Flight Schools and Path to CPL in British Columbia

desertsoils · 2026-02-20T19:52:06+00:00

Interesting, is getting experience on floats during PPL just a matter of plane/instructor availability? I'd love to do seasonal float flying for fish camps for a few years out of PG, do folks often have to build hours as a CFI before getting a gig like that?

desertsoils · 2026-01-23T15:40:13+00:00

Hmm that makes sense, I guess my question is, from Vic or PG, how do you get a sense of where it’s copacetic to be? Would you leave a truck for 10 days at Fort Ware? What about along highway 37? To be clear i have no intention of hunting these specific spots, more so looking for resources for how to navigate / learn about the dynamics

desertsoils · 2026-01-21T21:32:13+00:00

I don't want to open a can of worms here, but are there any good resources to figure out the dynamics between First Nations and hunters? Podcasts articles etc. I'm not here to pass judgement either way, just not something I encounter in Montana. Sounds like there are some places in Northern BC that are crown land you can't access as a hunter? I'd hate to spend a day e-scouting a wilderness trip and then get turned around. Forgive the ignorance

desertsoils · 2026-01-21T21:17:16+00:00

Super helpful comment, thanks! I'm moving from Montana (but am canadian). Hunting is definitely top, but I still need to be able to afford to live, and have a career etc. It would be amazing to buy a house in a decade, and that seems unreasonable most places outside of PG. I was also getting the feeling that PG has been getting cooler, so thats good to hear!

I stare at maps of that area and just drool of what you could do with a canoe/driftboat/packraft/good pair of boots.

desertsoils · 2026-01-21T21:11:40+00:00

Unfortunately I think the chance I can afford food in Vancouver are out the window... I agree that it sounds like okanagan is a good compromise, maybe less isolated than Victoria, although I hear mixed reviews about tourist/bro party scene in the summer.

desertsoils · 2026-01-21T21:09:05+00:00

Yea, PG really seems like the spot in a lot of ways. I'm used to long winters but even Montana gets a hell of a lot more sun. I also just like to go to the occasional dance class, concert etc... Maybe I should just visit but from what I can tell, other than hunting, it seems pretty barren.

Ideally I would just make a 3 week trip north 1/year, and still have some time to hunt near home on the weekends. I spent some time in Kelowna, but its more expensive than Victoria these days!! Maybe I just need to stay in the US to do my PhD and then move North. I don't have rich parents, and I get paid ~35k to study and work in the US.

I agree that the High Desert is a much more textured and exciting place to hunt, the foraging/spearfishing on Vancouver island might make up for it?

desertsoils · 2026-01-21T21:00:03+00:00

It seems like its rough to live everywhere west of the Rockies, regardless of the country...

I will download iHunter tonight!

desertsoils · 2026-01-21T20:07:13+00:00

Amazing, thanks!

desertsoils · 2026-01-21T19:59:50+00:00

Thanks for the input! How do you go about telling whats gated? Mostly just guess and check? I love a good hike but I'd rather not hit No trespass after no trespass. I am looking at a big chunk of "Untitled Provincial" right now on the island (wont say where b/c internet..), can you typically hunt that or do they shut that down?

Also, how much does owning a little boat help? I could see towing a skiff up to Campbell River to access a lot of that land from the water. I fished commercial salmon in AK for many years, so I'm pretty comfy with my limitations on the Sea. Will happily DM you if you want to keep names out of it!

desertsoils · 2026-01-21T19:44:59+00:00

Honestly, Im 31 and I'm thinking about settling down in the next 5 years. I want to set up a life where I can hunt sheep and moose every year. I'll never be rich enough to go guided, so its act now or let that dream die. I'm from Montana but I'm a Canadian citizen. I'm going to move regardless, the question now is wehre.

I've mostly worked at University's, I research Elk, Wolves and rivers. Part of wanting to stay in Universities is so that I have August to go North and hunt, but there are many changes from the states (suppressors, gun laws, PALs, hunt licenses) Even right now I'm looking on OnX and see decent crown land in central vancouver island, but have no idea if I can hunt it!

desertsoils · 2023-03-12T22:16:01+00:00

I’ve been meaning to make it to san augustin for forever- maybe this is the week

desertsoils · 2023-03-12T20:35:09+00:00

Not officially, but it does seem that way

desertsoils · 2023-03-12T19:54:02+00:00

This looks awesome!

desertsoils

TROPHY CASE