GoatGuy
08-17-2009, 10:46 PM
Wildlife math doesn’t add up
Published: August 11, 2009 7:00 PM
Updated: August 12, 2009 2:38 PM
To the editor:
Re: “Hunters up in arms over new hunting regs,” Joan Silver, July 28.
The recent feature article about hunters being up in arms over new hunting regulations was right on target. This letter is an attempt to explain to resident hunters why things are so bad here and what we can do about it.
Firstly, the department feels that they are short-staffed and without sufficient funds from Victoria.
They don’t want to make changes from the usual annual procedure because they say they cannot handle the extra workload and do not have the data to make the necessary changes in the moose and deer hunting regulations.
While there is no doubt that wildlife management is underfunded, this is no excuse, because other regions provide greater hunter opportunities under similar budget and staff restraints.
Secondly, this year in MU 5-15, they reduced the bull moose LEH draw by 40 per cent due to concerns about numbers, while increasing the cow draw by 40 per cent.
How they determined this without the budget to take inventory is a mystery. Instead of controlling wolves directly, they believe that the remnant herd of mountain caribou can be saved by harvesting cow moose to reduce moose population, and that this will discourage the wolves enough to go elsewhere and leave the caribou alone.
This is a dubious theory that while putting the moose population at risk, has not been proven and has been disputed by other reputable biologists. Why they reduced the draws on one gender and increased them on the other is another mystery.
Thirdly, the Ministry stated on one occasion that they feel obligated to assist the guide-outfitting industry during these hard economic times.
Oddly enough there has been no concern voiced about helping resident hunters through tough times by giving them more opportunity to harvest moose or deer for their freezers.
On the contrary, they cut back on deer seasons while moose seasons remain closed, except for ultra restrictive LEH seasons where the odds of being drawn are not good. Regions 3,4 6, 7 and 8 all have spike-fork seasons for moose. Why is region 5 so different to its resident hunters?
Fourthly, in a recent letter, the regional manager stated that it was necessary to create surplus moose numbers to meet the legal requirements for First Nations.
The BCWF, supported by sound science and numerous examples of winter die offs including one very recent in the Peace River, has said for years that wildlife cannot be stockpiled.
Other regions, including Region 7A, the Omineca and Region 3, Thompson Nicola are providing ample opportunities for all user groups, both with similar or
larger populations of First Nations than Region 5 and with similar needs.
It seems that Region 5 in their zeal is creating a situation that causes resentment, hard feelings and conflict between stakeholders.
There is at least one workable solution and that is for all parties to realize and accept the fact that with proper management there is more than enough game to go around. We need to convince the Wildlife Branch that a deer and moose management strategy that benefits everyone, including wildlife resource itself, is required. The Omenica moose harvest management model has been working for over 25 years with very little conflict between stakeholders, a larger harvest, and healthy wildlife populations.
The situation in Region 5, where the interests of two groups are protected at the expense of the third group, cannot be allowed to continue. Every resident hunter should do what they can to bring this to the attention of both Williams Lake and Victoria. If the conflict between stakeholders is allowed to continue, the bureaucrats and politicians will have an excuse to continue to do nothing as they have done for at least the past six years.
Garth Lee
108 Mile Ranch
Member BCWF Wildlife Committee
Published: August 11, 2009 7:00 PM
Updated: August 12, 2009 2:38 PM
To the editor:
Re: “Hunters up in arms over new hunting regs,” Joan Silver, July 28.
The recent feature article about hunters being up in arms over new hunting regulations was right on target. This letter is an attempt to explain to resident hunters why things are so bad here and what we can do about it.
Firstly, the department feels that they are short-staffed and without sufficient funds from Victoria.
They don’t want to make changes from the usual annual procedure because they say they cannot handle the extra workload and do not have the data to make the necessary changes in the moose and deer hunting regulations.
While there is no doubt that wildlife management is underfunded, this is no excuse, because other regions provide greater hunter opportunities under similar budget and staff restraints.
Secondly, this year in MU 5-15, they reduced the bull moose LEH draw by 40 per cent due to concerns about numbers, while increasing the cow draw by 40 per cent.
How they determined this without the budget to take inventory is a mystery. Instead of controlling wolves directly, they believe that the remnant herd of mountain caribou can be saved by harvesting cow moose to reduce moose population, and that this will discourage the wolves enough to go elsewhere and leave the caribou alone.
This is a dubious theory that while putting the moose population at risk, has not been proven and has been disputed by other reputable biologists. Why they reduced the draws on one gender and increased them on the other is another mystery.
Thirdly, the Ministry stated on one occasion that they feel obligated to assist the guide-outfitting industry during these hard economic times.
Oddly enough there has been no concern voiced about helping resident hunters through tough times by giving them more opportunity to harvest moose or deer for their freezers.
On the contrary, they cut back on deer seasons while moose seasons remain closed, except for ultra restrictive LEH seasons where the odds of being drawn are not good. Regions 3,4 6, 7 and 8 all have spike-fork seasons for moose. Why is region 5 so different to its resident hunters?
Fourthly, in a recent letter, the regional manager stated that it was necessary to create surplus moose numbers to meet the legal requirements for First Nations.
The BCWF, supported by sound science and numerous examples of winter die offs including one very recent in the Peace River, has said for years that wildlife cannot be stockpiled.
Other regions, including Region 7A, the Omineca and Region 3, Thompson Nicola are providing ample opportunities for all user groups, both with similar or
larger populations of First Nations than Region 5 and with similar needs.
It seems that Region 5 in their zeal is creating a situation that causes resentment, hard feelings and conflict between stakeholders.
There is at least one workable solution and that is for all parties to realize and accept the fact that with proper management there is more than enough game to go around. We need to convince the Wildlife Branch that a deer and moose management strategy that benefits everyone, including wildlife resource itself, is required. The Omenica moose harvest management model has been working for over 25 years with very little conflict between stakeholders, a larger harvest, and healthy wildlife populations.
The situation in Region 5, where the interests of two groups are protected at the expense of the third group, cannot be allowed to continue. Every resident hunter should do what they can to bring this to the attention of both Williams Lake and Victoria. If the conflict between stakeholders is allowed to continue, the bureaucrats and politicians will have an excuse to continue to do nothing as they have done for at least the past six years.
Garth Lee
108 Mile Ranch
Member BCWF Wildlife Committee