What makes a good deer hunting spot? And how much can we learn about where deer are going to be by understanding the habitat, weather, and behaviour that shape their lives?
This week on the EatWild Podcast, I sit down with wildlife biologist and longtime hunter Craig McLean to take a deep dive into mule deer and white-tailed deer in British Columbia.
Craig spent much of his career as a wildlife biologist with the Province of BC, working with deer, sheep, habitat, and wildlife populations across southern BC. He’s also a passionate hunter, which makes this conversation particularly interesting. We get to look at deer from both sides of the equation — understanding the biology and then applying that knowledge when we head into the mountains or the bush with a rifle.
We talk about how mule deer and whitetails use the landscape, why they move between summer and winter ranges, how fire and habitat changes affect deer populations, and what harsh winters can mean for the animals we hunt.
Craig and I get into glassing, still hunting, hunting open alpine country versus forested terrain, rattling for whitetails, seasonal movement, and some of the things newer hunters can do to become better at finding and understanding deer.
We also talk about meat care during early-season hunts, disease and population management, the importance of research and local knowledge, and why sometimes the best hunting strategy is simply to slow down, be patient, and pay attention.
There’s a lot in this conversation for both new and experienced deer hunters. If you want to become better at hunting deer in BC, understanding how they use the landscape is a pretty good place to start.
 
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Craig McLean and the podcast 
00:11 Introduction to Deer Hunting Strategies 
02:04 Glassings Tips and Optics Use in Open Country 
04:13 Still Hunting Techniques on Ridges and Slopes 
04:17 Craig's background in wildlife management and hunting 
07:37 Deer species in BC and their population dynamics 
08:01 Evolution and habitat of white-tailed deer in BC 
09:55 Seasonal Movement Patterns of Mule Deer 
10:37 Mule deer habitat, fire impact, and population trends 
14:47 Hunting in Alpine and Open Terrain 
20:14 Deer Behavior and Cover in Forested Areas 
21:29 Migration patterns and seasonal ranges of deer 
24:58 Patience and Observation in Hunting Success 
30:12 Managing Deer Populations and Seasons 
30:33 Understanding summer and winter ranges 
35:09 Meat Care Tips for Early Season Hunting 
40:02 Impact of Disease and Winter Severity on Deer 
43:03 Triggers for migration and habitat shifts 
44:53 Strategies for Hunting Winter Range Deer 
50:00 Using Rattling and Calling for White-Tails 
50:54 Impact of harsh winters and snow conditions 
54:29 Craig's passion for hunting and conservation 
54:58 Success Stories and Personal Experiences 
57:26 Essential gear and tips for new hunters 
59:46 Final Tips and Advice for Hunters
<a href='http://cwdbc.ca/'>CWDBC.ca</a> is an initiative by Hunters for BC to help educate Hunters on their role in limiting the spread of Chronic Wasting Disease in BC. Visit <a href='http://huntersforbc.ca/'>huntersforbc.ca</a> today to join the conservation circle.
<a href='https://www.ihunterapp.com/'>The iHunter App </a>supports the Eatwild Podcast and other programs. It is an essential tool for the hunt. The app's mapping layers, navigation tools, and hunting regulations are all packed into it to provide you with the information you need for your next adventure.
<a href='https://www.stikinepackrafts.com/'>Stikine Packrafts</a> are heavy on adventure and light on your back.  These versatile rafts are ideal for hunters, foragers and fishers to open up a world of adventures.
Stop in at <a href='https://www.beerebrewing.com/'>Beere Brewing</a> and take advantage of a 10% discount on your purchase. Use the code EATWILD10 on your next purchase. Beere makes a great selection of bright, crisp beers perfect for the patio or around the campfire.
 
