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

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 podcast00:11 Introduction to Deer Hunting Strategies02:04 Glassings Tips and Optics Use in Open Country04:13 Still Hunting Techniques on Ridges and Slopes04:17 Craig's background in wildlife management and hunting07:37 Deer species in BC and their population dynamics08:01 Evolution and habitat of white-tailed deer in BC09:55 Seasonal Movement Patterns of Mule Deer10:37 Mule deer habitat, fire impact, and population trends14:47 Hunting in Alpine and Open Terrain20:14 Deer Behavior and Cover in Forested Areas21:29 Migration patterns and seasonal ranges of deer24:58 Patience and Observation in Hunting Success30:12 Managing Deer Populations and Seasons30:33 Understanding summer and winter ranges35:09 Meat Care Tips for Early Season Hunting40:02 Impact of Disease and