I was published in the Vancouver Sun

[AlexPdHJ]

Don’t let anti-hunters spread misleading information. Write letters and you will be heard.

I wrote a 681 word letter and they asked me to cut it to 250 words, but then they published it.

http://vancouversun.com/opinion/letters/letters-get-to-know-a-hunter-to-learn-about-bears

[AlexPdHJ]

This was the original and it was more convincing, but they wouldn’t publish it at that length.

Recently David Suzuki wrote an opinion piece for the Vancouver Sun. Like many anti-hunting activists, David Suzuki uses a loose collection of facts to construct a misleading narrative.

While it is true that in the lower 48 states the grizzly bears were hunted to near extinction and are protected under the endangered species act in the US, this did not occur in BC or Canada where grizzlies have maintained a strong and healthy population. Scientifically conducted studies estimate the population of grizzly bears in BC to be at least 15,000 of which a sustainable hunt of approximately 300 can be maintained indefinitely without any threat to the long term success and health of the species. As apex predators grizzlies are naturally found in lower concentrations than prey species such as deer.

The charisma of the grizzly bear results in a highly emotionally debate around the issue of hunting. Bear meat is tasty, sustainably hunted in BC, and the hide and fat have a wide variety of uses. Additionally, hunters are the largest financial contributors to conservation and habitat protection. Hunters want animals such as grizzly bears to thrive and flourish in pristine environments and advocate for habitat restoration. Hunters also advocate for the long term survival and health of animals such as the mountain caribou, mountain goats, mountain sheep, moose, elk, deer, black bears, wolves and other animals which are not as charismatic as the grizzly bear. Every British Columbian wants our wild places and animals to be preserved and protected for future generations, but none fight harder for this than hunters. BC's hunters and anglers have a long history of working with biologists and funding environmental trusts in order to protect and enhance nature in this province.

It is important to differentiate between a lobby which is anti-hunting and pro-conservation. Anti-hunters don't want animals hunted for any reason including for meat, while conservationist want to protect, enhance and improve habitat and wildlife populations. Suzuki is clearly anti-hunting because otherwise he would be siding with hunters in the fight to protect habitat and wildlife populations through science and evidence based management rather than appealing to emotion with a misleading set of unrelated facts.

People who eat meat should consider where that meat comes from. I would prefer that my meat comes from animals which have had wonderful lives living naturally, organically and free until the end rather than from animals which have been raised on feed on a farm. The anti-hunting lobby appeals to the fact that people who eat meat have lost touch with the fact that no matter whether their meat comes from the grocery store or the forest, an animal has to die. While commercial hunting was shown to be unsustainable in the last century, non commercial hunting is a great way to add an organic and sustainable source of meat to ones diet. Additionally, hunting takes you off the trails and beyond our wonderful parks to see beautiful parts of the province which are seldom seen by others. Hunting also helps you think about the importance of the environment which sustains us all and gives you a deep appreciation of every morsel of meat which comes from an animal you have hunted.

Before I became a hunter I would have thought nothing of tossing out some leftovers which are past their prime, but now I would never allow a shred of meat from an animal I hunted to go into the garbage. Through hunting I have become an environmentalist, conservationist, and ended food waste in my household. I share meat which I have hunted with friends and family. I also share with them the stories of the weeks I have spent in the bush in pursuit of meat and the amazing experiences I have had. Many of my friends and family were hesitant about the idea of hunting until we shared a meal of wild meat and they were able to have many of their misconceptions about hunting resolved. I hope everyone will take the time to get to know a hunter and ask questions rather than jump to conclusions.

[Pinewood]

Thanks for taking this time to craft this and successfully get it published. We need more well spoken representatives to help change the image of hunting and hunters in general.

[Ryo]

Bravo!

clear, concise, level-headed.

[AlexPdHJ]

Thanks. I have been writing to politicians as well. I am trying to arrange a meeting with my MLA here in New Westminster.

[Blainer]

Good work, well written. Thank you

[brig]

Very well written, thank you for representing the hunting community so well.

