10 cool Canadian birds that belong that belong on every wingshooter’s bucket list

#2  BRANT

The longest and coldest winter hunt I’ve ever experienced was a morning going after brant on B.C.’s Boundary Bay, within sight of Vancouver. I might as well have been naked for all the good my clothes did to protect me from the ocean spray, constant sleet and frigid winds. But man, was it worth it.

This is a specialized hunt, practised largely by a small but dedicated, almost cult-like group of southern mainland hunters who await the annual 10-day season as though it were Christmas. There are limited places to launch their boats, so these hunters typically don’t compete. Instead, there’s underlying unity around safety, and they readily share information on where the birds are feeding, what effect the tides and winds are having, and where they plan to hunt the following day.

Then it’s all about the boats, motors and decoys as you bob on the ocean searching for the telltale strings of brant in the thick, gray skies, moving low across the water. It’s a hit-and-miss affair. As often as not, you’ll strike out, but on the best days, you’ll tumble your limit of two birds into the surf. Even seasoned brant hunters celebrate the days they’re successful. I only managed to shoot a single brant during my hunt, but it remains the most treasured bird I’ve ever taken.