Wildlife management in B.C. - Politics rule

IronNoggin

IronNoggin

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In the spring of 2018, B.C.’s NDP government announced it would ban the hunting of grizzly bears, except by indigenous peoples. Government freely admitted this ban was pure politics and supported by their public opinion polls.

There was no science behind their decision. It was not implemented for conservation reasons. Just like their promise to give B.C. residents $500 during the 2020 election, my opinion is this ban was implemented to buy votes.

Although it can be said that everything boils down to politics and is subject to voter sentiment, it shouldn't be. Not everything should be left to public opinion polls, or to the belief that unless it is good for voters in Metro Vancouver, it is not good for B.C.

There is hope.

Last fall, the NDP made an election promise to create a "Fish, Wildlife and Habitat Coalition.” Within this plan was the commitment to:

“In the first 100 days of the new government’s mandate it will:

"1. Introduce legislation to create a Fish, Wildlife and Habitat endowment.

"2. Dedicate all hunting, guide-outfitting and trapping license fees to wildlife management.”

Those 100 days are now ending, so we'll see what is done, as it is a start.

But much more is needed.

https://www.alaskahighwaynews.ca/opinion/columnists/evan-saugstad-wildlife-management-in-b-c-politics-rule-1.24274004
 
As a society we are fundamentally broken in regards to wildlife management. The groups with the loudest voice and the ears of those in power are dedicated to the belief that all animals live in a Disney-esk harmony . We foolishly believe scientific data has a chance against that
 
Until the voting public places value on the resource, IMO, little will be offered in the way of true game management. Jump back 40-50 years where many of the voting public valued the resource in a different way, placed significant personal resource in it and benefited in it at the table. It was perhaps a different demographic then. Today, there is a clear disconnect from the resource to other ideas like warm fuzzies IMO in the general public. So, until disconnected people value wildlife encounters more than photo ops or u tube videos then we are on track to Barrys note above.

The hunter public demands and monitors success apparently better south of the border, maybe. However consider that that their public effort pays more into direct management of said resource, has larger private land values, and has a large industry and public lobby behind it. Here we are heard but not followed. So again, until the voting public demands and hold accountable our governments for better parks, hiking trails, camping spots, managed populations of elk, deer, sheep, then we are at a significant disadvantage. And remember, we should be ready to apply our pocket books where our mouths are moving.

Are we willing to really tax for wildlife to a management goal. I suspect the voting public has greater interest in the "global climate emergency" or pandemics over wildlife game management for a growing but disconnected lobby. We are willing apparently to spend millions for the last remaining few (cariboo) while watch our other species dwindle right in front of our eyes. If the climate like Oregon comes north as predicted why can we not have the 100s of thousands of game animals they have within our vast province you may ask our managers. We apparently valued our cars and game opportunities over game mangement in the Kootenays lowlands. We placed eradication programs to eliminate human wildlife crashes. That worked very well for the purpose, but now where is the huntable populations? Gone. Managers stop rolling the dice with our opportunities with textbook ideas!!!

Train our youngsters to love and enjoy our traditions and place a seed for expectations to governments to continue that into the future. Place some real managers and money into the field rather than a desk in the city. Perhaps spend some more on true wildlife management and train to respect for our game animals.

Will we perhaps see levels of hunting opportunities not seen for 40 years where my haydays started? Those that remember times before will have their times to reflect on those values, but those are slowly winking out. However in our tradition I see a spark today in our youth and offer that your take your traditions and values to heart to bring them forward.

Elkys 2c plug.
 
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There's wildlife management in BC?

Look what has happened to the Caribou.

Grizzly Bears are going to be used as an excuse to keep people out of the back country, Y2Y.
 
Our only hope is that funding from licenses goes to wildlife conservation 100% (seems like a pipe dream) and that science based wildlife management gets a real boost. I would love to see a PITTMAN-ROBERTSON EXCISE TAX come to Canada too. Another pipe dream
 
Urbanites hate gun owners and they hate hunters almost as much. Even eating meat is coming under attack .... a little bit by a little bit. The NDP won’t be rushing to aid anyone.
 
todbartell said:
Our only hope is that funding from licenses goes to wildlife conservation 100% (seems like a pipe dream) and that science based wildlife management gets a real boost. I would love to see a PITTMAN-ROBERTSON EXCISE TAX come to Canada too. Another pipe dream
Click to expand...
Proposing another tax on guns and ammo would get them listening
 
todbartell said:
Our only hope is that funding from licenses goes to wildlife conservation 100% (seems like a pipe dream) and that science based wildlife management gets a real boost. I would love to see a PITTMAN-ROBERTSON EXCISE TAX come to Canada too. Another pipe dream
Click to expand...

Seems like the outfitters creamin' it. The worst violators on game will get the biggest share! For what? Screwin' all local hunters out of their meat?
 
Yup 40-50-60 years ago hunting ( and consumptive fishing) were important and respected within the province and most of the whole country. What's changed? By far most of our population now are lifelong city dwellers with no rural roots and the new Canadians for the last couple of generations are coming from countries with no tradition of individual firearms ownership or hunting. Until perhaps the 1990's most of our new Canadians came from Britain, various European countries, USA, all with centuries of hunting traditions. We are a fading demographic in our own country.
 
Part Three:

Wildlife management in B.C. - An organized mess

I largely concur with what this author has to say, and quite strongly so with this line:

"The reality is we need to meet on some type of common ground and convince government to be there with us."

Also his stance regarding budgets, and the reasons why we are where we are today...

https://www.alaskahighwaynews.ca/opinion/columnists/evan-saugstad-wildlife-management-in-b-c-an-organized-mess-1.24277339
 
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