Experience world-class small game hunting on Vancouver Island with licensed professional outfitters and experienced local guides.
Band-tailed Pigeons offer a distinctive challenge for upland and migratory bird hunters. Their fast flight, seasonal movements, and relatively short hunting season require careful scouting, accurate species identification, and good shooting skills. Hunters must always comply with the applicable federal and provincial permits, bag and possession limits, legal hunting methods, hunting hours, and area restrictions.
Band-tailed Pigeons are associated with coastal forests, forest edges, feeding areas, roosting habitat, and natural mineral sites. Southern and eastern portions of Vancouver Island can provide suitable habitat where food sources and legal hunting access overlap.
Hunters may look for activity around forest edges and openings, berry-producing shrubs and trees (like Red elderberry), natural mineral sites, and mixed coastal forests containing Douglas-fir, western hemlock, red cedar, red alder, and Sitka spruce. Band-tailed Pigeons may move considerable distances between feeding, roosting, and mineral sites, so scouting flight routes and watching for repeated movement can help identify productive areas.
The general open season applies across MUs 1-1 to 1-15, subject to local restrictions. Hunters must confirm private-land permission, municipal bylaws, park boundaries, no-hunting and no-shooting areas, firearm or bow discharge restrictions, and access requirements before hunting.
The open season for Band-tailed Pigeon runs from September 15 to September 30 in MUs 1-1 to 1-15. The daily bag limit is 5 Band-tailed Pigeons, with a possession limit of 15. Band-tailed Pigeons are active during daylight hours and may move between roosting, feeding, and mineral-site habitats throughout the day. Because they are migratory game birds, they may be hunted only from one-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset. Hunters should check the current annual federal migratory game bird regulations as well as applicable provincial and local restrictions before each season.
Hunters must always confirm private-land permission, municipal bylaws, park boundaries, no-hunting and no-shooting areas, firearm or bow discharge restrictions, and access requirements before hunting. Always check the current regulations and applicable park boundaries before planning a hunt.
Hunters do not have the defined same ways to experience band-tailed pigeon hunting. But it's expected to choose the best hunting methods according to your skills.
Always ensure a safe shooting direction and comply with all applicable local bow-discharge, access, and hunting restrictions.
Hunting regulations may change. Hunters are responsible for checking the current B.C. Hunting and Trapping Regulations Synopsis and annual federal migratory game bird regulations before hunting.
Band-tailed Pigeons may be hunted only during the applicable open season, September 15 to September 30 in MUs 1-1 to 1-15.
Hunters must hold the applicable B.C. hunting licence and a valid Canadian Migratory Game Bird Hunting Permit with the required Canadian Wildlife Habitat Conservation Stamp.
The daily bag limit is 5 Band-tailed Pigeons, with a possession limit of 15.
Band-tailed Pigeons may be hunted only from one-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset.
Live birds may not be used as decoys, and recorded or electronic bird calls may not be used. Artificial decoys and legal non-electronic calls may be used where otherwise permitted.
Band-tailed Pigeons are an exception to B.C.'s general migratory game bird non-toxic-shot requirement, although local restrictions may still apply.
Migratory game birds may not be hunted from a power boat unless the boat is beached, resting at anchor, or fastened within or tied immediately alongside a fixed hunting blind.
A one-day simple band-tailed pigeon hunt without the price of a licence, lodging, cleaning and packaging, shotgun, blinds, and any other gear will cost around $200-$300.
Reading about Band-tailed Pigeon hunting is only the first step. Successful hunting also requires field experience, knowledge of habitat, scouting, preparation, and the ability to adapt to changing conditions. For hunters unfamiliar with the area or the species, working with an experienced guide outfitter can make the journey more organized and rewarding.
Plan your hunt in advance, especially considering the limited September hunting season.
Choose a lawful hunting area and confirm the applicable Management Unit, access requirements, and local restrictions.
Obtain the required licences and permits, including the appropriate B.C. hunting licence and Canadian Migratory Game Bird Hunting Permit.
Select an experienced outfitter or guide who can help you make the most of your Vancouver Island hunting experience.
