B.C. first nations ban trophy bear hunting
Ten First Nations from British Columbia’s coast have formed a coalition and banned trophy bear hunting in the Great Bear Rainforest, though the province does not seem inclined to enforce it.
The ban’s area comprises lands twice the size of Vancouver Island, The Globe and Mail reported. Although unenforceable by the First Nations, the ban made enough of a statement to perturb provincial authorities and hunting guides, The Globe and Mail said.
The rainforest, 27,000 square miles of wilderness, is home to the grizzly and black bears, among other species. The rainforest is kept in stewardship by Heiltsuk First Nation, which watches over the bears, according to the Nature Conservancy.
“Because we have not ceded any of this land to anybody, we feel that we have a voice and should have a voice in how these lands are managed and this includes the bear hunt,” said William Housty, a spokesman for the coalition, to the Canadian Press.
Scott Ellis, executive director of the Guide Outfitters Association of B.C., told The Globe and Mail that his group was not comfortable with the ban, even knowing that the province is not likely to support it.
“Our concern is that people without jurisdiction are unilaterally deciding something like this,” he said. “Hunting has been going on, on the north and central coast, for more than 100 years, and the bear populations are healthy.”
But it’s not just about the bear population numbers, Housty said.
“It goes against our cultural beliefs and values of management of our territories and bears in particular, and because we have an increasing presence on our land with research projects, with our people reconnecting to the land, it doesn’t make sense to have hunters in the same area,” he told the Canadian Press.
Bear-watching guides and First Nations leaders said they have been lobbying the British Columbia government for years to stop the hunt.
“Despite years of effort by the Coastal First Nations to find a resolution to this issue with the province this senseless and brutal trophy hunt continues,” said bear watching guide and Chief Doug Neasloss, of the Kitasoo/Xaixais First Nation, in a statement. “We will now assume the authority to monitor and enforce a closure of this senseless trophy hunt.”
Provincial officials said that although they are open to dialogue with First Nations, the government does not support the ban. Trophy bear hunting brings $350 million annually to the province, said B.C. Minister of Forest, Lands and Natural Resource Operations Steve Thomson to the Canadian Press. He also pointed out that more than 58 percent of First Nations territory on the coast is off-limits for hunting grizzlies and that the permitted hunting elsewhere is managed with ecological sensitivity.
“We believe that the current hunt is sustainable and is managed based on sound science,” he told the Canadian Press.
However, the fact that trophy hunters tend to leave bear carcasses in the woods does not help the tribes’ efforts to boost eco-tourism, Housty pointed out to The Globe and Mail.
“Our people on the coast are leaning towards ecotourism and we don’t see this as a good fit,” he told the newspaper. “A lot of bears are shot in estuaries, in the fall when the salmon are running … the skin and head and claws are taken, but the carcasses are just left there. It’s gruesome.” (SOURCE)
If you wish to allow real trophy hunting, allow only spears to be used.
this should not be allowed, if it was to be used for the hungry yes, but it is not, It is just used for some rich mans ego. It makes me sick. I have seen this slaughter first hand, for I was a guide and took the American Big Game hunters up the Big Horned Mountain out side Jasper Park gates by horse back and pack train, the slaughter was unbelievable for they shot anything that moved, it did not matter what , a squirrel, a mouse anything that moved, with guns that the army should be using for god's sake, in our beautiful British Columbia, Canada. Why don't they take the money they spend on coming here to hunt these majestic creatures, and help feed the hungry children, I'm not talking children from some god forsaken place, but children right here in our own province, in our own town, in our own neighborhood, in our own homes, for crying out loud people ,WAKE UP, PLEASE help these animals for soon we will have nothing left of wild creatures to show the next generation of your children, children, WHAT THEN HEY BOYS EVER THINK OF THAT
The slaughter of wild animals for trophy is not a sport. Trophy hunting should be outlawed everywhere on earth.
Trophy hunting of bears is disgusting. Why can't they hunt with their cameras? When I got to the part of the story which says that this abomination brings in $350 million dollars a year to the province, I understood. Like everything else, it's about MONEY! I wish they'd take their dirty money and shove it!
I also like the concept of the hunters having to use spears! Then more hunters would be left lying bloody on the ground than bears!
I heard a bear hunting guide say on the news(with a staight face) that trophy hunting of grizzlys was actually a good thing and that if they werent'killing bears we would have them invading our towns. Truthfully there are some isolated towns where bears walk the streets and it is a way of life for first nations people who live there, and they live in harmony with the bears. I am insulted by this persons outright lies while standing in front of a news camera. Trophy hunting of bears and other animals IS NOT good for animal populations and health. They only kill the biggest and healthiest animals, the strong males who keep the packs and herds strong. So lets call a spade a spade. I am an x bowhunter, I'm not against hunting, I'm against trophy hunting and killing animals such as cougars and wolves just for the sake of killing. I sincerely hope we will all support the first nations in their ban on hunting grizzly bears on their tribal lands. Thank you for listening Steve Harding
NO LIVING ANIMAL DESERVES TO BE HUNTED AND KILLED BY A HUMAN ANIMAL - IF A HUMAN ANIMAL WANTS A TROPHY FOR HIMSELF AND A PHOTOGRAPH OF HIMSELF SMILING WITH HIS MURDERED ANIMAL -- LET HIM 'TAKE ON' THAT ANIMAL BY HIMSELF - THE ANIMAL HAS NO GUN, NO ARROW, LET IT BE ONE-ON-ONE - OTHERWISE, THE HUMAN HAS DONE NOTHING AT ALL BUT MURDER ANOTHER LIVING THING, HE/SHE IS PRETENDING TO BE BRAVE/STRONG - HE/SHE IS A COWARD WHO TAKES BULLETS AND ARROWS TO DO THIS VERY UNNATURAL MURDER OF ANOTHER LIVING ANIMAL. YOU FEEL NO SHAME?? YOU NEED TO FEEL THE BULLET - THE ARROW. SEE HOW IT FEELS.
BAN ALL TROPHY HUNTS
Like human being, animals including bears have the right to live. Stop killing them.
I agree. It's all about the money. I also agree that hunting for food is one thing but killing another being for bragging rights and leaving the carcass is despicable. That's what they did with the Buffalo.
what a joke . all of you bleeding hearts should get a life ....
Ban all killing of living beings for sport. What if we humans were hunted just for sport and there was a season for this? Same thing with killing our brothers and sisters who don't look just like us nor speak our language. They have their own language and laws. We are wasteful, unfeeling barbarians.
Two sides to every story...the bear has his when you or your children are standing in front of him and then there is yours at that moment. Personally, I'd love to have one of those hunters around about then. Thoughtful wildlife planning, coupled with game population enforcement, is key for keeping all happy and safe.
It is mass murder. Pure and simple. Hunters are sick individuals that need to be put in an institution and reeducated to be less apathetic towards life and our Mother Earth.
This is exactly how i feel about it, too.
I completely and whole-heartedly support the aboriginal peoples of British Columbia to put in place any ban that they see fit. That land is THEIRS and they seem to be doing a far better job of protecting God's green earth then us white idiots are doing!