Unfriendly highway signs in B.C.

Some years ago, some anti gun/hunters called police on one of my friends and his to bear hunting partners, all of whom were legally hunting on crown land. Police, upon arrival, had to react to the "tip" of "american poachers", and at gun point forced the hunters to drop their guns and make them go through a muddy water hole. After checking them out, and everything was OK, police told them to have a nice day, and continue their bear hunt :)

These negative signs against hunters, only further the distance for those who are thinking of becomming new hunters.

No wonder that British Columbia have lost over 60 % of it's hunters the last 20 years.
 
snowhunter said:
I would have no problems if the highway department posted signs that reads: "Do'nt drink and drive", "keep distance", "slow down" etc.

However, why are the highway department concerned about poacher, polluters and hunters ? ?
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they have signs about speeding, drinking,driving when your tired....
and many more.
 
Some how I really don't believe that was the reason that hunter #'s declined over the last 20 years.

I'll give an example of my father...

He was the person that introduced me to and taught me how to hunt.

Then the hunter CORE course then the PAL came out resulting in him gaving up hunting and gaving me his firearms. The same thing went for all of his hunting buddies.

Now this man and his buddies who taught me gun safety and hunting safety has to be within arms reach of me in order to legally have a firearm in his possesion when he is in remote wilderness areas.

Our provincial government has actually hit the nail on the head when it comes to reducing the costs and the restrictions to be in possesion of firearms for hunting.

In regards to the signs I actually agree with having them if it helps stop poachers and shooting within no shooting areas.
 
Camp Cook said:
Now this man and his buddies who taught me gun safety and hunting safety has to be within arms reach of me in order to legally have a firearm in his possesion when he is in remote wilderness areas.
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I wish they would just drop that. If a minor has both his CORE/hunting licence/proper tags, and his minor's PAL (such as I do) then why not let them hunt in company with a parent/adult?

The arms reach is total BS.
 
snowhunter said:
With the number of drunk driving related dead and cripling of drivers and passenger on our highways, it is beyond my comprehension for the B.C. Highway Department to target hunters, poachers and polluters, instead of the safety of our highways.
g.
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The signs don't have anything to do with the Highways Dept.

The MOE and the CO's as well as local clubs install the regular signs, and the MOE requests that the flashing highways alert signs include the RAPP #, when there isn't some real road report news necessary.
 
OK, I made some spelling errors :)

At first hand, I have seen first hand that it is somewhat difficult for RCMP and CO's to catch a suspected poacher in the act. And as Gatehouse stated earlier, most people would not know what a poacher is, and secondly, a poacher is a criminal with a loaded gun, and I would leave it to an armed and trained law enforcement officer to deal with that particular, dangerous individual.

I would find very unwise and stupid to confront an armed criminal, who have no respect for law and order begin with. A poacher would without doubt ignore the flashing highway signs, calling for the general public to turn him in.

What would an armed poacher do to you, if he finds out that you want to turn him to police ?

For the B.C. Highway Department to ask the general public to put themself in danger over a suspected, armed poacher is plain stupid.
 
snowhunter said:
I would find very unwise and stupid to confront an armed criminal, who have no respect for law and order begin with.
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That is why the CO service asks people to OBSERVE, RECORD and REPORT. They specifcally tell you NOT to confront suspects.

A poacher would without doubt ignore the flashing highway signs, calling for the general public to turn him in.
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Yes, he would, that is why the signs are not for the poacher. He probably alreayd knows the repprt phone #. The signs are for the general public.

What would an armed poacher do to you, if he finds out that you want to turn him to police ?
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Who knows? Which is why the CO's tell you to make sure that you don't confront anyone.

For the B.C. Highway Department to ask the general public to put themself in danger over a suspected, armed poacher is plain stupid
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The BC Highways dept installs traffic signs, they don't have a poacher/polluter policy. Likely if you called the BC Highways Dept, they woudl refer you to the MOE, which does have a poacher/polluter policy.
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snowhunter said:
Along the Trans Canada Highway in Lower Mainland, the highway signs is flashing "rapport poachers and polluters", and along the "Connector" between Merrit and Peachland, some very large and official highway signs states: "No hunting or discharge of firearms within 400 meters of highway".