[pg83]

Great to hear that they published it. Thanks for your hard work on this and many other efforts!

[two-feet]

Great! The message needs to get out, smart people like yourself are doing hunting and conservation a good service through clear communication of our interests and goals.

[Buck]

Good work i have been busy myself rousing my hunter friends with a letter writing campaign.

[f350ps]

Well done and well written, thanks! K

[Spy]

awesome letter thank you

[scott h]

Very well written. All too often we are our own worst enemies when arguing the hunters side of the argument. Good job !

[sapper]

Very nicely done. PM sent.

[Whonnock Boy]

Another great letter. Well done.

[VLD43]

Great article and on point without being offensive to others. Hope this will both inspire and motivate others here to submit well written and articulate letters. It's our turn guys , to advocate on our own behalf.

[604ksmith]

Great work, well done!

[Ry151]

good work and well written especially only being able to use 250 words

[one-shot-wonder]

Good work, I appreciate your effort to submit the letter and contact your MLA.

[Surrey Boy]

Thanks for writing in and helping out normal folks.

[Gateholio]

"Grizzly bears are charismatic" Key point in any argument. Eco-weenies never advocate for ugly animals

[floden]

Well done sir! I like the last paragraph in your full enedited version. I look at meat a lot differently when I'm the one pulling the trigger and packing it out. Thanks for taking the time to do this.

[Jack Russell]

Well written! Well done!

[Ride Red]

Great job!!!

[180grainer]

Thanks for writing that.

[northof49]

Fantastic write up. Thank you for taking the time to do so.

Unfortunately these day we hunters are paying the price for damage done by a small percentage of tasteless videos posted to youtube and facebook for the world to see. These idiots are not real hunters and unfortunately we all end up painted by the same brush. As the saying goes...a picture is worth a thousand words. Unfortunately it is a huge challenge to try to reverse opinions once formed based on tasteless videos. The more the hunting community can communicate all the other intrinsic benefits of hunting the more support we will get. While I personally enjoy hunting shows, videos, pose photos and such it is my opinion they have turned many against hunting. Before the internet and social media hunting was largely “out of sight and so out of mind” for non-hunters. Not so anymore. It is a huge challenge to try to combat negative perceptions formed from seeing tasteless video clips or just kill poses which make us look like we are just “trpohy” hunters.

Again to OP...great job trying to shed more light on the benefits of hunting.

[Xenomorph]

Fantastic write up. Thank you for taking the time to do so.

Unfortunately these day we hunters are paying the price for damage done by a small percentage of tasteless videos posted to youtube and facebook for the world to see. These idiots are not real hunters and unfortunately we all end up painted by the same brush. As the saying goes...a picture is worth a thousand words. Unfortunately it is a huge challenge to try to reverse opinions once formed based on tasteless videos. The more the hunting community can communicate all the other intrinsic benefits of hunting the more support we will get. While I personally enjoy hunting shows, videos, pose photos and such it is my opinion they have turned many against hunting. Before the internet and social media hunting was largely “out of sight and so out of mind” for non-hunters. Not so anymore. It is a huge challenge to try to combat negative perceptions formed from seeing tasteless video clips or just kill poses which make us look like we are just “trpohy” hunters.

Again to OP...great job trying to shed more light on the benefits of hunting.


Every forests carries deadwood. We have been for too long hiding from the controversy and conflict with various groups or general population, because -let's face it- it's just like raising a child, takes lots of patience to explain, and explain, and explain your point of view without the dialogue partners feeling like we're trying to impose our beliefs on them.

But, and that's a big one, once they learn the truth about why and the on going struggle and effort for improving and conserving habitat ...well, then the battle is won.

Muster patience, write emails and letters and do not shy away from uneasy conversations with people.

[Ourea]

First off, well done.
I am curious.....when you meet with your MLA, what is your messaging so he knows exactly what his "take away" is?
More than happy to help with that as I meet with my MLA and he is crystal clear with what I/we are asking for.