If you need game bags, knives or lightweight gear from a Canadian company, check out <a href='https://www.hutolifestyle.ca/?srsltid=AfmBOopoNA8caN5i7vyB8nEX-h3cnus1V06EOChEjuJoRSiFwP4wVNkM'>HUTO LIFESTYLE – HUTO Lifestyle Clothing & Apparel</a>

What makes a good deer hunting spot? And how much can we learn about where deer are going to be by understanding the habitat, weather, and behaviour that shape their lives? This week on the EatWild Podcast, I sit down with wildlife biologist and longtime hunter Craig McLean to take a deep dive into mule deer and white-tailed deer in British Columbia. Craig spent much of his career as a wildlife biologist with the Province of BC, working with deer, sheep, habitat, and wildlife populations across southern BC. He’s also a passionate hunter, which makes this conversation particularly interesting. We get to look at deer from both sides of the equation — understanding the biology and then applying that knowledge when we head into the mountains or the bush with a rifle. We talk about how mule deer and whitetails use the landscape, why they move between summer and winter ranges, how fire and habitat changes affect deer populations, and what harsh winters can mean for the animals we hunt. Craig and I get into glassing, still hunting, hunting open alpine country versus forested terrain, rattling for whitetails, seasonal movement, and some of the things newer hunters can do to become better at finding and understanding deer. We also talk about meat care during early-season hunts, disease and population management, the importance of research and local knowledge, and why sometimes the best hunting strategy is simply to slow down, be patient, and pay attention. There’s a lot in this conversation for both new and experienced deer hunters. If you want to become better at hunting deer in BC, understanding how they use the landscape is a pretty good place to start. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Craig McLean and the podcast 00:11 Introduction to Deer Hunting Strategies 02:04 Glassings Tips and Optics Use in Open Country 04:13 Still Hunting Techniques on Ridges and Slopes 04:17 Craig's background in wildlife management and hunting 07:37 Deer species in BC and their population dynamics 08:01 Evolution and habitat of white-tailed deer in BC 09:55 Seasonal Movement Patterns of Mule Deer 10:37 Mule deer habitat, fire impact, and population trends 14:47 Hunting in Alpine and Open Terrain 20:14 Deer Behavior and Cover in Forested Areas 21:29 Migration patterns and seasonal ranges of deer 24:58 Patience and Observation in Hunting Success 30:12 Managing Deer Populations and Seasons 30:33 Understanding summer and winter ranges 35:09 Meat Care Tips for Early Season Hunting 40:02 Impact of Disease and Winter Severity on Deer 43:03 Triggers for migration and habitat shifts 44:53 Strategies for Hunting Winter Range Deer 50:00 Using Rattling and Calling for White-Tails 50:54 Impact of harsh winters and snow conditions 54:29 Craig's passion for hunting and conservation 54:58 Success Stories and Personal Experiences 57:26 Essential gear and tips for new hunters 59:46 Final Tips and Advice for Hunters CWDBC.ca is an initiative by Hunters for BC to help educate Hunters on their role in limiting the spread of Chronic Wasting Disease in BC. Visit huntersforbc.ca today to join the conservation circle. The iHunter App supports the Eatwild Podcast and other programs. It is an essential tool for the hunt. The app's mapping layers, navigation tools, and hunting regulations are all packed into it to provide you with the information you need for your next adventure. Stikine Packrafts are heavy on adventure and light on your back. These versatile rafts are ideal for hunters, foragers and fishers to open up a world of adventures. Stop in at Beere Brewing and take advantage of a 10% discount on your purchase. Use the code EATWILD10 on your next purchase. Beere makes a great selection of bright, crisp beers perfect for the patio or around the campfire. If you need game bags, knives or lightweight gear from a Canadian company, check out HUTO LIFESTYLE – HUTO Lifestyle Clothing & Apparel

What makes a good deer hunting spot? And how much can we learn about where deer are going to be by understanding the habitat, weather, and behaviour that shape their lives?
This week on the EatWild Podcast, I sit down with wildlife biologist and longtime hunter Craig McLean to take a deep dive into mule deer and white-tailed deer in British Columbia.
Craig spent much of his career as a wildlife biologist with the Province of BC, working with deer, sheep, habitat, and wildlife populations across southern BC. He’s also a passionate hunter, which makes this conversation particularly interesting. We get to look at deer from both sides of the equation — understanding the biology and then applying that knowledge when we head into the mountains or the bush with a rifle.
We talk about how mule deer and whitetails use the landscape, why they move between summer and winter ranges, how fire and habitat changes affect deer populations, and what harsh winters can mean for the animals we hunt.
Craig and I get into glassing, still hunting, hunting open alpine country versus forested terrain, rattling for whitetails, seasonal movement, and some of the things newer hunters can do to become better at finding and understanding deer.
We also talk about meat care during early-season hunts, disease and population management, the importance of research and local knowledge, and why sometimes the best hunting strategy is simply to slow down, be patient, and pay attention.
There’s a lot in this conversation for both new and experienced deer hunters. If you want to become better at hunting deer in BC, understanding how they use the landscape is a pretty good place to start.
 