I therefore appears, that the management of the British Columbia Highway Department is strongly againgst huntig and hunters ?

Since all hunters read and obey the hunting regulations, I see no need for these very public and very negative anti hunters signs, flashed at the general public, especially in the light of that the Bristish Columbia Government wants to recruit another 20000 new hunters, due to the loss of 60 % of B.C. hunters the last 20 years.

It would go a long way for a positive B.C. hunters image, if the B.C. Highway management, stopped using this department, as an anti hunting forum.
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That is the point i have already reported 1 person shooting from a highway and he has now had his hunting license taken away with a huge fine! There are many potchers out there and not to many people that do anything about it. They are just reminders to the shady hunters so i take no notice to em!
 
My point is that kind of negative highway signs is not helping to recruit more hunters in British Columbia, and I sincerely have serious doubt that there will be any increase in the hunter numbers in near future, as wanted by the B.C. government. To the contrary, I believe the number of hunters in B.C. will continue to decline, because of the general negative attitude towards us.
 
You can find Report a Poacher signs in Alberta as well. Quite often, you will also see it as a bumper sticker on hunting rigs including mine. Tells people I not only respect the hunting/fishing regs, it also ensures I have the number handy if I see something not right.
These signs are funded by hunter/angler dollars and are supported by Fish and Game orgs. I don't know where you get the negative connotation about hunting/fishing from these signs etc being posted/displayed. If you were to take the opportunity to talk to folks about these signs and explain to them the difference between a hunter and a poacher it can make a huge difference in public perception. The occ letter to the editor also goes a long way. The reminder about proximity to the road is a good one as well. Lots of areas in Alberta have sign indicating no hunting areas such as wildlife corridors. If by not paying attention to these details, then you are going to deservedly get RAPPed as you have crossed over the line between hunter and poacher.
 
snowhunter said:
What would an armed poacher do to you, if he finds out that you want to turn him to police ?

For the B.C. Highway Department to ask the general public to put themself in danger over a suspected, armed poacher is plain stupid.
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This is why in the regs, and in the ads they mention not to confront a poacher, but simply observe, record, and report them. :)

Mind you an unarmed Canadian Liberal would probably feel safe to confront an armed criminal in the woods, and argue with them. :rolleyes:
 
After 35 years of hunting in B.C., I have encountered one poacher, and I only learned about his criminal activities because RCMP and CO was on his case. They spend a huge amount of time and money, because he was also a suspect for having killed a CO up north. This poacher was a former member of a "dead squad" in a foreign, nasty war, and after that war was losts, he came to Canada as an immigrant. At the end, RCMP and the CO did not have enough evidence to put him behing bars. Therefore I see no reasons for the general pupplic to get envolved in "observing and reporting" that kind of former government trained dead squad member. He would also have known if you had kept an eye with him, and he would therefore have to kill you.
 
Snowhunter...

Maybe you've hit on something here, this could be a golden opportunty to enlighten the general population on the major differences between law abiding hunters & the criminal activities of poachers by writing letters to our newpapers editorial pages...
 
bone-collector said:
maybe the signs wouldnt be up there if a certain group of folks didnt shoot 30X there limit in moose a year each and try selling it on street corners for $100 a quarter ;)
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Wouldn't say report a poacher than would it???what would it say?best leave that alone??

I think the signs are offensive also----have you drove them highways on a long weekend??---signs should say--" Report speeding-suicide passing--old farts dependant on ###### driving there Harleys--crotch rockets exceeding 140--mini vans overloaded--child endagerment in mini vans suicide passing--Cummins VS Duramax VS Power stroke hill pulling wars and suicide passes--the I can pass you on this short stretch pulling a train morons--how about the semi nationals--my 18 wheeler can out corner a porche 911---in an hour of driving you could wear out the tabs on your cell and don't forget--multi tasking cell phone driver passing 18 wheeler in his Duramax pulling a small house while that cute young thing is giving him a BJ--
 
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