Hunters to Rally Outside Resource Convention
Prince George, B.C. – Local hunters have targeted January 21st on their calendars for a rally.
That’s the day Premier Christy Clark will be in Prince George for the 2015 BC Natural Resource Forum.
Hunters in the region have been meeting and trying to form a unified stance against the province’s recent allocations proposal.
“Resident hunters are gathering to show their frustration in regards to the privatization of the wildlife resource. The recent decision in regards to wildlife allocations gives guide-outfitters, who have exclusive rights to guide foreign hunters, an unprecedented share of wildlife – a public resource,” says hunter and rally organizer Steve Hamilton.
“Most jurisdictions give foreign hunters 5-10% of the wildlife allocation – in December the BC government announced it would be giving 20-40% of wildlife to foreign hunters. This shift was because guide-outfitters were “going broke” – in their own words.”
He adds before 2007 guide-outfitters were given 15% of bull moose allocation in the Omineca region, now they’re being given 25% which is a 70% increase.
Hamilton notes this is happening at a time when hunters are up 20% from 84,000-102,000 over the past 10 years and also as the number of non-resident hunters have declined 30% from 6,500-4,500.
The peaceful rally is scheduled to last from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Comments
This is exactly the type of action that needs to be taken. The current gov’t, with prolonged and steady lobbying from the guide outfitters of BC have created a policy that continues to reduce resident opportunity to our resource. In the Prince George area, over a thirty year time span, the outfitting community has never harvested more than 12 percent of our available moose. YET now we are told that they need 25 percent to “stay in business”. Simply put, our wildlife should not be “for sale” to the highest bidder, nor should it be used to prop up a business model that is failing. Hunting is a way of life for most of us in the north, it is sickening to think that some in the guide outfitting community and gov’t would attempt to take it away from us, all in the name of the almighty dollar.
Mid day on a Wednesday most hunters will probably be working… bad time for a rally IMO.
Don’t wear camo. Be visible.
timing is what it is, the gov’t leaders will be in PG on that day, message needs to clearly be sent. Residents of BC have continually tried to be reasonable in working with the commercial sector, finally the masses have reached a point where the continued erosion of our opportunity must be stopped. Everyone gets a lunch break, it is not to much effort to stop by for an hour or so and make your voices heard.
way to go, warn her and now she will be conveniently missing….
if the 102000 resident hunters never bought hunting license, moose tag and a deer tag that would mean a $7,344,000.00 revenue lose for the government. just saying.
have a great day.
Hope she isn’t wearing a bamby outfit.
Cheers
“Most jurisdictions give foreign hunters 5-10% of the wildlife allocation – in December the BC government announced it would be giving 20-40% of wildlife to foreign hunters.”
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Uhmmm, no thats not what is happening. The BC government is giving 20-40% of wildlife to the guide outfitters who in turn sell it to whoever will pay the price. That includes resident hunters. Anyone that has the money can buy these new allocations from their friendly neighbourhood guide outfitter, not just foreigners.
Yes I’m going to pay 6000$ for a moose hunt or 40,000 for a sheep hunt….shake your head. Residents should have first dibs on our resources without paying outrageous amount for it
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