Re: region 5 hunting season 2017
Give it a few years though after these fires and I'll bet the deer numbers in these areas will flourish..
Re: region 5 hunting season 2017
Thats the thing about the current regs...for the most part
They allow for the take of a particular portion of the herd that is deemed to be surplus , that will not be missed in the big picture. Antler restrictions assure there is still breeding stock available to get the job done.
Agreed, Mule Deer does numbers will be hurt so the take of them should be stopped, but that was being said well ahead of the current situation.
White tails, well they will proliferate regardless, and will continue to expand.
Sheep......again the regs control what is available to hunt by the regulated hunter, and though success may well diminish after the fires, the ewes are protected by regs, and the rams will do what they always do.
The fires may affect a population , but it occurs across the board and doesn't target a particular sect of the critters. Male/ female ratios are the key, and will take years to verify.
Re: region 5 hunting season 2017
The sheep relocations that occurred years ago also took a portion of the herd but across the board again, ewes and rams.
At the time, it was deemed there were an excess of sheep on the available habitat, and removing a few was a benefit to those remaining, a win/win
The continued decline in the Fraser pop just re-affirms that their are larger issues on the landscape
Re: region 5 hunting season 2017
Quote:
Originally Posted by
srupp
That the fires are not affecting wildlife is not viable..the animals can not survive in the fire..fact..
That the one original fire in Ashcroft has now burned north through several valleys.Clinton..Loon Lake..now enough to Green Lake putting highway 24 south all either on alert or order
...every day literally hundreds of birds were observed flying north ahead of the fire..daily.
Animals have either perished or fled to valleys away..10, s of kilometers..tired..stressed.desperate..
The west Chilcotin..Kleena Kleene..east to the Fraser..over that..to Highway 97 east of that.
DUGAN lake..Spokane lake..north past Coyote creek Wildwood north to Lyne creek....
Lots better informed accuratly up to date..
Some idea to help ranchers that will be hurt by rising prices and rapidly dissappear ing feed forcing sell off into a already bad market..supplying one of these beef to first nations takes any argument..well ligimat argument away in these once in 100 year disaster.the gov't is already acknowledgement that they have some responsibility financially..as well as fiduciary responsibility for fn..
Closing down all hunting will need to also acknowledge and compensate guide outfitters that livelihood depends on big game.
I'm sure there are better ideas.but someone is eventually going to deal with rapidly approaching big game hunting season..
Srupp
Many hunters don't seem to realize, or even care, that we as recreational hunters are also part
of the long term sustainability of the creatures we kill. No one is suggesting that those animals
can't replenish their numbers after a fire, but it will take a very long time if we 'kick them when
they're down'. Sacrificing one or two years of reduced hunting of them will give them time to do so,
giving hunters good opportunities years before they would have otherwise. Many guides know how
many animals are in their area, and even can identify a lot of them in. They know the country isn't the
'proverbial purse' where there's an unlimited supply hiding somewhere just waiting to take the place
of those animals that get shot. Like farming, a crop or herd has to be managed intelligently and with
care to remain healthy and sustainable. Unfortunately, there are those that are too selfish and shortsighted
so become part of the problem rather then part of the solution.
Re: region 5 hunting season 2017
Quote:
Originally Posted by
srupp
With hunting season roughly 1 month away..and most fires still burning, more starting each week.these fires really cover a significant portion of region 5.most animals will be dealing with smoke, fire, loss of habitat home range extreme stress..separation of familly groups, herds.moving animals into new , strange territory perhaps with less food sources less nutrients..no one knows..as fires are paramount at this time .
It will also concentrate the remaining animals in smaller areas..how many animals have perished is still only a guess .
With all these losses, unknowns the well being of these animals should be, must be priority.
It will be hard on guide outfitters in this region..however..my personal view is when in doubt ....error on the side of conservation..future of all animals.
Until the scope of this tremendous fire season is carefully evaluated..loss of wildlife and habitat is properly determined as is how these fires have concentrated the hunt able big game.as well as safety to even enter into some of these MU regions..especially in the areas West of the Fraser River.
We talk about how to put more game into the field.the stress may influence even this year's rut?
Perhaps we could lead by example..BCWF..consider putting forward the thought process of suspending, eliminating, legislating the complete big game hunting in region 5 for the remainder of 2017 .
Completely eliminating ALL hunting.
For first nations the replacement of any hunting with the federal gov't supplying a replacement" single animal..beef provided from local cattle ranches deeply affected by loss of winter grazing, and feed supply.
No trading or selling..subsistence only.federally funded.
As for guides..outfitters compensated for a legislated suspension of all hunting .booked hunts be covered.
I expect raceaus extreme views contrary to this suggestion.
In the long run its tremendously less expensive to just do nothing and leave everything as was..but all is not as was..the truth is we do not know..no one does at this time..and until the entire situation is carefully examined and a solution that ensures the best outcome in the interest of all wildlife ...err" on the side of certainty.i am prepared emotionally to go elsewhere to hunt..i too have been as susisstence hunter my entire life..i. .we have options..giving biologists time to evaluate appropriate responses to these losses .
This is not the only solution? But with 30 days? Till open season..pretty tight schedule.
Suggesting this puts us the hunters in the decision process..demonstrating our concern for all wildlife..
Talk is cheap..action is unresistable. .lead by example..part of the process..
As certainly something will be done.
Cheers
Srupp
Why stop at region 5 as some have mentioned the fires etc may cause increased pressure in other regions.
As for compensation to outfitters , NO, there is thousands of others and there buisnesses that have been effected by
this all over B.C.
Re: region 5 hunting season 2017
Hunters at times need to use personal ethics over hunting regs at times and choose if it is right to hunt certain population and this should go beyond what is going on this year do to fires.
As for the outfitters I have no disrespect towards them and wish them the best do to the issues the fires have caused but don't support govt compensation. I was self employed for much of my life and got hit with hard times even do to weather but did not expect or receive compensation. Unfortanatly there is risks involved in being self employed.
I think many business have suffered from these fires. Timber lots, grazing, access to mine claims effected, traplines burnt, and GO territories burnt are all bush related things effected. I feel for them but do we compensate them all ?
Re: region 5 hunting season 2017
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Wild one
Hunters at times need to use personal ethics over hunting regs at times and choose if it is right to hunt certain population and this should go beyond what is going on this year do to fires.
?
Well said about hunter ethics - thats a very important point that people overlook. Just because you can doesn't mean you should. With this being said it would be nice if it were easier for us to obtain information regarding the populations in the various regions and units so we could make better informed decisions.
Re: region 5 hunting season 2017
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Golddust
Well said about hunter ethics - thats a very important point that people overlook. Just because you can doesn't mean you should. With this being said it would be nice if it were easier for us to obtain information regarding the populations in the various regions and units so we could make better informed decisions.
Unfortunately lack of funding for bios to do more in depth studies on populations makes this info basicly non exsistant. Many areas go long periods of time between counts even so often bios are stuck resorting to estimations that are not always accurate. BCs terrain does not make it an easy place to collect data expecially with piss poor funding
Re: region 5 hunting season 2017
Re: region 5 hunting season 2017
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Golddust
Well said about hunter ethics - thats a very important point that people overlook. Just because you can doesn't mean you should. With this being said it would be nice if it were easier for us to obtain information regarding the populations in the various regions and units so we could make better informed decisions.
"just because you can doesn't mean you should" is something you should apply to your predator thread as well.