I'm an Ontario resident, but I follow this forum closely because it's probably the best Canadian hunting forum on the Internet and hunting BC has been a lifelong dream so I figure "vicarious hunting" is better than nothing!
We had our own "bear moment" with the politically motivated closure of the spring black bear hunt in the late 1990's. After a huge spike in problem bears and loss of rural tourism dollars the government finally re-instated the hunt recently. It should be noted it was a Conservative government that banned the hunt and a Liberal government that has (so far) re-instated it. There is no political party who can be relied on to protect the interest of hunters.
Hunters need to do three things:
1) Acknowledge Canada (and Canadian politics) has changed. Hunters need to acknowledge Canada has changed - there's no point fondly reminiscing about the "good old days" - whatever those may have been. Canada is now an urbanized multi-cultural country. This isn't opinion, it's fact. Hunters not the majority anymore - not even close. Sitting back and being complacent about hunting opportunities assuming that these opportunities will always be there is 100% the wrong approach today. Hunters need to hold politicians accountable (letters, phone calls, etc.), actively contradict misinformation in the media/social media, and actively project a hunting presence in the community.
2) Get our own house in order and project a positive image. In the past I have been fairly understated about the fact I'm a hunter. I've lost count at the number of people who are literally shocked to find out that an educated person with a respectable career (me) is a hunter. No longer. I'll be wearing more shirts, hats, etc. that are clearly hunting related. Hunters need to be more visible so that the general public doesn't associate all hunters with the morons who "make the news" on occasion for illegal and dim-witted activities. We also need to "self police" a lot better. If you see a hunting show that projects a poor image of hunting, contact them to let them know you won't be watching or (better yet) contact their sponsors to say you won't be buying their products if they continue to support a poor image of hunting.
3) Forge better relations with First Nations groups. I know, this is a problematic one - but the blunt reality is the "winds of change" are blowing in a First Nations direction and that won't be stopping any time soon. As a non-First Nations hunter it can be tough to swallow the seemingly limitless opportunities afforded First Nations hunters. This is "missing the forest for the trees" though. At the end of the day non-First Nations hunters and First Nations hunters have something vitally important in common - hunting! The animal rights/wildlife defender folks will not give up until they have eliminated all forms of hunting. We're going to need as many allies as we can find.
I'm 39 years old. I fully expect my hunting opportunities to be under attack for the remainder of hunting career. Does that suck? Sure does. But I love to hunt so I'm willing to do something about it. Get involved or get ready to lose your hunting opportunities - and don't say you weren't warned. The writing is on the wall for everyone to see.
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Originally Posted by Ourea
But I've got almost 20 years on you so the shock value isn't there as much probably, grey hair and all. Kudos to you and I hope other 30 and 20 somethings take your lead to show its not a bunch of old knuckle draggers that hunt and many people have taken it up recently with no family hunting background to boot.
