Hi everyone,
As the topic heading says I am hoping to get onto some work/volunteer time when I am in BC June/July /August this year.
That is the short story but I suppose an extended version is warranted…
I live in Victoria Australia and my Girlfriend will be working for the BC Forest Service (Rapattack) doing remote area firefighting work on an exchange program for the summer. I am hoping to be over there at the same time but I don’t want to just sit around and do nothing.
I am hoping to be able to get some hunting/outdoor related work for the experience and to fill in my time (some pay wouldn’t be ignored but not necessary). I have heard that people have worked over there with outfitters/guides skinning and hauling gear and other stuff and that sounds perfect to me. I do realise it is summer and hunting will be at its lowest but was thinking there may be some maintenance of camps or lugging gear or scouting or anything out in the bush.
I have previously been on the exchange with the BC Forest Service and worked mainly in the SE corner of BC doing fire work (some places that come to mind are Salmon Arm, Fairmont, Nelson, 100 Mile House, Trout Lake). I have been firefighting back here in Aus for 8 or so fire seasons, have done park ranger work in Central Aus (Uluru National Park/Ayers Rock), have studied land management and am currently working as a wild dog/dingo trapper.
I am very comfortable in the bush and basically have lived, worked, hunted and studied in the bush my entire (although still young) life. I have hunted quite extensively in my own area and continue to have many good hunts (sometimes with a trophy, sometimes with only meat, photos or just a great time).As a wild dog trapper I would probably be able to adapt my methods to wolf or coyote for anyone with those pest animal problems. Swapping of local knowledge and hunting over here is also something I can offer.
If anyone has any ideas, contacts or even offers feel free to ask any questions first and I can provide my full resume for any serious opportunities.
Any questions just ask here or private message.
Thanks
Matt

Hi Matt let me know if you will be in the Mackenzie or Prince George area. Dan

Last year, or any of the 4-5 years preceding it, you could have had a seasonal job in mineral exploration here, making FAR better wages and with better treatment than in the fire fighting game. I am from Nelson and am ex-BCFS, AFS and some private consulting firms in forestry.

BUT, the "recession" has hit and guys are now getting "pink slipped" all over BC; this will likely be the worst economic slump since the "Dirty Thirties" and your chances here are pretty slim, to be honest.

I like guys from OZ and have worked with a few, good people, but, no head or stomach for Beer!!

OH:OH Dewey you have thrown down the gauntlet saying that to an Aussie. This will be fun

Thanks for the replies and sorry for the late response. Not sure if the news has got to Canada but we have just been dealing with our worst bushfires in Australias history so things have been rather busy.
Gunbug, I havent made any firm plans yet but heading further north in BC is on my list of places to go so I may well end up towards PG. I will make sure I contact you if plans take me that way. Thanks
Dewey. I worked with a Gabe Dewey at Rapattack - any connection? I spent a few weeks working out of Nelson on a base change and ate at just about every restaurant and cafe in Nelson!
I am looking more for the experience of being out bush rather than making a dollar or two (although extra cash is never turned away!).
I cant comment on the beer issue except I liked the Tall Timber Ale from Revelstoke! Wish I had a stock back here.

quote:

Originally posted by Alpine Hunter:
Gunbug, I havent made any firm plans yet but heading further north in BC is on my list of places to go so I may well end up towards PG. I will make sure I contact you if plans take me that way. Thanks

If you make it to PG, be sure to drop me a line. The economy maybe the shits, but will still find a way for hospitality. I've got a couple of rifles to play with.
A grill full of steaks and spuds, over some coals, is a must. Not to mention wobbly pops and Tequila!

Heck it might be a good excuse for the local AR members to get together!!

Sonnds like a great idea .366

AH, no, my nickname is Dewey, I am a member of one of the original pioneer families of Nelson and B.C.-Alberta-Yukon as well. My grandfather's uncle, my great-grandfather and my grandfather founded the brewery there, after leaving the Lower Mainland, where they had been since 1884, building and owning breweries.

One was in Victoria,B.C. before that and they all owned hotels and breweries, so, my interest in beer comes naturally. You may have drunk beer brewed in the original building on Latimer St. built sometime in the mid 1890s and now back to it's original function, my great-grandfather built it.

I started with the Forest Service in April, 1965 and largely worked for them until 1974, when the politics simply made me so miserable that I left for good. I have fought the odd fire in my day and worked, in 1975, for the company from Montana that started "rapattack" here in B.C. I also worked for the Alberta Forest Service.

Forestry here is over with and it will NEVER come even close to what we knew in the '50s, 60s and 70s, when there were jobs for anyone who wanted to work. I would be VERY circumspect about seeking a career in Forestry if I were you; it sounds romantic and I fell for this lure, although I was a straight-A English student and now wish I had remained in university and became a prof making almost 200K per, instead of the pathetic salaries paid to even RPF.s with MFs. degrees.

So, while bashing around what little wilderness remains in B.C., none really, you want to consider your future as my buddies and I did not. Quite a number of VERY capable guys I know work as security guards now as the "good old days" are gone....and forever. "A word to the wise".......

Alpine hunter, years ago when I was guiding in the Yukon, we had a fella from NZ that was hired as a "volunteer". He helped pack horses, cut wood etc. etc. He actually stayed pretty busy and was a pretty good hand.

Initally, he was offered a Caribou hunt for his services, but it turned into a Caribou/Moose combo hunt!!!!! I would of gladly traded my 3 months wages for that......but I think the Outfitters wife had the hots for him.

Not saying this is possible still, but something to look into.

That is exactly what I am looking for!
The opportunity to hunt would be a bonus as I am really just after the experience of being out there seeing the country, the animals, taking photos, looking for shed antlers, and being around like minded people.
Any idea where I can get onto the guides/outfitters other than simply sending emails as an introduction? Another forum maybe?

Go to www.goabc.org and then use the contact info. there to find potential employers, etc.

You MIGHT get a job as a "wrangler", long hours, shitty pay and being a "gofer" for the guides, outfitter and arrogant rich foreign clients. Not my idea of fun and I was asked if I wanted a guide's job by outfitters here and in Alberta, but, not for me.

Work is getting damm scarce here in the rural areas and it will get MUCH worse before it gets any better, even the "oil patch" is losing jobs and people are moving back east where many came from.

So, your quest might be a tough one, good luck with it.