Scout feeding and movement areas: Focus on areas with suitable food sources, seasonal vegetation, and known flight routes.
Watch their flight patterns: Pay attention to their approach direction, speed, and movement patterns to improve shot timing and accuracy.
Prepare appropriate equipment: Use suitable equipment, practice shooting skills, and carry enough legal ammunition for the conditions.
Study habitat and behaviour: Learning Band-tailed Pigeon habits, feeding areas, roosting locations, and daily movement patterns can significantly improve success.
Consider weather and visibility: Wind, sunlight, and changing weather conditions can influence bird movement and shooting opportunities.
Use effective concealment: Proper camouflage, careful positioning, and minimizing unnecessary movement can help hunters remain less noticeable.
Band-tailed Pigeons are only one of several hunting opportunities available during the fall. Other big game and small-game seasons may overlap.
A four-day, three-night adventure.
A one-day hunting tour in Victoria.
A two-day excursion in Port Hardy.
A five-day black bear hunting and camping experience in Port Alberni.
Hunters must follow all applicable Management Unit, park, private-land, municipal, access, firearm or bow-discharge, no-hunting, and no-shooting restrictions.
Always follow the current B.C. Hunting and Trapping Regulations Synopsis, federal migratory game bird regulations, and all applicable local rules when planning a Band-tailed Pigeon hunt.
Band-tailed Pigeons are associated with specific coastal environments. Common areas and food sources include:
Mixed coastal forests containing Douglas-fir, western hemlock, red cedar, red alder, and Sitka spruce.
Red elderberry and other seasonal food sources are highly favoured, especially in September.
Providing clear flight paths and easy access to feeding areas.
Essential locations that pigeons frequently visit, making them key scouting areas.
Yes, many people widely eat band-tailed pigeons. They have traditionally been harvested for food and can provide quality wild game when properly handled and prepared.
Preparation: Ensure the bird is properly handled. Hunters must remove and retain both breasts as the required edible portions in accordance with B.C. regulations.
Identification: When possessing or transporting, one feathered wing or the feathered head must remain attached to the carcass.
Retrieval: Hunters must make all reasonable efforts to locate, dispatch, retrieve, and include in their bag limit any bird they kill, cripple, or wound.
Transportation: Hunters must also comply with applicable federal possession and transportation requirements for migratory game birds.
Specific rules apply to certain areas and age groups to ensure safety and compliance with migratory bird laws.
Hunters under 18 must comply with provincial youth-supervision requirements and federal Youth Migratory Game Bird Hunting Permit requirements, accompanied by a qualified adult.
Hunters aged 18+ require a Gulf Islands Special Area Licence. Those under 18 must be accompanied by an adult who holds one. $100,000 liability insurance is required unless guided.
A person may not hunt with more than one shotgun at a time, unless every additional shotgun is disassembled, unloaded, and encased.
Motor vehicles, aircraft, boats, or other mechanical devices may not be used to herd or harass wildlife. Wireless cameras may not be used for hunting.
Stay informed with the latest updates and official regulations before heading into the field:
Find answers to the most common questions regarding regulations, habitat, and field best practices for Band-tailed Pigeon hunting in British Columbia.
According to the "Band-tailed Pigeon Management Plan 2019", band-tailed pigeons are blue-listed by the British Columbia Conservation Data Centre (B.C. CDC 2009).
Band-tailed pigeons mostly eat berries. In September, on Vancouver Island, Red Elderberry is their favoured meal.
Band-tailed pigeons previously travelled in large flocks. Now they have become uncommon in most areas in Canada, but they still thrive on the west coast and Vancouver Island, specifically in Victoria.
Yes. Many people widely eat band-tailed pigeons, and they can provide quality wild game when properly handled and prepared.
Band-tailed pigeons' speed can reach 77.6 mph (124.8 kph) for short periods, but they can fly as fast as 92.5 mph (148.8 kph).
Yes, legal non-electronic calls may be used. Recorded or electronic bird calls are prohibited when hunting game birds, and live birds may not be used as decoys.
Band-tailed pigeons are mainly migratory species, but there are also resident groups. Migratory birds breed and nest in British Columbia.