I would normally do this in the form of a PM but I think it would be good for others to see this.
Again, good work.

[two-feet]

Please expand on this, I plan on meeting with my MLA (now the minister of flnro) and would like to see where others are at. Reliable funding model for wildlife seems like top priority.

[Ourea]

Please expand on this, I plan on meeting with my MLA (now the minister of flnro) and would like to see where others are at. Reliable funding model for wildlife seems like top priority.


It is a two prong approach.

1) Identify the issue.
2) Platform the solution.
You can add the lipstick far has how you pitch it.

The pitch on the issue.....

* BC is known worldwide for it's natural resources with wildlife being at or near the top of that list.
* Despite our wildlife's iconic stature worldwide we simply take it for granted.
* We make little investment in the resource as a result.
* The resource is entering crisis mode with no plan and no funding.
* The future of BC wildlife desperately needs a plan, the attention, and investment it deserves as our greatest resource.

The fix.....

Create a sustainable funding model where the sole beneficiary is wildlife.

How.....

*Take all license revenue and dedicate it back to the resource.
*Impose a tax on all goods and services that are sold into the outdoor recreational market.
*Insulate those revenues from Gov so the model can't get voted in or out.
*Install a highly qualified third party group to approve projects and administrate SO ALL STAKEHOLDERS can submit wildlife enhancement projects for approval and funding.

The take away.....

You want your MLA to be clear on the message -
We need to invest in wildlife, it is in dire need of attention, sustainable funding and a plan.

That's the simple bones of the deal.

[HarryToolips]

Very well said Alex! That letter alone makes your season a success, regardless of what you harvest..

[Harvest the Land]

Yup, couldn't have summed it all up any better than that. Thanks for taking the time and having the guts to do this!

[Taylor329]

Written very tactfully and informative, well done sir! Great to have intelligent people using their voices for the right reasons.

[Farmer001]

Great Job. Thank you for making the effort and time.

[Roe]

Very well done.Thank you.

[Greenthumbed]

Nice write up, Alex! Thanks for doing that.

[325]

Great work. Thank you!

[widger]

Thank you for representing hunters in our province so well with your letter.

[Weatherby Fan]

Awesome write up, thanks for taking the time to do so.

I wrote my letter and sent it off expressing my displeasure with the existing Governments stance on GB hunting.......hopefully it all helps

[Pursuit]

That was a well crafted and informative letter. Great job on sticking to facts without jumping to rhetoric. I would have loved to see the full version published. Congratulations and thanks for showcasing what it truly means to be a hunter.

[AlexPdHJ]

It is a two prong approach.

1) Identify the issue.
2) Platform the solution.
You can add the lipstick far has how you pitch it.

The pitch on the issue.....

* BC is known worldwide for it's natural resources with wildlife being at or near the top of that list.
* Despite our wildlife's iconic stature worldwide we simply take it for granted.
* We make little investment in the resource as a result.
* The resource is entering crisis mode with no plan and no funding.
* The future of BC wildlife desperately needs a plan, the attention, and investment it deserves as our greatest resource.

The fix.....

Create a sustainable funding model where the sole beneficiary is wildlife.

How.....

*Take all license revenue and dedicate it back to the resource.
*Impose a tax on all goods and services that are sold into the outdoor recreational market.
*Insulate those revenues from Gov so the model can't get voted in or out.
*Install a highly qualified third party group to approve projects and administrate SO ALL STAKEHOLDERS can submit wildlife enhancement projects for approval and funding.

The take away.....

You want your MLA to be clear on the message -
We need to invest in wildlife, it is in dire need of attention, sustainable funding and a plan.

That's the simple bones of the deal.


First, thank you all so much for the kind words. I really appreciate it. It has given me lots of motivation in this effort.

Second, this here quoted above is exactly what I intend to say with the addition of "Science and conservation should be the only factors when it comes to setting policy on wildlife and habitat." Wildlife is not something which we should be managing based on emotion or political agendas. Wildlife and wild places should be managed so that they exist and remain healthy in perpetuity, and that hunters want this more than anything. The charisma of an animal such as the grizzly bear should not put it up on a pedestal where it receives special governmental policy or regulation because it is more calendar worthy than other animals or because some people have a perceived kinship with it.

