Open Letter to Resident Hunters re: Moose Population Region 5
The Tl’etinqox-t’in have announced a no-hunting area for the Anaham Range, except for Tsilhqot’in hunters and Tl’etinqox-t’in members who have guide operations. The rationale for this announcement is low moose populations.
Recent inventory (2011/12) has shown significant declines in parts of Regions 5, 6 and 7a. Many of these declines are associated with large-scale salvage logging for mountain pine beetle. There has been a significant increase in wolf populations in all of these areas according to First Nations, trappers, outfitters, resident hunters, and other outdoor users. The Province has put together a task force to deal with the declines in moose populations.
While unfortunate, this decline in moose demonstrates the reality of budget cuts and funding shortfalls for wildlife management in British Columbia. Basic management functions are on life support and have been for more than a decade. Creating healthy and abundant wildlife populations collaboratively rather than fighting over what remains should be the approach taken by all parties.
As a resident hunter, you can drive positive change by contacting your local MLA. A face to face meeting is best, followed by letters and emails. Make sure you request a reply. Remember, your MLA works for you. There are two issues that need to be addressed:
The hierarchy for allocation of fish and wildlife harvest is:
1) Conservation
2) First Nations needs for food, social and ceremonial purposes
3) Resident Hunter
4) Non-Resident Hunter (guide-outfitter operations)
1. If there is sufficient moose to allow a harvest after conservation and First Nations needs are met, will government ensure resident hunters have the opportunity to hunt in all crown land areas where a harvestable surplus exists?
2. How much money is going to be committed to moose recovery and what is the timeframe?
Government has treated fishing and hunting in British Columbia as a cash cow for decades with little to no investment in the future. When you manage businesses in this manner, failure is the predictable outcome.
In many of these areas moose have generally been declining since the late 70s/early 80s. Moose recovery in these areas needs to be well funded (millions of dollars) and on the ground efforts need to start in 2013. The expectation is moose experts provide research and that their recommendations are not overridden by politics. The over-arching goal is to establish moose populations which are consistent with levels seen in the early 80s when healthy and abundant moose populations existed.
Contact your MLA and ensure they support and adequately fund science-based fish and wildlife management in British Columbia. The declines in moose are only a symptom of a much bigger problem which affects all wildlife.
If you have any questions, please contact BCWF Wildlife Committee Chair.