B.C.’s provincial government is asking for feedback from the public on 95 hunting and trapping regulations across the province. This is your opportunity to show your support or opposition to these regulations that affect wildlife across B.C.
There are a wide range of issues that are being considered and so it is important that members of the public respond who have the interests of animals in mind, as hunters and trappers will already be aware of the process and engagement. The Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resources Operations and Rural Development (FLNRORD) advocates for hunters, trappers, and anglers, so animal advocates must do our best to ensure evidence-based, compassionate perspectives are heard. Wildlife need you to represent them in these regulation considerations.
You can view the full list of regulations here
Some notable proposed regulations which are positive changes for wildlife and need your support:
- Banning the use of Precision Guided Firearms
- There are currently no regulations that prohibit Precision Guided Firearms for the purpose of hunting. These types of tools give hunters an enhanced unfair advantage over wildlife.
- Banning the use of Infrared Optics
- Because infrared optics provide a substantial advantage to hunters to be able to detect the movements and heat signatures of animals in the dark, they are considered to be outside of the principle of fair chase.
- Banning the Pursuit Only Season for Cougars in
the Kootenay Region
- A cruel practice that allowed “houndsmen” to be able to practice chasing cougars to keep their dogs trained in the off hunting season.
- Banning the use of Alternative Weapons for Big
Game Hunting (Spears, Bolos, Slingshot,etc)
- These alternative weapons are more likely to cause suffering to the animals they hunt.
- Banning the use of Aircraft to Locate Wildlife
for the Purpose of Hunting
- It is positive that the government is proposing to ban tracking with aircraft. Now only if they would apply this to the wolf cull where they use helicopters to track and kill wolves.
- Closing Wolverine Trapping Season in the
Okanagan
- Wolverines are a species listed under the federal Species at Risk Act as “Special Concern,” with populations estimates largely based on anecdotal observations. Allowing the trapping of these animals is already cruel and doing so without any substantive knowledge of their populations is irresponsible.
- Compulsory Reporting of Harvested Feral Pigs
- While it may seem counter-intuitive, compulsory reporting of feral pig killing is supportable because currently there are no reporting requirements. Without reporting, no data is generated regarding the number of animals killed.
There are also many regulations which will look to expand hunting seasons and opportunities across the province which should be opposed. One example is the regulation:
- Implementing Mule Deer Bow Only Season on Gulf, Denman, and Hornby Islands. This is being proposed merely to expand hunting opportunities and reduce paperwork for the Ministry.
One concern we have been working on that was not addressed by the Ministry in these regulations was the Open Hunting of mule and white tail deer on Mayne Island. Despite engagement with the Ministry, no action was taken by them to propose reversing this change that was made to encourage hunting opportunities and cut back on paperwork. Public policy should not be driven by special interest groups dedicated to hunting. It must be based on evidence-based cohabitation with wildlife that recognizes their inherent interest in living and having safe habitat.
If you would like to submit a comment before the deadline of Jan 19th, 2020 you can on the BC Government’s Angling, Hunting, Trapping, and Engagement (AHTE) website here. You will need to sign up for a BCeID, directions are on the website, and then you will be able to “Support,” “Oppose,” or remain “Neutral” on each regulation. You will also be able to leave a comment if you choose.
It is important to read each regulation carefully, so that you can respond effective. If you have questions about how to answer any particular regulation in the interest of the animals, please feel free to reach out to our West Coast Representative Jordan Reichert at jordan@animalalliance.ca
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