2020 Canadian hunting forecast: Top spots for deer, moose, elk, bear and more

BRITISH COLUMBIA

For many ski resorts in B.C., the past winter was fantastic thanks to frequent and persistent snow, which approached record amounts in some areas. Fortunately, the snowfall was mostly in the mountains, and animals that migrated to lower elevations found relief on their winter ranges. Winter is never an easy time for game animals, but for most of B.C., this past winter was tolerable. The cool and moist summer, with few forest fires, was also favourable. As burned-over areas green up, game animals will flourish and hunting opportunities should improve over the next decade or two. Note that burgeoning road access, whether for resource development, fire emergencies or other uses, has become a game-management issue in all regions of the province.

BLACK BEARS

The hunting of grizzly bears remains suspended in B.C., but black bears are flourishing in every region of the province. The current harvest of 3,500 bears is easily sustainable, and there’s room for more hunter participation. With some ungulate populations still down, having a bear tag in hand could help avoid disappointment this season.

ELK

With the exception of the Thompson Region, elk are now found in huntable numbers in every management region. Where elk have invaded agricultural land, the management strategy has been to reduce their numbers, often quite successfully. Outside of those areas, however, elk numbers are up. The Peace and Kootenay Regions still support the highest harvest levels, but even in areas with lower elk populations, hunter success can be surprisingly good.

GOATS

While B.C. is home to half the world’s population of mountain goats, the species reproduces slowly and the sexes can be difficult to tell apart. As a result, managers are extra sensitive to hunter harvest. In the Skeena Region, which has the highest numbers, populations are stable. Elsewhere, though, not all is well. Some formerly open seasons are now limited entry hunts, while other areas have been closed to hunting altogether to allow populations to recover.

MOOSE

Moose are found throughout B.C. east of the Coast Mountains. Historically, the centre of the province (the Omineca and Cariboo Regions) offered some of the highest densities and best moose hunting in North America. Over the past two decades, however, moose numbers have fallen, in some places drastically. There are still moose to hunt, but regulations have been tightened. Elsewhere in the province, moose are doing okay—while not flourishing, they’re not collapsing, either. The relatively mild winter and low tick load this year should help populations grow.

MULE DEER

In spite of some less than spectacular harvests in recent years, and a tightening of hunting regulations, mule deer remain B.C.’s most popular big-game species. The good news for 2020 is there are indications of a population recovery in most regions—two relatively mild winters in a row have harvest numbers on the rise. Populations are not yet are back to their former glory, but 2020 is shaping up to be a decent year for a mule deer hunting.

SHEEP

The bighorn sheep in the south half of the province are struggling. Some hunts have been closed, and even in areas that are still open, hunters may have to work a bit harder this fall to score. The thinhorn sheep of the northern mountains, on the other hand, are doing well. Populations are stable and hunters who venture into the rugged habitat should find big rams.

WHITETAILS

After a couple of severe winters, white-tailed deer numbers have been down in recent years, along with hunter harvest. Whitetails have a high reproductive potential, however, and two relatively mild winters in a row should have them on the road to recovery as they continue to expand their range westward. The best bets are going to be the traditional strongholds in the Okanagan, Kootenay and Peace Regions, although don’t expect a hunting bonanza just yet.