The BC Wildlife Federation (BCWF) and members of the Southern Okanagan Sportsmen’s Association (SOSA) say the B.C. government’s revised policy on wildlife harvest allocations falls short of the target.
The Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations recently set a new allocation policy, but resident hunters argued that it was unfair, granting guide-outfitters an increase in hunting allocations for non-resident hunters. Meanwhile, resident hunters are being subject to reduced access to permits, the federation argues. According to federation spokesman Jesse Zeman, 67,000 resident hunters in B.C. applied for hunting permits last year, but more than 54,000 were refused.
Currently, there are 34 hunts in the province that need to be allocated between resident and non-resident hunters. Allocations are set only after conservation requirements and First Nations food and ceremonial needs are met.
The revised harvest allocation will see resident hunters get more access (permits) to bull elk and either sex elk on Vancouver Island, moose in the Thompson and Omineca regions, bison in the Peace, and Bighorn Sheep and Grizzly bears in the Kootenays.
Overall, the number of animals transferred to guide outfitters from resident hunters as a result of the revision is about 60 animals, when compared to 2014, according to the ministry.
Of the 45,700 animals harvested by residents hunters each year in B.C., only about eight per cent are on allocation. Minister Steve Thomson said resident hunters would continue to receive the priority share of the wildlife allocation. He noted that increased allocation for guide outfitters would help ensure that the industry remains economically viable.
“I made slight revisions to the hunts for moose, Bighorn Sheep, Grizzly bears, Roosevelt elk and bison to address the concerns I heard after the decision was released. I now look forward to working with the BC Wildlife Federation and Guide Outfitters Association of B.C. on ways we can all work more effectively together on wildlife management,” Thomson said.
Federation president George Wilson commended the ministry for listening to the concerns of resident hunters and modifying the policy. But he noted the amendments don’t go far enough in providing an equitable balance between the rights of resident hunters to access wild game and the business needs of guide-outfitters who service foreign trophy hunters.
Wilson said recent changes to the policy awarded the 245-member Guide-Outfitters Association of B.C. up to an unprecedented 40 per cent of the allocation for some species. Consequently, the new policy reduced resident hunters’ share of wild game across much of B.C., according to the federation.
“Wildlife is an integral public resource and wildlife policy should encompass much more than protecting the economic interests of a handful of businesses,” said Wilson. “Policy should reflect the environmental, social and cultural importance that wildlife offers the residents of B.C.”
According to the ministry, guide-outfitters in B.C. employ more than 2,000 people and provide services to approximately 5,000 non-resident hunters. This generates an estimated $116 million in economic activity each year.
The federation says resident hunters spend over $230 million a year on hunting related activities and contribute $9 million a year towards conservation work through license fees. Members also dedicate more than 300,000 hours annually to fish, wildlife and habitat conservation projects across the province.
LYONEL DOHERTY
Special to the Times
