Bear Hunt Battle Shaping Up
Thursday, September 13, 2012 @ 3:59 AM
Klemtu, B.C. – Calling the B.C. government “negligent”, First Nations on the north and central coast have declared a ban on the trophy bear hunt in their traditional territories.
Kitasoo/Xaixias Chief Doug Neasloss says the hunt is cruel and unsustainable and vows his people plan to protect bears from trophy hunters by any and all means.
"Despite years of effort by the Coastal First Nations to find a resolution to this issue with the Province this senseless and brutal trophy hunt continues. It’s not unreasonable to expect that in the Great Bear Rainforest all bears would flourish”, he said. “Unfortunately, trophy hunting continues to be permitted in the majority of Great Bear Rainforest, including its protected areas and conservancies.”
Heiltsuk Nation Councillor Jessie Housty says bears are often shot by hunters near shorelines as they forage for food, adding that killing an animal for sport is not part of First Nations culture. Housty says the hunt also threatens the ecotourism industry that the Heiltsuk are creating.
The Guide Outfitters Association of B.C. takes issue with comments made by Coastal First Nations. Executive Director Scott Ellis describes both grizzly and black bear populations in the province as very healthy.
“We’re seeing healthy bears, sows with multiple cubs. The harvest is a very low harvest, below where the scientific panel told us that we needed to be so we’re quite comfortable with the sustainable use that we’re harvesting at”.
Ellis also takes issue with the language used in the Coastal First Nations news release, questioning the relevance of whether a bear is shot on the shore or on a mountain, eating or not eating. Ellis says either people understand hunting and accept it or they don’t
“I don’t know what trophy hunting is. I don’t know what sport hunting is. But people try to wrap that in a bunch of emotions about what may or may not be ethical according to some and that’s just a bunch of speculation that I’d rather leave as someone’s opinion.”
According to the association, guide outfitting brings in about $116 million each year while total hunting in B.C. is worth $350 million.
B.C.’s Minister of Forests, Lands, and Natural Resource Operations Steve Thomson says he’s asking the First Nations to respect the province’s authority to set harvesting limits.
Thomson notes that 58% of Coastal First Nations traditional territory is already off limits to grizzly hunting.
At most, he says based on past numberes, 1 to 2 bears would be harvested in the fall hunt.
Comments
I would like to share what I consider a very important fact about Grizzly Bears and I have confirmed this cycle also applies to Black Bears as well.It is important to note that unless a sow is nursing it is very difficult for most to determine the sex of a bear visually.
http://www.vancouversun.com/life/Grizzly+bears+half+pregnant+after+mating/7228375/story.html
Good for them,because at this rate there wont be any animals left.Why with all this revenue comming in is there not more consevation officers.
Good for them,because at this rate there wont be any animals left.Why with all this revenue comming in is there not more consevation officers.
“At most, he says based on past numberes, 1 to 2 bears would be harvested in the fall hunt.”
Guessing.
Since the total collapse of the cod fishery on the east coast Grand Banks uder the scientific supervision of government minions in ivory towers I question every statement which is uttered from any government source about anything.
âUnfortunately, trophy hunting continues to be permitted in the majority of Great Bear Rainforest, including its protected areas and conservancies.â
That means that there is no protection in protected areas.
Got this from the CBC report
“Housty said hunting threatens the First Nations’ lucrative ecotourism opportunities, but the province has ignored such concerns.”
Yep its all about the money, not the bears. The biggest threat to the bears is poaching.
Ask the people up in Salmon Valley about griz population.
Ellis says, âI donât know what trophy hunting is. I donât know what sport hunting is.”
He is commenting on hunting but is so ignorant of hunting he doesn’t know what these activities are. Really? I don’t believe him, pure and simple nonsense.
This is a “legal” hunt and for anyone to interfere in a “legal” hunt is “illegal”.
As taken from the BC Hunting regs….
ITâS UNLAWFUL to interfere with or obstruct a person licensed or permitted to hunt, guide or trap while that person is lawfully so engaged.
There are more bears in this province now than at any other time ever.
There are more bears in this province now than at any other time ever.
Ever is a long time. I have see alot of bears in my years, but I don’t know if there is more now than ever. Only someone who has been around forever could quantify your statement.
Trophy hunting animals? Why not make it interesting & make it legal to go after the hunter with the biggest wallet? That would be a prize to hang on your wall.
So Dragonmaster what are the bear populations in this province right now ?
And if i may ask why are we having more human/bear encounters then in the past?
“Why not make it interesting & make it legal to go after the hunter with the biggest wallet?”
That comment shows how sick your mind is.
You can do your own research dog. Or do you rely on others to do your bidding?
Dragon, I agree with old dog, if you are going to go out on a limb with your statement that “There are more bears in this province now than at any other time ever” have some proof to validate your claim.
As for my mind being sick? No sicker than hunting down an animal to mount its’ head on a wall to sate some twisted sense of vanity.
Is the provincial government going to sit back and allow the Indian bands to apply their own rulings on Provincial laws?
If the arbitrary decisions made by two bands on moose and bear hunting in “their territory” are allowed to stand, what next?
This province blongs to the residents and taxpayers, all of us, not just a select few. I’m not too happy with the idea of trophy hunting, but the practice does generate a lot of revenue for the province, would the government cheerfully forgo that income to appease a minority of the population?
metalman.
Dragonmaster I enjoy doing my own research as evident by my first post,I was just asking for more details before reaching a decision to comment further thats all.
Dragon supports killing bears in the city limits and chasing kids off his front lawn, so he’s not one to get rational research from.
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