B.C. Wildlife Federation says hunters furious

[MikePal]

I hate it when governments see the potential to make money..someone always gets screwed over

The B.C. Wildlife Federation says its membership is rising every day with hunters angered by the government's decision to increase permits for guides and their out-of-province clients.

Earlier this month B.C.'s Ministry of Forest, Lands and Natural Resource Operations quietly announced it was changing the rules for the 2015 hunt, giving even more permits to guides and their clients.
The government claims it's trying to help the guiding industry that was hurt by the economic downturn and they'll be keeping a close eye on the new harvest allocation.
But federation president George Wilson says the increased permits for guides come at the expense of local hunters and Victoria can expect a battle.
"Our membership is growing like crazy over this issue. People want to get into this fight. They see the unfairness in it," said Wilson.
"The government has pushed a button here that has got resident hunters extremely upset."
The federation is holding meetings across the province and has started a petition to try and reverse the government position.
East Kootenay resident and hunter Carmen Purdy has thrown his name into the draw to get a moose permit for 30 years, but he's never once been drawn.
Meanwhile an American hunter has no problem bagging a B.C. moose, he says.
"He doesn't have equal status with us because as long as he's got the money he can hunt a moose every year," says Purdy.
Purdy says he's never seen local hunters so mad.

https://ca.news.yahoo.com/b-c-wildli...155241500.html

[400bigbear]

Oh and it has gone on for years here too Mike .

TD

[trimmer21]

All they can do and us as well,is make certain each candidate or incumbent feels the wrath of the voters at election time. Take a pro-active approach with every candidate. Send a personal,tempered and well-crafted letter,not only to the candidate,but,to the riding association President stating,unequivocally,that not only will you not support them,but,that you will actively campaign against them if they continue or support adverse policies.

[greatwhite]

I have always said it is an all out war against Hunters and firearms owners.

The same will happan in the near future around Ottawa in Marlborough and Larrose Forests.

[MikePal]

I'm not sure why a provincial government is allowed to deal away a resourse to help a private business.

If your outfitting business is suffering....so what, not my problem ?

[greatwhite]

Yeah agreed that's unfair. I havent yet come across areas like that, but I know others on here that have.

I'm not sure why a provincial government is allowed to deal away a resourse to help a private business.

If you outfitting business is suffering....so what, not my problem ?

[chris lavoie]

Not to worry, they are taking most of the moose tags from the Ontario outfitters away in 2015.

Also, most of the lakes in this part NW Ontario will be void of American Fishermen in 2016 too!!

Why come here when they can fish their own lakes in the states.

[woody1948]

Not to worry, they are taking most of the moose tags from the Ontario outfitters away in 2015.

Also, most of the lakes in this part NW Ontario will be void of American Fishermen in 2016 too!!

Why come here when they can fish their own lakes in the states.

what are you based go this on Chris? I see the opposite with the low Canadian Dollar. They will start to flock in again.

[chris lavoie]

New regulations in 2016.

Even with the low dollar they will stay state side, for MANY good reasons!!

[JBen]

I have "mixed" feelings, having met many outfitters in my life. For illustration only because its not a subject I feel Ive "decided" on, nor even how much I lean one way or the other.

Look what happened in the north when they cancelled the spring bear hunt. Then to, I know a couple outfitters who have told me that the bulk to the vast majority of their clients are non residents. Another who while I don't know how much he relies on them, he gets a lot of Europeans every fall.

For myself, anytime Ive spent a week at a fishing resort, there are always non residents. Sometimes just one group, sometimes half the people in for the week.

I know one gem of a place I like to go to whenever I feel I need a little escape, its neither a fishing or hunting destination. Its just one heck of a place with amazing food, a "cabin in the woods", and is one of the very few places Ive returned to having spent my life always wanting to see a different lake, fish a different area. Its actually not all that far from APP and millions of potential clients who flock to the region.

90% of its business is non residents.
********

It's not as simple Mike as saying if your business is struggling. Mixed in with that is the fact residents, don't support their own. This has been discussed in a thread unrelated to hunting/fishing….So many Ontarians don't know whats out there, haven't discovered much of the province. Wont pay to stay at some fantastic resorts/lodges/outfitters.

And for those that do, explore the province DIY.
How many resident hunters jumped all over the spring bear hunt this year?
How many resident hunters pay $1,000 to say $1,500 for a fall bear hunt?

While I can most certainly see the "our resources, why do they get preferential treatment" side of things.

The economics are big. Not only for the outfitters. Theres all kinds of spin off benefits and more.
And at the end of the day we all know how much the MNR is hurting for $$. Non residents pay a fair bit for tags/liscences.

be careful what you wish for I "think"….One only need look at what canceling the spring bear hunt did to the North. It wiped out a lot of outfitters, and wiped out a big chunk of the Norths economy (spin off benefits). What percentage of their clients back in the day were non residents? I bet a big percentage.

Maybe if we residents used them more……..