Kootenay Region Wildlife Regulations

[GoatGuy]

I thought this had already been posted but I can't seem to find it.

Get it filled out and send it in. Don't count on somebody else filling it out for you.


Kootenay Region Wildlife Regulations
Proposed Changes for Comment (2008-09)

INTRODUCTION

This document summarizes changes to hunting regulations currently under consideration in the Kootenay Region. These changes, if approved, will be effective and appear in the Hunting and Trapping Regulations Synopsis beginning July 1, 2008. We welcome and will consider your comments as we finalize changes to the regulations.
Proposals for regulation changes result from requests by Rod and Gun Clubs, other non-government organizations, and the public at large. Others we develop from technical studies of trends in wildlife populations and hunter use and success in the region. This document provides some of this background to assist you in understanding the rationale for each regulation change proposal.

WILL THERE BE A PUBLIC MEETING?

Due to poor past attendance, we are not holding public meetings for comment this year; instead, we are asking that you follow the approach this document outlines to contact us with your concerns and recommendations. This will allow you time to discuss with your colleagues and organize your ideas in writing. We hope to hear from a range of people, including those who may otherwise be unable to attend a meeting or are reluctant to speak in public.

WHO CAN COMMENT?


Anyone with an interest in hunting or trapping in British Columbia can comment.

HOW CAN I COMMENT?

We will accept comments in number of forms. In order of preference, your options are:
(a) electronically via email to Anne.Reichert@gov.bc.ca;
(b) conventional mail to the Nelson office of the Ministry of Environment, at the address noted at the top of this document;
(c) via FAX to Nelson office of the Ministry of Environment at 250-354-6332.
To assist us in getting the best possible information, please use the forms we provide in this package. An MS Word file is available from the web site should you wish to use a computer.


WHAT IS THE DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSIONS?
The deadline for submission of comments is December 1, 2007. Comments received later will still be reviewed. However we can not guarantee that they will be incorporated in developing 2008/09 regulation proposals.

[GoatGuy]

HOW WILL THE MINISTRY USE MY COMMENTS?
Hunting and trapping regulations contribute to the three main goals of the wildlife program:
(a) Maintain the diversity and abundance of native species and their habitats throughout British Columbia
(b) Provide a variety of opportunities for the use and enjoyment of wildlife
(c) People and wildlife living in harmony

In addition, the Ministry currently places a high emphasis on hunter recruitment and retention. Complex regulations are a barrier to recruiting and retaining hunters and hence regulation simplicity is a current priority.

PRIVACY POLICY
The Government of British Columbia is committed to protecting the privacy of people whose personal information is held by government through responsible information management practices. Any personal information provided to the Government of B.C. is collected, used and disclosed in accordance with the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act or other applicable legislation.

[GoatGuy]

Regulation number:

R40809-01

Location:



Region-wide

Management Units:



all

Species:



Turkey

Proposal:



Change the fall turkey season to all weapons. Lengthen the season to run September 1 to October 30. Drop the requirement to shoot a bearded turkey only. Hence the fall season only would be open for ANY bird including young-of-the-year (often termed Jakes).

Rationale:



Turkey numbers and distribution have increased throughout the region in the last 10 years and so have landowner complaints. We now have situations where turkeys have been a legitimate nuisance. Early seasons were very conservative in order to reduce population impact but current larger populations would allow higher harvest. In 2005, an estimated 389 turkeys were harvested in the Kootenay Region. A rifle season in the fall should allow higher harvest. The change to allow hunters to kill Jakes in fall focuses fall harvest on young birds that have the highest chance of dieing over the winter. Winter mortality is likely the largest limiting factor to this species given they evolved in much more southerly climates. Also, it is difficult to shoot a bearded individual when turkeys are in large fall groups.

Regulation number:



R40809-02

Location:



West Kootenay

Management Units:



4-8, 4-9, 4-14, 4-15, 4-16, 4-17, 4-31, 4-32, 4-33, 4-38 and 4-39

Species:



Bull elk

Proposal:



Change bull elk hunting in all or some West Kootenay Management Units to General Open season identical to the season currently used in the East Kootenay. This means an open bull season from September 10-October 20 in all or some West Kootenay units. Those units that are not changed to GOS would continue to be regulated by LEH with a 3-point or better restriction.
Rationale: One goal of this regulation is to simplify regulations in the Kootenay Region and align Region 4 with the elk season in Region 8 to the west. A second goal is to provide greater hunter opportunity. The elk population in the West Kootenay has been increasing for at least 7 years (see Robinson and Clarke 2007 at http://www.fwcp.ca/version2/reports/pdfs/South_Selkirk_Ungulate_Aerial_Survey_Analysis.pdf) and we now have significant elk populations north to Nakusp and an unprecedented number of landowner complaints. This season may result in increased kill in those units opened to GOS but, given the hunt is only on males, we expect little long-term reduction in population size. Bull numbers may go down but we expect that they will be replaced by cows in subsequent years such that the bull ratio will be lower but the population size will not change. Increased hunting pressure on cows will be needed in rural residential or agricultural areas where the goal is to reduce population size; this goal will be managed via special agricultural zone hunts such as those in the East Kootenay (Zone X). Bull hunts can be used to disturb elk away from problem areas when there are bulls at low elevations in fall. Individual landowners will still need to allow hunters on to their land but this regulation would make it easier for landowners to recruit hunters.

