Moving Forward From the Ban

[cpwrestler]

With the grizzly hunt ban now in place, my thoughts turn to what's next. How can we work to improve our public image so that this doesn't happen again? The best idea I can think of right now is to increase our on the ground habitat restoration and improvement projects, increase the exposure they get, and welcome non-hunters into the process. Activities like prescribed burns are essential and should continue, but they often happen far from the public eye or with little involvement/input from the general public.

In addition to traditional projects like burns, we should identify a list of small yet tangible projects, close to urban centers, and invite the public to join us in tackling them. Weekend garbage clean ups, removal of invasive plants, restoration of native shrubs, etc. etc. These types of projects make for great weekend family activities and the non-hunting public can actively participate. The key will be ensuring that that it's clear that these initiatives are undertaken by hunters and hunting organizations for everyone's enjoyment.

The projects don't need to be that big, and don't even have to make that big of a physical impact, the key is the symbolic impact they make and welcoming non-hunters into that process.

If one thing is clear, it's that the government can't be trusted to be responsible stewards of our wildlife so we should do a better job of promoting how hunting is conservation by walking the walk... and making sure others know about it and can participate.

By way of example, Trout Unlimited Canada has been celebrating Canada's 150th anniversary by showcasing 150 restoration projects they've participated in across the country. Every day on their instagram feed a new project is showcased along with a description of how it helps restore and improve fish habitat. There's no reason the BCWF couldn't also make this sort of initiative a reality... The thing is, we need the projects.

This type of idea is a long-term play. It won't change hearts and minds overnight, but as hunters we know that nobody cares or gives back more than us. This sort of initiative would help introduce the public at large to the concept of "hunting as conservation" that they otherwise seem to have such a hard time grasping.

This is obviously just one suggestion and would have to be a part of a larger plan so any other ideas or thoughts?

[HappyJack]

Maybe we have to do what the LGBTQ crowd did to gain more social acceptance? We should organize parades and get crosswalks painted in camo . ..we should quit hiding what we are doing and go public..get right up 8n their faces with it. We could have a moose steak on the BBQ and drive the antis nuts.

Well it worked for them, meanwhile we skulk around in the shadows and hide our kills from the public eye.

[northernguy]

Some good ideas for sure.

One major challenge will be to get the media attention. The right media attention.

Ducks Unlimited does a great job...no doubt. But they almost have to down-play the fact they are hunters or they suffer the wrath of the media (I saw one news item on DU and the reporter even said "In spite of being hunters, these Duck Unlimited volunteers are doing great work for the local wetlands..." The reporter just couldn't help it!!). Trout Unlimited don't have quite the same problem. Fishing has "social licence" (for now) so they can get the coverage.

Instead of having to suppress their general bias toward hunters in a piece about hunters helping habitat, the media will do much, much worse...they will ignore the story of hunters helping habitat.

You're right. We need the projects. You can bet the Government has a list of projects they would like to get done. We need that list and we need to be able to tackle projects on the list with minimal government support (er...interference )

A partnership model similiar to the one used by the BC Floatplane Association and BC Parks would work. The BC Floatplane Association was facing being prohibited to fly into BC Parks. With rounds of meetings they managed to present Parks with a collaborative plan. They put together a partnership proposal that would assist Parks with their work. The Association does remote site clean up, wildlife location reporting, informal sport fishing boat counts, and other activities that directly assist BC Parks with their mandate. Floatplane pilots can still use the parks and the Park Service sees tangible benefits to their operations because of it. There is a real partnership between the two organizations and other groups are getting involved.

As hunters we need to make those types of partnerships with the Government. We need to come to the table with a list of what resources and skills we have. We need to prove how we can use our resources and skills to assist the Govt. in wildlife and habitat management. We need to develop and propose a partnership plan with details of what we can do and how we will do it.

We need to be more than a voice at the table with an opinion...because, as has so recently been made evident, our voices don't count.

[walks with deer]

organized grizz hunt..

[limit time]

You guys don’t seem to get it.... it’s not about public image. These people a rabid ANTI GUN AND HUNTING!

[Whonnock Boy]

Conversely, I don't believe you get it. These "rabid" anti hunters make up a very small percentage of the public. We need to target the 90% of the rational citizens who are open to reason and facts. Forget about the radicals, we will never change their minds,

You guys don’t seem to get it.... it’s not about public image. These people a rabid ANTI GUN AND HUNTING!

[brownmancheng]

I think this is a great suggestion. I have been contemplating how we go about making an impact. I am more than willing to help.

I see many complaining we have no voice and that bcwf has shortcomings. We need an organization that represents us! well, we have one, it is the huntingbc community. Not sure how many members here but enough to make an impact. Time for us all to stop the in fighting and put our money where are mouths are!