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Craig McLean and the podcast 
00:11 Introduction to Deer Hunting Strategies 
02:04 Glassings Tips and Optics Use in Open Country 
04:13 Still Hunting Techniques on Ridges and Slopes 
04:17 Craig's background in wildlife management and hunting 
07:37 Deer species in BC and their population dynamics 
08:01 Evolution and habitat of white-tailed deer in BC 
09:55 Seasonal Movement Patterns of Mule Deer 
10:37 Mule deer habitat, fire impact, and population trends 
14:47 Hunting in Alpine and Open Terrain 
20:14 Deer Behavior and Cover in Forested Areas 
21:29 Migration patterns and seasonal ranges of deer 
24:58 Patience and Observation in Hunting Success 
30:12 Managing Deer Populations and Seasons 
30:33 Understanding summer and winter ranges 
35:09 Meat Care Tips for Early Season Hunting 
40:02 Impact of Disease and Winter Severity on Deer 
43:03 Triggers for migration and habitat shifts 
44:53 Strategies for Hunting Winter Range Deer 
50:00 Using Rattling and Calling for White-Tails 
50:54 Impact of harsh winters and snow conditions 
54:29 Craig's passion for hunting and conservation 
54:58 Success Stories and Personal Experiences 
57:26 Essential gear and tips for new hunters 
59:46 Final Tips and Advice for Hunters
<a href="http://cwdbc.ca/" rel="noopener noreferrer">CWDBC.ca</a>&nbsp;is an initiative by Hunters for BC to help educate Hunters on their role in limiting the spread of Chronic Wasting Disease in BC. Visit&nbsp;<a href="http://huntersforbc.ca/" rel="noopener noreferrer">huntersforbc.ca</a>&nbsp;today to join the conservation circle.
<a href="https://www.ihunterapp.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer">The iHunter App&nbsp;</a>supports the Eatwild Podcast and other programs. It is an essential tool for the hunt. The app's mapping layers, navigation tools, and hunting regulations are all packed into it to provide you with the information you need for your next adventure.
<a href="https://www.stikinepackrafts.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer">Stikine Packrafts</a> are heavy on adventure and light on your back.&nbsp; These versatile rafts are ideal for hunters, foragers and fishers to open up a world of adventures.
Stop in at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.beerebrewing.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer">Beere Brewing</a>&nbsp;and take advantage of a 10% discount on your purchase. Use the code&nbsp;EATWILD10&nbsp;on your next purchase. Beere makes a great selection of bright, crisp beers perfect for the patio or around the campfire.
&nbsp;
If you need game bags, knives or lightweight gear from a Canadian company, check out <a href="https://www.hutolifestyle.ca/?srsltid=AfmBOopoNA8caN5i7vyB8nEX-h3cnus1V06EOChEjuJoRSiFwP4wVNkM" rel="noopener noreferrer">HUTO LIFESTYLE – HUTO Lifestyle Clothing &amp; Apparel</a>

EatWild 112 - Deer Hunting in BC: Where, When & How with Craig McLean

Rick and I have flown into to the Norther Rockies and made our way from the remote airstrip and climbed up the mountain.  We chat about the experience of landing on a gravel bar with steep mountains all around.  We were up against some wet weather so we talk about strategies and tips on staying dry in the mountains.

Rick and I have flown into to the Norther Rockies and made our way from the remote airstrip and climbed up the mountain. We chat about the experience of landing on a gravel bar with steep mountains all around. We were up against some wet weather so we talk about strategies and tips on staying dry in the mountains.

Rick and I have flown into to the Norther Rockies and made our way from the remote airstrip and climbed up the mountain. &nbsp;We chat about the experience of landing on a gravel bar with steep mountains all around. &nbsp;We were up against some wet weather so we talk about strategies and tips on staying dry in the mountains.&nbsp;

EatWild Podcast 004: Sheep Hunting - Float Plane and Staying Dry

Rick and I are driving up the Alaska Highway.  Join us for hour eight of our drive while we kill some time and make a podcast.  In this episode we chat about the logistics of trip planning, picking your hunting partners, and the technical information that is available these days for hunt planning.