[GoatGuy]

Regulation number: R40809-03

Location: Region-wide

Management Units: To be determined

Species: Bull elk


Proposal: Open a 3 point bull elk season in the Kootenays. Option 1: Open an early (e.g., Sept 10-30) general open season for 3 point or better bulls in low elevation areas. Option 2: Open a broader (i.e., not restricted to low elevations) general open season for 3 point or better bulls. The broader 3 point season could open for the last 10 days of the current 6 point season (October 10-20).

Rationale: The proposed low elevation season would focus harvest on non-migratory animals. This hunt poses little risk to population size as the focus would be on non-migratory animals.
The primary purpose of a broader 3 point season would be to increase hunting opportunities. However there are several issues that should be considered:

o A 3 point GOS would likely decrease the number of 6 point bull elk in subsequent years, because most 3 point elk grow larger antlers with more tines as they age.

o The season might skew sex ratios in favor of cows if more bulls overall are harvested. This could result in less than 20 bulls per 100 cows, which would have breeding implications. However a season for younger 3 point bulls might relieve harvest on older bulls, in which case the overall harvest and sex ratios may change little.

o The season could result in a substantial harvest of 3 point bulls. Note that the 2004-2009 East Kootenay Elk Management Plans recommended that a 3 point bull season be restricted to low elevations, to avoid high harvest levels. In 2005, 38% of East Kootenay elk hunters successfully harvested an elk and in 2004, 16% of hunters were successful. This indicates that there are many elk hunters who are not successful under the current 6 point season, but they might be with a new 3 point season.
The Ministry is planning a Trench-wide elk inventory this winter (2008). One approach might be to wait for the results of this survey before opening a 3 point season (i.e., defer to 2009).

[GoatGuy]

Regulation number: R40809-04

Location: Creston Valley

Management Units: 4-06C

Species: Antlerless elk

Proposal: Open the antlerless elk LEH season in 4-06C earlier (Sept 21 instead of Oct 20). This earlier season means landowners will better benefit from hunters disturbing or killing animals that are damaging crops, hopefully reducing crop damage.

Rationale: Reduce elk damage to agricultural areas, provide additional hunting opportunities in an area where the elk population is doing well and align the LEH season with other antlerless seasons in the region.

Regulation number: R40809-05

Location: Region-wide

Management Units: all

Species: Bull moose

Proposal: Open a General Open Season for yearling bull moose in the Kootenay Region. Option 1: Open a spike-fork season in all of Region 4. Option 2: Open a spike-fork season in just the north and west parts of the region (MUs 4-07 to 4-09, 4-14 to 4-18, 4-28 to 4-33, 4-36 to 4-40), where the Northwestern subspecies is found, and to open a spike season in the south-east part of the region (MUs 4-01 to 4-06, 4-19 to 4-27, 4-34 and 4-35), where the Shiras subspecies is found. The Limited Entry Hunt season would remain in place, however the number of permits would be reduced to achieve a sustainable harvest. Guide outfitters would remain on quota.
Rationale: The Ministry of Environment is currently exploring new harvest management approaches for moose in the Kootenay Region. This is primarily in response to calls from

resident hunters to increase opportunity. In addition, recent inventories indicate healthy, growing moose populations and high bull to cow ratios in many parts of the region.
Adjacent regions (Thompson and Okanagan) have spike-fork General Open Seasons from September 20 to October 31. The Omineca region to the north has a spike-fork GOS from September 10 to November 5. These regions also have Limited Entry Hunts for any bull moose.
MoE staff have analyzed tooth and antler data from the Kootenay Region and found that 69% of yearling Shiras bulls and 48% of yearling Northwestern bulls would be vulnerable to harvest under a spike-fork season. Because of the high percentage of vulnerable Shiras yearlings, we have suggested a spike season for this sub-species. This would protect a larger component of the yearling age class. Tooth data indicate that 38% of yearling Shiras bulls would be vulnerable under a spike season.
A new harvest strategy will be administered for 5 years unless conservation concerns are raised through monitoring. MoE staff have funds available this winter for pre-treatment monitoring. We will also be submitting a funding application to the Habitat Conservation Trust Fund for monitoring the program over 5 years.

[GoatGuy]

Regulation number: R40809-06

Location: West Kootenay

Management Units: 4-16, 4-17, 4-18, 4-19 and 4-33

Species: Bull moose

Proposal: Open Limited Entry Hunt seasons for moose in MUs currently closed to hunting (416-419 and 4-33).

