Sooner be a little cold and have the sunshine during the winters though.
Thanks for sharing

[norwestalta]

Spent 7 years in sooke. Found it was a hard adjustment for a prairie boy.

[castironcook]

I think I might actually go stumping today.

As you can see in the attached pic, I'm all gear up and ready to go for a nice December 18th day of walkin' around in the woods.

stumping gear.jpg

Well no, I really should put jeans on so the bugs don't eat me alive. LOL

Mike
Cast Iron Cook

[aulrich]

Did not spend near enough time out on the island when I was on the wet coast. But can't say I miss Vancouver at all , I do miss the forestry camping sites all through BC.

It's a toss up of which view I liked better, the view of Vancouver in my rear view mirror or the view of Winnipeg in my rear view mirror.

[MOAhunter]

The wife is onboard to move there any day, and she's alright with the rain and overcast.
The marine environment is amazing and I really enjoy fishing, unfortunately I'd desperately miss hunting WT, MD and gophers.

Can one still build priority on AB draws if I become a BC resident?

[castironcook]

aulrich,

You said it brother, all my life I remember the great campsites in BC!

Although maybe I only feel that way because I was camping. We tend to remember the great times we've had in general. I am quite sure that we could easily track down people who have memories of great campsites all across this country!

MOAhunter,

We had a good day today. A little overcast in the morning and also at the end of the day but there was a few hours mid day that were sunny. In fact I did actually go stumping with the bow for 2 hours, walked around the woods, shot my bow about 2 dozen times, put on about 5 km total. It was probably about 5 degrees, so no gloves, a pair of rubber boots, light fleece jacket (unzipped).

I really am quite happy not seeing snow all over.

As for the Whitetail and Mule Deer hunting, well.....

Like a lot of guys have mentioned if you're really serious about that then you plan your trips accordingly, hop on the ferry and your at the doorstep of Big Game Country and beautiful scenery as a backstop.

Gophers, can't help you there. Last time I shot a gopher it was 1975 and I got 10 cents for each tail.

If your wife is O.K. coming out here then you got it half beat already, come on out, you'll really enjoy it. You'll be so busy picking oysters, catching crabs & shrimp as well as learning all you can about salmon fishing you'll forget all about the gophers.

[58thecat]

Originally Posted by castironcook

I think I might actually go stumping today.

As you can see in the attached pic, I'm all gear up and ready to go for a nice December 18th day of walkin' around in the woods.

Attachment 115704

Well no, I really should put jeans on so the bugs don't eat me alive. LOL

Mike
Cast Iron Cook

Kinda jealous...poor stumps, give em hell eh!

[winged1]

Originally Posted by castironcook

I'm in Crofton, 5 blocks up from the ferry terminal that takes you to Saltspring Island. 20 minutes walk to the Crofton shooting zone from home.

I think they call it "warmland" around here.

Did you take a job at the mill?

My ex's family were from Chemanius and we spent a couple of years in Naniamo. No hunting for me, but totally into fishing. I never hunted once during the ten years we where in Vancouver. Trade offs. We are targeting the Victoria area 16'/17'.

[castironcook]

winged1,

I did check in at the mill, spoke to them for about an hour back when I first moved here.

If you don't have a science degree in chemistry to go along with a millwright's ticket and 15 years experience they basically tell you to keep walkin'

and that's just for a labourer's position. LOL

[Wolfhunt]

Very Interesting

[winged1]

Originally Posted by castironcook

winged1,

I did check in at the mill, spoke to them for about an hour back when I first moved here.

If you don't have a science degree in chemistry to go along with a millwright's ticket and 15 years experience they basically tell you to keep walkin'

and that's just for a labourer's position. LOL

They really don't like Albertans

[elkdump]

If living on a rock surrounded by miles of water , where you have to pay outrageous prices to "escape" , floats ones' boat, that is then the place be ,

There are thousands of places to dig clams and fish ocean run fish that is accessible by road ,

I don't like to held for ransom by Government employed Pirates .

[Positrac]

Originally Posted by elkdump

If living on a rock surrounded by miles of water , where you have to pay outrageous prices to "escape" , floats ones' boat, that is then the place be ,

There are thousands of places to dig clams and fish ocean run fish that is accessible by road ,

I don't like to held for ransom by Government employed Pirates .

That's the same thing that keeps the number of people down on the Island also.

I lived there quite content with only leaving the Island once or twice a year to go on a Moose or Muley trip to the Interior.

I was in a small town and believe it or not it had both a Home Depot and a Costco. I've got to drive almost 500 kilometers to get to either one of them now. Lol.

[300magman]

I would happily trade Alberta whitetail hunting for the opportunity to hunt goats, grizz, caribou and thinhorn sheep. Not to mention significantly better draw odds on moose and (in my opinion only) a significantly better managed elk population. Ya, a guy would have to do some travelling and make trips out of it as opposed to hunting in the backyard so to speak, but I do that already hunting here for most things.

Now, if only they had the need for some serious pipeline work on the island, lol!

[Waterfowl93]

I did the opposite of you! I moved from the island to alberta haha, it was the right move at the right time though. I would go back in a heart beat though.

I did a lot of upland while I lived there and your right pheasants are hard to find but when you find a spot you tend not to tell anyone what I will tell yeah is you have to go up between Courtenay and Campbell river to really find them. Farmers are usually your best bet. Hope that maybe gives you some help!

Enjoy your hunting and fishing adventures on the island. I sure can't wait till I can!

[brucemcc]

Moved from Cold Lake to Comox in 2011.. Lived all over Canada with the army, retired in Edmonton, back to NAIT for 3 years.. Then the patch.. Camp job took me to BC...Hands down, no comparison.. Own a Grady in Campbell river.. Island life is the best choice, cheaper than AB, even with the higher tax.. cant put a price on quality of life.. Island life has no price tag

[58thecat]

Originally Posted by brucemcc

Moved from Cold Lake to Comox in 2011.. Lived all over Canada with the army, retired in Edmonton, back to NAIT for 3 years.. Then the patch.. Camp job took me to BC...Hands down, no comparison.. Own a Grady in Campbell river.. Island life is the best choice, cheaper than AB, even with the higher tax.. cant put a price on quality of life.. Island life has no price tag

I think the cost of living evens out all across the board, wet winters, no to little sunlight eats at me, love the island from April to October then would need a place to go to say Cuba
So what is a Grady?

[bagwan]

boat

[58thecat]

Originally Posted by bagwan

boat

Then I have a Grady too

Learn something new everyday!

[jethunter]

Every place has pros and cons.

I liked summer on the island but not the winters. All that rain was depressing.

I enjoyed the hunting and excellent fishing opportunities but not the tree huggers.

I have lived in a lot of places - middle east, India, Norway, Nigeria, USA, and several provinces: NS, NL, BC, AB. Life is what you make it and happiness is not location dependant.

[58thecat]

Originally Posted by 58thecat

Then I have a Grady too

Learn something new everyday!

I searched Grady..Grady-White are wow factor boats in which I do not have one, wish I did though, got kin an Campbell River that can buy one though!!!!