If we all buck up surely we can come up with enough dough to do something whether it be:
a) hire PR company or pollsters to help public image
b) invest in bio or some.study
c) fund habitat restoration projects


thoughts or ideas??

[cpwrestler]

Some good ideas for sure.

One major challenge will be to get the media attention. The right media attention.

Ducks Unlimited does a great job...no doubt. But they almost have to down-play the fact they are hunters or they suffer the wrath of the media (I saw one news item on DU and the reporter even said "In spite of being hunters, these Duck Unlimited volunteers are doing great work for the local wetlands..." The reporter just couldn't help it!!). Trout Unlimited don't have quite the same problem. Fishing has "social licence" (for now) so they can get the coverage.

Instead of having to suppress their general bias toward hunters in a piece about hunters helping habitat, the media will do much, much worse...they will ignore the story of hunters helping habitat.

You're right. We need the projects. You can bet the Government has a list of projects they would like to get done. We need that list and we need to be able to tackle projects on the list with minimal government support (er...interference )

A partnership model similiar to the one used by the BC Floatplane Association and BC Parks would work. The BC Floatplane Association was facing being prohibited to fly into BC Parks. With rounds of meetings they managed to present Parks with a collaborative plan. They put together a partnership proposal that would assist Parks with their work. The Association does remote site clean up, wildlife location reporting, informal sport fishing boat counts, and other activities that directly assist BC Parks with their mandate. Floatplane pilots can still use the parks and the Park Service sees tangible benefits to their operations because of it. There is a real partnership between the two organizations and other groups are getting involved.

As hunters we need to make those types of partnerships with the Government. We need to come to the table with a list of what resources and skills we have. We need to prove how we can use our resources and skills to assist the Govt. in wildlife and habitat management. We need to develop and propose a partnership plan with details of what we can do and how we will do it.

We need to be more than a voice at the table with an opinion...because, as has so recently been made evident, our voices don't count.

You're absolutely right about DU vs TU. I get that... That's why it's so important that the activities are accessible to families and locals. It's a long term plan that starts with changing the hearts and minds of our friends and neighbors. Non-threatening activities that we can invite non-hunters to participate in and to see what it means to give back. If enough locals participate... over and over... it becomes newsworthy. Writing press releases after these events is essential as well. It takes 45 minutes to put something together and you'd be surprised at how well they can work, even if it's just for small local stations/papers to start.

Changing public sentiment will take a LONG time, but this is the game the anti's have been playing. They press their message generation after generation and eventually we lose the kids who grow into adults who vote. Give the kids and families a way to connect with hunting and maybe in a generation we can win some minds back.

The anti's problem is that they don't actually back their words up with any real boots-on-the-ground action. We can and do. Then, when push comes to shove, and Joe average asks "who should I believe... this 'green' organization I've never heard of or the hunters who invited me to clean up the valley by my house?" we have a better chance of coming out ahead.

I didn't know about the float plane association, but that's a great example. BCWF needs to sit down and come up with a list of ways that we can contribute whether it's activities like the Spences Bridge sheep count or otherwise. The Pacific Salmon Foundation has found novel ways of incorporating citizen science into their research. Why can't we do the same?

[Bugle M In]

You guys don’t seem to get it.... it’s not about public image. These people a rabid ANTI GUN AND HUNTING!

Nope...I don't think you get it either....
Yes, there will always be those Anti's and Vegans who will never listen, always fight, and always never be at rest!!
But, it doesn't mean there are others out there, who sit on the fence...
You know, the ones who really don't either care, or just never comes to their mind...
They worry more about the scratch on the car or what coffee to have at starbucks...
They don't even think about these things,......EXCEPT....
When it is spewed all over the television!!!
Hunts gone wrong! or what not...bloody pictures...you name it....
That's when they think about it...
That's when it tugs on their heartstrings....
There is nothing else out there to show them differently....
Unless they for some reason have wildtv....and then get to watch red neck clowns like the "bone collectors"...
(seriously...that's the name they want to give themselves???...no wonder, if that is what we are really about...
then you know what...they right...we should stop hunting!)
But it's not about that.....99.9 % of the time, it's not about that one bit.
So, there is lots of room to show those that sit on the fence..."who we are and can be"
That we deserve to be out there...to continue on....to ensure that we are "socially accepted"!!

[limit time]

Conversely, I don't believe you get it. These "rabid" anti hunters make up a very small percentage of the public. We need to target the 90% of the rational citizens who are open to reason and facts. Forget about the radicals, we will never change their minds,

Funny how the “10%” seem to call all the shots ? Most of the “90%” don’t give a shit and won’t help.