Rationale: Moose are expanding and populations appear to be increasing in the West Kootenay. We now believe we have sufficient populations in all MUs for moose hunts, although the moose hunts may be restricted to only a few permits in some units.

Regulation number: R40809-07

Location: Region-wide

Management Units: all

Species: Bull moose

Proposal: Align LEH season dates throughout Kootenay Region so that all seasons run October 15th to November 15th. The archery season for LEH holders would then run September 1st to October 14th.
Rationale: Ensure consistency across the region and create a longer season in some areas to allow more opportunity for hunters. Although this change may result in higher success for hunters, the overall harvest is not expected to change. This is because the number of permits is based on success; if success increases, the number of permits declines to achieve the same target harvest.


Regulation number: R40809-08

Location: Central Selkirk Mountains
Management Units: 4-15 to 4-18

Species: Grizzly bear

Proposal: This regulation will create LEH zones in north half of the Valhalla and Central Selkirks GBPU’s (MU’s 4-15 to 4-18). The south portion of all four MU’s will be closed to hunting

while the north LEH zones will be open to hunting. The hunt will be LEH for residents only. There is no outfitter in the area.


Rationale: Data from the 1996 survey and subsequent sampling during 2000 suggested low numbers of bears in the south portion of this unit and that numbers are near carrying capacity in the north part of the unit. The entire Valhalla unit (4-15 & 4-16) was closed in 2001 to allow recovery in the south. This change will allow hunting of the portion of the population that is known to be at carrying capacity and allow the portion of the area that is known to be below carrying capacity to recover.

Additional housekeeping changes:

• Align 4-18 elk GOS dates with the rest of the region.

• Drop the antlerless white-tailed deer LEH zone called 4-32B and open the entire 4-32 MU to LEH antlerless hunting for white-tailed deer.
• Update the legal map for Zone C of 4-06, 4-07 for antlerless elk (Creston Valley). Currently the legal map differs from the map in the LEH synopsis.
• Improve maps in LEH synopsis and Hunting & Trapping synopsis.

[GoatGuy]

http://wlapwww.gov.bc.ca/kor/wld/Proposed_reg_changes.html

[Mr. Dean]

What.... No considerations of opening a Grizzly Bear GOS???



Damn.

Some interesting proposals none-the-less.

[Nooker77]

Thanx for the info!!!

[Ride]

Wow, i didn't really see anything there that looks horrible either. Interesting. Thanks for the info.

[boxhitch]

What.... No considerations of opening a Grizzly Bear GOS???

.Good one !! ROTHFLMAO That would be the day !! I don't disagree, But given the current PC would be to stop G Bear hunting, instead the MOE has offered up twice the LEH opps as years past. Gotta love that.

[GoatGuy]

Forgot these



West Kootenay draft Ecosystem Restoration Plan:
http://srmapps.gov.bc.ca/appsdata/acat/html/deploy/acat_p_report_10631.html (http://srmapps.gov.bc.ca/appsdata/acat/html/deploy/acat_p_report_10631.html)
Region 4 Moose population review
http://srmapps.gov.bc.ca/appsdata/acat/html/deploy/acat_p_report_10183.html (http://srmapps.gov.bc.ca/appsdata/acat/html/deploy/acat_p_report_10183.html)

Ungulate Aerial Survey in the South Selkirk Mountains
http://fwcp.ca/version2/reports/details.php?reportID=466 (http://fwcp.ca/version2/reports/details.php?reportID=466)
Region 4 Mountain goat population review
http://srmapps.gov.bc.ca/appsdata/acat/html/deploy/acat_p_report_10478.html (http://srmapps.gov.bc.ca/appsdata/acat/html/deploy/acat_p_report_10478.html)

[hunter1947]

Very interesting info for sure ,they will get some feed back from me regarding elk in the WK and EK ,thanks for the post Goat guy ,:smile:.

[kootenayelkslayer]

I am still scared of having an open season for bull elk in the W. Kootenays (even with the 6 point reg.). I'd hate to see the population numbers that have slowly increased since the winter of the '94 die off be thrown away by a general open season. The WK elk are a lot more vulnerable than the EK elk, mainly because there is jack all for winter range. They shouldn't be managed the same way. Why don't they just double or triple the LEH bull tags?

[GoatGuy]

I am still scared of having an open season for bull elk in the W. Kootenays (even with the 6 point reg.). I'd hate to see the population numbers that have slowly increased since the winter of the '94 die off be thrown away by a general open season. The WK elk are a lot more vulnerable than the EK elk, mainly because there is jack all for winter range. They shouldn't be managed the same way. Why don't they just double or triple the LEH bull tags?

Call Andy and ask him - he'll probably be much more helpfull than what you'll get here.

Also have a look at 4-18's harvest stats.

[GoatGuy]

bump........................