Rick and I are driving up the Alaska Highway. Join us for hour eight of our drive while we kill some time and make a podcast. In this episode we chat about the logistics of trip planning, picking your hunting partners, and the technical information that is available these days for hunt planning.

Rick and I are driving up the Alaska Highway.&nbsp; Join us for hour eight&nbsp;of our drive while we kill some time and make a podcast. &nbsp;In this episode we chat about the logistics of trip planning, picking your hunting partners, and the technical information that is available these days for hunt planning.

EatWild Podcast 003: Sheep Hunting - Trip Planning

Learning to hunt is a long process, and it's hard!  Greg and Mike Taylor, the EatWild technical team, share a few stories about their first three years learning to hunt.  Both Greg and Mike come from an urban background and want to reconnect with where their food comes from.  They have started the journey to harvest wild food and share a few stories from along the way.

Learning to hunt is a long process, and it's hard! Greg and Mike Taylor, the EatWild technical team, share a few stories about their first three years learning to hunt. Both Greg and Mike come from an urban background and want to reconnect with where their food comes from. They have started the journey to harvest wild food and share a few stories from along the way.

Learning to hunt is a long process, and it's hard!&nbsp; Greg and Mike Taylor, the EatWild technical team, share a few stories about their first three years learning to hunt.&nbsp; Both Greg and Mike come from an urban background and want to reconnect with where their food comes from.&nbsp; They have started the journey to harvest wild food and share a few stories from along the way.

EatWild Podcast 2: New Hunters - How to get started hunting

In this episode of the EatWild Podcast, we will teach you how to hunt moose! 
It took me over 20 years of hunting moose before I learned how to do it effectively. I met Lance Grubisich, who changed my approach to moose hunting with just a five-minute calling lesson. After that lesson, our family's success rate in moose hunting improved dramatically. 
Lance and his family have been targeting moose in Northern British Columbia for nearly 40 years, and he generously shares some of his tips and techniques on how to communicate with moose and convince them to respond to your calls. I feel very fortunate to have had Lance as a guest on my inaugural EatWild podcast. Thank you, Lance!
EatWild supports folks who want to learn to hunt, forage and cook wild food. Join us for one of our workshops or courses. www.eatwild.ca.

In this episode of the EatWild Podcast, we will teach you how to hunt moose! It took me over 20 years of hunting moose before I learned how to do it effectively. I met Lance Grubisich, who changed my approach to moose hunting with just a five-minute calling lesson. After that lesson, our family's success rate in moose hunting improved dramatically. Lance and his family have been targeting moose in Northern British Columbia for nearly 40 years, and he generously shares some of his tips and techniques on how to communicate with moose and convince them to respond to your calls. I feel very fortunate to have had Lance as a guest on my inaugural EatWild podcast. Thank you, Lance! EatWild supports folks who want to learn to hunt, forage and cook wild food. Join us for one of our workshops or courses. www.eatwild.ca.

In this episode of the EatWild Podcast, we will teach you how to hunt moose!&nbsp;
It took me over 20 years of hunting moose before I learned how to do it effectively. I met Lance Grubisich, who changed my approach to moose hunting with just a five-minute calling lesson. After that lesson, our family's success rate in moose hunting improved dramatically.&nbsp;
Lance and his family have been targeting moose in Northern British Columbia for nearly 40 years, and he generously shares some of his tips and techniques on how to communicate with moose and convince them to respond to your calls. I feel very fortunate to have had Lance as a guest on my inaugural EatWild podcast. Thank you, Lance!
EatWild supports folks who want to learn to hunt, forage and cook wild food. Join us for one of our workshops or courses. www.eatwild.ca.

EatWild Podcast 1: Moose Calling with Lance Grubisich

The EatWild podcast provides mentorship to folks who want to learn how to hunt, fish, and gather wild food.

We want to reduce barriers and create a welcoming, inclusive and supportive community for people to re-connect with nature and wild food. 

Join us as we share stories, adventures, guidance and knowledge about a way of life that’s rooted in eating wild.

EatWild podcast is hosted by Dylan Eyers.

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Education

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The EatWild podcast provides mentorship to folks who want to learn how to hunt, fish, and gather wild food. We want to reduce barriers and create a welcoming, inclusive and supportive community for people to re-connect with nature and wild food. Join us as we share stories, adventures, guidance and knowledge about a way of life that’s rooted in eating wild. EatWild podcast is hosted by Dylan Eyers.

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