B.C. Bans Trophy Hunting Grizzly Bears

[Species8472]

A study last year contradicted conventional wisdom of that premise....

The study — published in the Nature group journal Scientific Reports — found that killing grizzlies led to a slight increase in human-bear conflicts in subsequent years.

The increase in conflicts, though not statistically significant, might be explained by the continued presence of attractants or the social impact of the kills on other bears. Hunting had no impact on the frequency of conflicts.

“What we found challenges a common assumption in wildlife management, that killing bears is necessary to reduce conflict,” said lead author Kyle Artelle, a PhD candidate at Simon Fraser University and scholar at the Hakai Institute.

Data suggest that reduced food supply — especially when bears are feeding in advance of hibernation — is the driving factor behind conflicts between humans and grizzly bears, Artelle said.

worth a read...http://vancouversun.com/news/local-n...-c-study-finds

If the increase was so small that it was statistically irrelevant than why even mention it? I guess the author of the article failed his probability and stats course in college/university. If reduced food supply is the real issue i.e. the population exceeds the carrying capacity in a given area than there are really only 2 ways to fix the problem. The first would be to increase the food supply (carrying capacity) or second reduce the population to match or be below the area's carrying capacity. This implies to me the historical mortality rate from all sources is too low and needs to be raised. The easiest way to accomplish this would be to hunt more not less. Maybe they need to go from the 1.6% you mentioned earlier to the 5 or 6% we do here.

[Snowwalker]

Some trophy hunters, going to Africa, are happy with just a picture so it might not be the best way to stop it for good.

Personally, I hunt to eat or get rid of varmints so it won't affect me but it isn't good to loss one more battle.

The meat from animals killed in African "Trophy Hunts " as some people call it goes to the locals. In most cases it would not be possible or safe to try to bring all the meat home. Temps and lack of cold storage means that shot today eaten by tomorrow is how it is done.

[smitty55]

The meat from animals killed in African "Trophy Hunts " as some people call it goes to the locals. In most cases it would not be possible or safe to try to bring all the meat home. Temps and lack of cold storage means that shot today eaten by tomorrow is how it is done.

Snowwalker I thought that was the case too, but not always it appears. This from KMG Canada's post https://www.oodmag.com/community/sho...son-2017/page2

"some of the meat is served in the lodge to our hunters. Some is then consumed by our own staff and workers. Some is turned into biltong (South African style jerky). Anything left after that is sold into market. In South Africa game meat can be purchased in the supermarket much like we would buy beef or chicken. The animals on your land are your property unlike here. This system encourages land owners to keep game for trophy hunting (income for the hunt) and selling of the meat (income from meat sales). This system can make it more profitable to keep your land wild, rather than domesticate it for sheep and cattle."

Cheers

[Snowwalker]

Snowwalker I thought that was the case too, but not always it appears. This from KMG Canada's post https://www.oodmag.com/community/sho...son-2017/page2

"some of the meat is served in the lodge to our hunters. Some is then consumed by our own staff and workers. Some is turned into biltong (South African style jerky). Anything left after that is sold into market. In South Africa game meat can be purchased in the supermarket much like we would buy beef or chicken. The animals on your land are your property unlike here. This system encourages land owners to keep game for trophy hunting (income for the hunt) and selling of the meat (income from meat sales). This system can make it more profitable to keep your land wild, rather than domesticate it for sheep and cattle."

Cheers

I was trying to say that you are not going to be flying home with ice chests full of elephant and zebra. It's not like hunting for deer or things over here. Just getting the hide or horns home can take awhile and the right paperwork.

[B.C.Duck]

This is nothing more than NDP buying votes for the next election which will be within a year. There is no science involved just urban votes. The simple solution would be, like black bears, is the edible meat must be taken. Grizzlies are expanding thier range in BC, sightings are reported every year of bears in areas close to Vancouver. The tree hungers would have you believe thier numbers are threatened and are only in remote parts of the province. There are hunters here who do keep the meat and say it's no different than black bear and yes you don't want a bear that has been eating dead fish. Yes it's the big boars that are targeted, it's illegal to shoot a sow with Cubs and by reducing the number of mature boars the Cubs have a higher survival rate. A number of hunters here don't agree with or are on the fence with the hunting of Grizzlies for the hide, skull and claws but understand it's a management tool to control the population at a sustainable level. As I said a simple change requiring the removal of the meat is all that was required.

[MikePal]

Great headline for a foreign paper;

Canadian Government Caves to Anti-Hunters, Bans Grizzly Bear Hunting in British Columbia

Pressure from anti-hunters has caused government officials to put an end to grizzly bear hunting in British Columbia, Canada.

It’s being reported by BBC, that British Columbia’s new NDP government has announced – going against scientific data that supports the need for grizzly bear hunting in that province – that this season will be the last for grizzly bear hunters.

Apparently, hunting grizzlies for meat will still be permitted throughout the province, except for one off-limits Great Bear Rainforest. In addition, it appears that steps will soon be taken to ensure it’s illegal for a meat hunter to possess the hide, head or claws from a harvested grizzly.

This move is being viewed as big victory for anti-hunters and some environmental groups, but it’s a very unpopular decision in the eyes of hunting guides.

“We are not going to be very supportive. We’re very worried about the ripple effect it will have on small businesses in rural British Columbia,” said the executive director of the Guide Outfitters Association of British Columbia, Scott Ellis.

[seabast]

The meat from animals killed in African "Trophy Hunts " as some people call it goes to the locals. In most cases it would not be possible or safe to try to bring all the meat home. Temps and lack of cold storage means that shot today eaten by tomorrow is how it is done.

So trophy hunting for Grizzly might still go on, just find someone to give the meat to (guide friends....).

[Snowwalker]

So trophy hunting for Grizzly might still go on, just find someone to give the meat to (guide friends....).

It's not trophy hunting if you can't take home the trophy. No hides, claws/teeth, heads or anything. The locals can go out and shoot their own meat. Cheaper for them to do it then for me or you to pay 1500 to put meat in their freezers. But I believe that tags in BC are on a draw system, so even if a local wants to hunt a grizzly they have to win in the tag lottery. Never put in for a grizzly when I lived in BC, always hunted black bear. Buy a tag go hunting.

[rick_iles]

So trophy hunting for Grizzly might still go on, just find someone to give the meat to (guide friends....).

The government closed that loophole by making possession of the hide, head and claws illegal, even for licenced resident hunters.

[seabast]

The government closed that loophole by making possession of the hide, head and claws illegal, even for licenced resident hunters.

I understand that but some guys will be happy with just a picture (just like in Africa), the guides need to agree to take the meat, that's all.