I always find that the conversation trends towards us vs. them. Until I became a hunter I didn't realize how many people were hunters. That is half the issue. Now I see people all around Vancouver with BCWF, Ducks unlimited, Browning, etc. decals on their trucks. Now that I am a hunter I can spot hunters' trucks from a mile away. I think the fact that hunters have become seen as fringe rather than your neighbour or cousin has worsened this. I'm not suggesting we all start driving around town with bucks on the hoods of our trucks, but as Steven Rinella has said many times, venison diplomacy goes a long way to making people understand why you hunt and how normal hunting really is.

[Ourea]

First, thank you all so much for the kind words. I really appreciate it. It has given me lots of motivation in this effort.

Second, this here quoted above is exactly what I intend to say with the addition of "Science and conservation should be the only factors when it comes to setting policy on wildlife and habitat." Wildlife is not something which we should be managing based on emotion or political agendas. Wildlife and wild places should be managed so that they exist and remain healthy in perpetuity, and that hunters want this more than anything. The charisma of an animal such as the grizzly bear should not put it up on a pedestal where it receives special governmental policy or regulation because it is more calendar worthy than other animals or because some people have a perceived kinship with it.

I always find that the conversation trends towards us vs. them. Until I became a hunter I didn't realize how many people were hunters. That is half the issue. Now I see people all around Vancouver with BCWF, Ducks unlimited, Browning, etc. decals on their trucks. Now that I am a hunter I can spot hunters' trucks from a mile away. I think the fact that hunters have become seen as fringe rather than your neighbour or cousin has worsened this. I'm not suggesting we all start driving around town with bucks on the hoods of our trucks, but as Steven Rinella has said many times, venison diplomacy goes a long way to making people understand why you hunt and how normal hunting really is.

Spread the word.
Control the message.
Build the hammer.

[albravo2]

Outstanding letter. Thank you for writing it.

[wideopenthrottle]

great job alex...i also live in new west..How is Judy to deal with?

[AlexPdHJ]

I just spoke to one of her staff today and got my meeting booked for November 24th. The person I spoke to seemed very interested and genuine. I mentioned the article and she asked me to send her the link via email. She had read my previous emails and letters addressed to Judy Darcy and she was planning to call me this week to arrange the meeting, so when I called she already knew what I wanted to talk about. I was impressed. I’ll let you all know how it goes.

[AlexPdHJ]

I want to mention the Rookie Hunter podcast, Jesse Zeman from the BCWF, and Steven Rinella from the Meat Eater podcast and tv show for helping form my thoughts on these topics. If anyone wants to hear some compelling argument for our side which the general public can understand and agree with, these people are fantastic.

[Greenthumbed]

I want to mention the Rookie Hunter podcast, Jesse Zeman from the BCWF, and Steven Rinella from the Meat Eater podcast and tv show for helping form my thoughts on these topics. If anyone wants to hear some compelling argument for our side which the general public can understand and agree with, these people are fantastic.
I completely agree with the above listening suggestions. I might add Shane Mahoney of Conservation Visions as a very compelling speaker and a brilliant mind on the subject of conservation and the advocacy of hunting.

[Ourea]

I completely agree with the above listening suggestions. I might add Shane Mahoney of Conservation Visions as a very compelling speaker and a brilliant mind on the subject of conservation and the advocacy of hunting.

Bolt on creating a way to fund conservation goals.....then we have something.

[AlexPdHJ]

I completely agree with the above listening suggestions. I might add Shane Mahoney of Conservation Visions as a very compelling speaker and a brilliant mind on the subject of conservation and the advocacy of hunting.


Absolutely agree. I have heard Shane Mahoney on a few podcasts and he is very well spoken and has a good message.

[280 77]

Great article Alex , this is exactly how we have to present our cause to those uneducated in the facts of wildlife . Thank you .