Your Vancouver Province
* Tell us what you think
Women, kids sought as new hunters
Officials want more B.C.ers to buy hunting licences
Laura Payton and David Carrigg, The Province
Published: Thursday, July 12, 2007
The B.C. government wants to increase the number of registered hunters by 20,000 in the next eight years, and is targeting women and children.
British Columbians will be encouraged to buy guns and go hunting to reverse a dramatic downturn in hunting in the past 20 years, under a proposal by the Environment Ministry.
"Like any business, if I had lost half my clients from 20 years ago I would want to look at barriers and bring those people back," said Chris Hamilton, who is heading a review of the Wildlife Act covering hunting in B.C. for the ministry.
Vancouver gun-shop owner John Mathieson says B.C.'s hunting-licence fees are already fair.
Hamilton said there are 350,000 registered hunters in B.C. but only 85,000 bought hunting licences in 2006. In 1981, 180,000 licences were issued.
Proposed changes include hunting courses taught by women to encourage more women to hunt, and an open deer-hunting season for new and under-19 hunters.
The proposed changes would also permit a one-time-only, single-season licence for new hunters to go out with licensed hunters without taking a required safety course, lower the price of species licences, and extend the less-expensive junior licence to hunters up to 18 years old, rather than ending at 14.
Provincial government statistics show hunters contributed $48 million to the economy in 2003.
Hamilton said the benefits of hunting include providing organic meat, keeping people active and helping solve "agricultural conflicts," where animals move into farmland and eat crops. For example, he said, mule deer are causing significant damage to crops in the Peace, Cariboo, Okanagan and East Kootenay.
Victor Camele, of Vancouver's Italian Sporting Goods, said yesterday the downturn in gun sales for hunters has been made up by an increase in target shooters who belong to gun clubs.
He said the price of a hunting licence is already fair.
Instead, he said, B.C. should revise the licence lottery system for species like moose, where there are more people wanting to hunt the animal than there are licences. A random draw determines who gets licences.
"It's been five years since I got a moose draw," Camele said. "For some of my customers it's been 15 years."
In Alberta, a person's chances increase each year they enter the lottery.
"That keeps hunters involved and interested in the sport," he said.
John Mathieson, from Vancouver's Reliable Gun and Tackle, said the number of hunters coming to his store slumped between 1999 and 2001. He attributed that to the poor economy at the time.
"Hunting is one of the first things affected by a downturn," he said.
Joe Foy, spokesman for the Western Canada Wilderness Committee, said he is concerned about reducing the firearms and hunting training required.
Foy also believes cutting prices will have little impact on encouraging hunting: "I don't think you get more hunters by making it cheaper."
Foy said there are better ways to integrate wildlife into B.C.'s culture and economy, like ecotourism.
"Look at the tremendous success and growth of those enterprises and clubs involved in wildlife watching," he said.
Darlene Clarke, who runs hunting courses for kids and women in Port Alberni, said hunting is great for the whole family.
"The relaxation and enjoyment, and of course the exercise," she said.
The public has until Sunday to comment on the proposed changes. For details, go to http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/fw/wildlifeactreview/discussion/toc.html. The new legislation will be introduced in the spring. lapayton@png.canwest.com
- - -
WHAT DO YOU THINK?
Tell us by e-mail at provletters@png.canwest.com, or by fax at 604-605-2223. Please include your name and address.
© The Vancouver Province 2007